WASHINGTON – Commodity producers should verify and update records on planted and prevented-planted acres filed with USDA’s Farm Service Agency, according to Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.
This information, required by the 2002 Farm Bill, must be correct in order to receive accurate direct and counter-cyclical payments in the near future.
Bill specifics. The 2002 Farm Bill provides for direct and counter-cyclical payments to be made to eligible producers of covered commodity crops for the 2002-2007 crops.
Covered commodities include wheat, corn, sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, rice, soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, flaxseed, mustard, safflower and rapeseed.
Letters from FSA are being mailed to producers across the country asking for their updates. The letter will include a Summary Acreage History Report showing the acreage of covered commodities reported to FSA.
Included will be planted acres and/or acres prevented from being planted for 1998 through 2001.
Verifying records. If the information is correct, producers do not need to take any action. If the information is wrong, producers will need to provide verifiable documentation of acreage and yields to their local FSA office by Aug. 31, 2003.
Verifiable documentation may include seed receipts, production records and crop insurance records.
Producers who have questions should contact their local USDA Service Center or county FSA office. Information about 2002 Farm Bill issues is available at www.usda.gov/farmbill.
