Unseasonably warm weather has spring planting on the minds of farmers across the upper Midwest. With planting comes crop insurance considerations. Acreage reporting may not be top priority, but attention to detail today plays a key role in both insurance premiums and the amount of insurance provided.
Understanding the rules, terminology, and timelines of acreage reporting is important. Knowing what to include in your report will lead to a smooth process and ensure compliance in the program.
Acreage reporting date
Farmers must submit an annual acreage report for all insured crops in which they have interest in. All planted acres for each crop grown must be reported by the acreage reporting deadline. Report each planted crop by section with the final date that planting was completed.
Acres must be reported and certified by the insured to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and your crop insurance agent. It is very important to report in a timely fashion to be eligible for various USDA programs.
Early plant dates
Early plant dates vary between crop and county. Crops planted before the early plant date are not eligible for replant payments for those acres.
Final plant dates
Final plant dates also vary between crop and county. Acres that are planted on or before the final plant date will receive the complete yield or revenue guarantee.
Late plant
The late planting period begins the day after the final planting date of a crop and ends 25 days after the final planting date unless otherwise specified in the Crop Provisions or Special Provisions. Acres planted after the final plant dates can receive a guarantee, but the amount is reduced each day following the final plant date.
How to Report
Farmers are required to contact both FSA and your crop insurance specialist to complete your acreage report. The farmer will need to sign off once they verify the accuracy of the report, which must include all rented, owned, and prevent plant acres.
All insurable and uninsurable acres must be reported to FSA. If a farmer reports acres to FSA first, their crop insurance specialist can request their reported crop acres from FSA. They will then need to sign a completed crop insurance acreage report with their insurance specialist.
If a farmer reports acres to their insurance specialist first, the insurance specialist can send a completed crop insurance acreage report to FSA. The farmer still needs to sign at FSA and report all acres that are not covered with their multi-peril crop insurance policy.
Precision Planting
Today’s technology can assist farmers in reporting data. Precious planting equipment that is calibrated can collect data to send to insurance specialists. A farmer’s specialist will then have them review and sign their acreage report electronically.
Details to Report
Acreage reports contain an array of important details. Please ensure all details are correct before reporting.
Items to note in your report:
• Intended use
• Number of acres
• Practice
• Plant dates
• Producer Interest/share
• Irrigation practice
• Prevent plant acres, if applicable
• Farm maps with boundaries from FSA
• Common land unit (CLU) from FSA of planted acres
o Farm number
o Farm tract number
o Farm field number
• Contract crops–include a copy of your processor contract, signed by all parties
