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Farmers reminded to report crop plantings

PLATTSBURGH "" Donald LaPierre, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Clinton County and for Essex County, reminds producers not to forget to report what they've planted by July 16 to the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Annual crop reporting is also referred to as acreage reporting or crop certification.

"Filing accurate and timely reports for crops and land uses, including failed and prevented planted acreages, can prevent loss of benefits for many FSA programs," LaPierre said. "All cropland included in your farming operation must be reported to receive benefits from a variety of USDA programs."

According to LaPierre, "crop reporting is used by FSA to determine eligibility for commodity loans and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP's), disaster programs and Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Programs (NAP) and to verify compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions." Crop reporting is used in determining compliance with farm programs and in making various current and future program decisions, such as crop base history.

LaPierre says some of the programs that use the crop-reporting information includes LDP's, Direct and Counter-Cyclical Programs (DCP), and Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL). Conservation Reserve Programs (CRP or CREP) acreage must be reported to receive annual rental payments. And, crop acreage for NAP must also be reported.

Crop reports must account for all cropland on a farm, even if left idle. Producers are required to report planted acres in Clinton, Essex or Franklin counties by July 16.

LaPierre adds that if natural-disaster conditions prevented a farmer from planting a crop during the normal planting period, the prevented planted acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date for the crop. If the crop failed due to disaster-related conditions, the failed acreage must be reported before disposition of the crop.

"If you miss the final crop reporting dates, you can file a late crop report if you pay a late-filed fee, the cost of a farm visit and the costs of verification of crop acreage," LaPierre said. Existence of the crop, or its undisturbed residue must be in the field at the time of filing a late crop report.

Finally, LaPierre said that if farmers are unsure of accurate acreages, they may want to consider using FSA's measurement service prior to reporting crops. FSA will measure acreage to determine the exact area designated for specific crop land or land use. Farmers can check with their local office for measurement service rates.

For more information on crop reporting or any FSA programs, contact the local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov