USDA reminds Minnesota producers to file crop acreage reports

Agricultural producers in Minnesota who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline.
“Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Whitney Place, state executive director in Minnesota.
“Once planting is complete, call your local FSA office to make an appointment to report your acreage. Our FSA staff can assist producers in completing acreage reports, including providing maps.”
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.
 
How to file a report
The following acreage reporting dates are applicable in Minnesota: 
July 15 – Spring-seeded crops including hemp and wild rice
July 15 – Conservation Reserve Program acres
Aug. 15 – Beans other than dry edibles
Sept. 30 – Turfgrass Sod and Floriculture (1-NAP)
•Nov. 15 – Apiculture and fall-seeded small grains
To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:
•crop and crop type or variety.
•intended use of the crop.
•number of acres of the crop.
•map with approximate boundaries for the crop.
•planting date(s).
•planting pattern, when applicable.
•producer shares.
•irrigation practice(s).
•acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.
•other information as required.
 
Acreage reporting details
The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:
•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.
•If crops are covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, acreage reports should be submitted by the applicable state, county, or crop-specific reporting deadline or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins. 
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. 
 
More information
Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.