Farmers reminded of acreage reporting responsibility
By WILLIAM J. HARMON
Executive Director
Marion County FSA
Producers in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Farm Program (DCP) are reminded now is the time re-enroll Direct and Counter-cyclical or DCP farm program contracts and to report or certify each of their farms' crop acreage that have been planted for harvest in 2006.
The deadline to file certification reports on small grain acreages such as wheat is May 31. Because we know farmers are becoming busy with spring planting and haying duties, we urge that planned appointments be scheduled by calling the county office at 620-382-3714. More than 500 Marion County farms or approximately 30 percent of the total have yet to report any 2006 crop acres.
When reporting, producers will need to provide planting date, field identification, intended use, and payment share information on complete acreages of each specific crop. Because it is mandated by DCP contract policy, a filed acreage report for each program participating farm is essential in allowing producers to earn the year's remaining benefit payments. For those producers who may have hard white wheat planted, enrollment for the production incentive program must be performed by the May 31 established deadline.
A word of caution is offered to producers considering the planting of any fruit or vegetable crops on designated DCP acres. In general, the planting and harvest of such crops will create a violation of your DCP contract causing the reduction or total ineligibility for your program payments. Also, those producers who have recently received notices of completed farm constitution changes need to sign and submit their revised DCP contract (form CCC-509) copies within the time limits provided in their notification letters. Producers who still have farm changes in their operations to file as a result of land sale and purchase transactions only have until May 31 to register them to be effective for the 2006 crop year.
