BANGOR — U.S. Department of Agriculture Maine Farm Service Agency Executive Director, SED Don Todd reminds farmers and ranchers that they have until Aug. 1 to enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2016 crop year.

The programs trigger financial protections for participating agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices or revenues. Nationwide, more than 1.76 million farmers and ranchers are expected to sign contracts to enroll in ARC or PLC. Covered commodities under the programs include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain and sweet rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.

FMI: www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, Offices.usda.gov, www.usda.gov/results.