FSA accepting acreage reports

The annual requirement of reporting planted crops to the FSA Office can be referred to as crop reporting, acreage reporting, or crop certification. Filing an accurate and timely report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, can prevent loss of benefits for a variety of Farm Service Agency programs.

Robert Helmer, County Executive Director for the Evangeline Parish FSA Office, emphasizes planted acreage reports are not mandatory; however, in the absence of a Farm Bill it just makes “good business sense” to report planted crop acreage to the Farm Service Agency. More than likely, in any future Farm Bill, the reporting of planted crop acreages will be necessary for participation in at least some of USDA’s programs.

Additionally, Conservation Reserve Program acreage must be reported to receive annual rental payments. Also crop acreage for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) must be reported. Prevented planting reports need to be filed before disposition of the crop, and producers must be able to establish tot he satisfaction of the county committee that the crop failed and was prevented from being replanted through the normal planting period because of natural disaster conditions. Visit your local FSA Office for more details.