A news release last week from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, ” [USDA] is providing additional flexibilities for producers to file on acres with failed crops or crops that were prevented from planting because of extreme weather events. USDA’s [FSA] is adding these flexibilities for Notice of Loss on both insured and uninsured crops to enable Service Centers to best assist producers.
“‘With many program deadlines approaching, our Service Centers are working hard to accommodate as many producer appointments as possible,’ said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. ‘By providing flexibilities to our Notice of Loss policy, we can ensure we provide the best customer service.'”
The FSA update noted that, “For insured crops, producers who timely filed a prevented planted claim with the reinsurance company but filed a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) form after the deadline will be considered timely filed for FSA purposes. FSA can use data from the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for accepting the report of prevented planting with FSA. If the information is not available through RMA, the producer may also provide proper evidence to FSA that the prevented planted claim was timely filed with the reinsurance company.”
Last week’s update added that, “For failed acreage of uninsured crops, the Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be completed, signed and verified before the disposition of the crop;” and, “A Notice of Loss cannot be filed for a crop before the final planting date, but it can be filed before completing the crop acreage report.”
“Producers who miss FSA’s July 15 acreage reporting deadline will not face a late filing fee if filed within a month of the deadline.
“For questions, please contact your FSA county office. To locate your FSA county office at your Service Center, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.”
