Ag department reminds Maine producers to file crop acreage reports

Agricultural producers in Maine who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting are urged to make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency service center before the applicable deadline.

The major deadline for most crops is Monday, July 17.

“Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Sherry Hamel, state executive director in Maine, according to a news release from the Bangor-based Farm Service Agency. “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.

Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. Contact your local FSA office for a list of acreage reporting deadlines by crop.

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.

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.

• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program 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.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster.

Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units through the farmers.gov portal. Through a new mapping feature, producers can import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture planting boundaries. A farmers.gov account offers a variety of self-service opportunities for FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service customers, including managing FSA farm loans and NRCS conservation contracts.

Video tutorials, including how to use mapping tools, are available on the farmers.gov YouTube channel.

Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA service center at farmers.gov/service-locator.