Make sure to report your planted acres

Reporting Crop Acreage

Most FSA offices are in the middle of their heaviest traffic flow of the year- receiving acreage reports. I can’t over emphasize the importance and benefits of reporting your planted acres as soon as possible after your planting is completed. By getting in to FSA as soon as planting is completed, the planted acres in each field will be fresher in your mind. This will also allow you to have your acreages in balance and an aerial photo in your hand when you report at your crop insurance agent.

Acreage reporting is mandatory for many programs and is a good way to maintain your farms’ crop history. Throughout farm program history, compiled acreage data has been used to develop new farm programs and also provide valuable statistical data.

If you report your acres at FSA before you file with your crop insurance agent, your acres will be in balance and you have less chance of the need for an amended acreage report later. FSA and RMA records must match, including acreages, shares and entity names.

The official deadline for reporting acres at FSA without a late filing fee is July 15, but a good practice is to file at FSA as soon as possible after planting is completed. Producers are also reminded that planting dates, on all fields, are now required for crop reporting.

Most FSA offices would like you to call ahead for an appointment if at all possible. Making appointments helps to level the traffic flow and also allows FSA a chance to pull your folders ahead of time. That results in less waiting at the counter for you when you file your report.

Milk Income Loss Contracts

It looks like the MILC program will be paying qualified dairies for the next several months. Program participants need to remember to keep FSA informed if they change milk marketers or if they bring another person into the operation or change the entity in any way. If you are involved in a dairy that does not participate in other FSA programs you will also have to update your eligibility papers.

Conservation Reserve Program

Near the end of May, FSA offices were notified of the results of the last CRP sign up. Folks who offered bids should expect their notification of accepted and rejected offers soon. If you haven’t already heard the results on your bid, contact your FSA office. Nationwide, there were 4.5 million acres offered, and approximately 3.9 million acres accepted. USDA will continue targeting of CRP acres through continuous sign up initiatives of more highly erodible land.

Report Severe Weather Losses to FSA

Some parts of Minnesota have already experienced severe weather this year. FSA is often called upon to assess the amount of damage from natural disasters such as hail, drought, excessive rain, flooding, early freeze, tornadoes, or other kinds of weather extremes, even high wind damage to crops, farm buildings, livestock facilities, or to livestock themselves. Farmers and landowners should remember that FSA needs reports from folks in the country when you have experienced such an event. If you experience significant weather related incidents, consider calling or stopping at the local FSA office to help us gather information on the event to get a better assessment of the seriousness in the county.