SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) have established 15 common acreage reporting dates for producers participating in RMA and FSA programs.
“For Ohio producers, this means the number of acreage reporting dates will decrease from five to four,” said Brian D. Frieden, director of the Springfield Regional Office, Risk Management Agency.
2012 crop year
Spring and summer planted crops will be the first to be impacted by this change beginning with the 2012 crop year.
July 15 will be the acreage reporting date for the following Ohio crops: burley tobacco, spring cabbage (planted 3/15-5/31), corn, grain sorghum, hybrid corn seed, spring oats, popcorn, potatoes, soybeans, tomatoes, and any other crops not listed elsewhere.
The acreage reporting date for summer cabbage (planted 6/01-7/20) will be Aug. 15.
2013 crop year
Perennial and fall-planted crops in Ohio will see acreage reporting date changes beginning with the 2013 crop year.
Those dates are as follows: Jan. 15 for apples and grapes; Dec. 15 for fall barley, fall wheat, and any other fall-seeded small grains.
Reduced to 15
Frieden noted that prior to this streamlining initiative RMA had 54 acreage reporting dates for 122 crops across the United States.
As a result of the streamlining initiative, that number has been reduced to 15.
The goal of these common dates between RMA and FSA is to reduce some of the reporting burden on producers and allow USDA agencies to share similar data.
“As always, it is important for the insured to discuss how these dates will affect him or her, as well as any other questions or concerns, with their crop insurance agent,” reminded Frieden.
For more information and a list of local crop insurance agents, visit the RMA Web site at www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html.
