Source: USDA, 7/1/20 Agricultural
producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting
should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office
before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but
acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop. Contact your FSA county
office for acreage reporting deadlines that are specific to your county.“The first step to become eligible for many USDA programs is to file an accurate crop acreage report,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “To file your acreage report, call your local FSA office to make an appointment. Your local staff is standing by to help you.”
Due to the pandemic, FSA has implemented acreage reporting flexibilities. FSA
can work with producers to file timely acreage reports by phone, email, online
tools and virtual meetings. Some FSA offices are open for in-person
appointments, but you must call first to make an appointment. Many FSA offices are using Microsoft Teams software to virtually
meet with producers to review maps and documents for certification. Producers
who want to schedule a virtual appointment can download the Microsoft Teams app
on their smart phone or tablet and call the FSA office for an appointment. You
may also use Microsoft Teams from your personal computer without downloading
software. County offices can provide producers with maps along with
instructions for completing and returning the maps through either mail, email
or through commercially available free and secure online tools such as Box for
file sharing and OneSpan for eSignature solutions. After planting is complete,
producers should return completed maps and the acreage reporting sheet by the
applicable deadline. After completed maps and all acreage reporting information is
received, FSA will make software updates and send producers the completed
Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) to sign. Producers must return the signed form
certifying their acreage report to the FSA office through mail, email or the
Box and OneSpan tools by the applicable deadline. The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates: =
If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date,
the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is
completed. =
If a producer has not timely filed an acreage report, the
producer may file the acreage report within 30 days of the acreage reporting
date. Because of the pandemic, late fees will be waived if filed within the 30
days. FSA is also providing additional flexibilities for producers to
file on acres with failed crops or crops that were prevented from planting
because of extreme weather events. For insured crops, producers who timely
filed a prevented planted claim with the reinsurance company but filed a Notice
of Loss (CCC-576) form after the deadline will be considered timely filed for
FSA purposes. For uninsured crops, producers may start a Notice of Loss by
calling their FSA county office. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) 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. When producers are working with FSA staff – either in-person or virtually – they can also take care of applications for other FSA programs, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). A CFAP Call Center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. The CFAP Call Center can provide service to non-English speaking customers. Customers will select 1 for English and 2 to speak with a Spanish-speaking employee. For other languages, customers select 1 and indicate their language to the Call Center staff. Applications can also be submitted for the Wildfire and
Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus for 2018 and 2019 as well as other disaster
assistance programs that may be able to assist producers at this time. For questions, please call your FSA county office. To find your
FSA county office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator. All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some
that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only.
All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural
Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call
ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for
appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel
and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors may also be
required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Field work will
continue with appropriate social distancing. Our program delivery staff will be
in the office, and they will be working with our producers in office, by phone
and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
|