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Perennial forage, spring-seeded crops and CRP acreage reports are due to the Minnesota FSA office.

July 10, 2020

4 Min Read
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FILING FLEXIBILITY: Due to the pandemic, Farm Service Agency staff are working with farmers to file acreage reports via phone, email and online.Paula Mohr

USDA’s Farm Service Agency staff in Minnesota is reminding producers to complete crop acreage reports by the applicable deadlines specific for their counties and for their crops.

FSA state executive director Joe Martin says producers must fill an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline in order to be eligible for USDA programs.

“Our FSA staff is standing by to help you with your acreage reports, including providing maps,” Martin says.

Minnesota’s acreage reporting dates are:

  • July 15: perennial forage, spring-seeded crops, Conservation Reserve Program

  • August 15: hemp (must provide license number)

Due to the pandemic, FSA has implemented acreage reporting flexibilities. FSA can work with producers to file timely acreage reports by phone, email, online tools and virtual meetings. Some FSA offices are open for in-person appointments. However, farmers must call first to make an appointment.

FSA offices are using Microsoft Teams software to virtually meet with producers to review maps and documents for certification. Producers who want to schedule a virtual appointment can download the Microsoft Teams app on their smartphone or tablet and call the FSA office for an appointment.

You can also use Microsoft Teams from your personal computer without downloading software.

FSA county offices in Minnesota provided maps to producers along with instructions for completing and returning the maps through either mail, email or through commercially available free and secure online tools such as Box for file sharing and OneSpan for e-signature solutions.

After planting is complete, producers must return the signed form certifying their acreage report to the FSA office through mail, email or the Box and OneSpan tools by the applicable reporting date.

After completed maps and all acreage reporting information is received, FSA will make software updates and send producers the completed Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) to sign. Producers must return the signed form certifying their acreage report to the FSA office through mail, email or Box by the applicable reporting date.

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

  • If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.

  • If a producer has not timely filed an acreage report, the producer may file the acreage report within 30 days of the acreage reporting date. Because of the pandemic, late fees will be waived if filed within the 30 days.

FSA is also providing additional flexibilities for producers to file on acres with failed crops or crops that were prevented from planting because of extreme weather events. For insured crops, producers who timely filed a prevented planted claim with the reinsurance company but filed a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) form after the deadline will be considered timely filed for FSA purposes. For uninsured crops, producers may start a Notice of Loss by calling their FSA county office.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above, or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

When producers are working with FSA staff — either in-person or virtually — they can also take care of applications for other FSA programs, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

A CFAP Call Center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. The CFAP Call Center can provide service to non-English speaking customers. Customers will select 1 for English and 2 to speak with a Spanish speaking employee. For other languages, customers select 1 and indicate their language to the Call Center staff.

Applications can also be submitted for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus for 2018 and 2019, as well as other disaster assistance programs that may be able to assist producers at this time.

For questions, please call your FSA county office. Go online to locate your local FSA office.

Source: USDA FSA Minnesota, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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