After the long, cold, snowy winter it appears spring is just around the corner. Daylight is longer and even the sun is shining; temperatures are rising, so spring has to arrive soon.

Producers will soon be spreading lime, fertilizer and manure when soil conditions permit, which still could be a few weeks away.

By now, most producers would also know if they will be operating the same acres as last year, adding new acres or farming less acres. It would be a good idea to update information at FSA before the planting and crop reporting season begins.

If an existing farm needs to be reconstituted due to a sale, development or another producer operating part of the farm — now is the time to update records at FSA.

Producers that want to transfer FSA records to another county should also start the process now as it may take 3 to 4 months to complete a farm transfer.

Conservation reserve program reminder

CREP participants are being reminded that early spring would provide a good opportunity to assess weed control of CREP land.

Scouting CREP acreage early enough in the spring would provide the best window to apply herbicides if needed before weed pressure increases as weeds grow in height.

Also, with the increase in natural gas pipelines being installed throughout much of Western Pennsylvania, CREP participants will need to ensure guidelines are being followed to avoid a payment reduction. A few items such as FSA prior approval of proposed project, original vegetation restored and prohibiting all activities during the primary nesting and brood rearing season — which is April 1 to Aug. 1 — are all part of the guidelines.

Crop insurance reminder

All producers are being reminded of the Saturday deadline to purchase crop insurance on spring planted crops. FSA does not sell the insurance but we can provide a list of agents.

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