USDA Modernizes Crop Reporting to Save Farmers Time and Reduce Paperwork

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced an acreage reporting modernization pilot program that is a foundational part of the administration's One Farmer, One File effort. FSA is focused on creating a more efficient, consistent, and customer-focused acreage reporting experience for producers and FSA employees. After spring planting is complete, agricultural producers should make an appointment with their FSA county office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines may vary by county and by crop.

"Acreage reporting is a major task that producers complete each year, and we owe it to the producers we serve to make it as painless and seamless as possible," said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. "Our goal is to move away from paper maps to an electronic interface that simplifies the process for producers and saves time for county office staff, which increases operational efficiencies across the board. I encourage producers who have acreage located in these pilot counties to be patient with their local FSA office as they learn the system and solicit meaningful feedback from producers based on their experience with the simplified reporting process." 

Pilot Program

The following counties are participating in the acreage reporting pilot program. Producers with acreage in these counties will use the streamlined acreage reporting process for spring planted crops ahead of the major July 15, 2026, reporting deadline:  

• Georgia                       Tift County

• Kentucky                    Union County

• Maryland                    All Counties

• Michigan                     Van Buren County

• Minnesota                  La Qui Parle County

• Missouri                      Harrison County

• Nebraska                    Seward County

• North Dakota           All Counties

• Oklahoma                   Canadian County

• Pennsylvania             Lancaster County

• Texas                           Fisher County

Producers with acreage located outside of the pilot program counties will complete their crop acreage reports as usual.  

How to File a Report

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:

• Crop and crop type or variety

• Intended crop use

• Number of crop acres

• Map with approximate crop boundaries

• Planting date(s)

• Planting pattern, when applicable

• Producer share(s)

• Irrigation practice(s)

• Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable 

• Faile acres, if applicable

• Other required information

Acreage Reporting Details

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

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

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

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the acreage reporting date or 15 calendar days before grazing or crop harvesting begins, whichever is earlier. Producers can contact their FSA county office for acreage reporting deadlines that are specific to their county.

Producers with perennial forage crops should check with their local FSA office to see if their crops are eligible for continuous certification, which rolls the certified acreage forward each year until a change is made.

Prevented Planted Acreage

Producers should also report the crop acreage they intended to plant but were unable to because of a natural disaster, including drought. Prevented planted acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA's Risk Management Agency.

Farmers.gov Portal