ARC vs PLC › Montana
ARC-CO and PLC · FSA official
Montana ARC-CO benchmark yields for 2026, by county
FSA’s official program year 2026 ARC-CO benchmark yields for 50 Montana counties, by crop and by practice where FSA splits irrigated and non-irrigated. FSA has not posted 2027 benchmarks; the 2027 benchmark shifts the window one year.
Prices that apply in every county. 2026 effective reference price: corn $4.42, soybeans $10.71, wheat $6.35. 2026 ARC-CO benchmark price: corn $5.03, soybeans $12.17, wheat $6.98. When the county yield comes in at its benchmark, ARC-CO pays when the season-average price ends at $4.52 or lower for corn, $10.95 for soybeans and $6.28 for wheat.
Official benchmark yield and revenue by county
Benchmark yield in bu/acre (FSA, 2026). Revenue = yield × 2026 benchmark price, $/acre. Max/base ac = 12% of revenue on 85% of base.
| County | Crop | Practice | Yield | Revenue | Max/base ac |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead | Wheat | All practices | 110.44 | $771 | $79 |
| Big Horn | Corn | Irrigated | 162.66 | $818 | $83 |
| Corn | Non-irrigated | 93.69 | $471 | $48 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 70.95 | $495 | $51 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 47.22 | $330 | $34 | |
| Blaine | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 52.92 | $369 | $38 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 26.61 | $186 | $19 | |
| Broadwater | Wheat | Irrigated | 92.58 | $646 | $66 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 27.60 | $193 | $20 | |
| Carbon | Corn | All practices | 180.11 | $906 | $92 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 78.76 | $550 | $56 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 37.02 | $258 | $26 | |
| Carter | Corn | All practices | 147.67 | $743 | $76 |
| Wheat | All practices | 24.70 | $172 | $18 | |
| Cascade | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 69.64 | $486 | $50 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 44.78 | $313 | $32 | |
| Chouteau | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 70.03 | $489 | $50 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 39.05 | $273 | $28 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated, A | 72.94 | $509 | $52 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated, A | 45.01 | $314 | $32 | |
| Wheat | All practices, B | 52.23 | $365 | $37 | |
| Custer | Corn | All practices | 184.32 | $927 | $95 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 58.76 | $410 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 31.57 | $220 | $22 | |
| Daniels | Corn | All practices | 161.96 | $815 | $83 |
| Wheat | All practices | 27.30 | $191 | $19 | |
| Dawson | Corn | Irrigated | 194.90 | $980 | $100 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 46.67 | $568 | $58 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 62.51 | $436 | $45 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 33.91 | $237 | $24 | |
| Fallon | Corn | All practices | 112.71 | $567 | $58 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 29.35 | $357 | $36 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 28.84 | $201 | $21 | |
| Fergus | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 61.39 | $429 | $44 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 36.65 | $256 | $26 | |
| Flathead | Wheat | Irrigated | 98.50 | $688 | $70 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 78.49 | $548 | $56 | |
| Gallatin | Corn | All practices | 165.56 | $833 | $85 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 97.87 | $683 | $70 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 52.80 | $369 | $38 | |
| Garfield | Corn | All practices | 167.33 | $842 | $86 |
| Wheat | All practices | 25.25 | $176 | $18 | |
| Glacier | Wheat | Irrigated | 58.84 | $411 | $42 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 35.14 | $245 | $25 | |
| Golden Valley | Corn | All practices | 194.28 | $977 | $100 |
| Wheat | All practices | 41.84 | $292 | $30 | |
| Hill | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | All practices | 34.08 | $238 | $24 | |
| Jefferson | Wheat | All practices | 57.30 | $400 | $41 |
| Judith Basin | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 69.51 | $485 | $49 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 34.63 | $242 | $25 | |
| Lake | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 88.64 | $619 | $63 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 68.99 | $482 | $49 | |
| Lewis and Clark | Wheat | Irrigated | 72.91 | $509 | $52 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 31.93 | $223 | $23 | |
| Liberty | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 59.96 | $419 | $43 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 28.36 | $198 | $20 | |
| Madison | Wheat | Irrigated | 97.87 | $683 | $70 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 51.48 | $359 | $37 | |
| McCone | Soybeans | All practices | 32.23 | $392 | $40 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 56.20 | $392 | $40 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 29.74 | $208 | $21 | |
| Meagher | Wheat | Irrigated | 83.16 | $580 | $59 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 38.07 | $266 | $27 | |
| Mineral | Wheat | All practices | 65.35 | $456 | $47 |
| Missoula | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | All practices | 68.32 | $477 | $49 | |
| Musselshell | Corn | All practices | 193.50 | $973 | $99 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 36.37 | $254 | $26 | |
| Park | Wheat | Irrigated | 81.75 | $571 | $58 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 32.88 | $230 | $23 | |
| Petroleum | Corn | All practices | 175.31 | $882 | $90 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 26.59 | $186 | $19 | |
| Phillips | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 39.13 | $273 | $28 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 23.94 | $167 | $17 | |
| Pondera | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 69.64 | $486 | $50 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 43.41 | $303 | $31 | |
| Powder River | Corn | All practices | 159.16 | $801 | $82 |
| Wheat | All practices | 29.49 | $206 | $21 | |
| Prairie | Wheat | Irrigated | 64.57 | $451 | $46 |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 34.24 | $239 | $24 | |
| Ravalli | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 72.79 | $508 | $52 | |
| Richland | Corn | Irrigated | 165.68 | $833 | $85 |
| Corn | Non-irrigated | 93.69 | $471 | $48 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 65.65 | $458 | $47 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 31.33 | $219 | $22 | |
| Roosevelt | Corn | All practices | 121.91 | $613 | $63 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 29.60 | $360 | $37 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 54.08 | $377 | $39 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 24.81 | $173 | $18 | |
| Rosebud | Corn | All practices | 174.36 | $877 | $89 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 65.41 | $457 | $47 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 33.37 | $233 | $24 | |
| Sheridan | Corn | All practices | 152.29 | $766 | $78 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 56.13 | $392 | $40 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 28.95 | $202 | $21 | |
| Stillwater | Corn | All practices | 194.77 | $980 | $100 |
| Wheat | All practices | 43.34 | $303 | $31 | |
| Sweet Grass | Wheat | All practices | 45.17 | $315 | $32 |
| Teton | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 76.18 | $532 | $54 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 52.35 | $365 | $37 | |
| Toole | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 58.29 | $407 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 25.99 | $181 | $19 | |
| Treasure | Corn | All practices | 191.32 | $962 | $98 |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 75.17 | $525 | $54 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 44.68 | $312 | $32 | |
| Valley | Corn | All practices | 161.96 | $815 | $83 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 33.58 | $409 | $42 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 46.88 | $327 | $33 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 25.18 | $176 | $18 | |
| Wheatland | Corn | All practices | 169.62 | $853 | $87 |
| Wheat | All practices | 29.33 | $205 | $21 | |
| Wibaux | Corn | All practices | 140.52 | $707 | $72 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 32.36 | $394 | $40 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 33.86 | $236 | $24 | |
| Yellowstone | Corn | Irrigated | 207.43 | $1,043 | $106 |
| Corn | Non-irrigated | 93.69 | $471 | $48 | |
| Soybeans | All practices | 32.05 | $390 | $40 | |
| Wheat | Irrigated | 84.43 | $589 | $60 | |
| Wheat | Non-irrigated | 28.55 | $199 | $20 |
A county or crop not listed: FSA’s files have nothing for it. Ask the county FSA office for “the 2026 ARC-CO benchmark yield for my county, crop and practice (irrigated or non-irrigated)”, or look it up in FSA’s program data (file: ARC-CO benchmark yields and revenues, program year 2026). Then type it into the calculator.
PLC vs ARC-CO break-even at the benchmark yield
When the county yield comes in at its benchmark, which program pays more depends on the season-average price and on your PLC yield as a share of the county’s official benchmark. Expressed that way, the break-even is the same in every Montana county. 2026 prices, corn:
| PLC yield, % of your official benchmark | Which pays more, by season-average price |
|---|---|
| 60% | PLC: $3.41 or lower ARC-CO: $3.42 to $4.52 |
| 70% | PLC: $3.55 or lower ARC-CO: $3.56 to $4.52 |
| 80% | PLC: $3.66 or lower ARC-CO: $3.67 to $4.52 |
| 90% | PLC: $3.74 or lower ARC-CO: $3.75 to $4.52 |
| 100% | PLC: $3.81 or lower ARC-CO: $3.82 to $4.52 |
Soybeans:
| PLC yield, % of your official benchmark | Which pays more, by season-average price |
|---|---|
| 60% | PLC: $8.27 or lower ARC-CO: $8.28 to $10.95 |
| 70% | PLC: $8.62 or lower ARC-CO: $8.63 to $10.95 |
| 80% | PLC: $8.88 or lower ARC-CO: $8.89 to $10.95 |
| 90% | PLC: $9.08 or lower ARC-CO: $9.09 to $10.95 |
| 100% | PLC: $9.24 or lower ARC-CO: $9.25 to $10.95 |
Wheat:
| PLC yield, % of your official benchmark | Which pays more, by season-average price |
|---|---|
| 60% | PLC: $4.95 or lower ARC-CO: $4.96 to $6.17 |
| 70% | PLC: $5.15 or lower ARC-CO: $5.16 to $6.12 |
| 80% | PLC: $5.30 or lower ARC-CO: $5.31 to $6.00 |
| 90% | PLC: $5.41 or lower ARC-CO: $5.42 to $5.66 |
| 100% | PLC: $6.34 or lower ARC-CO: never |
Per base acre, both programs on 85% of base. Your PLC yield is on the FSA-156EZ. A county yield below benchmark favors ARC-CO.
An estimate, not a USDA determination. FSA ARC/PLC · FSA program data · Find your county office
Related: ARC vs PLC calculator · Montana cash rent by county · Montana yield by year · Montana Farmland Atlas
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