2007 acreage reports due by next Monday

The annual requirement of reporting to the FSA office can be referred to as crop reporting, acreage reporting, or crop certification. Filing an accurate and timely report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, can prevent loss of benefits for a variety of FSA programs. All cropland on the farm must be reported to receive benefits from the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program, marketing assistance loans and Loan Deficiency Payments.

The certification form FSA-578, Report of Acreage, must account for all cropland on a farm whether idle or planted.

‘Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Noninsurable Acreage Program (NAP) must be reported to receive annual rental payments,’ said Steve Glenn, Warren County Committee vice chairperson.

Due to weather conditions this year, producers may have field that have not been planted; prevented planting of crop acreage needs to be reported no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting dates.

‘Failed acreage reports must also be filed before disposition of the crop, and producers must be able to establish to the satisfaction of the county committee that the crop failed and was prevented from being replanted through the normal planting period because of natural disasters,’ said Glenn.

Glenn says the local office staff reports that many producers need to visit the local office and complete their acreage reporting.

‘Producers who have not completed enrollment in the DCP program must still report their crops by the July 15 date,’ Glenn noted. ‘The local office and state FSA office requested an extension of the reporting date, but this has been denied.’

Acreage reports filed after July 16 will be charged a late acreage reporting fee to complete their acreage reports.

Producers should visit the local FSA service center located at 811 Faulkner Springs Road during regular business hours to complete their acreage reporting requirements.