Although there seemed to be a lot of confusion over the June 1 deadline for DCP enrollment, it is important for producers to remember that June 15 is the final day to report planted acres of wheat, oats, barley or rye that will be harvested for grain.

Small grain crops that will be harvested as forage can be reported to the FSA until July 16, which is the final day to report all crop and land uses to the FSA for all other crops including hay, corn, soybeans, CREP, fruits and vegetables.

It would be much easier on everyone if there was just one deadline date, but at this point,it does not seem possible. It was requested on numerous occasions, but the FSA national office rejected the idea.

Aerial photographs can be requested via mail, and they can be completed at home and returned by mail or in person to the office.

Once again this year, planting dates are a required entry. It normally takes only about 20 minutes to complete an acreage report for a farm. Some producers feel more comfortable completing their report at the office, while others prefer to do theirs at home.

Either way is acceptable as long as it gets done. Sometimes a future program depends upon previous years reported crop acres.

We have some producers that file an acreage report each year just so documentation is on file of the crops produced for the IRS. FSA currently has aerial digital imagery in color that makes acreage reporting easier than in previous years.

Producers that are participating in current FSA programs are required to report all crop and land uses on cropland acres on their farm.

Most participating producers have a system developed that permits timely accurate reports in very few minutes. For those producers that are unsure of the acres in each field, FSA measurement service is available.

Acres can be measured on the farm using a mobile GPS unit or from the office using 2010 satellite digital imagery. Contact the office for farm specific rates.

If measurement service has been requested prior to the acreage reporting deadline, the measured acreage is considered timely filed even if the actual measurement occurs after the reporting deadline.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.