ARC vs PLC › Vermont
ARC-CO and PLC · FSA official
Vermont ARC-CO benchmark yields for 2026, by county
FSA’s official program year 2026 ARC-CO benchmark yields for 14 Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addison | Corn | All practices | 112.17 | $564 | $58 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 38.44 | $468 | $48 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 46.33 | $323 | $33 | |
| Bennington | Corn | All practices | 131.00 | $659 | $67 |
| Caledonia | Corn | All practices | 142.97 | $719 | $73 |
| Chittenden | Corn | All practices | 146.91 | $739 | $75 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 44.01 | $536 | $55 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 43.00 | $300 | $31 | |
| Essex | Corn | All practices | 159.59 | $803 | $82 |
| Franklin | Corn | All practices | 151.47 | $762 | $78 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 48.35 | $588 | $60 | |
| Grand Isle | Corn | All practices | 147.00 | $739 | $75 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 52.75 | $642 | $65 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 46.33 | $323 | $33 | |
| Lamoille | Corn | All practices | 139.77 | $703 | $72 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 45.00 | $548 | $56 | |
| Orange | Corn | All practices | 153.61 | $773 | $79 |
| Orleans | Corn | All practices | 140.28 | $706 | $72 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 45.00 | $548 | $56 | |
| Wheat | All practices | 46.33 | $323 | $33 | |
| Rutland | Corn | All practices | 131.00 | $659 | $67 |
| Soybeans | All practices | 45.00 | $548 | $56 | |
| Washington | Corn | All practices | 143.67 | $723 | $74 |
| Windham | Corn | All practices | 187.39 | $943 | $96 |
| Windsor | Corn | All practices | 154.83 | $779 | $79 |
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 Vermont 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 · Vermont cash rent by county · Vermont Farmland Atlas
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