Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal 
By Ty Higgins, Ohio Ag Net
Ohio farmers have an important Farm Service Agency deadline approaching, and state officials are encouraging producers not to wait until the last minute to complete paperwork.
That significant deadline is Aug. 31, the last day when farmers will be eligible to add base acres to existing farms, a change made possible through the recently enacted farm legislation. This opportunity represents the first major increase in base acres in more than two decades.
“The Trump administration listened to farmers and realized that we have not had a base acre increase across the country since 2002,” said Ohio Farm Service Agency Executive Director Don Jones. “We’ve got 30 million acres that we can add, which is very important because it’s another way we can help our farmers.”
However, Jones emphasized that the program applies only to existing farms already in the FSA system.
“We cannot add a new farm,” he said. “We can only add base acres to existing farms in our system. If someone is not currently in the program or does not have vacant base acres, they’re not going to be able to jump in right now. This is just to expand existing farms.”
Beyond that program deadline, Jones highlighted Ohio’s leadership in conservation efforts through FSA programs, particularly those aimed at improving water quality.
“We have 74% of the eligible acres signed up for the Lake Erie CREP program and 80.1% for the Scioto River area,” Jones said. “That’s not possible without our partners, including the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, NRCS and our local soil and water conservation districts.”
Ohio also ranks among the nation’s leaders in Conservation Reserve Program participation.
“We’re No. 4 in the country in CRP contracts, and we’re actually No. 1 in the country in CREP contracts with 13,880,” Jones said. “That comes back to our partnerships, our staff, and our local FSA offices. They’re the boots on the ground doing the work.”
Jones also credited Ohio’s H2Ohio initiative with helping expand conservation practices across the state.
“H2Ohio has made a lot of those projects and acres available and made it worth the effort to do those water quality incentives,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jones said producers can also expect significant modernization efforts within FSA.
“When we first came on board, Administrator Bill Beam said we were going to modernize the Farm Service Agency,” Jones said. “This administration has made it a priority.”
Among the planned improvements are expanded digital services, electronic records and greater integration with precision agriculture technology.
“We’re looking at how we’re going to start doing crop reporting and acreage reporting differently,” Jones said. “Instead of printing maps and using markers, we’re going to be able to incorporate information from whatever precision ag program the farmer uses and put it right into their file. That could save them from having to make a trip to the office.”
FSA is also working to modernize its lending programs by replacing paper applications with online options while continuing to offer in-office assistance for producers who prefer personal service.
“We’re trying to make the best use of our time, and the farmer’s time, so we’re not spending hours sitting in an office doing things we’ve been doing the same way for the last 40 years,” Jones said.
For more information, Jones encourages producers to contact their local FSA office and subscribe to the agency’s electronic newsletters.
“Go to the FSA website and use the office locator,” Jones said. “We have 66 offices serving all 88 counties in Ohio. Sign up for our free electronic newsletters because they include reminders about deadlines, programs, and other important information throughout the year.”
