Electronic acreage and production reporting coming
Farm and Ranch November 29, 2011 Now that USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency have combined dozens of acreage reporting dates into just a few, the next goal is have farmers be able to submit their reports electronically instead of having to visit a local USDA office. Dave Paul with the regional office of the Risk Management Agency says they had hoped to do a pilot program this year, but it will probably be delayed a year. Paul: “The concept here is that a producer could go into FSA, or they could go into their agents office or even down the road log on to their computer at home, report their production, report their acres, and it would go where it needs to go. So they don‘t have to go to their agent and report their production and acres and then turnaround and go to FSA. I really believe this is going to happen. What I have heard some of the folks say it is sort of like Turbo-Tax or H &R Block, the whole concept of being able to log on, report your stuff and have it electronically go where it needs to go. Simplification and ease of operation for growers is the way we are looking at it.” Combined acreage reporting dates and electronic filing will make it easer for producers but it will also reduce costs for USDA and insurance companies. Paul says it should also eliminate errors that currently can hold up a producer’s claim for months. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.
