Hello Again!
I can’t believe that it is already the middle of May. Before we know it, it will be Memorial Day weekend, kids will be getting out of school, and spare time will be spent at numerous graduation barbecues. Ready or not, summer is right around the corner, and so are some important Farm Service Agency deadlines!
The Farm Service Agency wants to remind farmers to make sure to certify all crops and land uses for 2010. The final deadline to report acreage planted to small grains, such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, is June 30, 2010. The deadline for hay, corn, tobacco, soybeans, fruits, vegetables and all other crops must be reported to the FSA office by July 15, 2010. Any crop filed after the deadlines will require a late fee.
Acreage reports of farms are required for a variety of Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs. All cropland on the farm, including planted, idle, prevent planted, or failed must be certified in order to receive program payments, such as the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP), Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE), Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE) Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL), and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP).
Acreage reports are also required to establish eligibility for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Participants in CRP must have all practices certified by the final reporting deadline. Crops that have NAP coverage must be reported within 15 calendar days of the onset of harvest.
Failed acreage on a farm must be reported within 15 days of the disaster event and before disposition of the crop. Prevented planting acreage must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date.
Farmers should keep in mind that filing timely reports of crops and land uses can prevent the loss of benefits for many programs. Also, when certifying acreage, remember to bring planting dates for each field!
FSA has another deadline reminder for the participants in the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program. There are two production components to ACRE that participating producers are required to report. In order to establish the Historical Benchmark Farm Yield, producers must submit production for each ACRE crop produced for years 2004 through 2008 for each ACRE farm.
Secondly, producers are required to submit current annual Actual Farm Yields for each ACRE crop and farm (2009 crop yields). The deadline for all required production evidence is July 15, 2010. Don’t hesitate; submit your ACRE evidence soon!
As always, acreage reporting and ACRE production questions can be answered by calling or visiting your local Farm Service Agency Office. We love to hear from you!
That’s All for Now,
FSA Andy
