Crop Insurance Users Must Fill Out FSA's AD 1026 Form by June 1st

USDA is reminding farmers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with their local FSA by June 1, 2015. The 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to have the form on file in order to remain eligible, or to become eligible for crop insurance premium support — which is a new requirement. Ag producers like tree fruit, potato, and hay growers may not be aware of this new rule or accustom to having to fill out Farm Service Agency paperwork.
Conover Insurance’s Toby Starcher shares what the consequences will be for NOT filing the form by the deadline — an increased crop insurance premium bill.
Starcher: “Whether its whole-farm, whether it is standard multi-peril within that in that being revenue protection or ACH policy. Any federal crop policy period for 2016 you would lose all of your subsidy and be required to pay the whole premium.
Many farmers already have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs including marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans and disaster assistance.
Another issue to consider Starcher says regardless of commodity grown, ag producers need to be aware of
Starcher: “One thing they need know is if they have ever make any entity changes they will need to check with FSA about whether those entity changes need to be changed on that 1026 form.”