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ARC-CO and PLC · FSA official

Hettinger County, ND: ARC or PLC for 2026 and 2027

FSA’s official 2026 ARC-CO benchmark yields for Hettinger County, North Dakota, with the math behind them and what they mean for ARC-CO and PLC. FSA has not posted 2027 benchmarks; the 2027 benchmark shifts the window one year.

2026 signup closesDec 11, 2026
2027 signupNov 2 to Mar 15, 2027

Quick answer for 2026, for a typical farm in this county. Run your own numbers; your PLC yield and base can change it.

Typical farm = FSA’s county average PLC yield and FSA’s official benchmark. Prices: USDA’s October WASDE projection, spread by how far the season-average price ended from October futures in each past year; county yields from the same past years. How this is figured.

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Corn 2026 in Hettinger County: leans ARC-CO

All practices, 2026: Leans ARC-CO: expected about $12.57 more per base acre, but the gap is within the normal swing; either is a defensible choice (expected $0.63 PLC vs $13.20 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 2 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3).

PLC pays on any season-average price below $4.42, up to $129.71 per base acre at the $2.42 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $46.16 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 3 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $4.70, PLC is expected to pay $0.63 and ARC-CO $13.20 per base acre.

2027: Too close to call (expected $6.61 PLC vs $4.46 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 1 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3; the gap is under $15.33). The 2027 view uses FSA’s 2026 benchmark; FSA posts 2027 later.

For a typical farm: FSA’s county average PLC yield 76.3 bu (program year 2025) and the official 89.97 bu benchmark. County yields from this county’s own FSA yields. Run your own numbers in the calculator below.

Average PLC yield on enrolled corn base in this county: 76.3 bu (FSA, program year 2025). Your farm’s own is on the FSA-156EZ.

All practices: official 2026 ARC-CO benchmark

Benchmark yield (FSA)89.97 bu
Benchmark price 2026$5.03
Benchmark revenue$452.55/ac
Guarantee (90%)$407.29/ac
Max payment (12%)$54.31/ac
Max per base acre (×85%)$46.16

FSA trend-adjusted county yields (county yield or 80% of T-yield): 2020: 77.58 · 2021: 92.5 · 2022: 74.12 · 2023: 129.71 · 2024: 99.84 (struck: high and low). Middle three average: 89.97 bu.

At a season-average price equal to the 2026 effective reference price ($4.42), PLC pays nothing and ARC-CO pays when the county yield comes in below 92.1 bu, reaching its cap below 79.9 bu.

PLC vs ARC-CO break-even at a 89.97 bu county yield, 2026 prices

PLC yield, % of your official benchmarkWhich pays more, by season-average price
60%
54.0 bu		PLC: $3.41 or lower
ARC-CO: $3.42 to $4.52
70%
63.0 bu		PLC: $3.55 or lower
ARC-CO: $3.56 to $4.52
80%
72.0 bu		PLC: $3.66 or lower
ARC-CO: $3.67 to $4.52
90%
81.0 bu		PLC: $3.74 or lower
ARC-CO: $3.75 to $4.52
100%
90.0 bu		PLC: $3.81 or lower
ARC-CO: $3.82 to $4.52

FSA history, all practices

YearBenchmarkPriceCounty yieldARC-CO $/ac
202187.10$3.7083.85none
202282.51$3.7066.11none

Program year; benchmark yield in bu/acre; benchmark price $/bu; actual county yield; ARC-CO payment rate per acre before the 85% factor. All from FSA’s files. Older program years use older windows and prices, so they are history, not this year’s benchmark.

Soybeans 2026 in Hettinger County: ARC-CO expected to pay more

All practices, 2026: Pick ARC-CO (expected $0 PLC vs $7.73 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 0 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 4).

PLC pays on any season-average price below $10.71, up to $66.46 per base acre at the $6.82 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $28.43 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 4 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $12.00, PLC is expected to pay $0 and ARC-CO $7.73 per base acre.

2027: Pick ARC-CO (expected $1.66 PLC vs $7.63 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 1 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 5). The 2027 view uses FSA’s 2026 benchmark; FSA posts 2027 later.

For a typical farm: FSA’s county average PLC yield 20.1 bu (program year 2025) and the official 22.90 bu benchmark. County yields from this county’s own FSA yields. Run your own numbers in the calculator below.

Average PLC yield on enrolled soybeans base in this county: 20.1 bu (FSA, program year 2025). Your farm’s own is on the FSA-156EZ.

All practices: official 2026 ARC-CO benchmark

Benchmark yield (FSA)22.90 bu
Benchmark price 2026$12.17
Benchmark revenue$278.69/ac
Guarantee (90%)$250.82/ac
Max payment (12%)$33.44/ac
Max per base acre (×85%)$28.43

FSA trend-adjusted county yields (county yield or 80% of T-yield): 2020: 19.2 · 2021: 26.3 · 2022: 18.4 · 2023: 37.87 · 2024: 23.2 (struck: high and low). Middle three average: 22.90 bu.

At a season-average price equal to the 2026 effective reference price ($10.71), PLC pays nothing and ARC-CO pays when the county yield comes in below 23.4 bu, reaching its cap below 20.3 bu.

PLC vs ARC-CO break-even at a 22.90 bu county yield, 2026 prices

PLC yield, % of your official benchmarkWhich pays more, by season-average price
60%
13.7 bu		PLC: $8.27 or lower
ARC-CO: $8.28 to $10.95
70%
16.0 bu		PLC: $8.62 or lower
ARC-CO: $8.63 to $10.95
80%
18.3 bu		PLC: $8.88 or lower
ARC-CO: $8.89 to $10.95
90%
20.6 bu		PLC: $9.08 or lower
ARC-CO: $9.09 to $10.95
100%
22.9 bu		PLC: $9.24 or lower
ARC-CO: $9.25 to $10.95

FSA history, all practices

YearBenchmarkPriceCounty yieldARC-CO $/ac
202122.80$8.9526.30none
202221.66$9.1216.36none

Program year; benchmark yield in bu/acre; benchmark price $/bu; actual county yield; ARC-CO payment rate per acre before the 85% factor. All from FSA’s files. Older program years use older windows and prices, so they are history, not this year’s benchmark.

Wheat 2026 in Hettinger County: leans PLC

All practices, 2026: Leans PLC: expected about $5.12 more per base acre, but the gap is within the normal swing; either is a defensible choice (expected $19.87 PLC vs $14.75 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 4 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3).

PLC pays on any season-average price below $6.35, up to $86.51 per base acre at the $3.72 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $34.99 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 5 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $6.30, PLC is expected to pay $19.87 and ARC-CO $14.75 per base acre.

2027: Leans PLC: expected about $5.12 more per base acre, but the gap is within the normal swing; either is a defensible choice (expected $19.87 PLC vs $14.75 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 4 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3). The 2027 view uses FSA’s 2026 benchmark; FSA posts 2027 later.

For a typical farm: FSA’s county average PLC yield 38.7 bu (program year 2025) and the official 49.14 bu benchmark. County yields from this county’s own FSA yields. Run your own numbers in the calculator below.

Average PLC yield on enrolled wheat base in this county: 38.7 bu (FSA, program year 2025). Your farm’s own is on the FSA-156EZ.

All practices: official 2026 ARC-CO benchmark

Benchmark yield (FSA)49.14 bu
Benchmark price 2026$6.98
Benchmark revenue$343.00/ac
Guarantee (90%)$308.70/ac
Max payment (12%)$41.16/ac
Max per base acre (×85%)$34.99

FSA trend-adjusted county yields (county yield or 80% of T-yield): 2020: 39.21 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 53.29 · 2023: 64.01 · 2024: 54.93 (struck: high and low). Middle three average: 49.14 bu.

At a season-average price equal to the 2026 effective reference price ($6.35), PLC pays nothing and ARC-CO pays when the county yield comes in below 48.6 bu, reaching its cap below 42.1 bu.

PLC vs ARC-CO break-even at a 49.14 bu county yield, 2026 prices

PLC yield, % of your official benchmarkWhich pays more, by season-average price
60%
29.5 bu		PLC: $4.95 or lower
ARC-CO: $4.96 to $6.17
70%
34.4 bu		PLC: $5.15 or lower
ARC-CO: $5.16 to $6.12
80%
39.3 bu		PLC: $5.30 or lower
ARC-CO: $5.31 to $6.00
90%
44.2 bu		PLC: $5.41 or lower
ARC-CO: $5.42 to $5.66
100%
49.1 bu		PLC: $6.34 or lower
ARC-CO: never

FSA history, all practices

YearBenchmarkPriceCounty yieldARC-CO $/ac
202143.13$5.5035.02none
202238.19$5.5051.85none

Program year; benchmark yield in bu/acre; benchmark price $/bu; actual county yield; ARC-CO payment rate per acre before the 85% factor. All from FSA’s files. Older program years use older windows and prices, so they are history, not this year’s benchmark.

Break-even prices are per base acre with both programs on 85% of base and 2026 prices. Your PLC yield is on the FSA-156EZ.

Run your farm’s numbers

Run each crop on each FSA farm number separately. The election is made crop by crop, farm by farm.

From the FSA-156EZ. Base acres are not what you plant; each farm number has its own base.

On the FSA-156EZ for the farm. Each farm has its own.

Fills in from FSA’s official county file when we have it. You can type the number your county office gives you.

County average, not your farm. A normal year often comes in a bit above this.

USDA national season-average price for the marketing year, not your local cash price.

Questions about Hettinger County

Should I pick ARC or PLC for corn in Hettinger County for 2026?

For a typical farm (all practices): Leans ARC-CO: expected about $12.57 more per base acre, but the gap is within the normal swing; either is a defensible choice (expected $0.63 PLC vs $13.20 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 2 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3). PLC pays on any season-average price below $4.42, up to $129.71 per base acre at the $2.42 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $46.16 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 3 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $4.70, PLC is expected to pay $0.63 and ARC-CO $13.20 per base acre. Run your own PLC yield and base acres; the answer can change.

What is the ARC-CO benchmark yield for corn in Hettinger County?

FSA's official 2026 benchmark yield for corn in Hettinger County, North Dakota is 89.97 bu (all practices). The 2026 benchmark price is $5.03. FSA has not posted the 2027 benchmark.

Should I pick ARC or PLC for soybeans in Hettinger County for 2026?

For a typical farm (all practices): Pick ARC-CO (expected $0 PLC vs $7.73 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 0 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 4). PLC pays on any season-average price below $10.71, up to $66.46 per base acre at the $6.82 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $28.43 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 4 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $12.00, PLC is expected to pay $0 and ARC-CO $7.73 per base acre. Run your own PLC yield and base acres; the answer can change.

What is the ARC-CO benchmark yield for soybeans in Hettinger County?

FSA's official 2026 benchmark yield for soybeans in Hettinger County, North Dakota is 22.90 bu (all practices). The 2026 benchmark price is $12.17. FSA has not posted the 2027 benchmark.

Should I pick ARC or PLC for wheat in Hettinger County for 2026?

For a typical farm (all practices): Leans PLC: expected about $5.12 more per base acre, but the gap is within the normal swing; either is a defensible choice (expected $19.87 PLC vs $14.75 ARC-CO per base acre; PLC paid more in 4 of 10 past-year scenarios, ARC-CO in 3). PLC pays on any season-average price below $6.35, up to $86.51 per base acre at the $3.72 loan rate, so it protects against a deep price drop. ARC-CO is capped at $34.99 per base acre but also pays when the county’s yield is short; it paid something in 5 of the 10 past-year scenarios. With prices centered at $6.30, PLC is expected to pay $19.87 and ARC-CO $14.75 per base acre. Run your own PLC yield and base acres; the answer can change.

What is the ARC-CO benchmark yield for wheat in Hettinger County?

FSA's official 2026 benchmark yield for wheat in Hettinger County, North Dakota is 49.14 bu (all practices). The 2026 benchmark price is $6.98. FSA has not posted the 2027 benchmark.

An estimate, not a USDA determination. Source: FSA ARC/PLC program data. Find your county office.

Related: All North Dakota counties · ARC vs PLC calculator · Hettinger County in the Farmland Atlas

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