FSA announces reporting dates

The Whitman County Farm Service Agency this week announced acreage reporting dates for the current crop year. Executive Director Patrick Lewis said it is important to file accurate and timely reports.

“In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Whitman County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline,” he said.

The deadlines this year include a change in reporting perennial forage, which was previously Nov. 15. It is now Dec. 15, the same date as fall-seeded crops.

“For the last two years, Nov. 15 was when perennial forage was due, and Dec. 15 was for the crop date,” said Lewis. “I don't know why they changed it, but it's going to make life easier for us and for the farmers.”

Other dates – all in 2017 – include Jan. 2 for honey; Jan. 15 for apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums; May 15 for cabbage planted March 1-April 20; July 15 for spring-planted alfalfa seed, cabbage planted April 20-June 10, onions planted March 14-April 20 and all other crops and land uses, including CRP, except crops listed for other dates, and Aug. 15 for buckwheat and cabbage planted June 11-Aug. 10.

Lewis said acreage reporting is important because it is an eligibility requirement for most of the programs the FSA offers, as well as for crop insurance. He reiterated that it is important to be on time with reporting.

“We need to do it timely,” he said. “It's better if it happens when it's supposed to happen.”

Questions about dates, exceptions and reporting can be directed to the Whitman County FSA office at 509-397-4301.