Nebraska has always been recognized as a place for innovation in agriculture. As we move further toward applications of digital agriculture, our state continues to be a leader in testing new technologies. For the next few weeks (ending July 15), producers in 19 Nebraska counties can report their planted acres to FSA electronically using precision ag data they may have collected during planting season. The Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI) is being tested only in Nebraska this year.

As-planted maps (Figure 1) generated by field equipment (using GPS technology) can be uploaded via MyAgData at a minimal cost to the participant. (MyAgData is the only third-party provider currently approved by USDA FSA for this service.) There are several ways to transmit the data, ranging from links to cloud-based accounts (for example, Climate FieldView™), to mobile apps, or uploading via a typical thumb drive after data has been downloaded from the in-cab monitor. MyAgData will transmit the data directly to FSA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) after the data has been approved by the producer.

The process still requires a visit with FSA and RMA to approve the reports, but the potential time savings may be significant. In addition, it’s likely that reported acres will be more accurate, which may save producers insurance costs. The Ag Data Coalition (ADC), a group focused on securing producer datasets and promoting data ownership standards, recently released an article highlighting this pilot effort in Nebraska. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a founding and active member of the ADC through the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

If you have questions about the program or how to use your precision ag data to report, reach out to an FSA office in one of the 19 participating counties or feel free to connect with Joe Luck, precision ag engineer (jluck2@unl.edu) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A fact sheet and series of frequently asked questions and answers are available on the ACRSI Program website.