FSA extends prevented plant reporting deadline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is extending the prevented plant crop reporting deadline for Minnesota producers affected by spring flooding and excessive moisture.
Producers in many counties now have until July 15, 2019, to report acres they intended to plant this spring but could not due to weather conditions. Affected counties include the southwest Minnesota counties of Rock, Nobles, Pipestone and Murray, as well as many others.
The new deadline coincides with the July 15, 2019, FSA crop acreage reporting deadline that is already in place.
“Producers need to report prevented plant acres to retain eligibility for FSA program benefits,” Joe Martin, state executive director said. “In many areas of the state, excessive moisture has made it challenging for producers to get into their fields to plant, and this deadline extension provides reporting flexibility.”
Normally, the prevented plant reporting deadline is 15 calendar days after the final planting date for a crop as established by FSA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA). The prevented plant reporting deadline extension to July 15 only applies to FSA and does not change any RMA crop insurance reporting deadline requirements.
However, the extension does not apply to crops covered by FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Producers should check with their local FSA office regarding prevented plant provisions for NAP-covered crops.
Producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office as soon as possible to make an appointment to report prevented plant acres and submit their spring crop acreage report. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.
For information regarding RMA crop insurance, contact your Approved Insurance Provider. To find your provider, visit rma.usda.gov/information-tools/agent-locator-page.