Montana Farmers Must Report Crop Acres This Summer

Producers Should File Acreage Reports after Planting is Finished

The USDA is reminding all Montana agricultural producers to complete their crop acreage reports after planting is finished. Filing accurate acreage reports is essential to qualify for many USDA program benefits.

“In order to receive many USDA program benefits, producers should file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Mike Foster, State Executive Director in Montana.

A crop acreage report includes the crop type, its intended use, number of acres, and planting date. Producers must also share planting patterns, irrigation use, and whether any acreage was not planted due to weather or natural disaster.

Key deadlines for Montana include -

• July 15, 2025 - Deadline for spring crops, CRP, grazing acreage, hemp, and alfalfa seed.

• November 17, 2025 - Fall-seeded grains and apiculture. 

• January 2, 2026 - Honeybee colony inventory.

• January 15, 2026 - Fall and established alfalfa seed and cherries.

If a crop is planted after the deadline, it must be reported within 15 days of planting. New land must be reported within 30 days of purchase or lease.

Farmers using precision agriculture tools can submit electronic acreage maps through approved providers. This geospatial acreage reporting helps streamline data sharing with FSA offices.

Producers can access their farm records and maps via the farmers.gov portal. A USDA-linked login.gov account is required. Authorized representatives can access farm business records using power of attorney or other USDA-approved documentation.

Prevented planting due to disasters like drought must be reported on Form CCC-576 within 15 days after the final planting date.

For more help, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.