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Ag and Extension Briefs

Disposing of leftover treated seed

By Lizabeth Stahl

Extension educator in crops

A significant amount of seed planted this year will have been treated with a fungicide, insecticide and/or nematicide. For one reason or another, farmers may find themselves with leftover treated seed at the end of the planting season. Key points to keep in mind if you have leftover treated seed to dispose of:

DO NOT allow treated seed to enter the food or feed chain. Treated seed is not to be used for food, feed or oil processing, and care must be taken to not contaminate grain going into the food or feed market. There is ZERO tolerance for treated seed in the export market, meaning that a single seed could result in the rejection of an entire load.

The best and most preferred option to dispose of leftover treated seed is to plant it on fallow ground or an unused parcel of land. Depending on the seed treatment, there may be restrictions on planting rate and depth. Seeding for wildlife habitat is also a possibility when allowed on the seed bag label.

Seed burial may be allowed (be sure to check the seed bag label), although care must be taken avoid burial next to water sources.

Take care of any spills: Take care to clean up or cover up any spills with soil as some products can be hazardous to birds and other wildlife, or may be toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. This also helps minimize exposure to people, particularly children.

Other potential options include disposal in an approved municipal landfill, use as a fuel source for a power plant or kiln, or incineration by a waste management facility.

NEVER compost treated seed and NEVER burn treated seed in a stove that is used in the home, farm shop, etc.

For more information, including details about personal proactive equipment (PPE) to wear when handling treated seed, check out the U of MN fact sheet on this topic at:http://z.umn.edu/shtseed.

2017 FSA acreage reporting dates

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, once you are finished planting, all producers are encouraged to visit your local county FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline.

The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for most surrounding counties:

July 15, 2017– Spring seeded forage, corn, soybeans, spring seeded small grains and CRP                    

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

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

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

If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing,” or “seed,” then the acreage must be reported by July 15.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

Producers are encouraged to report prevented planting and failed acres

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers to report prevented planting and failed acres in order to establish or retain FSA program eligibility for some programs.

Producers should report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting.  Prevented planting 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 Risk Management Agency (RMA).

In our area, the final planting date for corn is May 31 and for soybeans June 10.

If a producer is unable to report the prevented planting acreage within the 15 calendar days following the final planting date, a late-filed report can be submitted.  Late-filed reports will only be accepted if FSA conducts a farm visit to assess the eligible disaster condition that prevented the crop from being planted.  A measurement service fee will be charged.

Additionally, producers with failed acres should also use form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, to report failed acres.

Producers of hand-harvested crops must notify FSA of damage or loss through the administrative county office within 72 hours of the date of damage or loss first becomes apparent. This notification can be provided by filing a CCC-576, email, fax or phone. Producers who notify the County Office by any method other than by filing the CCC-576 are still required to file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss, within the required 15 calendar days.

For losses on crops covered by the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), producers must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent.  Producers must timely file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops including grasses.

Please contact your local FSA office for more information or to schedule an appointment to file a Notice of Loss. To find your local FSA office visit http://offices.usda.gov.

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