The Farm Service Agency extended the deadline for reporting crop acreage at local offices to Aug. 15.

A new requirement for the 2008 Disaster Program is that all crops — including pastures and other non-cropland, harvested or grazed — must be reported. In addition, all crops including pastures and other non-cropland, harvested or grazed must be covered by crop insurance or NAP coverage. The deadline to "buy-in" to assure disaster assistance coverage and eligibility is Sept. 16.

"Producers are reminded to report all crops including pastures and other non-cropland to their local FSA office," stated Ben Brancel, state executive director of FSA. "This will ensure compliance with current farm programs, and possible eligibility for future disaster programs."

After the Aug. 15 reporting deadline, producers will be charged a minimum late-filing fee of $46 per farm; however, acreage reports may be revised at any time without a late-filing charge as long as the crop may be verified in the field. Producers filing crop reports after Aug. 15 can have the late-filing fees waived for Disaster Program purposes only. The existence of late filed crops for disaster purposes must be verified with seed receipts, contract agreements, or other documentation.

Acreage reports are required to participate in Direct and Counter-cyclical Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Non-insured Assistance Program, permanent Disaster Programs and to receive loan deficiency payments or Marketing Assistance Loans.

Contact the Jackson County FSA office for an appointment if you will be participating in the permanent Disaster Programs for 2008 and have not reported all your pastureland and other harvested or grazed non-cropland or if you need to purchase coverage for your non insured crops, pasture and other cropland.

For additional information on any of these programs or to make an appointment to report or update your crop report contact the Jackson County FSA office at (715) 284-4515. Additional information is also available by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov.