Local farmers face reporting deadline

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Ross Moore in Benton County stated on Monday that local farmers are running out of time to report prevented planting and failed acres in order to establish or retain FSA program eligibility.
Moore said that producers must report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting. He explained, “Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form FSA-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 Moore, the final planting date for Wheat was November 15.
Producers with failed acres should also use form FSA-576, Notice of Loss, to report failed acres. For losses on crops covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program and crop insurance, producers must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent.
Producers must file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops including grasses. Local farmers are encouraged to contact the Benton County FSA office at (731) 584-8186 to schedule an appointment to file a Notice of Loss.