The Grundy County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reminding producers of the certification deadline for certain crops for 2016. Producers need to file accurate and timely reports for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, to prevent the potential loss of FSA program benefits. Crops and their intended use must also be certified timely to avoid being assessed a late filing fee.

Producers with perennial grasses or legumes intended to be harvested as forage or grazed at any time in 2016 needed to certify this acreage with FSA by December 15, 2015. Any small grains, such as oats or rye, seeded in the fall of 2015 also need to be certified by December 15th no matter the intended use.

In the past, producers in Iowa were granted a waiver from paying a late filing fee for crops that have the new December 15th reporting deadline. However, as of the date of this news release, no waiver has been granted.

The deadline for all other crops, such as corn, soybeans, spring seeded small grains, and CRP, is July 15, 2016. This also includes perennial grasses or legumes that are not intended to be harvested as forage or grazed at any time in 2016. Perennial grasses or legumes with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing,” and also “seed” do not have to be certified until July 15, 2016.

The following exceptions also apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.

If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

For questions regarding crop certification and the reporting deadlines, please contact the Grundy County FSA office at 319-824-5416.