FAQ: The deadline for reporting my 2012 planted acreage to FSA is June 30. That's when my local FSA office wants the information. Seems like each year the past few years USDA is asking for more information. Why?
Answer: Farmers have to report planted acreage to the local Farm Service Agency office each year to maintain eligibility for USDA farm programs. In 2012, the deadline for reporting spring-planted crops is June 30. In recent years more than just acreage is required. Farmers wonder what is going on--why has this process of certifying acreage become more detailed? Why is FSA asking for more information about the crop and each field?
Report Planted Acres by June 30
Beth Grabau, public information and outreach specialist at the state FSA office in Des Moines answered that question along with the following questions. FSA program specialists Kevin McClure and Vickie Friedow assisted. For more information, contact your county FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.
QUESTION: There seems to be so many different things I need to report to my local FSA office, like prevented planting/failed acreage, NAP crops, forage, etc. Why is it important to report my planted acreage, and what programs require it?
Answer: Many FSA programs use the crops that were planted as a basis for eligibility and in the case of CRP, cropping history is used. Crop reporting is also needed to meet FSA program eligibility requirements. Producers must file their reports accurately and timely for all crops and land uses, including prevented and failed acreage, to ensure they receive the maximum FSA program benefits possible. For Iowa, the final reporting date for most crops is June 30.
Producers who were prevented from planting must file these reports within 15 calendar days after the final planting date. Failed acreage must be reported before disposition of the crop.
Farmers must report crops under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) which are harvested prior to June 30 by the earlier of June 30, 2012 or 15 calendar days before the onset of harvest or grazing. Farmers should contact their county FSA office if they're uncertain about reporting deadlines for NAP crops--as they do vary. NAP provides coverage for crops for which at least the catastrophic level of insurance isn't available.
Accurate acreage reports are necessary to determine and maintain eligibility for the following programs, but are not limited to: Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP)/Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Price Support programs, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and newer programs authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. Those include the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE) and Livestock Forage Program (LFP).
QUESTION: Each year crop reporting seems to get more and more detailed. My local FSA office asks for more information than the year before. What do I need to bring with me when I go to the FSA office to report my 2012 crops?
Answer: Programs administered by FSA require detailed information be provided by producers on their crop reports. The information on these reports is used to determine eligibility for some programs and to determine payments for others. So the reports are getting more detailed and county FSA offices may be required to request additional information.
To ensure the accuracy of crop report information provided by producers, each producer should bring with them their planting dates, not only for the traditional crops, but for all crops including hay and forage. If a field was planted over a number of days, the average planting date for the field will be accepted.
It is important to accurately report the number of acres in a field. If a whole field has been subdivided into more than one crop, the number of acres in each subdivision is needed. You need to certify the intended use for the crop. In other words will the crop be used for grain, silage, hay, grazing, etc.?