Checklist for Smarter Farm Decisions
Preparing for a new season starts with the right information.
This checklist helps farmers, alongside their crop agent or other advisors, work through six key financial and risk planning steps—before major choices are made.
ESSENTIAL – FARM VAULT
1.
Gather Data
Pull your current CCC-866 and FSA-156EZ to confirm the base acres you have.
Finalize your 2026 planting intentions.
Use your 2025 Summary of Insurance (SOI) as a starting point for 2026 decisions.
ESSENTIAL – BUDGET BUILDER
Build a Budget and Calculate a Break-Even
2.
Create a 2026 budget, calculate your break-even ($/bushel) by crop, and project net income.
Determine the maximum amount you can lose in 2026.
ESSENTIAL – ARC/PLC CALCULATOR
3.
Understand Your Potential Federal Farm Program Payments
Know your projected 2025 ARC or PLC payment, expected in October 2026.
Understand your potential ARC or PLC payment for the 2026 crop year (sign-up likely delayed to summer).
Understand how Farm Bridge Assistance payments (starting 2/28) and other programs affect your cash flow.
ESSENTIAL – CROP INSURANCE OPTIMIZER
Optimize Crop Insurance
4.
Optimize crop insurance with your agent, considering area-based programs (ECO/SCO) with 80% premium subsidies and other recent program updates.
Understand your true coverage, including any gaps or overlaps between your base policy, ECO/SCO, and ARC/PLC.
REVENUE PRO – CROP SALES & MARKETING
Make Confident Grain Marketing Decisions
5.
Determine how many bushels you can confidently market, based on your crop insurance guarantee.
Determine how much of your crop is sold, hedged, or still unprotected.
View projected revenue, factoring in what is sold, unsold, and any hedging gains or losses.
PREMIUM – FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Ensure You Are Always Bankable
6.
Keep key financial statements, including consolidated financial statements, stored in a shareable location.
Complete a financial scorecard that shows strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to improve financial health.
Review options to restructure equipment debt, if needed, to free up working capital for 2026.
Let us show you.
Discover how Tilley can transform your farm operations by requesting a personalized demo today. Seeing Tilley in action will reveal why it’s the best choice to help you grow your agricultural venture efficiently and sustainably. Don’t just imagine the possibilities—let us show you the difference Tilley can make.
