Edward Huston, acting executive director in Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, said producers who file accurate and timely reports for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, can prevent the potential loss of FSA program benefits.

“In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Butler/Beaver/Allegheny County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline,” said CED Huston.

The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Butler/Beaver/Allegheny County:

2018 crops

- Aug. 15 — Beans, cabbage

2019 crops

- Sept. 30, 2018 — Value-loss and controlled environment crops including but not limited to Christmas trees, turfgrass sod, aquaculture, ginseng, mushrooms (excludes nursery)

- Nov. 15, 2018 — Fall forage feeding, PRF/perennial forage, fall-seeded small grains

- Jan. 2, 2019 — (and within 30 days of acquisition/placement of colonies) honey

- Jan. 16, 2019 — Maple sap (covered under NAP), apples, grapes, peaches, and pears

- May 31, 2019 — Nursery crops (covered under NAP)

- June 15, 2019 — Spring barley, spring forage seeding, spring oats, rye, triticale, spring wheat.

Exceptions

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

- If the crop has not been planted by the above 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 above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

- If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing” or “seed,” then the acreage must be reported by July 15, 2018.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting.

Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and the Risk Management Agency.

According to Huston, 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.

For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, contact the Butler/Beaver/Allegheny County FSA office at 724-482-4800, Ext. 2.