FARMERS REMINDED TO REPORT CROPS TO FSA AFTER PLANTING

Iowa producers should consider reporting their 2000 crops to the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office as they complete spring planting, according to Bob Soukup, State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency.
The acreage reporting requirements depend on what FSA programs a farmer participates in. Soukup said crop acreage reports are required in the following situations:
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage must be reported.
Acreage of fruits and vegetables planted by producers participating in the seven-year Agricultural Market Transition Program (AMTA) must be reported.
Producers in the AMTA program growing feed grains or wheat and all soybean producers desiring nine-month crop loans or Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP's) after harvest need to report acreage for those crops. LDP's are payable when the market price for the commodity is less than the county loan rate.
Acreage of crops eligible for the Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP), which are crops for which Federal Crop Insurance is not available, must be reported. NAP operates similar to catastrophic crop insurance policies and provides comparable protection for producers on crops that cannot be insured.
Producers with these situations should contact their local FSA office at their earliest convenience to make arrangements to report their acreage. Timely reporting is necessary to determine and maintain eligibility for USDA program benefits. Producers reporting after June 30, 2000, are subject to late filing fees.
"Producers with crops that do not fall into any of the above situations who wish to maintain an official record of their crop acreage with FSA may voluntarily report their acreage by the June 30 deadline at no cost," Soukup added.
Don't jeopardize potential program benefits by not timely reporting planted acreage on all farms. Farmers needing more information about crop reporting or those wishing to set up an appointment to report should contact their local FSA office.