View from the Cab: Report those acres

By Kent Casson

Now that most have completed the planting season (at least for the first time), it is time to get in to your local Farm Service Agency office to report crop acreage.

Farmers should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline.

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county.  Contact your local FSA office for a list of acreage reporting deadlines by crop.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster.

Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

FSA offers continuous certification for perennial forage.  This means after perennial forage is reported once and the producer elects continuous certification, the certification remains in effect until a change is made.  Check with FSA at the local USDA Service Center for more information on continuous certification.

If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.

If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

Many growers have moved on from planting to begin side-dressing corn, post-spraying corn and soybeans and mowing roadsides. Mowing seems to be something that never ends – especially after non-stop showers.