Now that crops are getting planted, it is important for producers to remember that June 15 is the final day to report planted acres of spring seeded oats, barley, triticale and rye that will be harvested for grain as well as any new seeded hay fields; established hay fields and winter grains were to be reported by Nov. 15 but can still be reported without being charged a late fee this year. Small grain crops that will be harvested as forage can be reported to FSA up until July 15. July 15 is the final day to report all crop and land uses to FSA for corn, soybeans, sweet corn, fruits and vegetables. Producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) have until Aug. 15 to report the CREP acres.

It would be much easier on everyone if there was just one deadline date but, at this point, that does not seem possible. To summarize, the reporting deadlines are:

• November 15 — Established Hay, Wheat, Fall Barley & Rye

• June 15 — Spring seeded oats, barley, triticale, rye and new seeded hay

• July 15 — Corn, Soybeans, Sweet Corn, Fruits and Vegetables

• Aug. 15 — CRP/CREP acreage

Aerial photos can be requested via mail, and then they can be completed at home and returned by mail or in person to the office. Once the report is entered in the computer system a paper report is generated which requires the producer’s signature. It normally takes only around 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, the important thing is to get it 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 2010 aerial digital imagery that is in color which 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 before 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.