Acreage reporting time is here
The annual requirement of reporting crop acreage to the Farm Service Agency county offices has arrived. Referred to as crop reporting, acreage reporting, or crop certification, between now and May 15, producers are encouraged to file accurate and timely reports of all crops being produced on their farms and the different uses of land on their individual farms.
‘Filing an accurate and timely report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, can prevent loss of benefits for a variety of Farm Service Agency programs,’ said Vickie Bouldin, Chairperson of the Warren County FSA Committee. ‘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.
‘Conservation Reserve Program acreage must be reported to receive annual rental payments. In addition, crops acreage for Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) must also be reported,’ she added.
Crop reports, form FSA-578, Report of Acreage, must account for all cropland on a farm, whether idle or planted. Producers are required to file reports by May 15 for fall seeded crops such as wheat, barley, and oats. Spring seeded crops such as corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, hay and pasture, nursery stock, burley tobacco, should be reported to FSA by July 15.
Bouldin said that producers should make every effort to report accurately.
‘Measurement service is available to producers who are not certain of the exact acreage to report,’ she said.
Specialty crops such as vegetables and sod have specific reporting dates for each crop.
‘I would encourage producers of these specialty crops to contact the FSA Service Center at (931) 473-2277 to ensure a timely report is made,’ Bouldin noted.
Producers should also be aware of that when producers are prevented from planting a specific crop, a report must be filed within 15 days after the final planting date of the crop.
Acreage that is planted and then fails due to a disaster related conditions must be reported and a Report of Failed Acreage must be filed before disposition of the crop. Producers must be able to establish to the satisfaction of the county committee that the crop failed and was prevented or was prevented from being replanted through the normal planting period because of natural disasters.
The local Farm Service Agency will accept acreage reports during regular business hours of 8 a.m. until 4:30 Monday through Friday at the office located at 811 Faulkner Springs Rd., McMinnville. If you need further information, please contact the FSA office at (931) 473-2277.
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