Farmers in Michigan Reminded to Report Failed Acres for FSA Program Eligibility

Farmers in Michigan are facing unpredictable weather patterns with mild winters, extreme temperature swings, and severe field flooding leading to an increased risk of winterkill and waterlogged wheat stands. To maintain eligibility for certain programs offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), farmers are advised to report failed acres.

In case of failed wheat acres, producers should contact their crop insurance agent within 72 hours of damage for field appraisals to determine the crop's potential yield ability. After appraisal, the producer can decide whether to tear up the wheat acres or take them to harvest, using the harvested yield to determine loss instead of the appraised yield.

Producers of hand-harvested crops and perishables must also notify the FSA of damage or loss through their County FSA office within 72 hours of the date of damage or when a loss first becomes apparent. Farmers with losses on crops covered by the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the disaster's occurrence or when losses become apparent.

For spring replant decisions, farmers facing a replant scenario for spring-planted crops like sugar beets, corn, and soybeans should contact their crop insurance agent within 72 hours of damage to file a replant claim before actually replanting the field. Replant acres need to be at least the lesser of 20 acres or 20% of that crop, depending on their coverage unit structure. Farmers must file a replant claim and get approval from their insurance company before replanting.
 

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