USDA Reminds Producers of 2014 Acreage Reporting Requirement

CARUTHERSVILLE -- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pemiscot County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Mike Blankenship reminds agricultural producers that July 15, 2014, is the deadline to file an acreage report for spring seeded crops. Planted acres must be reported to FSA by July 15, 2014. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) requires producers on a farm to submit annual acreage reports on all cropland.

Although some federal farm program enrollments have not yet started, timely acreage reports for all crops and land uses, including prevented and failed acreage that producers submit to their local FSA office, are important to ensure program eligibility," said Blankenship.

Acreage reports to FSA are considered timely filed when completed by the applicable final crop reporting deadline, which may vary from state to state. Perennial forage crops intended for grazing or haying were required to be reported last fall, whereas perennial forage crops with an intended use of cover only, green manure, left standing, or seed, must be reported by July 15.

Producers should contact their county FSA office if they are uncertain about acreage reporting deadlines. Blankenship said failed acreage must be reported before the disposition of the crop and prevented planting acreage must be reported within 15 calendar days after the final planting date for the applicable crop.

For any questions on this or any FSA program, including specific crop reporting deadlines and planting dates, producers should contact the Pemiscot County FSA office at 573-333-1923, or seek information online at www.fsa.usda.gov.