FAQ: If I’m not able to plant a field this spring due to flooding, what should I do regarding FSA?
Answer: Provided by Vickie Friedow, state conservation and compliance program specialist with USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Des Moines.
Prevented planting occurs when a crop cannot be planted during the established planting period for the crop because of a natural disaster. If you are unable to plant crops this spring due to a natural disaster, you should report these prevented planting acres to the county FSA office.
If a crop could not be planted because of a natural disaster, a CCC-576 Notice of Loss must be provided within 15 days of the crop’s established final planting date. The established final planting dates are as follows:
Corn: May 31, 2010
Soybeans: June 15, 2010
Crop and acreage reporting is required for participation in many FSA programs, and it is a good way to maintain cropping history. Certified crop reports are used by the county office staff to determine compliance with certain farm programs and, perhaps, eligibility for future programs.
Question: What is “failed” acreage?
Failed acreage is acreage that was planted in a timely way with the intent to harvest, but because of disaster-related conditions, the crop failed before it could be harvested.
A producer must be able to prove to the FSA county committee’s satisfaction that:
- The crop was planted with the intent to harvest using farming practices consistent for the crop and area.
- The acreage failed because of disaster-related conditions.
Acreage reports for failed crops shall be filed before the disposition of the crop. Insured crops not reported before the disposition must be reported prior to the final crop reporting date.
If you have specific questions or need details regarding USDA farm programs, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office. You can also get news and information about DCP, ACRE and other USDA programs at www.fsa.usda.gov.
Two Iowa State University Extension Web sites have farm program information and analysis. They are ISU's Ag Decision Maker site at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm and ISU Extension Specialist Steve Johnson's site at www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/farmmanagement.htm.
And be sure to read the regular column "Frequently Asked Questions about the Farm Program" that appears in each issue of Wallaces Farmer magazine and at www.WallacesFarmer.com