Last updated on April 4th, 2024 at 10:10 pm
Title 7—Agriculture–Volume 7
Subtitle B—Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued)
CHAPTER VII—FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SUBCHAPTER A—AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM
PART 700 [RESERVED]
PART 701—EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM, EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM, AND CERTAIN RELATED PROGRAMS PREVIOUSLY ADMINISTERED UNDER THIS PART
Subpart A—General
§ 701.1 Administration.
(a) Subject to the availability of funds, this part provides the terms, conditions and requirements of the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Neither program is an entitlement program and payments will only be made to the extent that the Deputy Administrator announces the eligibility of benefits for certain natural disasters, the areas in which such benefits will be available, the time period in which the disaster and the rehabilitation must occur, and only so long as all the conditions for eligibility specified in this part and elsewhere in law are met. However, the Deputy Administrator will not apply any non-statutory limitation on payments provided for in this part in such a way that it would necessarily result in the non-expenditure of program funds required to otherwise be made by law.
(b) ECP and EFRP are administered by the Administrator, FSA through the Deputy Administrator, FSA, and shall be carried out in the field by State and county FSA committees (State and county committees), subject to the availability of funds. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, discretionary determinations to be made under this rule will be made by the Deputy Administrator. Matters committed to the discretion of the Deputy Administrator shall be considered in all cases to be permissive powers and no person or legal entity shall, under any circumstances, be considered to be entitled to an exercise of such power in their favor.
(c) State and county committees, and representatives and employees, do not have authority to modify or waive any regulations in this part.
(d) The State committee may take any action authorized or required of the county committee by this part, but which the county committee has not taken, such as:
(1) Correct or require a county committee to correct any action taken by such county committee that is not in accordance with this part; or
(2) Require a county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this part.
(e) No provision or delegation herein to a State or county committee shall preclude the Administrator, FSA, or a designee, from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.
(f) The Deputy Administrator may authorize State and county committees to waive or modify deadlines and other requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the program.
(g) The Deputy Administrator may limit the authority of state and county committees to approve cost share in excess of specified amounts.
(h) Data furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, the failure to provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.
(i) FSA may consult with any other Federal agency, State agency, or other provider of technical assistance for such assistance as is determined by FSA to be necessary to implement ECP or EFRP. FSA is responsible for the technical aspects of ECP and EFRP but may enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with another party to provide technical assistance. If the requirement for technical assistance results in undue delay or significant hardship to producers in a county, the State committee may request in writing that FSA waive this requirement for that county. However, nothing in this paragraph or in this part creates a right of appeal or action for an applicant with respect to provisions relating to internal procedures of FSA.
(j) The provisions in this part shall not create an entitlement in any person or legal entity to any ECP or EFRP cost share or claim or any particular notice or form or procedure.
(k) Additional terms and conditions may be set forth in the application or the forms participants will be required to sign for participation in the ECP or EFRP.
§ 701.2 Definitions.
(a) The terms defined in part 718 of this chapter shall be applicable to this part and all documents issued in accordance with this part, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(b) The following definitions shall apply to this part:
Agricultural producer means an owner, operator, or tenant of a farm or ranch used to produce for food or fiber, crops (including but not limited to, grain or row crops; seed crops; vegetables or fruits; hay forage or pasture; orchards or vineyards; flowers or bulbs; or field grown ornamentals) or livestock (including but not limited to, dairy or beef cattle; poultry; swine; sheep or goats; fish or other animals raised by aquaculture; other livestock or fowl) for commercial production. Producers of animals raised for recreational uses only are not considered agricultural producers.
Annual agricultural production means production of crops for food or fiber in a commercial operation that occurs on an annual basis under normal conditions.
Applicant means a person or legal entity who has submitted to FSA a request to participate in the ECP or EFRP.
Cost-share payment means the payment made by FSA to assist a program participant under this part to establish practices required to address qualifying damage suffered in connection with a qualifying disaster.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, the ECP Program Manager, or designee.
Farmland means land devoted to agricultural production, including land used for aquaculture, or other land as may be determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Forestland means land that is at least 120 feet wide and 1 acre in size and at least 10 percent covered by live trees of any size.
Natural disaster means wildfires, hurricanes or excessive winds, drought, ice storms or blizzards, floods, or other naturally-occurring resource impacting events as determined by FSA. For EFRP, a natural disaster also includes insect or disease infestations as determined by FSA in consultation with other Federal and State agencies as appropriate.
Nonindustrial private forest land means rural lands with existing tree cover, or which are suitable for growing trees, that are owned by a private non-industrial forest landowner as defined in this section.
Owners of nonindustrial private forest means, for purposes of the EFRP, an individual, group, association, corporation, Indian Tribe, or other legal private entity owning nonindustrial private forest land or who receives concurrence from the landowner for making the claim in lieu of the owner; and, for practice implementation, the one who holds a lease on the land for a minimum of 10 years. Owners or lessees principally engaged in the primary processing of raw wood products are excluded from this definition. Owners of land leased to lessees who would be excluded under the previous sentence are also excluded.
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. A socially disadvantaged group is a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
§§ 701.3-701.12 [Reserved]
§ 701.13 Submitting requests.
(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the Deputy Administrator shall provide for an enrollment period for submitting ECP or EFRP cost-share requests.
(b) Requests may be accepted after the announced enrollment period, if such acceptance is approved by the Deputy Administrator and is in accordance with the purposes of the program.
§ 701.14 Onsite inspections.
(a) An onsite inspection must be made before approval of any request for ECP or EFRP assistance.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, onsite inspections may be waived by FSA, in its discretion only, where damage is so severe that an onsite inspection is unnecessary, as determined by FSA.
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, costs will not be shared for practices or components of practices that are started before a request for cost share under this part is submitted with the applicable county FSA office.
(b) Costs may be shared for drought and non-drought practices or components of practices that are started before a request is submitted with the county FSA office, only if:
(1) Considered and approved on a case-by-case basis in accordance with instructions of the Deputy Administrator;
(2) The disaster that is the basis of a claim for cost-share assistance created a situation that required the producer to take immediate action to prevent further losses;
(3) The Deputy Administrator determines that the request for assistance was filed within a reasonable amount of time after the start of the enrollment period; and
(4) The practice was started no more than 60 days before the ECP or EFRP designation was approved for the applicable county office.
(c) Any action taken prior to approval of a claim is taken at the producer’s own risk.
(d) An application for relief may be denied for any reason.
(e) All payments under this part are subject to the availability of funds.
§ 701.16 Practice approval.
(a) Requests shall be prioritized before approval based on factors deemed appropriate by FSA, which include, but are not limited to:
(1) Type and degree of damage;
(2) Type of practices needed to address the problem;
(3) Availability of funds;
(4) Availability of technical assistance;
(5) Environmental concerns;
(6) Safety factors; or
(7) In the case of ECP, welfare of eligible livestock.
(b) Requests for cost-share assistance may be approved if:
(1) Funds are available; and
(2) The requested practice is determined eligible.
§§ 701.17-701.20 [Reserved]
§ 701.21 Filing payment application.
Cost-share assistance is conditioned upon the availability of funds and the performance of the practice in compliance with all applicable specifications and program regulations.
(a) Completion of practice. After completion of the approved practice, the participant must certify completion and request payment by the payment request deadline. FSA will provide the participant with a form or another manner to be used to request payment.
(b) Proof of completion. Participants shall submit to FSA, at the local county office, the information needed to establish the extent of the performance of approved practices and compliance with applicable program provisions.
(c) Payment request deadline. The time limits for submission of information shall be determined by the Deputy Administrator. The payment request deadline for each ECP practice will be provided in the agreement after the application is approved. Time limits may be extended where failure to submit required information within the applicable time limits is due to reasons beyond the control of the participant.
Any eligible participant, as defined in this part, who paid part of the cost of an approved practice may file an application for cost-share payment.
§ 701.23 Eligible costs.
(a) Cost-share assistance may be authorized for all reasonable costs incurred in the completion of the practice, up to the maximums provided in §§ 701.126, 701.127, and 701.226.
(b) Eligible costs shall be limited as follows:
(1) Costs for use of personal equipment shall be limited to those incurred beyond the normal operation of the eligible land.
(2) Costs for personal labor shall be limited to personal labor not normally required in the operation of the eligible land.
(3) Costs for the use of personal equipment and labor must be less than that charged for such equipment and labor by commercial contractors regularly employed in such areas.
(4) Costs shall not exceed those needed to achieve the minimum performance necessary to resolve the problem being corrected by the practice. Any costs above those levels shall not be considered to be eligible costs for purposes of calculations made under this part.
(c) Costs shall not exceed the practice specifications in § 701.112(d) or § 701.212(d) for cost-share calculations.
(d) The gross amount on which the cost-share eligibility may be computed will not include any costs that were reimbursed by a third party including, but not limited to, an insurance indemnity payment.
(e) Total cost-share payments from all sources shall not exceed the total of eligible costs of the practice to the applicant.
(a) For qualifying cost-share assistance under this part, the cost shall be credited to the participant who personally performed the practice or who paid to have it performed by a third party. If a payment or credit was made by one participant to another potential participant, paragraph (c) of this section shall apply.
(b) If more than one participant contributed to the performance of the practice, the cost-share assistance for the practice shall be divided among those eligible participants in the proportion they contributed to the performance of the practice. FSA may determine what proportion was contributed by each participant by considering the value of the labor, equipment, or material contributed by each participant and any other factors deemed relevant toward performance.
(c) Allowance by a participant of a credit to another participant through adjustment in rent, cash or other consideration, may be considered as a cost of a practice to the paying party only if FSA determines that such credit is directly related to the practice. An applicant who was fully reimbursed shall be considered as not having contributed to the practice performance.
§ 701.25 Practices carried out with aid from ineligible persons or ineligible legal entities.
Any assistance provided by someone other than the eligible participant, including assistance from a State or Federal agency, shall be deducted from the participant’s total costs incurred for the practice for the purpose of computing ECP or EFRP cost shares. If unusual conditions exist, the Deputy Administrator may waive deduction of such contributions upon a request from the State committee and demonstration of the need for such a waiver.
§§ 701.26-701.30 [Reserved]
§ 701.31 Maintenance and proper use of practices.
(a) Each participant receiving cost-share assistance is responsible for the required maintenance and proper use of the practice. Some practices have an established life span or minimum period of time during which they are expected to function as a conservation practice with proper maintenance. Cost-share assistance shall not be authorized for normal upkeep or maintenance of any practice.
(b) If a practice is not properly maintained for the established life span, the participant may be required to refund all or part of cost-share assistance received. The Deputy Administrator will determine what constitutes failure to maintain a practice and the amount that must be refunded.
§ 701.32 Failure to comply with program provisions.
Costs may be shared for performance actually rendered even though the minimum requirements otherwise established for a practice have not been satisfied if a reasonable effort was made to satisfy the minimum requirements and if the practice, as performed, will adequately address the need for the practice.
§ 701.33 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
In case of death, incompetency, or disappearance of any participant, any cost-share payment due shall be paid to the successor, as determined in accordance with part 707 of this chapter.
§ 701.34 Appeals.
Part 11 of this title and parts 614 and 780 of this chapter apply to determinations made under this part.
§ 701.35 Compliance with regulatory measures.
Participants who perform practices shall be responsible for obtaining the authorities, permits, rights, easements, or other approvals necessary to the performance and maintenance of the practices according to applicable laws and regulations. The ECP or EFRP participant shall be wholly responsible for any actions taken with respect to the project and shall, in addition, be responsible for returning and refunding any ECP or EFRP cost shares made, where the purpose of the project cannot be accomplished because of the applicants’ lack of clearances or other problems.
§ 701.36 Schemes and devices and claims avoidances.
(a) If FSA determines that a participant has taken any action designed to defeat, or has the effect of defeating, the purposes of this program, the participant shall be required to refund all or part of any of the program payments otherwise due or paid that participant or related person or legal entity for that particular disaster. These actions include, but are not limited to, failure to properly maintain or deliberately destroying a practice and providing false or misleading information related to practices, costs, or arrangements between entities or individuals that would have an effect on any eligibility determination, including, but not limited to, a payment limit eligibility.
(b) All or any part of cost-share assistance that otherwise would be due any participant may be withheld, or required to be refunded, if the participant has adopted, or participated in, any scheme or device designed to evade the maximum cost-share limitation that applies to the program or to evade any other requirement or provision of the program or this part.
(c) If FSA determines that a participant has employed any scheme or device to deprive any other person or legal entity of cost-share assistance, or engaged in any actions to receive payments under this part that also were designed to avoid claims of the United States or its instrumentalities or agents against that party, related parties, or third parties, the participant shall refund all or part of any of those program payments paid to that participant for the project.
(d) For purposes of this section, a scheme or device can include, but is not limited to, instances of coercion, fraud, or misrepresentation regarding the claim for ECP or EFRP assistance and the facts and circumstances surrounding such claim.
(e) A participant who has knowingly supplied false information or filed a false claim shall be ineligible for cost-share assistance related to the disaster for which the false information was filed, or for any period of time FSA deems appropriate. False information or a false claim includes, but is not limited to, a request for payment for a practice not carried out, a false billing, or a billing for practices that do not meet required specifications.
§ 701.37 Loss of control of the property during the practice life span.
In the event of voluntary or involuntary loss of control of the land by the ECP or EFRP cost-share recipient during the practice life-span, if the person or legal entity acquiring control elects not to become a successor to the ECP or EFRP agreement and the practice is not maintained, each participant who received cost-share assistance for the practice may be jointly and severally liable for refunding any ECP or EFRP cost-share assistance related to that practice. The practice life span, for purposes of this section, includes any maintenance period that is essential to its success.
§§ 701.38-701.40 [Reserved]
Any cost-share assistance or portion thereof due any participant under this part shall be allowed without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against any crop or property, or proceeds thereof, except liens and other claims of the United States or its instrumentalities. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings at parts 792 and 1403 of this title shall be applicable to this program and the provisions most favorable to a collection of the debt shall control.
§ 701.42 Assignments.
Participants may assign ECP cost-share assistance payments, in whole or in part, according to part 1404 of this title.
§ 701.43 Information collection requirements.
Information collection requirements contained in this part have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the provisions at 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35 and have been assigned OMB Number 0560-0082.
§§ 701.44–701.45 [Reserved]
Subpart B—Emergency Conservation Program
§§ 701.100-701.102 [Reserved]
§ 701.103 Eligible losses, objective, and payments.
(a) FSA will provide cost-share assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, wildfire, or other natural disasters as determined by the Deputy Administrator, and to carry out emergency water conservation measures during periods of severe drought, subject to the availability of funds and only for areas, natural disasters, and time periods approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) The objective of the ECP is to make cost-share assistance available to eligible participants on eligible land for certain practices, to rehabilitate farmland damaged by floods, hurricanes, wildfire, wind erosion, or other natural disasters, and for the installation of water conservation measures during periods of severe drought.
(c) Payments may also be made under this subpart for:
(1) Emergency water conservation or water enhancement measures (including measures to assist confined livestock) during periods of severe drought; and
(2) Floodplain easements for runoff and other emergency measures that the Deputy Administrator determines is necessary to safeguard life and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or other natural occurrence is causing or has caused, a sudden impairment of the watershed.
(d) Payments under this part are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any limitations that may otherwise be provided for by Congress.
§ 701.104 Producer eligibility.
(a) To be eligible to participate in the ECP the Deputy Administrator must determine that a person or legal entity is an agricultural producer with an interest in the land affected by the natural disaster, and that person or legal entity must be liable for or have paid the expense that is the subject of the cost share. The applicant must be a landowner or user in the area where the qualifying event has occurred, and must be a party who will incur the expense that is the subject of the cost share.
(b) Federal agencies and States, including all agencies and political subdivisions of a State, are ineligible to participate in the ECP.
(c) All producer eligibility is subject to the availability of funds and an application may be denied for any reason.
§ 701.105 Land eligibility.
(a) For land to be eligible, the Deputy Administrator must determine that land that is the subject of the cost share:
(1) Will have new conservation problems caused as a result of a natural disaster that, if not treated, would:
(i) Impair or endanger the land;
(ii) Materially affect the productive capacity of the land;
(iii) Represent unusual damage that, except for wind erosion, is not of the type likely to recur frequently in the same area; and
(iv) Be so costly to repair that Federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use. Conservation problems existing prior to the disaster are not eligible for cost-share assistance.
(2) Be physically located in a county in which the ECP has been implemented; and
(3) Be one of the following:
(i) Land expected to have annual agricultural production,
(ii) A field windbreak or a farmstead shelterbelt on which the ECP practice to be implemented involves removing debris that interferes with normal farming operations on the farm and correcting damage caused by the disaster; or
(iii) A farm access road on which debris interfering with the normal farming operation needs to be removed.
(b) Land is ineligible for cost share if the Deputy Administrator determines that it is, as applicable:
(1) Protected by a levee or dike that was not effectively and properly functioning prior to the disaster, or is protected, or intended to be protected, by a levee or dike not built to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NRCS, or comparable standards;
(2) Adjacent to water impoundment reservoirs that are subject to inundation when the reservoir is filled to capacity;
(3) Land on which levees or dikes are located;
(4) Subject to frequent damage or susceptible to severe damage according to paragraph (c) of this section;
(5) Subject to flowage or flood easements and inundation when water is released in normal operations;
(6) Between any levee or dike and a stream, river, or body of water, including land between two or more levees or dikes;
(7) Located in an old or new channel of a stream, creek, river or other similar body of water, except that land located within or on the banks of an irrigation canal may be eligible if the Deputy Administrator determines that the canal is not a channel subject to flooding;
(8) In greenhouses or other confined areas, including but not limited to, land in corrals, milking parlors, barn lots, or feeding areas;
(9) Land on which poor farming practices, such as failure to farm on the contour, have materially contributed to damaging the land;
(10) Unless otherwise provided for, not considered to be in annual agricultural production, such as land devoted to stream banks, channels, levees, dikes, native woodland areas, roads, and recreational uses; or
(11) Devoted to trees including, but not limited to, timber production.
(c) To determine the likely frequency of damage and of the susceptibility of the land to severe damage under paragraph (b)(6) of this section, FSA will consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the location of the land, the history of damage to the land, and whether the land was or could have been protected by a functioning levee or dike built to U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, NRCS, or comparable standards. Further, in making such determinations, information may be obtained and used from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any other Federal, State (including State agencies or political subdivisions), or other entity or individual providing information regarding, for example, flood susceptibility for the land, soil surveys, aerial photographs, or flood plain data or other relevant information.
(d) Additional provisions making Government-owned land eligible is specified in § 701.106.
§ 701.106 Government-owned land.
(a) State-owned land. When land is owned by a State, whether it is eligible for cost share is as specified in this paragraph (a) in addition to the requirements in § 701.105.
(1) If an eligible person or legal entity has a lease for the State-owned land that allows cost share, and files a cost share request for the State-owned land, the land is eligible for cost share if, as determined by FSA, the:
(i) Eligible person or legal entity will directly benefit from the practice; or
(ii) The land will remain in agricultural production throughout the established practice life span.
(2) If an eligible person or legal entity files a cost-share request for State-owned land, the land is ineligible for cost share if, as determined by FSA, the:
(i) Practice is for the primary benefit of the State or State agencies; or
(ii) Eligible person or legal entity is prohibited by the lease from accepting cost-share.
(b) Federally-owned farmland. When land is federally owned, whether it is eligible for cost-share is as specified in this paragraph (a), in addition to the requirements in § 701.105.
(1) If an eligible person or legal entity files a cost-share request on federally owned farmland, the land is eligible if all of the following apply:
(i) An eligible private person or legal entity is farming or ranching the farmland;
(ii) An eligible person or legal entity has a lease that does not prohibit cost-share;
(iii) The practice will primarily benefit nearby or adjacent privately owned farmland of the eligible person or legal entity performing the practice;
(iv) A person or legal entity performing the practice has authorization from a Federal agency to install and maintain the practice;
(v) The Federal land is the most practical location for the eligible practice; and
(vi) During a drought, the practice will primarily benefit the livestock owned or managed by the eligible person or legal entity performing the practice.
(2) If an eligible person or legal entity files a cost share request on federally-owned land, the land is ineligible if the practices performed on these lands are for the benefit of land owned by a Federal agency.
(c) Federal or State agency. For the purposes of this subpart, private persons or legal entities exclude Federal and State agencies.
§§ 701.107-701.109 [Reserved]
§ 701.110 Qualifying minimum cost of restoration.
(a) To qualify for assistance under § 701.103(a), the eligible damage must be so costly that Federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use or to provide emergency water for livestock.
(b) The Deputy Administrator shall establish the minimum qualifying cost of restoration. Each affected State may be allowed to establish a higher minimum qualifying cost of restoration.
(c) A producer may request a waiver of the qualifying minimum cost of restoration. The waiver request shall document how failure to grant the waiver will result in environmental damage or hardship to the producer and how the waiver will accomplish the goals of the program.
§ 701.111 Prohibition on duplicate payments.
(a) Duplicate payments. Participants are not eligible to receive funding under ECP on the same piece of land for which the participant has or will receive funding under any other Federal program that covers the same or similar expenses so as to create duplicate payments, or, in effect, a higher rate of cost share than is allowed under this part.
(1) The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) provided for in 7 CFR part 1467;
(2) The Emergency Wetland Reserve Program (EWRP) provided for in 7 CFR part 623;
(3) The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), provided for in 7 CFR part 624, for the same or similar expenses; or
(4) Any other Federal program that covers the same or similar expenses so as to create duplicate payments, or, in effect, a higher rate of cost share than is allowed under this part.
(b) Refund. Participants who receive any duplicate funds, payments, or benefits shall refund any ECP payments received.
§ 701.112 Eligible ECP practices.
(a) Cost-share assistance may be offered for ECP practices to replace or restore farmland, fences, or conservation structures to a condition similar to that existing before the natural disaster. No relief under this subpart shall be allowed to address conservation problems existing before the disaster.
(b) The practice or practices made available when the ECP is implemented shall be only those practices authorized by FSA for which cost-share assistance is essential to permit accomplishment of the program goals.
(c) Cost-share assistance may be provided for permanent vegetative cover, including establishment of the cover where needed, only in conjunction with eligible structures or installations where cover is needed to prevent erosion and/or siltation or to accomplish some other ECP purpose.
(d) Practice specifications shall represent the minimum levels of performance needed to address the ECP need.
§§ 701.113-701.116 [Reserved]
§ 701.117 Average adjusted gross income limitation.
To be eligible for payments issued from the $16 million provided under the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Pub. L. 110-28, section 9003), each applicant must meet the provisions of the Adjusted Gross Income Limitations at 7 CFR part 1400 subpart G.
§§ 701.118-701.125 [Reserved]
(a) In addition to other restrictions that may be applied by FSA, an ECP participant shall not receive more than 75 percent of the total allowable costs, as determined by this part, to perform the practice.
(b) However, notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, a producer who is a limited resource, socially disadvantaged, or beginning farmer or rancher that participates in ECP may receive up to 90 percent of the total allowable costs expended to perform the practice as determined under this part.
(c) In addition to other limitations that apply, in no case will the ECP payment exceed 50 percent of what the Deputy Administrator has determined is the agricultural value of the affected land.
(d) The Secretary may waive the maximum limitations described in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section to the maximum extent allowed by law.
§ 701.127 Maximum ECP payments per person or legal entity.
(a) A person or legal entity, as defined in part 1400 of this title, is limited to a maximum ECP cost-share of $500,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster.
(b) The Secretary may waive the maximum limitations described in paragraph (a) of this section to the maximum extent allowed by law.
§ 701.128 Advance payment.
(a) With respect to a payment to an agricultural producer for any eligible ECP practice, the agricultural producer has the option of receiving up to 25 percent of the projected payment, determined based on the applicable percentage of the fair market value of the cost of the practice, as determined by FSA, before the agricultural producer carries out the restoration.
(b) If the funds provided under paragraph (a) of this section are not spent by the agricultural producer within 60 calendar days of the date on which the agricultural producer receives those funds, the funds must be returned to FSA by a date determined by FSA.
(c) Payments made under this section are subject to the availability of funds.
§§ 701.129-701.157 [Reserved]
Subpart C—Emergency Forest Restoration Program
§§ 701.200-701.202 [Reserved]
§ 701.203 Eligible measures, objectives, and assistance.
(a) Subject to the availability of funds and only for areas, natural disasters, and time periods for the natural disaster and rehabilitation approved by the Deputy Administrator, FSA will provide financial assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forest land who carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster as determined by FSA.
(b) The objective of EFRP is to make financial assistance available to eligible participants on eligible land for certain practices to restore nonindustrial private forest land that has been damaged by a natural disaster.
§ 701.204 Participant eligibility.
(a) To be eligible to participate in EFRP, a person or legal entity must be an owner of nonindustrial private forest land affected by a natural disaster, and must be liable for or have the expense that is the subject of the financial assistance. The owner must be a person or legal entity (including an Indian tribe) with full decision-making authority over the land, as determined by FSA, or with such waivers as may be needed from lenders or others as may be required, to undertake program commitments.
(b) Federal agencies and States, including all agencies and political subdivisions of a State, are ineligible for EFRP.
(c) An application may be denied for any reason.
§ 701.205 Land eligibility.
(a) For land to be eligible, it must be nonindustrial private forest land and must, as determined by FSA:
(1) Have existing tree cover or have had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster and be suitable for growing trees;
(2) Have damage to natural resources caused by a natural disaster that, if not treated, would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land and would materially affect future use of the land; and
(3) Be physically located in a county in which EFRP has been implemented.
(b) Land is ineligible for EFRP if FSA determines that the land is any of the following:
(1) Owned or controlled by the United States; or
(2) Owned or controlled by States, including State agencies or political subdivisions of a State.
§§ 701.206-701.209 [Reserved]
§ 701.210 Qualifying minimum cost of restoration.
(a) FSA will establish the minimum qualifying cost of restoration, which may vary by State or region.
(b) An applicant may request a waiver of the qualifying minimum cost of restoration. The waiver request must document how failure to grant the waiver will result in environmental damage or hardship to the person or legal entity, and how the waiver will accomplish the goals of the program.
§ 701.211 Prohibition on duplicate payments.
(a) Participants are not eligible to receive funding under EFRP for land on which FSA determines that the participant has or will receive federal funding for the same or similar expenses under:
(1) The Emergency Conservation Program provided for in subpart B of this part;
(2) The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) provided for in part 1467 of this title;
(3) The Emergency Wetland Reserve Program (EWRP) provided for in part 623 of this chapter;
(4) The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), provided for in part 624 of this chapter; or
(5) Any other Federal program that covers the same or similar expenses so as to create duplicate payments, or, have the effect of creating in total, otherwise, a higher rate of financial assistance than is allowed on its own under this part.
(b) Participants who receive any duplicate Federal funds, payments, or benefits must refund any EFRP payments received, except the Deputy Administrator may reduce the refund amount to the amount determined appropriate by the Deputy Administrator to ensure that the total amount of assistance received by the owner of the land under all Federal programs does not exceed an amount otherwise allowed in this part.
§ 701.212 Eligible EFRP practices.
(a) Financial assistance may be offered to eligible persons or legal entities for EFRP practices to restore forest health and forest-related resources on eligible land.
(b) Practice specifications must represent the minimum level of performance needed to restore the land to the applicable FSA, NRCS, Forest Service, or State forestry standard.
§§ 701.213-701.225 [Reserved]
§ 701.226 Maximum financial assistance.
(a) In addition to other restrictions that may be applied by FSA, an EFRP participant will not receive more than 75 percent of the lesser of the participant’s total actual cost or of the total allowable costs, as determined by this subpart, to perform the practice.
(b) A person, or legal entity, as defined in part 1400 of this title, is limited to a maximum cost-share of $500,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster.
(c) The Secretary may waive the maximum limitations described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section to the maximum extent allowed by law.
PART 707—PAYMENTS DUE PERSONS WHO HAVE DIED, DISAPPEARED, OR HAVE BEEN DECLARED INCOMPETENT
§ 707.1 Applicability.
This part applies to all programs in title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations which are administered by the Farm Service Agency under which payments are made to eligible program participants. This part also applies to all other programs to which this part is applicable by the individual program regulations.
§ 707.2 Definitions.
“Person” when relating to one who dies, disappears, or becomes incompetent, prior to receiving payment, means a person who has earned a payment in whole or in part pursuant to any of the programs to which this part is applicable. “Children” shall include legally adopted children who shall be entitled to share in any payment in the same manner and to the same extent as legitimate children of natural parents. “Brother” or “sister”, when relating to one who, pursuant to the regulations in this part, is eligible to apply for the payment which is due a person who dies, disappears, or becomes incompetent prior to the receipt of such payment, shall include brothers and sisters of the half blood who shall be considered the same as brothers and sisters of the whole blood. “Payment” means a payment by draft, check or certificate pursuant to any of the Programs to which this part is applicable. Payments shall not be considered received for the purposes of this part until such draft, check or certificate has been negotiated or used.
§ 707.3 Death.
(a) Where any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment dies before the payment is received, payment may be released in accordance with this section so long as, and only if, a timely program application has been filed by the deceased before the death or filed in a timely way before or after the death by a person legally authorized to act for the deceased. Timeliness will be determined under the relevant program regulations. All program conditions for payment under the relevant program regulations must have been met for the deceased to be considered otherwise eligible for the payment. However, the payment will not be made under this section unless, in addition, a separate release application is filed in accordance with § 707.7. If these conditions are met, payment may be released without regard to the claims of creditors other than the United States, in accordance with the following order of precedence:
(1) To the administrator or executor of the deceased person’s estate.
(2) To the surviving spouse, if there is no administrator or executor and none is expected to be appointed, or if an administrator or executor was appointed but the administration of the estate is closed (i) prior to application by the administrator or executor for such payment or (ii) prior to the time when a check, draft, or certificate issued for such payment to the administrator or executor is negotiated or used.
(3) If there is no surviving spouse, to the sons and daughters in equal shares. Children of a deceased son or daughter of a deceased person shall be entitled to their parent’s share of the payment, share and share alike. If there are no surviving direct descendants of a deceased son or daughter of such deceased person, the share of the payment which otherwise would have been made to such son or daughter shall be divided equally among the surviving sons and daughters of such deceased person and the estates of any deceased sons or daughters where there are surviving direct descendants.
(4) If there is no surviving spouse and no direct descendant, payment shall be made to the father and mother of the deceased person in equal shares, or the whole thereof to the surviving father or mother.
(5) If there is no surviving spouse, no direct descendant, and no surviving parent, payment shall be made to the brothers and sisters of the deceased person in equal shares. Children of a deceased brother or sister shall be entitled to their parent’s share of the payment, share and share alike. If there are no surviving direct descendants of the deceased brother or sister of such deceased person, the share of the payment which otherwise would have been made to such brother or sister shall be divided equally among the surviving brothers and sisters of such deceased person and the estates of any deceased brothers or sisters where there are surviving direct descendants.
(6) If there is no surviving spouse, direct descendant, parent, or brothers or sisters or their descendants, the payment shall be made to the heirs-at-law in accordance with the law of the State of domicile of the deceased person.
(b) If any person who is entitled to payment under the above order of precedence is a minor, payment of his share shall be made to his legal guardian, but if no legal guardian has been appointed payment shall be made to his natural guardian or custodian for his benefit, unless the minor’s share of the payment exceeds $1,000, in which event payment shall be made only to his legal guardian.
(c) Any payment which the deceased person could have received may be made jointly to the persons found to be entitled to such payment or shares thereof under this section or, pursuant to instructions issued by the Farm Service Agency, a separate payment may be issued to each person entitled to share in such payment.
§ 707.4 Disappearance.
(a) Where any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment disappears before the payment is received, payment may be released in accordance with this section so long as, and only if, a timely program application has been filed by that person before the disappearance or filed timely before or after the disappearance by someone legally authorized to act for the person involved. Timeliness will be determined under the relevant program regulations. All program conditions for payment under the relevant program regulations must have been met for the person involved to be considered otherwise eligible for the payment. However, the payment will not be made unless, in addition, a separate release application is filed in accordance with § 707.7. If these conditions are met, payment may be released without regard to the claims of creditors other than the United States, in accordance with the following order of precedence:
(1) The conservator or liquidator of his estate, if one be duly appointed.
(2) The spouse.
(3) An adult son or daughter or grandchild for the benefit of his estate.
(4) The mother or father for the benefit of his estate.
(5) An adult brother or sister for the benefit of his estate.
(6) Such person as may be authorized under State law to receive payment for the benefit of his estate.
(b) A person shall be deemed to have disappeared if (1) he has been missing for a period of more than 3 months, (2) a diligent search has failed to reveal his whereabouts, and (3) such person has not communicated during such period with other persons who would be expected to have heard from him. Evidence of such disappearance must be presented to the county committee in the form of a statement executed by the person making the application for payment, setting forth the above facts, and must be substantiated by a statement from a disinterested person who was well acquainted with the person who has disappeared.
§ 707.5 Incompetency.
(a) Where any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment is adjudged incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction before the payment is received, payment may be released in accordance with this section so long as, and only if, a timely and binding program application has been filed by the person involved while capable or by someone legally authorized to file an application for the person involved. Timeliness is determined under the relevant program regulations. In all cases, the payment application must have been timely under the relevant program regulations and all program conditions for payment must have been met by or on behalf of the person involved. However, the payment will not be made unless, in addition, a separate release application is filed in accordance with § 707.7. If these conditions are met, payment may be released without regard to the claims of creditors other than the United States, to the guardian or committee legally appointed for the person involved. In case no guardian or committee had been appointed, payment, if for not more than $1,000, may be released without regard to claims of creditors other than the United States, to one of the following in the following order for the benefit of the person who was the subject of the adjudication:
(1) The spouse.
(2) An adult son, daughter, or grandchild.
(3) The mother or father.
(4) An adult brother or sister.
(5) Such person as may be authorized under State law to receive payment for the person (see standard procedure prescribed for the respective region).
(b) In case payment is more than $1,000, payment may be released only to such person as may be authorized under State law to receive payment for the incompetent, so long as all conditions for other payments specified in paragraph (a) of this section and elsewhere in the applicable regulations have been met. Those requirements include the filing of a proper and timely and legally authorized program application by or for the person adjudged incompetent. The release of funds under this paragraph will be made without regard to claims of creditors other than the United States unless the agency determines otherwise.
§ 707.6 Death, disappearance, or incompetency of one eligible to apply for payment pursuant to the regulations in this part.
In case any person entitled to apply for a release of a payment pursuant to the provisions of § 707.3, § 707.4, § 707.5, or this section, dies, disappears, or is adjudged incompetent, as the case may be, after he has applied for such payment but before the payment is received, payment may be made upon proper application therefor, without regard to claims of creditors other than the United States, to the person next entitled thereto in accordance with the order of precedence set forth in § 707.3, § 707.4, or § 707.5, as the case may be.
§ 707.7 Release application.
No payment may be made under this part unless a proper program application was filed in accordance with the rules for the program that generated the payment. That application must have been timely and filed by someone legally authorized to act for the deceased, disappeared, or declared-incompetent person. The filer can be the party that earned the payment themselves—such as the case of a person who filed a program application before they died—or someone legally authorized to act for the party that earned the payment. All program conditions for payment must have been met before the death, disappearance, or incompetency except for the timely filing of the application for payment by the person legally authorized to act for the party earning the payment. But, further, for the payment to be released under the rules of this part, a second application must be filed. That second application is a release application filed under this section. In particular, as to the latter, where all other conditions have been met, persons desiring to claim payment for themselves or an estate in accordance with this part 707 must do so by filing a release application on Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared or Have Been Declared Incompetent.If the person who died, disappeared, or was declared incompetent did not apply for payment by filing the applicable program application for payment form, such program application for payment must also be filed in accordance with applicable regulations. If the payment is made under the Naval Stores Conservation Program, Part II of the Form FSA-325 shall be executed by the local District Supervisor of the U.S. Forest Service. In connection with applications for payment under all other programs itemized in § 707.1, Form FSA-325, and program applications for payments where required, shall be filed with the FSA county office where the person who earned the payment would have been required to file his application.
PART 708—RECORD RETENTION REQUIREMENTS—ALL PROGRAMS
§ 708.1 Record retention period.
For the purposes of the programs in this chapter, no receipt, invoice, or other record required to be retained by any agricultural producer as evidence tending to show performance of a practice under any such program needs to be retained by such producer more than two years following the close of the program year of the program.
SUBCHAPTER B—FARM MARKETING QUOTAS, ACREAGE ALLOTMENTS, AND PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENT
PART 714—REFUNDS OF PENALTIES ERRONEOUSLY, ILLEGALLY, OR WRONGFULLY COLLECTED
§ 714.35 Basis, purpose, and applicability.
(a) Basis and purpose. The regulations set forth in this part are issued pursuant to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, for the purpose of prescribing the provisions governing refunds of marketing quota penalties erroneously, illegally, or wrongfully collected with respect to all commodities subject to marketing quotas under the Act.
(b) Applicability. This part shall apply to claims submitted for refunds of marketing quota penalties erroneously, illegally, or wrongfully collected on all commodities subject to marketing quotas under the Act. It shall not apply to the refund of penalties which are deposited in a special deposit account pursuant to sections 314(b), 346(b), 356(b), or 359 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, or paragraph (3) of Pub. L. 74, 77th Congress, available for the refund of penalties initially collected which are subsequently adjusted downward by action of the county committee, review committee, or appropriate court, until such penalties have been deposited in the general fund of the Treasury of the United States after determination that no downward adjustment in the amount of penalty is warranted. All prior regulations dealing with refunds of penalties which were contained in this part are superseded upon the effective date of the regulations in this part.
§ 714.36 Definitions.
(a) General terms. In determining the meaning of the provisions of this part, unless the context indicates otherwise, words imparting the singular include and apply to several persons or things, words imparting the plural include the singular, words imparting the masculine gender include the feminine as well, and words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present. The definitions in part 719 of this chapter shall apply to this part. The provisions of part 720 of this chapter concerning the expiration of time limitations shall apply to this part.
(b) Other terms applicable to this part. The following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Act” means the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, and any amendments or supplements thereto.
(2) “Claim” means a written request for refund of penalty.
(3) “Claimant” means a person who makes a claim for refund of penalty as provided in this part.
(4) “County Office” means the office of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation County Committee.
(5) “Penalty” means an amount of money collected, including setoff, from or on account of any person with respect to any commodity to which this part is applicable, which has been covered into the general fund of the Treasury of the United States, as provided in section 372(b) of the Act.
(6) “State office” means the office of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation State Committee.
§ 714.37 Instructions and forms.
The Deputy Administrator shall cause to be prepared and issued such instructions and forms as are necessary for carrying out the regulations in the part.
§ 714.38 Who may claim refund.
Claim for refund may be made by:
(a) Any person who was entitled to share in the price or consideration received by the producer with respect to the marketing of a commodity from which a deduction was made for the penalty and bore the burden of such deduction in whole or in part.
(b) Any person who was entitled to share in the commodity or the proceeds thereof, paid the penalty thereon in whole or in part and has not been reimbursed therefor.
(c) Any person who was entitled to share in the commodity or the proceeds thereof and bore the burden of the penalty because he has reimbursed the person who paid such penalty.
(d) Any person who, as buyer, paid the penalty in whole or in part in connection with the purchase of a commodity, was not required to collect or pay such penalty, did not deduct the amount of such penalty from the price paid the producer, and has not been reimbursed therefor.
(e) Any person who paid the penalty in whole or in part as a surety on a bond given to secure the payment of penalties and has not been reimbursed therefor.
(f) Any person who paid the whole or any part of the sum paid as a penalty with respect to a commodity included in a transaction which in fact was not a marketing of such commodity and has not been reimbursed therefor.
§ 714.39 Manner of filing.
Claim for refund shall be filed in the county office on a form prescribed by the Deputy Administrator. If more than one person is entitled to file a claim, a joint claim may be filed by all such persons. If a separate claim is filed by a person who is a party to a joint claim, such separate claim shall not be approved until the interest of each person involved in the joint claim has been determined.
§ 714.40 Time of filing.
Claim shall be filed within 2 years after the date payment was made to the Secretary. The date payment was made shall be deemed to be the date such payment was deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as shown on the certificate of deposit on which such payment was scheduled.
§ 714.41 Statement of claim.
The claim shall show fully the facts constituting the basis of the claim; the name and address of and the amount claimed by every person who bore or bears any part or all of the burden of such penalty; and the reasons why such penalty is claimed to have been erroneously, illegally, or wrongfully collected. It shall be the responsibility of the county committee to determine that any person who executes a claim as agent or fiduciary is properly authorized to act in such capacity. There should be attached to the claim all pertinent documents with respect to the claim or duly authenticated copies thereof.
§ 714.42 Designation of trustee.
Where there is more than one claimant and all the claimants desire to appoint a trustee to receive and disburse any payment to be made to them with respect to the claim, they shall be permitted to appoint a trustee. The person designated as trustee shall execute the declaration of trust.
§ 714.43 Recommendation by county committee.
Immediately upon receipt of a claim, the date of receipt shall be recorded on the face thereof. The county committee shall determine, on the basis of all available information, if the data and representations on the claim are correct. The county committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of the claim, and attach a statement to the claim, signed by a member of the committee, giving the reasons for their action. After the recommendation of approval or disapproval is made by the county committee, the claim shall be promptly sent to the State committee.
§ 714.44 Recommendation by State committee.
A representative of the State committee shall review each claim referred by the county committee. If a claim is sent initially to the State committee, it shall be referred to the appropriate county committee for recommendation as provided in § 714.43 prior to action being taken by the State committee. Any necessary investigation shall be made. The State committee shall recommend approval or disapproval of the claim, attaching a statement giving the reasons for their action, which shall be signed by a representative of the State committee. After recommending approval or disapproval, the claim shall be promptly sent to the Deputy Administrator.
§ 714.45 Approval by Deputy Administrator.
The Deputy Administrator shall review each claim forwarded to him by the State committee to determine whether, (a) the penalty was erroneously, illegally, or wrongfully collected, (b) the claimant bore the burden of the payment of the penalty, (c) the claim was timely filed, and (d) under the applicable law and regulations the claimant is entitled to a refund. If a claim is filed initially with the Deputy Administrator, he shall obtain the recommendations of the county committee and the State committee if he deems such action necessary in arriving at a proper determination of the claim. The claimant shall be advised in writing of the action taken by the Deputy Administrator. If disapproved, the claimant shall be notified with an explanation of the reasons for such disapproval.
§ 714.46 Certification for payment.
An officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture authorized to certify public vouchers for payment shall, for and on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, certify to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States for payment all claims for refund which have been approved.
PART 718—PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO MULTIPLE PROGRAMS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 718.1 Applicability.
(a) This part is applicable to all programs specified in chapters VII and XIV of this title that are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and to any other programs that adopt this part by reference. This part governs how FSA administers marketing quotas, allotments, base acres, and acreage reports for those programs to which this part applies. The regulations to which this part applies are those that establish procedures for measuring allotments and program eligible acreage, for determining program compliance, farm reconstitutions, application of finality, and equitable relief from compliance or ineligibility.
(b) For all programs, except for those administered under parts 761 through 774 of this chapter:
(1) The provisions of this part will be administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, FSA, and carried out in the field by State and county FSA committees (State and county committees);
(2) State and county committees, and representatives and employees thereof, do not have authority to modify or waive any regulations in this part;
(3) No provisions or delegation herein to a State or county committee will preclude the Administrator, FSA, or a designee, from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee;
(4) The Deputy Administrator, FSA, may authorize State and county committees to waive or modify deadlines and other requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the program.
(c) The programs under parts 761 through 774 will be administered according to the part, or parts, applicable to the specific program.
§ 718.2 Definitions.
Except as provided in individual parts of chapters VII and XIV of this title, the following terms shall be as defined herein:
Administrative variance (AV) means the amount by which the determined acreage of tobacco may exceed the effective allotment and be considered in compliance with program regulations.
Allotment means an acreage for a commodity allocated to a farm in accordance with the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended.
Allotment crop means any tobacco crop for which acreage allotments are established pursuant to part 723 of this chapter.
Barley means barley that follows the standard planting and harvesting practice of barley for the area in which the barley is grown.
Base acres means, with respect to a covered commodity on a farm, the number of acres in effect on September 30, 2013, as defined in the regulations in part 1412, subpart B, of this title that were in effect on that date, subject to any reallocation, adjustment, or reduction. The term “base acres” includes any generic base acres as specified in part 1412 planted to a covered commodity as specified in part 1412.
Beginning farmer or rancher means a person or legal entity (for legal entities to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher, all members must be related by blood or marriage and all members must be beginning farmers or ranchers) for which both of the following are true for the farmer or rancher:
(1) Has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years; and
(2) Materially and substantially participates in the operation.
CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Combination means consolidation of two or more farms or parts of farms, having the same operator, into one farm.
Common land unit means the smallest unit of land that has an identifiable border located in one physical location (county), as defined in this part, and all of the following in common:
(1) Owner;
(2) Management;
(3) Cover; and
(4) Where applicable, producer association.
Common ownership unit means a distinguishable parcel of land consisting of one or more tracts of land with the same owners, as determined by FSA.
Constitution means the make-up of the farm before any change is made because of change in ownership or operation.
Contiguous means sharing any part of a boundary but not overlapping.
Contiguous county means a county contiguous to the reference county or counties.
Contiguous county office means the FSA county office that is in a contiguous county.
Controlled environment means, with respect to those crops for which a controlled environment is required or expected to be provided, including but not limited to ornamental nursery, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and floriculture, as applicable under the particular program, an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled with structures, facilities, growing media (including but not limited to water, soil, or nutrients) by the producer, is in fact controlled by the producer.
Controlled substances means the term set forth in 21 CFR part 1308.
Corn means field corn or sterile high-sugar corn that follows the standard planting and harvesting practices for corn for the area in which the corn is grown. Popcorn, corn nuts, blue corn, sweet corn, and corn varieties grown for decoration uses are not corn.
County means the county or parish of a state. For Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, a county shall be an area designated by the State committee with the concurrence of the Deputy Administrator.
County committee means the FSA county committee.
Crop reporting date means the latest date upon which the Administrator, FSA will allow the farm operator, owner, or their agent to submit a crop acreage report in order for the report to be considered timely.
Cropland. (a) Means land which the county committee determines meets any of the following conditions:
(1) Is currently being tilled for the production of a crop for harvest. Land which is seeded by drilling, broadcast or other no-till planting practices shall be considered tilled for cropland definition purposes;
(2) Is not currently tilled, but it can be established that such land has been tilled in a prior year and is suitable for crop production;
(3) Is currently devoted to a one-row or two-row shelter belt planting, orchard, or vineyard;
(4) Is in terraces that, were cropped in the past, even though they are no longer capable of being cropped;
(5) Is in sod waterways or filter strips planted to a perennial cover;
(6) Is preserved as cropland in accordance with part 1410 of this title; or
(7) Is land that has newly been broken out for purposes of being planted to a crop that the producer intends to, and is capable of, carrying through to harvest, using tillage and cultural practices that are consistent with normal practices in the area; provided further that, in the event that such practices are not utilized other than for reasons beyond the producer’s control, the cropland determination shall be void retroactive to the time at which the land was broken out.
(b) Land classified as cropland shall be removed from such classification upon a determination by the county committee that the land is:
(1) No longer used for agricultural production;
(2) No longer suitable for production of crops;
(3) Subject to a restrictive easement or contract that prohibits its use for the production of crops unless otherwise authorized by the regulation of this chapter;
(4) No longer preserved as cropland in accordance with the provisions of part 1410 of this title and does not meet the conditions in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) of this definition; or
(5) Converted to ponds, tanks or trees other than those trees planted in compliance with a Conservation Reserve Program contract executed pursuant to part 1410 of this title, or trees that are used in one-or two-row shelterbelt plantings, or are part of an orchard or vineyard.
Current year means the year for which allotments, quotas, acreages, and bases, or other program determinations are established for that program. For controlled substance violations, the current year is the year of the actual conviction.
Deputy Administrator means Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture or their designee.
Determination means a decision issued by a State, county or area FSA committee or its employees that affects a participant’s status in a program administered by FSA.
Determined acreage means that acreage established by a representative of the Farm Service Agency by use of official acreage, digitizing or planimetering areas on the photograph or other photographic image, or computations from scaled dimensions or ground measurements.
Direct and counter-cyclical program (DCP) cropland means land that currently meets the definition of cropland, land that was devoted to cropland at the time it was enrolled in a production flexibility contract in accordance with part 1413 of this title and continues to be used for agricultural purposes, or land that met the definition of cropland on or after April, 4, 1996, and continues to be used for agricultural purposes and not for nonagricultural commercial or industrial use.
Division means the division of a farm into two or more farms or parts of farms.
Double cropping means, as determined by the Deputy Administrator on a regional basis, consecutive planting of two specific crops that have the capability to be planted and carried to maturity for the intended uses, as reported by the producer, on the same acreage within a 12-month period. To be considered double cropping, the planting of two specific crops must be in an area where such double cropping is considered normal, or could be considered normal, for all growers under normal growing conditions and growers are typically able to repeat the same cycle successfully in a subsequent 12-month period.
Entity means a corporation, joint stock company, association, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, irrevocable trust, estate, charitable organization, or other similar organization, including any such organization participating in the farming operation as a partner in a general partnership, a participant in a joint venture, or a participant in a similar organization.
Extra Long Staple (ELS) Cotton means cotton that follows the standard planting and harvesting practices of the area in which the cotton is grown, and meets all of the following conditions:
(1) American-Pima, Sea Island, Sealand, all other varieties of the Barbandense species of cotton and any hybrid thereof, and any other variety of cotton in which 1 or more of these varieties is predominant; and,
(2) The acreage is grown in a county designated as an ELS county by the Secretary; and,
(3) The production from the acreage is ginned on a roller-type gin.
Family member means an individual to whom a person is related as spouse, lineal ancestor, lineal descendant, or sibling, including:
(1) Great grandparent;
(2) Grandparent;
(3) Parent;
(4) Child, including a legally adopted child;
(5) Grandchild
(6) Great grandchildren;
(7) Sibling of the family member in the farming operation; and
(8) Spouse of a person listed in paragraphs (1) through (7) of this definition.
Farm means a tract, or tracts, of land that are considered to be a separate operation under the terms of this part provided further that where multiple tracts are to be treated as one farm, the tracts must have the same operator and must also have the same owner except that tracts of land having different owners may be combined if all owners agree to the treatment of the multiple tracts as one farm for these purposes.
Farm inspection means an inspection by an authorized FSA representative using aerial or ground compliance to determine the extent of producer adherence to program requirements.
Farm number means a number assigned to a farm by the county committee for the purpose of identification.
Farmland means the sum of the DCP cropland, forest, acreage planted to an eligible crop acreage as specified in 1437.3 of this title and other land on the farm.
Field means a part of a farm which is separated from the balance of the farm by permanent boundaries such as fences, permanent waterways, woodlands, and croplines in cases where farming practices make it probable that such cropline is not subject to change, or other similar features.
GIS means Geographic Information System or a system that stores, analyzes, and manipulates spatial or geographically referenced data. GIS computes distances and acres using stored data and calculations.
GPS means Global Positioning System or a positioning system using satellites that continuously transmit coded information. The information transmitted from the satellites is interpreted by GPS receivers to precisely identify locations on earth by measuring distance from the satellites.
Grain sorghum means grain sorghum of a feed grain or dual purpose variety (including any cross that, at all stages of growth, having characteristics of a feed grain or dual purpose variety) that follows the standard planting and harvesting practice for grain sorghum for the area in which the grain sorghum was planted. Sweet sorghum is not considered a grain sorghum.
Ground measurement means the distance between 2 points on the ground, obtained by actual use of a chain tape, GPS with a minimum accuracy level as determined by the Deputy Administrator, or other measuring device.
Intended use means for a crop or a commodity, the end use for which it is grown and produced.
Joint operation means a general partnership, joint venture, or other similar business organization.
Landlord means one who rents or leases farmland to another.
Limited resource farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is both of the following:
(1) A person whose direct or indirect gross farm sales do not exceed $176,800 (2014 program year) in each of the 2 calendar years that precede the most immediately preceding complete taxable year before the relevant program year that corresponds to the relevant program year (for example, for the 2014 program year, the two years would be 2011 and 2012), adjusted upwards in later years for any general inflation; and
(2) A person whose total household income was at or below the national poverty level for a family of four in each of the same two previous years referenced in paragraph (1) of this definition. (Limited resource farmer or rancher status can be determined using a Web site available through the Limited Resource Farmer and Rancher Online Self Determination Tool through National Resource and Conservation Service at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov.)
(3) For legal entities, the sum of gross sales and household income must be considered for all members.
Measurement service means a measurement of acreage or farm-stored commodities performed by a representative of FSA and paid for by the producer requesting the measurement.
Measurement service after planting means determining a crop or designated acreage after planting but before the farm operator files a report of acreage for the crop.
Measurement service guarantee means a guarantee provided when a producer requests and pays for an authorized FSA representative to measure acreage for FSA and CCC program participation unless the producer takes action to adjust the measured acreage. If the producer has taken no such action, and the measured acreage is later discovered to be incorrect, the acreage determined pursuant to the measurement service will be used for program purposes for that program year.
Minor child means an individual who is under 18 years of age. For the purpose of programs under chapters VII and XIV of this title, State court proceedings conferring majority on an individual under 18 years of age will not change such an individual’s status as a minor.
Nonagricultural commercial or industrial use means land that is no longer suitable for producing annual or perennial crops, including conserving uses, or forestry products.
Normal planting period means that period during which the crop is normally planted in the county, or area within the county, with the expectation of producing a normal crop.
Normal row width means the normal distance between rows of the crop in the field, but not less than 30 inches for all crops.
Oats means oats that follows the standard planting and harvesting practice of oats for the area in which the oats are grown.
Operator means an individual, entity, or joint operation who is determined by the FSA county committee to be in control of the farming operations on the farm.
Owner means one who has legal ownership of farmland, including:
(1) Any agency of the Federal Government; however, such agency is not eligible to receive any program payment;
(2) One who is buying farmland under a contract for deed; or
(3) One who has a life-estate in the property.
Partial reconstitution means a reconstitution that is made effective in the current year for some crops, but is not made effective in the current year for other crops. This results in the same farm having two or more farm numbers in one crop year.
Participant means one who participates in, or receives payments or benefits in accordance with any of the programs administered by FSA.
Pasture means land that is used to, or has the potential to, produce food for grazing animals.
Person means an individual, or an individual participating as a member of a joint operation or similar operation, a corporation, joint stock company, association, limited stock company, limited partnership, irrevocable trust, revocable trust together with the grantor of the trust, estate, or charitable organization including any entity participating in the farming operation as a partner in a general partnership, a participant in a joint venture, a grantor of a revocable trust, or a participant in a similar entity, or a State, political subdivision or agency thereof. To be considered a separate person for the purpose of this part, the individual or other legal entity must:
(1) Have a separate and distinct interest in the land or the crop involved;
(2) Exercise separate responsibility for such interest; and
(3) Be responsible for the cost of farming related to such interest from a fund or account separate from that of any other individual or entity.
Physical location means the political county and State determined by FSA for identifying a tract or common land unit, as applicable, under this part. FSA will consider all the DCP cropland within an original tract to be in one single physical location county and State based upon 95 percent or more of the tract’s DCP cropland. For DCP cropland that FSA determines lies outside the physical location (county) of the original tract that is 10 acres or more and more than 5 percent of the original tract, FSA will divide that land from the original tract and establish a new tract for that area.
Planted and considered planted (P&CP) means with respect to an acreage amount, the sum of the planted and prevented planted acres on the farm approved by the FSA county committee for a crop. P&CP is limited to initially planted or prevented planted crop acreage, except for crops planted in an FSA approved double-cropping sequence. Subsequently planted crop acreage and replacement crop acreage are not included as P&CP.
Producer means an owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper, who shares in the risk of producing a crop and who is entitled to share in the crop available for marketing from the farm, or would have shared had the crop been produced. A producer includes a grower of hybrid seed.
Quota means the pounds allocated to a farm for a commodity in accordance with the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended.
Random inspection means an examination of a farm by an authorized representative of FSA selected as a part of an impartial sample to determine the adherence to program requirements.
Reconstitution means a change in the land constituting a farm as a result of combination or division.
Reported acreage means the acreage reported by the farm operator, farm owner, farm producer, or their agent on a Form prescribed by the FSA.
Required inspection means an examination by an authorized representative of FSA of a farm specifically selected by application of prescribed rules to determine adherence to program requirements or to verify the farm operator’s, farm owner’s, farm producer, or agent’s report.
Rice means rice that follows the standard planting and harvesting practices of the area excluding sweet, glutinous, or candy rice such as Mochi Gomi.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or a designee.
Sharecropper means one who performs work in connection with the production of a crop under the supervision of the operator and who receives a share of such crop for its labor.
Skip-row or strip-crop planting means a cultural practice in which strips or rows of the crop are alternated with strips of idle land or another crop.
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others unless approved in writing by the Deputy Administrator:
(1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives,
(2) Asians or Asian-Americans,
(3) Blacks or African-Americans,
(4) Hispanics or Hispanic-Americans,
(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and
(6) Women.
Staking and referencing means determining an acreage before planting by:
(1) Measuring or computing a delineated area from ground measurements and documenting the area measured; and, (2) Staking and referencing the area on the ground.
Standard deduction means an acreage that is excluded from the gross acreage in a field because such acreage is considered as being used for farm equipment turn-areas. Such acreage is established by application of a prescribed percentage of the area planted to the crop in lieu of measuring the turn area.
State committee means the FSA State committee.
Subdivision means a part of a field that is separated from the balance of the field by temporary boundary, such as a cropline which could be easily moved or will likely disappear.
Subsequent crop means a crop following an initial crop that is not in an approved double cropping combination.
Tenant means:
(1) One who rents land from another in consideration of the payment of a specified amount of cash or amount of a commodity; or
(2) One (other than a sharecropper) who rents land from another person in consideration of the payment of a share of the crops or proceeds therefrom.
Tolerance means a prescribed amount within which the reported acreage and/or production may differ from the determined acreage and/or production and still be considered as correctly reported.
Tract means a unit of contiguous land under one ownership located in one physical location (county), as defined in this part, which is operated as a farm, or part of a farm.
Tract combination means the combining of two or more tracts if the tracts have common ownership and are contiguous.
Tract division means the dividing of a tract into two or more tracts because of a change in ownership or operation.
Turn-area means the area across the ends of crop rows which is used for operating equipment necessary to the production of a row crop (also called turn row, headland, or end row).
United States means all 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Upland cotton means planted and stub cotton that is not considered extra long staple cotton, and that follows the standard planting and harvesting practices of the area and is produced from other than pure strain varieties of the Barbadense species, any hybrid thereof, or any other variety of cotton in which one or more of these varieties predominate. For program purposes, brown lint cotton is considered upland cotton.
Veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who has served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components and who:
(1) Has not operated a farm or ranch;
(2) Has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; or
(3) Is a veteran (as defined as a person who served in the active duty or either active duty for training or inactive duty during which the individual was disabled, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable) who has first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.
Wheat means wheat for feed or dual purpose variety that follows the standard planting and harvesting practice of wheat for the area in which the wheat is grown.
§ 718.3 State committee responsibilities.
(a) The State committee shall, with respect to county committees:
(1) Take any action required of the county committee, which the county committee fails to take in accordance with this part;
(2) Correct or require the county committee to correct any action taken by such committee, which is not in accordance with this part; or
(3) Require the county committee to withhold taking any action which is not in accordance with this part.
(b) The State committee shall submit to the Deputy Administrator requests to deviate from deductions prescribed in § 718.109, or the error amount or percentage for refunds of redetermination costs as prescribed in § 718.112.
§ 718.4 Authority for farm entry and providing information.
(a) This section applies to all farms that have a tobacco allotment or quota under part 723 of this chapter and all farms that are currently participating in programs administered by FSA.
(b) A representative of FSA may enter any farm that participates in an FSA or CCC program in order to conduct a farm inspection as defined in this part. A program participant may request that the FSA representative present written authorization for the farm inspection before granting access to the farm. If a farm inspection is not allowed within 30 days of written authorization:
(1) All FSA and CCC program benefits for that farm shall be denied;
(2) The person preventing the farm inspection shall pay all costs associated with the farm inspection;
(3) The entire crop production on the farm will be considered to be in excess of the quota established for the farm; and
(4) For tobacco, the farm operator must furnish proof of disposition of:
(i) All tobacco which is in addition to the production shown on the marketing card issued with respect to such farm; and
(ii) No credit will be given for disposing of excess tobacco other than that identified by a marketing card unless disposed of in the presence of FSA in accordance with § 718.109 of this part.
(c) If a program participant refuses to furnish reports or data necessary to determine benefits in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, or FSA determines that the report or data was erroneously provided through the lack of good faith, all program benefits relating to the report or data requested will be denied.
(d) Program participants requesting program benefits as a beginning farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or veteran farmer or rancher must provide a certification of their status as a member of one of those groups as required by the applicable program provisions.
§ 718.5 Rule of fractions.
(a) Fractions shall be rounded after completion of the entire associated computation. All mathematical calculations shall be carried to two decimal places beyond the number of decimal places required by the regulations governing each program. In rounding, fractional digits of 49 or less beyond the required number of decimal places shall be dropped; if the fractional digits beyond the required number of decimal places are 50 or more, the figure at the last required decimal place shall be increased by “1” as follows:
| Required decimal | Computation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Whole numbers | 6.49 (or less) 6.50 (or more) | 6 7 |
| Tenths | 7.649 (or less) 7.650 (or more) | 7.6 7.7 |
| Hundredths | 8.8449 (or less) 8.8450 (or more) | 8.84 8.85 |
| Thousandths | 9.63449 (or less) 9.63450 (or more) | 9.634 9.635 |
| 0 thousandths | 10.993149 (or less) 10.993150 (or more) | 10.9931 10.9932 |
(b) The acreage of each field or subdivision computed for tobacco and CCC disaster assistance programs shall be recorded in acres and hundredths of an acre, dropping all thousandths of an acre. The acreage of each field or subdivision computed for crops, except tobacco, shall be recorded in acres and tenths of an acre, rounding all hundredths of an acre to the nearest tenth.
§ 718.6 Controlled substance.
(a) The following terms apply to this section:
(1) USDA benefit means the issuance of any grant, contract, loan, or payment by appropriated funds of the United States.
(2) Person means an individual.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person convicted under Federal or State law of:
(1) Planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting, or storing a controlled substance in any crop year is ineligible during the crop year of conviction and the four succeeding crop years, for any of the following USDA benefits:
(i) Any payments or benefits under part 1412 of this title;
(ii) Any payments or benefits for losses to crops or livestock covered under disaster programs administered by FSA;
(iii) Any price support loan available in accordance with part 1421 of this title;
(iv) Any price support made under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act;
(v) A farm storage facility loan made under section 4(h) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act or any other Act;
(vi) Crop Insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act;
(vii) A loan made or guaranteed under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act or any other law administered by FSA’s Farm Loan Programs.
(2) Possession or trafficking of a controlled substance, is ineligible for any or all USDA benefits:
(i) At the discretion of the court,
(ii) To the extent and for a period of time the court determines.
(c) If a person denied benefits under this section is a shareholder, beneficiary, or member of an entity or joint operation, benefits for which the entity or joint operation is eligible will be reduced, for the appropriate period, by a percentage equal to the total interest of the shareholder, beneficiary, or member.
§ 718.7 Furnishing maps.
(a) A reasonable number, as determined by FSA, of reproductions of photographs, mosaic maps, and other maps will be made available to the owner of a farm, an insurance company reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), or a private party contractor performing official duties on behalf of FSA, CCC, and other USDA agencies.
(b) For all others, reproductions will be made available at the rate FSA determines will cover the cost of making such items available.
§ 718.8 Administrative county and servicing FSA county office.
(a) FSA farm records are maintained in an administrative county determined by FSA. Generally, a farm’s administrative county is based on the physical location county of the farm. If all land on the farm is physically located in one physical location county, the farm’s records will be administratively located in that physical location county.
(b) In cases where there is no FSA office in the county in which the farm is physically located or where a servicing FSA county office is responsible for more than one administrative county, the farm records will be administratively located as specified in paragraph (a) of this section and with a servicing FSA county office that FSA as designated as responsible for that administrative county.
(c) Farm operators and owners can conduct their farm’s business in any FSA county office. FSA’s designation of a farm’s administrative county is based on where land of the farm is located as specified in paragraph (a) of this section or as might be required under paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) Farm operators and owners can request a change to their servicing FSA county office and that request may necessitate a change to the farm’s administrative county as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section. If the requested servicing FSA county office is not responsible for and does not have an administrative county for the physical location of the farm according to paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section and FSA approves the request for change of servicing FSA county office, FSA will designate the administrative county for the farm from those available in the requested servicing FSA county office.
(e) If a county contiguous to the county in which the farm is physically located in the same State does not have a servicing FSA county office, the farm will be administratively located by FSA in a contiguous county in another contiguous State that is convenient to the farm operator and owner. Requests for changes to a farm’s servicing FSA county office, which may or may not result in a change to a farm’s administrative county under this section, must be submitted to FSA by August 1 of each year for the change to take effect that calendar year.
(f) When land on the farm is physically located in more than one county, the farm will be administered by a servicing FSA county office determined by FSA to be the administrative county responsibility for administration of programs for one or more of the physical counties involved in the farm’s constitution. Paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this section applies if changes occur to the servicing FSA county office and administrative county.
(g) Farm operators and owners cannot request a change to a farm’s administrative county. The operator and owner of a farm serviced by an FSA county office responsible for a farm’s administrative county can request a change of servicing FSA county office to another FSA servicing county office in the same State by August 1 for the change to take effect that calendar year. Review and approval of any change to the servicing FSA county office is solely at the discretion of FSA. Requests for change in servicing FSA county office, which may or may not result in a change to a farm’s administrative county, will be reviewed and approved by county committee if all the following can be determined to apply:
(1) The requested change does not impact the constitution of a farm;
(2) The requested change will not result in increased program eligibility or additional benefits for the farm’s producers that would not be earned absent the change in servicing FSA county office and, if applicable, administrative county being made; and
(3) The change is not to circumvent any of the provisions of other program regulations to which this part applies.
(h) The State committee will submit all requests for exceptions from regulations specified in this section to the Deputy Administrator.
§ 718.9 Signature requirements.
(a) When a program authorized by this chapter or chapter XIV of this title requires the signature of a producer, landowner, landlord, or tenant, then a spouse may sign all such FSA or CCC documents on behalf of the other spouse, except as otherwise specified in this section, unless such other spouse has provided written notification to FSA and CCC that such action is not authorized. The notification must be provided to FSA for each farm.
(b) A spouse may not sign a document on behalf of the other spouse with respect to:
(1) Program document required to be executed in accordance with part 3 of this title;
(2) Easements entered into under part 1410 of this title;
(3) Power of attorney;
(4) Such other program documents as determined by FSA or CCC.
(c) An individual; duly authorized officer of a corporation; duly authorized partner of a partnership; executor or administrator of an estate; trustee of a trust; guardian; or conservator may delegate to another the authority to act on their behalf with respect to FSA and CCC programs administered by USDA service center agencies by execution of a Power of Attorney, or such other form as approved by the Deputy Administrator. FSA and CCC may, at their discretion, allow the delegations of authority by other individuals through use of the Power of Attorney or such other form as approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(d) Notwithstanding another provision of this regulation or any other FSA or CCC regulation in this title, a parent may execute documents on behalf of a minor child unless prohibited by a statute or court order.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this title, an authorized agent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States Department of Interior may sign as agent for landowners with properties affiliated with or under the management or trust of the BIA. For collection purposes, such payments will be considered as being made to the persons who are the beneficiaries of the payment or may, alternatively, be considered as an obligation of all persons on the farm in general. In the event of a need for a refund or other claim may be collected, among other means, by other monies due such persons or the farm.
(f) Documents that were previously acted on and approved by the FSA county office or county committee will not subsequently be determined inadequate or invalid because of the lack of signature authority of any person signing the document on behalf of the applicant or any other individual, entity, general partnership, or joint venture, unless the person signing the program document knowingly and willfully falsified the evidence of signature authority or a signature. However, FSA may require affirmation of the document by those parties deemed appropriate for an affirmation, as determined by the Deputy Administrator. Nothing in this paragraph relieves participants of any other program requirements.
§ 718.10 Time limitations.
Whenever the final date prescribed in any of the regulations in this title for the performance of any act falls on a Saturday, Sunday, national holiday, State holiday on which the office of the county or State Farm Service Agency committee having primary cognizance of the action required to be taken is closed, or any other day on which the cognizant office is not open for the transaction of business during normal working hours, the time for taking required action shall be extended to the close of business on the next working day. Or in case the action required to be taken may be performed by mailing, the action shall be considered to be taken within the prescribed period if the mailing is postmarked by midnight of such next working day. Where the action required to be taken is with a prescribed number of days after the mailing of notice, the day of mailing shall be excluded in computing such period of time.
§ 718.11 Disqualification due to Federal crop insurance violation.
(a) Section 515(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA) provides that a person who willfully and intentionally provides false or inaccurate information to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) or to an approved insurance provider with respect to a policy or plan of FCIC insurance, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the record, will be subject to one or more of the sanctions described in section 515(h)(3). In section 515(h)(3), the FCIA specifies that in the case of a violation committed by a producer, the producer may be disqualified for a period of up to 5 years from receiving any monetary or non-monetary benefit under a number of programs. The list includes, but is not limited to, benefits under:
(1) The FCIA.
(2) The Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program under section 196 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 7333).
(3) The Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.).
(4) The Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.).
(5) The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.).
(6) Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.).
(7) The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.).
(8) Any law that provides assistance to a producer of an agricultural commodity affected by a crop loss or a decline in prices of agricultural commodities.
(b) Violation determinations are made by FCIC. However, upon notice from FCIC to FSA that a producer has been found to have committed a violation to which paragraph (a) of this section applies, that person will be ineligible for payments under the programs specified in paragraph (a) of this section that are funded by FSA for the same period of time for which, as determined by FCIC, the producer will be ineligible for crop insurance benefits of the kind referred to in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Appeals of the determination of ineligibility will be administered under the rules set by FCIC.
(c) Other sanctions may also apply.
Subpart B—Determination of Acreage and Compliance
§ 718.101 Measurements.
(a) Measurement services include, but are not limited to, measuring land and crop areas, measuring quantities of farm-stored commodities, and appraising the yields of crops in the field when required for program administration purposes. The county committee will provide measurement service if the producer requests such service and pays the cost, except that measurement service is not available and will not be provided to determine total acreage or production of a crop when the request is made:
(1) For acreage, after the established final reporting date for the applicable crop, unless a late filed report is accepted as provided in § 718.104; or
(2) After the farm operator has furnished production evidence when required for program administration purposes except as provided in this subpart.
(b) Except for measurements and determinations performed by FSA in accordance with late-filed acreage reports filed in accordance with § 718.104, when a producer requests, pays for, and receives written notice that measurement services have been furnished, the measured acreage is guaranteed to be correct and used for all program purposes for the current year even though an error is later discovered in the measurement.
§ 718.102 Acreage reports.
(a) In order to be eligible for benefits, participants in the programs specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(6) of this section must submit accurate information annually as required by these provisions.
(b)(1) Participants in programs for which eligibility for benefits is tied to base acres must report the acreage of fruits and vegetables planted for harvest on a farm enrolled in such program;
(2) Participants in the programs governed by parts 1421 and 1427 of this title must report the acreage planted to a commodity for harvest for which a marketing assistance loan or loan deficiency payment is requested;
(3) Participants in the programs governed by part 1410 of this title must report the intended use of land enrolled in such programs;
(4) All participants in the programs governed by part 1437 of this title must report all acreage and intended use of the eligible crop in the country in which the producer has a share;
(5) Participants in the programs governed by part 723 of this chapter and part 1464 of this title must report the acreage planted to tobacco by kind on all farms that have an effective allotment or quota greater than zero;
(6) All participants in the programs governed by parts 1412, 1421, and 1427 of this title must report the use of all cropland on the farm.
(7) All producers reporting acreage as prevented planted acreage or failed acreage must provide documentation that meets the provisions of § 718.103 to the FSA county office where the farm is administered.
(c) The annual acreage reports required in paragraph (a) of this section must be filed with the county committee by the farm operator, farm owner, producer of the crop on the farm, or duly authorized representative by the final reporting date applicable to the crop as established by the Deputy Administrator.
(d) Participants in programs to which this part is applicable must report all crops, in all counties, in which they have an interest. This includes crops on cropland and noncropland, including native or improved grass that will be hayed or grazed.
§ 718.103 Prevented planted and failed acreage.
(a) Prevented planting is the inability to plant an eligible crop with proper equipment during the planting period as a result of an eligible cause of loss, as determined by CCC. The eligible cause of loss that prevented the planting must have:
(1) Occurred after a previous planting period for the crop;
(2) Occurred before the final planting date for the crop in the applicable crop year or, in the case of multiple plantings, the harvest date of the first planting in the applicable planting period, and
(3) Similarly affected other producers in the area, as determined by CCC.
(b) FSA may approve acreage as “prevented planted acreage” if all other conditions for such approval are met and provided the conditions in paragraphs (b)(1) through (6) of this section are met.
(1) Except as specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, producers must report the acreage, on forms specified by FSA, within 15 calendar days after the final planting date determined for the crop by FSA.
(2) If the acreage is reported after the period identified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the application must be filed in time to permit:
(i) The county committee or its authorized representative to make a farm visit to verify eligible disaster conditions that prevented the specified acreage or crop from being planted; or
(ii) The county committee or its authorized representative the opportunity to determine, based on visual inspection, that the acreage or crop in question was affected by eligible disaster conditions such as damaging weather or other adverse natural occurrences that prevented the acreage or crop from being planted.
(3) A farm visit to inspect the acreage or crop is required for all late-filed acreage reports where prevented planting credit is sought. Under no circumstance may acreage reported after the 15-day period referenced in paragraph (b)(1) of this section be deemed acceptable unless the criteria in paragraph (b)(2) of this section are met. State and county committees do not have the authority to waive the field inspection and verification provisions for late-filed reports.
(4) All determinations made during field inspections must be documented on each late-filed acreage report, with results also recorded in county committee minutes to support the documentation.
(5) The acreage must have been prevented from being planted as the result of a natural disaster and not a management decision.
(6) The prevented planted acreage report was approved by the county committee. The county committee may disapprove prevented planted acreage credit if it is not satisfied with the documentation provided.
(c) To receive prevented planted credit for acreage, the producer must show to the satisfaction of FSA that the producer intended to plant the acreage. Documentation supporting such intent includes documents related to field preparation, seed purchase, and any other information that shows the acreage could and would have been planted and harvested absent the natural disaster or eligible cause of loss that prevented the planting.
(d) Prevented planted acreage credit will not be given to crops where the prevented-planted acreage was affected by drought, unless:
(1) On the final planting date for non-irrigated acreage, the area that is prevented from being planted has insufficient soil moisture for germination of seed and progress toward crop maturity because of a prolonged period of dry weather, as determined by CCC; and
(2) Prolonged precipitation deficiencies exceeded the D2 level as determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor; and
(3) Verifiable information is collected from sources whose business or purpose it is to record weather conditions, as determined by CCC, and including but not limited to the local weather reporting stations of the U.S. National Weather Service.
(e) Prevented planted acreage credit under this part applies to irrigated crops where the acreage was prevented from being planted due to a lack of water resulting from drought conditions or contamination by saltwater intrusion of an irrigation supply resulting from drought conditions if there was not a reasonable probability of having adequate water to carry out an irrigation practice.
(f) Acreage ineligible for prevented planting coverage includes, but is not limited to, acreage:
(1) With respect to which the planting history or conservation plans indicate it would remain fallow for crop rotation purposes;
(2) Used for conservation purposes or intended to be or considered to have been left unplanted under any program administered by USDA, including the Conservation Reserve and Wetland Reserve Programs;
(3) Not planted because of a management decision;
(4) Affected by the containment or release of water by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project, if an easement exists on the acreage affected for the containment or release of water;
(5) Where any other person receives a prevented planted payment for any crop for the same crop year, unless the acreage meets all the requirements for double cropping under this part;
(6) Where pasture or other forage crop is in place on the acreage during the time that planting of the crop generally occurs in the area;
(7) Where another crop is planted (previous or subsequent) that does not meet the double cropping definition;
(8) Where any volunteer or cover crop is hayed, grazed, or otherwise harvested on the acreage for the same crop year;
(9) Where there is an inadequate supply of irrigation water beginning on the Federal crop insurance sale closing date for the previous crop year or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) application closing date for the crop as specified in part 1437 of this title through the final planting date of the current year;
(10) On which a failure or breakdown of irrigation equipment or facilities, unless the failure or breakdown is due to a natural disaster;
(11) That is under quarantine imposed by a county, State, or Federal government agency;
(12) That is affected by chemical or herbicide residue, unless the residue is due to a natural disaster;
(13) That is affected by drifting herbicide;
(14) On which a crop was produced, but the producer was unable to obtain a market for the crop;
(15) Involving a planned planting of a “value loss crop” as that term is defined for NAP as specified in part 1437 of this title, including, but not limited to, Christmas trees, aquaculture, or ornamental nursery, for which NAP assistance is provided under value loss procedure;
(16) For which the claim for prevented planted credit relates to trees or other perennials unless the producer can prove resources were available to plant, grow, and harvest the crop, as applicable;
(17) That is affected by wildlife damage;
(18) Upon which, the reduction in the water supply for irrigation is due to participation in an electricity buy-back program, or the sale of water under a water buy-back or legislative changes regarding water usage, or any other cause which is not a natural disaster; or
(19) That is devoted to non-cropland.
(g) CCC may allow exceptions to acreage ineligible for prevented planting coverage when surface water or ground water is reduced because of a natural disaster (as determined by CCC).
(h) Failed acreage is acreage that was planted with the proper equipment during the planting period but failed as a result of an eligible cause of loss, as determined by CCC.
(i) To be approved by CCC as failed acreage the acreage must have been reported as failed acreage before disposition of the crop, and the acreage must have been planted under normal conditions but failed as the result of a natural disaster and not a management decision. Producers who file a failed acreage report must have the request acted on by the county committee. The county committee will deny the acreage report if it is not satisfied with the documentation provided.
(j) To receive failed acreage credit the producer must show all of the following:
(1) That the acreage was planted under normal conditions using the proper equipment with the intent to harvest the acreage.
(2) Provide documentation that the crop was planted using farming practices consistent for the crop and area, but could not be brought to harvest because of disaster-related conditions.
(k) The eligible cause for failed acreage must have:
(1) Occurred after the crop was planted, and
(2) Before the normal harvest date for the crop in the applicable crop year or in the case of multiple plantings, the harvest date of the first planting in the applicable planting period, and
(3) Other producers in the area were similarly affected as determined by CCC.
(l) Eligible failed acreage will be determined on the basis of the producer planting the crop under normal conditions with the expectation to take the crop to harvest.
(m) Acreage ineligible for failed acreage credit includes, but is not limited to acreage:
(1) Which was planted using methods that could not be considered normal for the area and without the expectation of harvest;
(2) Used for conservation purposes or intended to be or considered to have been un-harvested under any program administered by USDA, including the Conservation Reserve and Wetland Reserve Programs; or
(3) That failed because of a management decision.
§ 718.104 Late-filed and revised acreage reports.
(a) Late-filed acreage reports may be accepted after the final reporting date through the crop’s immediately subsequent crop year’s final reporting date and processed by FSA if both of the following apply:
(1) The crop or identifiable crop residue remains in the field, permitting FSA to verify and determine the acreage and
(2) The crop acreage and common land unit for which the reported crop acreage report is being filed has not already been determined by FSA.
(b) Acreage reports submitted later than the date specified in paragraph (a) of this section will not be processed by FSA and will not be used for program purposes.
(c) The person or legal entity filing a report late must pay the cost of a farm inspection and measurement unless FSA determines that failure to report in a timely manner was beyond the producer’s control. The cost of the inspection and measurement is equal to the amount FSA would charge for measurement service; however, FSA’s determination of acreage as a result of the inspection and measurement is not considered a paid for measurement service under § 718.101. The acreage measured will be entered as determined acres.
(d) When an acceptable late-filed acreage report is filed in accordance with this section, the reported crop acreage will be entered for the amount that was actually reported to FSA before FSA determined acres, and the determined crop acreage will be entered as it was determined and established by FSA.
(e) Revised acreage reports may be filed to change the acreage reported if:
(1) The acreage has not already been determined by FSA; and
(2) Actual crop or residue is present in the field.
(f) Revised reports will be filed and accepted:
(1) At any time for all crops if the crop or residue still exists in the field for inspection to verify the existence and use made of the crop, the lack of the crop, or a disaster condition affecting the crop; and
(2) If the producer was in compliance with all other program requirements at the reporting date.
§ 718.105 Tolerances and adjustments.
(a) Tolerance is the amount by which the determined acreage for a crop may differ from the reported acreage or allotment for the crop and still be considered in compliance with program requirements under §§ 718.102(b)(1), (b)(3) and (b)(5).
(b) Tolerance rules apply to those fields for which a staking and referencing was performed but such acreage was not planted according to those measurements or when a measurement service is not requested for acreage destroyed to meet program requirements.
(c) Tolerance rules do not apply to:
(1) Program requirements of §§ 718.102(b)(2), (b)(4) and (b)(6);
(2) Official fields upon which the entire field is devoted to one crop;
(3) Those fields for which staking and referencing was performed and such acreage was planted according to those measurements; or
(4) The adjusted acreage for farms using measurement after planting which have a determined acreage greater than the marketing quota crop allotment.
(d) If the acreage report for a crop is outside the tolerance for that crop:
(1) FSA may consider the requirements of §§ 718.102 (b)(1), (b)(3) and (b)(5) not to have been met;
(2) Participants may be ineligible for all or a portion of payments or benefits subject to the requirements of §§ 718.102 (b)(1), (b)(3) and (b)(5); and
(3) Participants may be ineligible for all or a portion of payments or benefits under a program that requires accurate crop acreage reports under rules governing the program.
§ 718.106 Non-compliance and false acreage reports.
(a) Participants who provide false or inaccurate acreage reports may be ineligible for some or all payments or benefits, subject to the requirements of § 718.102(b)(1) and (3).
(b) [Reserved]
§ 718.107 Acreages.
(a) If an acreage has been established by FSA for an area delineated on an aerial photograph or within a GIS, such acreage will be recognized by the county committee as the acreage for the area until such time as the boundaries of such area are changed. When boundaries not visible on the aerial photograph are established from data furnished by the producer, such acreage shall not be recognized as official acreage until an authorized representative of FSA verifies the boundaries.
(b) Measurements of any row crop shall extend beyond the planted area by the larger of 15 inches or one-half the distance between the rows.
(c) The entire acreage of a field or subdivision of a field devoted to a crop shall be considered as devoted to the crop subject to a deduction or adjustment except as otherwise provided in this part.
§ 718.108 Measuring acreage including skip row acreage.
(a) When one crop is alternating with another crop, whether or not both crops have the same growing season, only the acreage that is actually planted to the crop being measured will be considered to be acreage devoted to the measured crop.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph and section, whether planted in a skip row pattern or without a pattern of skipped rows, the entire acreage of the field or subdivision may be considered as devoted to the crop only where the distance between the rows, for all rows, is 40 inches or less. If there is a skip that creates idle land wider than 40 inches, or if the distance between any rows is more than 40 inches, then the area planted to the crop shall be considered to be that area which would represent the smaller of; a 40 inch width between rows, or the normal row spacing in the field for all other rows in the field—those that are not more than 40 inches apart. The allowance for individual rows would be made based on the smaller of actual spacing between those rows or the normal spacing in the field. For example, if the crop is planted in single, wide rows that are 48 inches apart, only 20 inches to either side of each row (for a total of 40 inches between the two rows) could, at a maximum, be considered as devoted as the crop and normal spacing in the field would control. Half the normal distance between rows will also be allowed beyond the outside planted rows not to exceed 20 inches and will reflect normal spacing in the field.
(c) In making calculations under this section, further reductions may be made in the acreage considered planted if it is determined that the acreage is more sparsely planted than normal using reasonable and customary full production planting techniques.
(d) The Deputy Administrator has the discretionary authority to allow row allowances other than those specified in this section in those instances in which crops are normally planted with spacings greater or less than 40 inches, such as in case of tobacco, or where other circumstances are present which the Deputy Administrator finds justifies that allowance.
(e) Paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section shall apply with respect to the 2003 and subsequent crops. For preceding crops, the rules in effect on January 1, 2002, shall apply.
§ 718.109 Deductions.
(a) Any contiguous area which is not devoted to the crop being measured and which is not part of a skip-row pattern under § 718.108 shall be deducted from the acreage of the crop if such area meets the following minimum national standards or requirements:
(1) A minimum width of 30 inches;
(2) For tobacco—three-hundredths (.03) acre. Turn areas, terraces, permanent irrigation and drainage ditches, sod waterways, non-cropland, and subdivision boundaries each of which is at least 30 inches in width may be combined to meet the 0.03-acre minimum requirement; or
(3) For all other crops and land uses—one-tenth (.10) acre. Turn areas, terraces, permanent irrigation and drainage ditches, sod waterways, non-cropland, and subdivision boundaries each of which is at least 30 inches in width and each of which contain 0.1 acre or more may be combined to meet any larger minimum prescribed for a State in accordance with this subpart.
(b) If the area not devoted to the crop is located within the planted area, the part of any perimeter area that is more than 217.8 feet (33 links) in width will be considered to be an internal deduction if the standard deduction is used.
(c) A standard deduction of 3 percent of the area devoted to a row crop and zero percent of the area devoted to a close-sown crop may be used in lieu of measuring the acreage of turn areas.
§ 718.110 Adjustments.
(a) The farm operator or other interested producer having excess tobacco acreage (other than flue-cured or burley) may adjust an acreage of the crop in order to avoid a marketing quota penalty if such person:
(1) Notifies the county committee of such election within 15 calendar days after the date of mailing of notice of excess acreage by the county committee; and
(2) Pays the cost of a farm inspection to determine the adjusted acreage prior to the date the farm visit is made.
(b) The farm operator may adjust an acreage of tobacco (except flue-cured and burley) by disposing of such excess tobacco prior to the marketing of any of the same kind of tobacco from the farm. The disposition shall be witnessed by a representative of FSA and may take place before, during, or after the harvesting of the same kind of tobacco grown on the farm. However, no credit will be allowed toward the disposition of excess acreage after the tobacco is harvested but prior to marketing, unless the county committee determines that such tobacco is representative of the entire crop from the farm of the kind of tobacco involved.
§ 718.111 Notice of measured acreage.
(a) FSA will provide notice of measured acreage and mail it to the farm operator. This notice constitutes notice to all parties who have ownership, leasehold interest, or other interest in such farm.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 718.112 Redetermination.
(a) A redetermination of crop acreage, appraised yield, or farm-stored production for a farm may be initiated by the county committee, State committee, or Deputy Administrator at any time. Redetermination may be requested by a producer with an interest in the farm if the producer pays the cost of the redetermination. The request must be submitted to FSA within 5 calendar days after the initial appraisal of the yield of a crop, or before the farm-stored production is removed from storage. A redetermination will be undertaken in the manner prescribed by the Deputy Administrator. A redetermination will be used in lieu of any prior determination unless it is determined by the representative of the Deputy Administrator that there is good cause not to do so.
(b) FSA will refund the payment of the cost for a redetermination when, because of an error in the initial determination:
(1) The appraised yield is changed by at least the larger of:
(i) Five percent or 5 pounds for cotton;
(ii) Five percent or 1 bushel for wheat, barley, oats, and rye; or
(iii) Five percent or 2 bushels for corn and grain sorghum; or
(2) The farm stored production is changed by at least the smaller of 3 percent or 600 bushels; or
(3) The acreage of the crop is:
(i) Changed by at least the larger of 3 percent or 0.5 acre; or
(ii) Considered to be within program requirements.
Subpart C—Reconstitution of Farms, Allotments, Quotas, and Base Acres
§ 718.201 Farm constitution.
(a) In order to implement FSA programs and monitor compliance with regulations, FSA must have records on what land is being farmed by a particular producer. This is accomplished by a determination of what land or group of lands “constitute” an individual unit or farm. Land that was properly constituted under prior regulations will remain so constituted until a reconstitution is required by paragraph (c) of this section. The constitution and identification of land as a “farm” for the first time and the subsequent reconstitution of a farm made thereafter will include all land operated by an individual entity or joint operation as a single farming unit except that it may not include:
(1) Land under separate ownership unless the owners agree in writing or have previously agreed in writing and the labor, equipment, accounting system, and management are operated in common by the operator, but separate from other tracts;
(2) Land under a lease agreement of less than 1 year duration;
(3) Federally owned land unless it is rangeland on which no crops are planted and on which there are no crop base acres established;
(4) State-owned wildlife lands unless the former owner has possession of the land under a leasing agreement;
(5) Land constituting a farm that is declared ineligible to be enrolled in a program under the regulations governing the program;
(6) For base acre crops, land located in counties that are not contiguous except where:
(i) Counties are divided by a river;
(ii) Counties do not share a common border because of a correction line adjustment; or
(iii) The land is within 20 miles, by road, of other land that will be a part of the farming unit;
(7) Land subject to either a default election or a valid election made under part 1412 of this title for each and all covered commodities constituted with land that has a different default election or valid election for each and all covered commodities, irrespective of whether or not any of the land has base acres; or
(8) Land subject to an election of individual coverage under the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program (ARC-IC) in any State constituted with any land in another State.
(b)(1) If all land on the farm is physically located in one county, the farm shall be administratively located in such county. If there is no FSA office in the county or the county offices have been consolidated, the farm shall be administratively located in the contiguous county most convenient for the farm operator.
(2) If the land on the farm is located in more than one county, the farm shall be administratively located in either of such counties as the county committees and the farm operator agree. If no agreement can be reached, the farm shall be administratively located in the county where the principal dwelling is situated, or where the major portion of the farm is located if there is no dwelling.
(c) A reconstitution of a farm either by division or by combination is required whenever:
(1) A change has occurred in the operation of the land since the last constitution or reconstitution and as a result of such change the farm does not meet the conditions for constitution of a farm as specified in paragraph (a) of this section, except that no reconstitution will be made if the county committee determines that the primary purpose of the change in operation is to establish eligibility to transfer allotments subject to sale or lease, or increase the amount of program benefits received;
(2) The farm was not properly constituted the previous time;
(3) An owner requests in writing that the land no longer be included in a farm composed of tracts under separate ownership;
(4) The county committee determines that the farm was reconstituted on the basis of false information;
(5) The county committee determines that tracts included in a farm are not being operated as a single farming unit.
(d) An owner can file a written request to have FSA reconstitute from original tracts areas that are less than 10 DCP cropland acres and less than 5 percent of the original tract, if such request is accompanied by sufficient data from which FSA can determine the political county and State of land in both the original tract and the proposed tract. Any owner-initiated requests for tract divisions for physical location will be performed and effective prospectively from date of request and approval by FSA.
(e) Reconstitution shall not be approved if the county committee determines that the primary purpose of the reconstitution is to:
(1) Circumvent the provisions of part 12 of this title; or
(2) Circumvent any other chapter of this title.
§ 718.202 Determining the land constituting a farm.
(a) In determining the constitution of a farm, consideration shall be given to provisions such as ownership and operation. For purposes of this part, the following rules shall be applicable to determining what land is to be included in a farm.
(b) A minor shall be considered to be the same owner or operator as the parent, court-appointed guardian, or other person responsible for the minor child, unless the parent or guardian has no interest in the minor’s farm or production from the farm, and the minor:
(1) Is a producer on a farm;
(2) Maintains a separate household from the parent or guardian;
(3) Personally carries out the farming activities; and
(4) Maintains a separate accounting for the farming operation.
(c) A minor shall not be considered to be the same owner or operator as the parent or court-appointed guardian if the minor’s interest in the farming operation results from being the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust and ownership of the property is vested in the trust or the minor.
(d) A life estate tenant shall be considered to be the owner of the property for their life.
(e) A trust shall be considered to be an owner with the beneficiary of the trust; except a trust can be considered a separate owner or operator from the beneficiary, if the trust:
(1) Has a separate and distinct interest in the land or crop involved;
(2) Exercises separate responsibility for the separate and distinct interest; and
(3) Maintains funds and accounts separate from that of any other individual or entity for the interest.
(f) The county committee shall require specific proof of ownership.
(g) Land owned by different persons of an immediate family living in the same household and operated as a single farming unit shall be considered as being under the same ownership in determining a farm.
(h) All land operated as a single unit and owned and operated by a parent corporation and subsidiary corporations of which the parent corporation owns more than 50 percent of the value of the outstanding stock, or where the parent is owned and operated by subsidiary corporations, shall be constituted as one farm.
§ 718.203 County committee action to reconstitute a farm.
Action to reconstitute a farm may be initiated by the county committee, the farm owner, or the operator with the concurrence of the owner of the farm. Any request for a farm reconstitution shall be filed with the county committee.
§ 718.204 Reconstitution of base acres.
(a) Farms will be reconstituted in accordance with this subpart when it is determined that the land areas are not properly constituted and, to the extent practicable as determined by county committee, the reconstitution will be based on the facts and conditions existing at the time the change requiring the reconstitution occurred.
(b) Reconstitutions will be effective for the calendar year if initiated by August 1 of that year. Any reconstitution initiated after August 1 will not be effective for that year; it will be effective for the subsequent year.
(c) The Deputy Administrator may approve an exception to permit a reconstitution initiated after August 1 to be effective for the same year, if FSA determines that the failure is due to administrative problems as determined by FSA at the local or national level. Producers have no right to seek an exception under this paragraph. When such situations exist, FSA will establish procedures under which reconstitutions will be accepted and when those reconstitutions will become effective.
(a) Land that is properly constituted as a farm shall not be reconstituted if:
(1) The reconstitution request is based upon the formation of a newly established legal entity which owns or operates the farm or any part of the farm and the county committee determines there is not a substantive change in the farming operation;
(2) The county committee determines that the primary purpose of the request for reconstitution is to:
(i) Obtain additional benefits under one or more commodity programs;
(ii) Avoid damages or penalties under a contract or statute;
(iii) Correct an erroneous acreage report; or
(iv) Circumvent any other program provisions. In addition, no farm shall remain as constituted when the county committee determines that a substantive change in the farming operation has occurred which would require a reconstitution, except as otherwise approved by the State committee with the concurrence of the Deputy Administrator.
(b) In determining whether a substantive change has occurred with respect to a farming operation, the county committee shall consider factors such as the composition of the legal entities having an interest in the farming operation with respect to management, financing, and accounting. The county committee shall also consider the use of land, labor, and equipment available to the farming operations and any other relevant factors that bear on the determination.
(c) Unless otherwise approved by the State committee with the concurrence of the Deputy Administrator, when the county committee determines that a corporation, trust, or other legal entity is formed primarily for the purpose of obtaining additional benefits under the commodity programs of this title, the farm shall remain as constituted, or shall be reconstituted, as applicable, when the farm is owned or operated by:
(1) A corporation having more than 50 percent of the stock owned by members of the same family living in the same household;
(2) Corporations having more than 50 percent of the stock owned by stockholders common to more than one corporation; or
(3) Trusts in which the beneficiaries and trustees are family members living in the same household.
(d) Application of the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section shall not limit or affect the application of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.
§ 718.206 Determining farms, tracts, and base acres when reconstitution is made by division.
(a) The methods for dividing farms, tracts, and base acres are, in order of precedence: Estate, designation by landowner, cropland, and default. The proper method will be determined on a crop-by-crop basis.
(b) The estate method for reconstitution is the pro-rata distribution of base acres for a parent farm among the heirs in settling an estate. If the estate sells a tract of land before the farm is divided among the heirs, the base acres for that tract will be determined according to paragraphs (c) through (e) of this section.
(1) Base acres must be divided in accordance with a will, but only if the county committee determines that the terms of the will are such that a division can reasonably be made by the estate method.
(2) If there is no will or the county committee determines that the terms of a will are not clear as to the division of base acres, the base acres will be apportioned in the manner agreed to in writing by all interested heirs or devisees who acquire an interest in the property for which base acres have been established. An agreement by the administrator or executor will not be accepted in lieu of an agreement by the heirs or devisees.
(3) If base acres are not apportioned as specified in paragraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section, the base acres must be divided as specified in paragraph (d) or (e) of this section, as applicable.
(c) If the ownership of a tract of land is transferred from a parent farm, the transferring owner may request that the county committee divide the base acres, including historical acreage that has been double cropped, between the parent farm and the transferred tract, or between the various tracts if the entire farm is sold to two or more purchasers.
(1) If the county committee determines that base acres cannot be divided in the manner designated by the owner because the owner’s designation does not meet the requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, FSA will notify the owner and permit the owner to revise the designation to meet the requirements. If the owner does not furnish a revised designation of base acres within a reasonable time after such notification, or if the revised designation does not meet the requirements, the county committee will divide the base acres in a pro-rata manner in accordance with paragraph (d) or (e) of this section.
(2) The landowner may designate a manner in which base acres are divided by filing a signed written memorandum of understanding of the designation of base acres with the county committee before the transfer of ownership of the land. Both the transferring owner and transferee must sign the written designation of base acres.
(i) Within 30 days after a prescribed form, letter, or notice of base acres is issued by FSA following the reconstitution of a farm but before any subsequent transfer of ownership of the land, all owners in existence at time of the reconstitution request may seek a different manner of base acre designation by agreeing in writing by executing a form CCC-517 or other designated form.
(ii) The landowner must designate the base acres that will be permanently reduced when the sum of the base acres exceeds the effective cropland plus double-cropped acres for the farm.
(iii) When the part of the farm from which the ownership is being transferred was owned for less than 3 years, the designation by landowner method of designating base acres cannot be used unless the county committee determines that the primary purpose of the ownership transfer was other than to retain or to sell base acres. In the absence of such a determination, and if the farm contains land that has been owned for less than 3 years, the part of the farm that has been owned for less than 3 years will be considered as a separate farm and the base acres must be assigned to that farm in accordance with paragraph (d) or (e) of this section. Such apportionment will be made prior to any designation of base acres with respect to the part that has been owned for 3 years or more.
(3) The designation by landowner method may be applied, at the owner’s request, to land owned by an Indian Tribal Council that is leased to two or more producers for the production of any crop of a commodity for which base acres have been established. If the land is leased to two or more producers, an Indian Tribal Council may request that the county committee divide the base acres between the applicable tracts in the manner designated by the Council. The use of this method is not subject to the requirements specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(d) The cropland method for reconstitution is the pro-rata distribution of base acres to the resulting tracts in the same proportion that each resulting tract bears to the cropland for the parent tract. This method of division will be used if paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section do not apply.
(e) The default method for reconstitution is the separation of tracts from a farm with each tract maintaining the base acres attributed to the tract when the reconstitution is initiated.
(f) Farm program payment yields calculated for the resulting farms of a division may be increased or decreased if the county committee determines the method used did not provide an equitable distribution considering available land, cultural operations, and changes in the type of farming conducted on the farm. Any increase in the farm program payment yield on a resulting farm will be offset by a corresponding decrease on another resulting farm of the division.
§ 718.207 Determining base acres when reconstitution is made by combination.
(a) When two or more farms or tracts are combined for a year, that year’s base acres, with respect to the combined farm or tract, as required by applicable program regulations, will not be greater than the sum of the base acres for each of the farms or tracts comprising the combination, subject to the provisions of § 718.204.
(b) [Reserved]
Subpart D—Equitable Relief From Ineligibility
§ 718.301 Applicability.
(a) This subpart is applicable to programs administered by the Farm Service Agency under chapters VII and XIV of this title, except for an agricultural credit program carried out under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), as amended. Administration of this subpart shall be under the supervision of the Deputy Administrator, except that such authority shall not limit the exercise of authority allowed State Executive Directors of the Farm Service agency as provided for in § 718.307.
(b) Section 718.306 does not apply to a function performed under either section 376 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), or a conservation program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
(c) The relief provisions of this part cannot be used to extend a benefit or assistance not otherwise available under law or not otherwise available to others who have satisfied or complied with every eligibility or compliance requirement of the provisions of law or regulations governing the program benefit or assistance.
§ 718.302 Definitions and abbreviations.
In addition to the definitions provided in § 718.2 of this part, the following terms apply to this subpart:
Covered program means a program specified in § 718.301 of this subpart.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.
OGC means the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Agriculture.
SED means, for activities within a particular state, the State Executive Director of the United States Department of Agriculture, FSA, for that state.
§ 718.303 Reliance on incorrect actions or information.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, if an action or inaction by a participant is based upon good faith reliance on the action or advice of an authorized representative of an FSA county or State committee, and that action or inaction results in the participant’s noncompliance with the requirements of a covered program that is to the detriment of the participant, then that action or inaction still may be approved by the Deputy Administrator as meeting the requirements of the covered program, and benefits may be extended or payments made in as specified in § 718.305.
(b) This section applies only to a participant who:
(1) Relied in good faith upon the action of, or information provided by, an FSA county or State committee or an authorized representative of such committee regarding a covered program;
(2) Acted, or failed to act, as a result of the FSA action or information; and
(3) Was determined to be not in compliance with the requirements of that covered program.
(c) This section does not apply to cases where the participant had sufficient reason to know that the action or information upon which they relied was improper or erroneous or where the participant acted in reliance on their own misunderstanding or misinterpretation of program provisions, notices or information.
§ 718.304 Failure to fully comply.
(a) When the failure of a participant to fully comply with the terms and conditions of a covered program precludes the providing of payments or benefits, relief may be authorized as specified in § 718.305 if the participant made a good faith effort to comply fully with the requirements of the covered program.
(b) This section only applies to participants who are determined by FSA to have made a good faith effort to comply fully with the terms and conditions of the covered program and have performed substantial actions required for program eligibility.
§ 718.305 Forms of relief.
(a) The Administrator of FSA, Executive Vice President of CCC, or their designee, may authorize a participant in a covered program to:
(1) Retain loans, payments, or other benefits received under the covered program;
(2) Continue to receive loans, payments, and other benefits under the covered program;
(3) Continue to participate, in whole or in part, under any contract executed under the covered program;
(4) In the case of a conservation program, re-enroll all or part of the land covered by the program; and
(5) Receive such other equitable relief as determined to be appropriate.
(b) As a condition of receiving relief under this subpart, the participant may be required to remedy their failure to meet the program requirement, or mitigate its affects.
§ 718.306 Finality.
(a) A determination by an FSA State or county committee (or employee of such committee) becomes final on an application for benefits and binding 90 days from the date the application for benefits has been filed, and supporting documentation required to be supplied by the producer as a condition for eligibility for the particular program has been filed, unless any of the following exceptions exist:
(1) The participant has requested an administrative review of the determination in accordance with part 780 of this chapter;
(2) The determination was in any way based on erroneous, innocent, or purposeful misrepresentation; false statement; fraud; or willful misconduct by or on behalf of the participant;
(3) The determination was modified by the Administrator, FSA, or in the case of CCC programs conducted under Chapter XIV of this title, the Executive Vice President, CCC; or
(4) The participant knew or had reason to know that the determination was erroneous.
(b) Should an erroneous determination become final under the provisions of this section, the erroneous decision will be corrected according to paragraph (c) of this section.
(1) If, as a result of the erroneous decision, payment was issued, no action will be taken by FSA, CCC, or a State or county committee to recover unearned payment amounts unless one or more of the exceptions in paragraph (a) of this section applies;
(2) If payment was not issued before the error was discovered, the payment will not be issued. FSA and CCC are under no obligation to issue payments or render decisions that are contrary to law or regulation.
(c) FSA and CCC will modify and correct determinations when errors are discovered. As specified in paragraph (b) of this section, FSA or CCC may be precluded from recovering unearned payments that issued as a result of the erroneous decision. FSA or CCC’s inability to recover or demand refunds of unearned amounts as specified in paragraph (b) will only be effective through the year in which the error was found and communicated to the participant.
(a) General nature of the special authority. Notwithstanding provisions in this subpart providing supervision and relief authority to other officials, an SED, after consultation with and approval from OGC but without further review by other officials (other than the Secretary) may grant relief to a participant under the provisions of §§ 718.303 through 718.305 as if the SED were the final arbiter within the agency of such matters so long as:
(1) The program matter with respect to which the relief is sought is a program matter in a covered program which is operated within the State under the control of the SED;
(2) The total amount of relief which will be provided to the participant (that is, to the individual or entity that applies for the relief) by that SED under this special authority for errors during that year is less than $20,000 (including in that calculation, any loan amount or other benefit of any kind payable for that year and any other year);
(3) The total amount of such relief which has been previously provided to the participant using this special authority for errors, as calculated above, is not more than $5,000;
(4) The total amount of loans, payments, and benefits of any kind for which relief is provided to similarly situated participants by an SED for errors for any year under the authority provided in this section, as calculated above, is not more than $1,000,000.
(b) Report of the exercise of the power. A grant of relief shall be considered to be under this section and subject to the special finality provided in this section only if the SED grants the relief in writing when granting the relief to the party who will receive the benefit of such relief and only if, in that document, the SED declares that they are exercising that power. The SED must report the exercise of that power to the Deputy Administrator so that a full accounting may be made in keeping with the limitations of this section. Absent such a report, relief will not be considered to have been made under this section.
(c) Additional limits on the authority. The authority provided under this section does not extend to:
(1) The administration of payment limitations under part 1400 of this chapter (§§ 1001 to 1001F of 7 U.S.C. 1308 et seq.);
(2) The administration of payment limitations under a conservation program administered by the Secretary; or
(3) Highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements under subtitles B or C of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.) as administered under 7 CFR part 12.
(d) Relief may not be provided by the SED under this section until a written opinion or written acknowledgment is obtained from OGC that grounds exist for determination that requirements for granting relief under § 718.303 or § 718.304 have been met, that the form of relief is authorized under § 718.305, and that the granting of the relief is within the lawful authority of the SED.
(e) Relation to other authorities. The authority provided under this section is in addition to any other applicable authority that may allow relief.
SUBCHAPTER C [RESERVED]
SUBCHAPTER D—SPECIAL PROGRAMS
PART 750—SOIL BANK
PART 755—REIMBURSEMENT TRANSPORTATION COST PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS
§ 755.1 Administration.
(a) This part establishes the terms and conditions under which the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) Program for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers will be administered.
(b) The RTCP Program will be administered under the general supervision of the FSA Administrator, or a designee, and will be carried out in the field by FSA State and county committees and FSA employees.
(c) FSA State and county committees, and representatives and employees thereof, do not have the authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this part, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.
(d) The FSA State committee will take any action required by the provisions of this part that has not been taken by the FSA county committee. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct or require an FSA county committee to correct any action taken by the county committee that is not in compliance with the provisions of this part.
(2) Require an FSA county committee to not take an action or implement a decision that is not in compliance with the provisions of this part.
(e) No provision or delegation of this part to an FSA State committee or a county committee will preclude the FSA Administrator, or a designee, from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State committee or a county committee.
(f) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, may waive or modify program requirements of this part in cases where failure to meet requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the program and where the requirement is not statutorily mandated.
§ 755.2 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this part. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they may conflict with the definitions in this section.
Actual transportation rate means the transportation rate that reflects the actual transportation costs incurred and can be determined by supporting documentation.
Agricultural commodity means any agricultural commodity (including horticulture, aquaculture, and floriculture), food, feed, fiber, livestock (including elk, reindeer, bison, horses, or deer), or insects, and any product thereof.
Agricultural operation means a parcel or parcels of land; or body of water applicable to aquaculture, whether contiguous or noncontiguous, constituting a cohesive management unit for agricultural purposes. An agricultural operation will be regarded as located in the county in which the principal dwelling is situated, or if there is no dwelling thereon, it will be regarded to be in the county in which the major portion of the land or applicable body of water is located.
Application period means the period established by the Deputy Administrator for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to apply for program benefits.
County office or FSA county office means the FSA offices responsible for administering FSA programs in a specific area, sometimes encompassing more than one county, in a State.
Department or USDA means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Eligible reimbursement amount means the reported costs incurred to transport an agricultural commodity or input used to produce an agricultural commodity in an insular area, Alaska, or Hawaii, over a distance of more than 30 miles. The amount is calculated by multiplying the number of units of the reported transportation amount times the applicable transportation fixed, set, or actual rate times the applicable FY allowance (COLA).
Farm Service Agency or FSA means the Farm Service Agency of the USDA.
Fiscal year or FY means the year beginning October 1 and ending the following September 30. The fiscal year will be designated for this part by year reference to the calendar year in which it ends. For example, FY 2010 is from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010 (inclusive).
Fixed transportation rate means the per unit transportation rate determined by FSA to reflect the transportation cost applicable to an agricultural commodity or input used to produce an agricultural commodity in a particular region.
FY allowance (COLA) means the nonforeign area cost of living allowance or post differential, as applicable, for that FY set by Office of Personnel Management for Federal employees stationed in Alaska, Hawaii, and other insular areas, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5941 and E.O. 10000 and specified in 5 CFR part 591, subpart B, appendices A and B.
Geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher in an insular area, Alaska, or Hawaii.
Input transportation costs means those transportation costs of inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity including, but not limited to, air freight, ocean freight, and land freight of chemicals, feed, fertilizer, fuel, seeds, plants, supplies, equipment parts, and other inputs as determined by FSA.
Insular area means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Guam; American Samoa; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Republic of Palau; and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
Payment amount means the amount due a producer that is the sum of all eligible reimbursement amounts, as calculated by FSA subject to the availability of funds, and subject to an $8,000 cap per producer per FY.
Producer means any geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher who is an individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, estate, trust, association, cooperative, or other business enterprise or other legal entity, as defined in § 1400.3 of this title, who is, or whose members are, a citizen of or legal resident alien in the United States, and who, as determined by the Secretary, shares in the risk of producing an agricultural commodity in substantial commercial quantities, and who is entitled to a share of the agricultural commodity from the agricultural operation.
Reported transportation amount means the reported number of units (such as pounds, bushels, pieces, or parts) applicable to an agricultural commodity or input used to produce an agricultural commodity, which is used in calculating the eligible reimbursement amount.
Set transportation rate means the transportation rate established by FSA for a commodity or input for which there is not a fixed transportation rate or supporting documentation of the actual transportation rate.
United States means the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Verifiable records means evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of eligible reimbursements by geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in an agricultural operation that can be verified by FSA through an independent source.
§ 755.3 Time and method of application.
(a) To be eligible for payment, producers must obtain and submit a completed application for payment and meet other eligibility requirements specified in this part. Producers may obtain an application in person, by mail, or by facsimile from any county FSA office. In addition, producers may download a copy of the application at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov.
(b) An application for payment must be submitted on a completed application form. Applications and any other supporting documentation must be submitted to the FSA county office serving the county where the agricultural operation is located, but, in any case, must be received by the FSA county office by the close of business on the last day of the application period established by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) All producers who incurred transportation costs for eligible reimbursements and who share in the risk of an agricultural operation must certify to the information on the application before the application will be considered complete. FSA may require the producer to provide documentation to support all verifiable records.
(d) Each producer requesting payment under this part must certify to the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in their application and any supporting documentation. All information provided is subject to verification by FSA. Refusal to allow FSA or any other agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in a denial of eligibility. Furnishing the information is voluntary; however, without it program benefits will not be approved. Providing a false certification to the Federal Government may be punishable by imprisonment, fines and other penalties or sanctions.
(e) To ensure all producers are provided an opportunity to submit actual costs for reimbursement at the actual cost rate, applicants will have 30 days after the end of the FY to provide supporting documentation of actual transportation costs to the FSA County Office. The actual costs documented in supporting documentation will override previously reported costs of eligible reimbursable costs at the fixed or set rate made during the application period.
(f) If verifiable records are not provided to FSA, the producer will be ineligible for payment.
(g) If supporting documentation is provided within 30 days after the end of the FY, but an application was not submitted to the applicable FSA County Office before the end of the application period, the producer is not eligible for payment.
(h) Producers who submit applications after the application period are not entitled to any payment consideration or determination of eligibility. Regardless of the reason why an application is not submitted to or received by FSA, any application received after the close of business on such date will not be eligible for benefits under this program.
§ 755.4 Eligibility.
(a) To be eligible to receive payments under this part, a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher must:
(1) Be a producer of an eligible agricultural commodity in substantial commercial quantities;
(2) Incur transportation costs for the transportation of the agricultural commodity or input used to produce the agricultural commodity;
(3) Submit an accurate and complete application for payment as specified in § 755.3; and
(4) Be in compliance with the wetland and highly erodible conservation requirements in part 12 of this title and meet the adjusted gross income and pay limit eligibility requirements in part 1400 of this title, as applicable, except that the $8,000 cap provided for in this rule is a per producer cap, not a per person cap. For example, a partnership of four individuals would be considered one producer, not four persons, for the purposes of this cap and thus the partnership could only generate a single $8,000 payment under this program if the cap holds because of full subscription of the program.
(b) Individual producers in an agricultural operation that is an entity are only eligible for a payment based on their share of the operation. A producer is not eligible for payment based on the share of production of any other producer.
(c) Multiple producers, such as the buyer and seller of a commodity (for example, a producer of hay and a livestock operation that buys the hay), are not eligible for payments for the same eligible transportation cost. Unless the multiple producers agree otherwise, only the last buyer will be eligible for the payment.
(d) A person or entity determined to be a “foreign person” under part 1400 of this title is not eligible to receive benefits under this part, unless that person provides land, capital, and a substantial amount of active personal labor in the production of crops on such farm.
(e) State and local governments and their political subdivisions and related agencies are not eligible for RTCP payments.
§ 755.5 Proof of eligible reimbursement costs incurred.
(a) To be eligible for reimbursement based on FSA fixed or set rates as specified in § 755.7, the requirements specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section must be met at the time of the application. To be eligible for reimbursement of actual costs, the requirements of paragraph (d) must also be met, within 30 days after the end of the applicable fiscal year.
(b) Eligible verifiable records to support eligible reimbursement costs include, but are not limited to:
(1) Invoices;
(2) Account statements;
(3) Contractual Agreements; or
(4) Bill of Lading.
(c) Verifiable records must show:
(1) Name of producer(s);
(2) Commodity and unit of measure;
(3) Type of input(s) associated with transportation costs;
(4) Date(s) of service;
(5) Name of person or entity providing the service, as applicable, and;
(6) Retail sales receipts with verifiable records handwritten as applicable.
(d) To be eligible for reimbursement based on actual costs, the producer must provide supporting documentation that documents the specific costs incurred for transportation of each commodity or input. Such documentation must:
(1) Show transportation costs for each specific commodity or input, and
(2) Show the units of measure for each commodity or input, such that FSA can determine the transportation cost per unit.
§ 755.6 Availability of funds.
(a) Payments under this part are subject to the availability of funds.
(b) A reserve will be created to handle appeals and errors.
§ 755.7 Transportation rates.
(a) Payments may be based on fixed, set, or actual transportation rates. Fixed and set transportation rates will be established by FSA, based on available data for transportation costs for that commodity or input in the applicable State or insular region.
(b) Fixed transportation rates will establish per unit transportation costs for each eligible commodity or input used to produce the eligible commodity.
(c) Set transportation rates will be established for those transportation costs that are not on the FSA list of fixed rates and for which an actual rate cannot be documented. The set transportation rate will be set by FSA, based on available data of transportation costs for similar commodities and inputs.
(d) Actual transportation rates will be determined based on supporting documentation.
§ 755.8 Calculation of individual payments.
(a) Transportation cost for each commodity or input will be calculated by multiplying the number of reported eligible units (the reported transportation amount) times the fixed, set, or actual transportation rate, as applicable.
(b) Eligible reimbursement amounts will be calculated by multiplying the result of paragraph (a) of this section times the appropriate FY COLA percentage, as provided in this part.
(c) If transported inputs are used for both eligible and ineligible commodities, the eligible reimbursable costs will be determined on a revenue share of eligible commodities times input cost, as determined by FSA, and transportation may be allowed only for those commodities which were produced for the commercial market.
(d) The total payment amount for a producer is the sum of all eligible reimbursable amounts determined in paragraph (b) of this section for all commodities and inputs used to produce the eligible commodities listed on the application.
(e) Payment amounts are subject to $8,000 cap per FY per producer as defined in this part, not per “person” or “legal entity” as those terms might be defined in part 1400 of this title.
(f) In the event that approval of all calculated payment amounts would result in expenditures in excess of the amount available, FSA will recalculate the payment amounts in a manner that FSA determines to be fair and reasonable.
§ 755.9 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
(a) In addition to other penalties, sanctions or remedies as may apply, a producer will be ineligible to receive payments under this part if the producer is determined by FSA to have:
(1) Adopted any scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of this part;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation; or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination.
(b) Any payment to any producer engaged in a misrepresentation, scheme, or device, must be refunded with interest together with such other sums as may become due. Any producer engaged in acts prohibited by this section and receiving payment under this part will be jointly and severally liable with other producers involved in such claim for benefits for any refund due under this section and for related charges. The remedies provided in this part will be in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies that may apply.
§ 755.10 Death, incompetence, or disappearance.
(a) In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of a person or the dissolution of an entity that is eligible to receive a payment in accordance with this part, such alternate person or persons specified in part 707 of this chapter may receive such payment, as determined appropriate by FSA.
(b) Payments may be made to an otherwise eligible producer who is now deceased or to a dissolved entity if a representative who currently has authority to enter into an application for the producer or the producer’s estate signs the application for payment. Proof of authority over the deceased producer’s estate or a dissolved entity must be provided.
(c) If a producer is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must be identified in the application for payment.
§ 755.11 Maintaining records.
Persons applying for payment under this part must maintain records and accounts to document all eligibility requirements specified in this part. Such records and accounts must be retained for 3 years after the date of payment to the producer under this part.
§ 755.12 Refunds; joint and several liability.
(a) Any producer that receives excess payment, payment as the result of erroneous information provided by any person, or payment resulting from a failure to comply with any requirement or condition for payment under this part, must refund the amount of that payment to FSA.
(b) Any refund required will be due from the date of the disbursement by the agency with interest determined in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section and late payment charges as provided in part 1403 of this title.
(c) Each producer that has an interest in the agricultural operation will be jointly and severally liable for any refund and related charges found to be due to FSA.
(d) Interest will be applicable to any refunds to FSA required in accordance with parts 792 and 1403 of this title except as otherwise specified in this part. Such interest will be charged at the rate that the U.S. Department of the Treasury charges FSA for funds, and will accrue from the date FSA made the payment to the date the refund is repaid.
(e) FSA may waive the accrual of interest if it determines that the cause of the erroneous payment was not due to any action of the person or entity, or was beyond the control of the person or entity committing the violation. Any waiver is at the discretion of FSA alone.
§ 755.13 Miscellaneous provisions and appeals.
(a) Offset. FSA may offset or withhold any amount due to FSA from any benefit provided under this part in accordance with the provisions of part 1403 of this title.
(b) Claims. Claims or debts will be settled in accordance with the provisions of part 1403 of this title.
(c) Other interests. Payments or any portion thereof due under this part will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the eligible reimbursable costs thereof, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government.
(d) Assignments. Any producer entitled to any payment under this part may assign any payments in accordance with the provisions of part 1404 of this title.
(e) Violations regarding controlled substances. The provisions of § 718.6 of this chapter, which generally limit program payment eligibility for persons who have engaged in certain offenses with respect to controlled substances, will apply to this part.
(f) Appeals. The appeal regulations specified in parts 11 and 780 of this chapter apply to determinations made under this part.
PART 756—ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY PROGRAM
§ 756.1 Applicability.
(a) The Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF) Program will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered losses due to the Oriental fruit fly quarantine in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in accordance with Public Law 116-6 (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019).
(b) The regulations in this part are applicable to crops affected by the Oriental fruit fly quarantine.
(c) In any case in which money must be refunded to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in connection with this part, interest will be due to run from the date of disbursement of the sum to be refunded. This paragraph (c) will apply, unless waived by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, irrespective of any other regulation in this part.
§ 756.2 Administration.
(a) The OFF Program will be administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, FSA, and the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA. The OFF Program is carried out by FSA State committees and FSA county committees with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) FSA State committees and FSA county committees, and representatives and their employees, do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this part, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.
(c) The FSA State committee will take any required action not taken by the FSA county committee. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct or require correction of an action taken by an FSA county committee that is not in compliance with this part; or
(2) Require an FSA county committee to not take an action or implement a decision that is not under the regulations of this part.
(d) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, or a designee, may determine any question arising under these programs, or reverse or modify a determination made by an FSA State committee or FSA county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, may authorize FSA State committees and FSA county committees to waive or modify non-statutory deadlines and other program requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the OFF Program.
(f) A representative of FSA may execute applications and related documents only under the terms and conditions determined and announced by FSA. Any document not executed under such terms and conditions, including any purported execution before the date authorized by FSA, will be null and void.
(g) Items of general applicability to program participants, including, but not limited to, application periods, application deadlines, internal operating guidelines issued to State and county offices, prices, and payment factors established by the OFF Program, are not subject to appeal.
§ 756.3 Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply for all purposes of OFF Program administration.
Administrative county office is the FSA county office where a producer’s FSA records are maintained.
APHIS means Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Application period means the dates established by the Deputy Administrator for producers to apply for OFF Program benefits.
Calendar year means January 1st through December 31st.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
NAP means Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.
OFF Program means the Oriental Fruit Fly Program.
OFF quarantine period means August 28, 2015, through February 13, 2016.
Oriental fruit fly quarantine means the quarantine put in place during the OFF quarantine period in the quarantine area to protect against the entry and spread of the Oriental fruit fly by requiring strict adherence to treatment or destruction of the host crop.
Prevented planting means when producers chose not to plant an annual crop during the 2015 through 2016 season due to the Oriental fruit fly quarantine.
Producer means a person, partnership, association, corporation, estate, trust, or other legal entity that produces an eligible crop as a landowner, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper.
Program year means the relevant application year. The program year for OFF will be 2015 and include total revenue losses for calendar year 2015 and calendar year 2016.
Quarantine area means the area mapped by The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI). The map identifies areas where the Oriental Fruit Fly was detected and the associated boundaries of the area quarantined by APHIS. The map is available by contacting FDACS-DPI, The Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608-7100 or https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry.
Reliable documentation means evidence provided by the participant that is used to substantiate the amount of revenue reported when verifiable documentation is not available, including copies of receipts, ledgers of income, income statements of deposit slips, register tapes, invoices for custom harvesting, and records to verify production costs, contemporaneous measurements truck scale tickets, and contemporaneous diaries that are determined acceptable by the FSA county committee. To determine whether the records are acceptable, the FSA county committee will consider whether they are consistent with the records of other producers of the crop in that area.
Revenue means the gross income from crop sales received during the applicable calendar years for the crops that suffered a loss due to the Oriental fruit fly quarantine. Revenue does not mean revenue received for crops grown under contract for crop owners unless the grower had an ownership share of the crop.
RMA means Risk Management Agency.
Secretary means the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Secretary’s delegate.
Verifiable documentation means evidence that can be verified by FSA through an independent source.
§ 756.4 Qualifying disaster event.
The OFF Program will provide assistance to eligible producers who suffered revenue losses due to the State of Florida and APHIS implemented quarantine that took place from August 28, 2015, through February 13, 2016, in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
§ 756.5 Eligible producers.
(a) To be an eligible producer, the producer must:
(1) Be an individual person that is a U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien, or a partnership, association, corporation, estate, trust, or other legal entity consisting solely of U.S. Citizens or Resident Aliens that produces an eligible crop as a landowner, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper; and
(2) Comply with all provisions of this part and, as applicable:
(i) 7 CFR part 3—Debt Management;
(ii) 7 CFR part 12—Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation;
(iii) 7 CFR 400.680, Controlled substance;
(iv) 7 CFR part 1400, adjusted gross income (AGI) provisions:
(A) Program year 2015 will be used to determine AGI for the OFF Program, therefore the AGI will be the average of tax years 2013, 2012, and 2011; and
(B) The OFF Program allows an exception to the $900,000 average AGI limitation if at least 75 percent of the average AGI was derived from farming, ranching, or forestry operations. CCC-942 is used to collect the producer and certified public accountant (CPA) or attorney certification statements;
(v) 7 CFR part 707—Payments Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent;
(vi) 7 CFR part 718—Provisions Applicable to Multiple Programs; and
(vii) 7 CFR part 1400—Payment Limitation and Payment Eligibility.
(b) A receiver or trustee of an insolvent or bankrupt debtor’s estate, an executor or an administrator of a deceased person’s estate, a guardian of an estate of a ward or an incompetent person, and trustees of a trust is considered to represent the insolvent or bankrupt debtor, the deceased person, the ward or incompetent, and the beneficiaries of a trust, respectively. The production of the receiver, executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee is the production of the person or estate represented by the receiver, executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee. OFF Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted by FSA only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.
(c) A minor who is otherwise an eligible producer is eligible to receive an OFF Program payment only if the minor meets one of the following requirements:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred on the minor by court proceedings or by statute.
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the minor’s property and the applicable OFF Program documents are signed by the guardian.
(3) Any OFF Program application signed by the minor is cosigned by a person determined by the FSA county committee to be financially responsible.
(d) Foreign person rules in 7 CFR part 1400, subpart E, are not applicable to the OFF Program.
(e) Producers will not be required to be in the business of producing and marketing agricultural products at the time of OFF Program application.
(f) The producer must have been actively producing and marketing agricultural products during the OFF quarantine period.
§ 756.6 Eligible and ineligible causes of revenue loss.
(a) To be eligible for payments under this part the producer must have suffered a loss of revenue due to the Oriental fruit fly quarantine of one or more of the following types:
(1) Revenue loss on crop(s) planted or prevented from being planted within the Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine area during the OFF quarantine period. Crops that suffered a revenue loss due to prevented planting must have a prior history of being planted or be able to provide verifiable or reliable documentation demonstrating legitimate intent to plant the crop during the OFF quarantine period;
(2) Pre or post-harvest treatment costs;
(3) Transportation costs to a post-harvest treatment facility;
(4) Crop quality loss;
(5) Crop spoilage;
(6) Crop drop; or
(7) Reduced post-harvest shelf life.
(b) An ineligible cause of revenue loss under this part will apply to the following:
(1) Losses determined by FSA to be the result of poor management decisions or poor farming practices, such as using non-optimal chemical application, over-tilling, monoculture (growing of same crop year after year), allowing soil erosion, nonoptimal planting time, or poor quality seed selection.
(2) Losses due to conditions or events occurring outside of the applicable growing season for the crop.
(3) Losses due to failure of a power supply or lack of irrigation.
(4) Losses to crops not intended for harvest.
(5) Losses to home gardens for personal use and not intended to market.
(6) Losses to non-fruit bearing ornamental nursery.
(7) Losses caused by theft.
(8) Losses caused by disease or pest infestation other than the Oriental fruit fly.
(9) Losses to purchased crops.
§ 756.7 Time and method of application.
(a) An application for OFF Program payment under this part must be submitted in person, by mail, email, or facsimile to the FSA county office serving as the farm’s administrative county office by the close of business 60 calendar days after the signup start date announced by FSA. A National Special Program (SP) Notice will be issued providing OFF program details including signup start date and program requirements.
(b) An application will include only the producer’s share of revenue for the crops negatively affected by the Oriental fruit fly quarantine for the applicable calendar years.
(c) Once signed by a producer, the application for payment is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the producer regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(d) The producer applying for the OFF Program under this part certifies the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as any documentation filed with or in support of the application.
(1) All information is subject to verification or spot check by FSA at any time, either before or after payment is issued. Refusal to allow FSA or any agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in the participant’s forfeiting eligibility for the OFF Program. FSA may at any time, including before, during, or after processing and paying an application, require the producer to submit any additional information necessary to implement or determine any eligibility provision of this part. Furnishing required information is voluntary; however, without it, FSA is under no obligation to act on the application or approve payment.
(2) Providing a false certification will result in ineligibility and can also be punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties.
(e) The application submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this part unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the participant has submitted all required documentation by the application deadline date announced by FSA.
(f) Applicants must submit all eligibility forms as listed on the FSA-438 Oriental Fruit Fly Program (OFF) Application within 60 calendar days from the date of submitting the application if not already on file with FSA.
§ 756.8 Calculating OFF Program payments.
(a) A revenue loss calculation and factor will determine the OFF Program payment.
(1) A factor will be applied to reduce the participant’s payment to ensure that total OFF Program payments are no more than 70 percent of the total revenue losses by all eligible OFF Program participants.
(2) If necessary, at the close of the OFF Program sign-up period, a national payment factor may be determined by the Secretary and announced if full payment of all approved OFF Program applications would result in payments in excess of available OFF Program funds, less a reserve amount of 3 percent. A Price Support Division SP Notice will be issued to announce the issuance of OFF and, if applicable, the factored rate.
(b)(1) The OFF Program payment calculation is:
(2) If the producer did not have 2014 revenue, then 2019 revenue will be used, and the calculation will be:
(c) If there is no gross revenue loss determined for calendar year 2015 or calendar year 2016, the payment will be zero.
§ 756.9 Availability of funds and timing of payments.
The total available program funds are $9 million as provided by Public Law 116-6 (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019). OFF Program payments will be issued after all applications are received and FSA has approved the application.
§ 756.10 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) Producers who are approved for OFF Program payment will not be required to purchase future NAP or crop insurance for those crops affected by the quarantine as is often required by other disaster programs, because the Oriental fruit fly quarantine was not an eligible covered loss by NAP, and RMA does not offer quarantine as an endorsement in Florida.
(b) All persons with a financial interest in a legal entity receiving payments under this part are jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, that is determined to be due to FSA for any reason.
(c) In the event that any application under this part resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the payment will be recalculated and any excess refunded to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of disbursement.
(d) Any payment to any participant under this part will be made without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholding in part 3 of this title apply to payments under this part.
(e) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment(s) in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payment in part 3 of this title.
(f) The regulations in part 11 of this title and part 780 of this chapter apply to determinations under this part.
§ 756.12 Payment limitation.
(a) For the program year 2015, direct or indirect payments made to an eligible person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, will not exceed $125,000.
(b) The attribution of payment provisions in 7 CFR 1400.105 will be used to attribute payments to persons and legal entities for payment limitation determinations.
§ 756.13 Estates and trusts; minors.
(a) A receiver of an insolvent debtor’s estate and the trustee of a trust estate will, for the purpose of this part, be considered to represent the insolvent affected producer or manufacturer and the beneficiaries of the trust, respectively.
(1) The production of the receiver or trustee will be considered to be the production of the represented person.
(2) Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 756.14 Misrepresentation, scheme, or device.
(a) A producer will be ineligible to receive assistance under the OFF Program if the producer is determined by the FSA State committee or FSA county committee to have knowingly:
(1) Adopted any scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of the OFF Program;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation; or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a determination under the OFF Program, then FSA will notify the appropriate investigating agencies of the United States and take steps deemed necessary to protect the interests of the Government.
(b) Any funds disbursed pursuant to this part to any person or operation engaged in a misrepresentation, scheme, or device, will be refunded to FSA. The remedies provided in this part are in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies that may apply.
§ 756.15 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of any affected producer who would otherwise receive an OFF Program payment, such payment may be made to the person or persons specified in the regulations in part 707 of this chapter. The person requesting such payment must file Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent,” as provided in part 707.
§ 756.16 Maintenance and inspection of records.
(a) Producers randomly selected for compliance spot checks by FSA must, in accordance with program notice instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator, provide adequate reports of revenue as applicable. The producer must report documentary evidence of crop revenue to FSA together with any supporting documentation to verify information entered on the application. Verifiable documentation is preferred. If verifiable documentation is not available, FSA will accept reliable documentation, if determined to be acceptable by the FSA county committee.
(b) If supporting documentation is not presented to the county FSA office requesting the information within 30 calendar days of the request, producers will be determined ineligible for OFF Program benefits.
(c) The producer must maintain any existing books, records, and accounts supporting any information furnished in an approved OFF Program application for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed.
(d) The producer must permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.
§ 756.17 Appeals.
Any producer who is dissatisfied with a determination made pursuant to this part may make a request for reconsideration or appeal of such determination in accordance with the appeal regulations in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780.
PART 759—DISASTER DESIGNATIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS
§ 759.1 Administration.
(a) This part will be administered under the general supervision and direction of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA).
(b) FSA representatives do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this part as amended or supplemented.
(c) The Administrator will take any action required by the regulations of this part that the Administrator determines has not already been taken. The Administrator will also:
(1) Correct or require correction of any action taken that is not in accordance with the regulations of this part; or
(2) Require withholding taking any action that is not in accordance with this part.
(d) No provision or delegation in these regulations will preclude the Administrator or a designee or other such person, from determining any question arising under this part, or from reversing or modifying any determination made under this part.
(e) Absent a delegation to the contrary, this part will be administered by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs of FSA on behalf of the Administrator of FSA or the Secretary, but nothing in this part will inhibit the ability of the Administrator of FSA or the person holding the equivalent position in the event of a reorganization to delegate the functions of DAFP under these regulations to another person. Likewise, nothing shall inhibit the ability of the Secretary to reassign any duties with respect to the designations of disasters under this part.
§ 759.2 Purpose.
(a) This part specifies the types of incidents that can result in an area being determined a disaster area, which under other regulations makes qualified farmers in such areas eligible for Emergency loans (EM) or eligible for such other assistance that may be available, based on Secretarial disaster designations. Nothing in this part overrides provision of those regulations that govern the actual administration and availability of the disaster assistance regulations.
(b) This part specifies the responsibility of the County Emergency Board (CEB), State Emergency Board (SEB), and the State Executive Director (SED) in regard to Secretarial Designations with regards to disasters. It also addresses matters relating to the handling of a Presidential declaration of disaster or the imposition of a USDA quarantine by the Secretary with respect to triggering the availability of EM loans.
§ 759.3 Abbreviations and definitions.
(a) Abbreviations. The following abbreviations apply to this part.
CEB means the County Emergency Board.
CED means the County Executive Director.
DAFP means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs of the Farm Service Agency.
EM means Emergency loan administered under 7 CFR part 764.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency.
LAR means the Loss Assessment Report.
SEB means the State Emergency Board.
SED means the State Executive Director.
USDA means the United States Department of Agriculture.
(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this part.
Administrator means the Administrator of FSA.
Contiguous county is used in reference to a primary county as defined in this section. A contiguous county is any county whose boundary touches at any point with that of the primary county. For programs other than the EM Program, disaster assistance regulations will specify whether benefits will be available only in the primary counties or also in the contiguous counties. For the EM Program that issue is addressed in § 759.6, unless specified otherwise in the disaster assistance regulations for other programs or in § 759.6 for the EM Program, only the “primary” county will be considered the qualifying “disaster county.” Therefore, if the disaster assistance regulations specify that they cover the disaster area and contiguous counties, then the only eligible counties would be the primary county and those contiguous to that county. Coverage would not include coverage of those counties that are in turn contiguous to those counties that are contiguous to the primary county.
County is used when referring to a geographical area, a local administrative subdivision of a State or a similar political subdivision of the United States generally considered to be in county usage, for example, it includes an area referred to as a “county” or “parish.” Except where otherwise specified, the use of the term county or similar political subdivision is for administrative purposes only.
CEB is comprised of the representatives of several USDA agencies that have responsibilities for reporting the occurrence of, and assessing the damage caused by, a natural disaster, and for requesting approval in declaring a county a disaster area.
CED is the person in charge of administering the local FSA county office for a particular county.
Disaster area is the county or counties declared or designated as a disaster area as a result of natural disaster related losses. The disaster area only includes the primary counties, but benefits may be available in the counties contiguous to the primary county if so provided by the disaster assistance regulations or, in the case of the EM Program, in § 759.6.
LAR is a loss assessment report prepared by the CEB relating to the State and county where the potential disaster occurred and for which county or counties the CEB is responsible. The LAR includes as applicable, but is not limited to, starting and ending dates of the disaster, crop year affected, type of disaster incident, area of county affected by disaster; total number of farms affected, crop loss or pasture loss data associated with the applicable disaster (or both types of losses), livestock destroyed, and other property losses.
Natural disaster is a disaster in which unusual and adverse weather conditions or other natural phenomena have substantially affected farmers by causing severe physical losses, severe production losses, or both.
Primary county is a county determined to be a disaster area.
Presidential declaration is a declaration of a disaster by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121-2) requiring Federal emergency assistance to supplement State and local efforts to save lives and protect property, public health and safety, or to avert or lessen the threat of a disaster.
Production losses (severe) within a county are those in which there has been a reduction county-wide of at least a 30 percent or more loss of production of at least one crop in the county.
SEB means the State Emergency Board which is comprised of the representatives of several USDA agencies having emergency program responsibilities at the State level. The board is required to respond to emergencies and carry out the Secretary’s emergency preparedness responsibilities.
SED is the person who serves as the Chairperson of the USDA SEB in each State, is responsible for providing the leadership and coordination for all USDA emergency programs at the State level, and is subject to the supervision of DAFP.
Severe physical losses means, for the purpose of determining an Administrator’s declaration of physical loss, losses that consist of severe damage to, or destruction of: Physical farm property including farmland (except sheet erosion); structures on the land including, but not limited to, building, fences, dams; machinery, equipment, supplies, and tools; livestock, livestock products, poultry and poultry products; harvested crops and stored crops.
Substantially affected when used to refer to producers and to the relationship of a particular producer to a particular disaster means a producer who has sustained qualifying physical or production losses, as defined in this section, as a result of the natural disaster.
U.S. Drought Monitor is a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought. It is a collaborative effort between Federal and academic partners that is produced on a weekly basis to synthesize multiple indices, outlooks, and drought impacts on a map and in narrative form. This synthesis of indices is reported by the National Drought Mitigation Center.
United States means each of the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Extension of disaster assistance, following a disaster designation, to insular areas of the United States not covered by this definition of “United States” will be only as authorized by law, and as determined by the Administrator on behalf of the Secretary to be appropriate.
§ 759.5 Secretarial disaster area determination and notification process.
(a) U.S. Drought Monitor. With respect to drought and without requiring an LAR:
(1) If any portion of a county is physically located in an area with a Drought Monitor Intensity Classification value of D3 (drought-extreme) or higher during any part of the growing season of the crops affected by the disaster in the county, then the county will be designated a disaster area by the Secretary.
(2) If any portion of a county meets the threshold Drought Monitor Intensity Classification value of D2 (drought-severe) for at least 8 consecutive weeks during the growing season of affected crops, then the county will be designated a disaster area by the Secretary.
(b) CEB and SEB recommendations. In instances where counties have been impacted by a disaster but the county has not been designated a disaster area under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, CEB will make a disaster designation recommendation request to SEB when a disaster has resulted in severe production losses. The determination of the sufficiency of the production losses will be governed by the provisions in paragraph (c) of this section. The CEB may make such efforts as are needed to identify counties that have been impacted and had such production losses. A farmer, Indian Tribal Council, or local governing body may initiate the process by reporting production losses or drought conditions to CEB and suggesting that there be a recommendation in favor of designating a county as a disaster area. Recommendations by a CEB in favor of a disaster designation by a CEB under this paragraph are subject to the following:
(1) A LAR is required as part of a CEB disaster designation request. CEB will submit a disaster designation request with a LAR to SEB for review and recommendation for approval by the Secretary. CEB’s written request and SEB recommendation must be submitted within three months of the last day of the occurrence of a natural disaster.
(2) If SEB determines a qualifying natural disaster and loss have occurred, SEB will forward the recommendation to the Administrator. The natural disaster may include drought conditions that were not sufficiently severe to meet the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section. Since the U.S. Drought Monitor tracks only drought conditions, not specifically agricultural losses resulting from those conditions, it is possible for a drought that does not meet the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section to result in production losses that constitute a natural disaster.
(3) The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee will make disaster area determinations. The Secretary may delegate the authority to the SED. In such case, the SED will act on behalf of the Secretary, subject to review by DAFP as may be appropriate and consistent with the delegation. The delegation of authority to the SED may be revoked by the authority making that delegation or by other authorized person. In all cases, DAFP may reverse any SED determination made in accordance with this section unless the delegation to the SED specifies that such review is not allowed.
(c) Eligible production losses. For purposes of making determinations under paragraph (b) of this section, in order for an area to be declared a disaster area under paragraph (b) of this section based on production losses, the county must have had production losses of 30 percent of at least one crop in the county as the result of a natural disaster.
(d) Discretionary exception to production losses for designating a county as a disaster county. For purposes of the EM program only, unless otherwise specified in the designation, a county may be designated by DAFP as a designated disaster county even though the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section are not present so long as the disaster has otherwise produced such significant production losses, or other such extenuating circumstances so as to justify, in the opinion of the Secretary, the designation of a county as a disaster area. In making this determination, the Secretary may consider all relevant factors including such factors as the nature and extent of production losses; the number of farmers who have sustained qualifying production losses; the number of farmers that other lenders in the county indicate they will not be in position to provide emergency financing; whether the losses will cause undue hardship to a certain segment of farmers in the county; whether damage to particular crops has resulted in undue hardship; whether other Federal or State benefit programs, which are being made available due to the same disaster, will consequently lessen undue hardship and the demand for EM; and any other factors considered relevant.
§ 759.6 EM to be made available.
(a) For purposes of the EM Program under part 764, subpart I, of this chapter, a county will be considered an eligible disaster area as designated by FSA for coverage of the EM Program as follows:
(1) Secretarial designations. When production losses meet the requirements in § 759.5 and the county has been designated as a disaster area for that reason, or when the discretionary exception to production losses for EM under § 759.5(d) has been exercised, the primary and contiguous counties will be areas in which otherwise eligible producers can receive EM loans.
(2) Physical loss notification. When only qualifying physical losses occur, the SED will submit a request to the FSA Administrator to make a determination that a natural disaster has occurred in a county, resulting in severe physical losses. If the FSA Administrator determines that such a natural disaster has occurred, then EM can be made available to eligible farmers for physical losses only in the primary county (the county that was the subject of that determination) and the counties contiguous to that county.
(3) USDA quarantine. Any quarantine imposed by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Plant Protection Act or the animal quarantine laws, as defined in section 2509 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, automatically authorizes EM for production and physical losses resulting from the quarantine in a primary county (the county in which the quarantine was in force) and (where the quarantine effects extend beyond that county) the counties contiguous to that primary county.
(4) Presidential declaration. Whenever the President declares a Major Disaster Declaration or an Emergency Declaration, FSA will make EM available to eligible applicants in declared and contiguous counties, provided:
(i) The Presidential declaration is not solely for Category A or Category B Public Assistance or Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistance, and
(ii) The Presidential Major Disaster declaration is for losses due to severe, general disaster conditions including but not limited to conditions such as flood, hurricane, or earthquake.
(b) [Reserved]
PART 760—INDEMNITY PAYMENT PROGRAMS
Subpart A—Dairy Indemnity Payment Program
Program Operations
§ 760.1 Administration.
This indemnity payment program will be carried out by FSA under the direction and supervision of the Deputy Administrator. In the field, the program will be administered by the State and county committees.
§ 760.2 Definitions.
For purposes of this subject, the following terms shall have the meanings specified:
Affected farmer means a person who produces whole milk which is removed from the commercial market any time from:
(1) Pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of pesticide residues in such whole milk by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency, or
(2) Pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of other residues of chemicals or toxic substances residues, or contamination from nuclear radiation or fallout in such whole milk by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency.
Affected manufacturer means a person who manufactures dairy products which are removed from the commercial market pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of pesticide residue in such dairy products by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency.
Application period means any period during which an affected farmer’s whole milk is removed from the commercial market pursuant to direction of a public agency for a reason specified in paragraph (k) of this section and for which application for payment is made.
Base period means the calendar month or 4-week period immediately preceding removal of milk from the market.
Chemicals or Toxic Substances means any chemical substance or mixture as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2602).
Commercial market means (1) the market to which the affected farmer normally delivers his whole milk and from which it was removed because of detection therein of a residue of a violating substance(s) or (2) the market to which the affected manufacturer normally delivers his dairy products and from which they were removed because of detection therein of pesticide residue.
Contaminated milk means milk containing elevated levels of any violating substance that may affect public health based on tests made by the applicable public agency and resulting in the removal of the milk from the commercial market.
County committee means the FSA county committee.
Depopulation means, consistent with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Milk handler means the marketing agency to or through which the affected dairy farmer marketed his whole milk at the time he was directed by the public agency to remove his whole milk from the commercial market.
Not marketable means no commercial market is available for affected cows to be slaughtered, processed, and marketed through the food chain system as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Nuclear Radiation or Fallout means contamination from nuclear radiation or fallout from any source.
Pay period means (1) in the case of an affected farmer who markets his whole milk through a milk handler, the period used by the milk handler in settling with the affected farmer for his whole milk, usually biweekly or monthly, or (2) in the case of an affected farmer whose commercial market consists of direct retail sales to consumers, a calendar month.
Payment subject to refund means a payment which is made by a milk handler to an affected farmer, and which such farmer is obligated to refund to the milk handler.
Person means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
Pesticide means an economic poison which was registered pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 135 through 135k), and approved for use by the Federal Government.
Public agency means any Federal, State or local public regulatory agency.
Removed from the commercial market means (1) produced and destroyed or fed to livestock, (2) produced and delivered to a handler who destroyed it or disposed of it as salvage (such as separating whole milk, destroying the fat, and drying the skim milk), or (3) produced and otherwise diverted to other than the commercial market.
Same loss means the event or trigger that caused the milk to be removed from the commercial market. For example, if milk is contaminated, the original cause of the contamination was the trigger and any loss related to that contamination would be considered the same loss.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or any officer or employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to whom he has delegated, or to whom he may hereafter delegate, authority to act in his stead.
State committee means the FSA State committee.
Violating substance means one or more of the following, as defined in this section: Pesticide, chemicals or toxic substances, or nuclear radiation or fallout.
Whole milk means milk as it is produced by cows.
Payments to Dairy Farmers for Milk
§ 760.3 Indemnity payments on milk.
(a) The amount of an indemnity payment for milk, including, but not limited to organic milk, made to an affected farmer who is determined by the county committee to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart will be in the amount of the fair market value of the farmer’s normal marketings for the application period, as determined in accordance with §§ 760.4 and 760.5, less:
(1) Any amount the affected farmer received for whole milk marketed during the application period; and
(2) Any payment not subject to refund that the affected farmer received from a milk handler with respect to milk removed from the commercial market during the application period.
(b) The eligible period for Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) benefits for milk for the same loss is limited to 3 calendar months from when the first claim for milk benefits is approved. Upon written request from an affected farmer on the milk indemnity form authorized by the Deputy Administrator, the Deputy Administrator may authorize, at the Deputy Administrator’s discretion, additional months of benefits for the affected farmer for milk due to extenuating circumstances, which may include allowing additional time for public agency approval of a removal plan for cow indemnification and confirmation of site disposal for affected cows. Additionally, the Deputy Administrator has discretion to approve additional months based on issues that are beyond the control of the affected farmer who is seeking cow indemnification, as well as when the affected farmer is following a plan to reduce chemical residues in milk, cows, and heifers to marketable levels.
§ 760.4 Normal marketings of milk.
(a) The county committee shall determine the affected farmer’s normal marketings which, for the purposes of this subpart, shall be the sum of the quantities of whole milk which such farmer would have sold in the commercial market in each of the pay periods in the application period but for the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market because of the detection of a residue of a violating substance.
(b) Normal marketings for each pay period are based on the average daily production during the base period.
(c) Normal marketings determined in paragraph (b) of this section are adjusted for any change in the daily average number of cows milked during each pay period the milk is off the market compared with the average number of cows milked daily during the base period.
(d) If only a portion of a pay period falls within the application period, normal marketings for such pay period shall be reduced so that they represent only that part of such pay period which is within the application period.
§ 760.5 Fair market value of milk.
(a) The county committee shall determine the fair market value of the affected farmer’s normal marketings, which, for the purposes of this subpart, shall be the sum of the net proceeds such farmer would have received for his normal marketings in each of the pay periods in the application period.
(b) The county committee shall determine the net proceeds the affected farmer would have received in each of the pay periods in the application period (1) in the case of an affected farmer who markets his whole milk through a milk handler, by multiplying the affected farmer’s normal marketings for each such pay period by the average net price per hundred-weight of whole milk paid during the pay period by such farmer’s milk handler in the same area for whole milk similar in quality and butterfat test to that marketed by the affected farmer in the base period used to determine his normal marketings, or (2) in the case of an affected farmer whose commercial market consists of direct retail sales to consumers, by multiplying the affected farmer’s normal marketings for each such pay period by the average net price per hundredweight of whole milk, as determined by the county committee, which other producers in the same area who marketed their whole milk through milk handlers received for whole milk similar in quality and butterfat test to that marketed by the affected farmer during the base period used to determine his normal marketings.
(c) In determining the net price for whole milk, the county committee shall deduct from the gross price therefor any transportation, administrative, and other costs of marketing which it determines are normally incurred by the affected farmer but which were not incurred because of the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market.
§ 760.6 Information to be furnished.
The affected farmer shall furnish to the county committee complete and accurate information sufficient to enable the county committee or the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart. Such information shall include, but is not limited to:
(a) A copy of the notice from, or other evidence of action by, the public agency which resulted in the removal of the affected farmer’s whole milk from the commercial market.
(b) The specific name of the violating substance causing the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market, if not included in the notice or other evidence of action furnished under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The quantity and butterfat test of whole milk produced and marketed during the base period. This information must be a certified statement from the affected farmer’s milk handler or any other evidence the county committee accepts as an accurate record of milk production and butterfat tests during the base period.
(d) The average number of cows milked during the base period and during each pay period in the application.
(e) If the affected farmer markets his whole milk through a milk handler, a statement from the milk handler showing, for each pay period in the application period, the average price per hundred-weight of whole milk similar in quality to that marketed by the affected farmer during the base period used to determine his normal marketings. If the milk handler has information as to the transportation, administrative, and other costs of marketing which are normally incurred by producers who market through the milk handler but which the affected farmer did not incur because of removal of his whole milk from the market, the average price stated by the milk handler shall be the average gross price paid producers less any such costs. If the milk handler does not have such information, the affected farmer shall furnish a statement setting forth such costs, if any.
(f) The amount of proceeds, if any, received by the affected farmer from the marketing of whole milk produced during the application period.
(g) The amount of any payments not subject to refund made to the affected farmer by the milk handler with respect to the whole milk produced during the application period and remove from the commercial market.
(h) To the extent that such information is available to the affected farmer, the name of any pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance used on the farm within 24 months prior to the application period, the use made of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, the approximate date of such use, and the name of the manufacturer and the registration number, if any, on the label on the container of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance.
(i) To the extent possible, the source of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance that caused the contamination of the whole milk, the results of any laboratory tests on the feed supply, and the monthly milk testing results that detail the chemical residue levels.
(j) Such other information as the county committee may request to enable the county committee or the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart.
§ 760.7 Conditions required for milk or cow indemnity.
(a) An indemnity payment for milk or cows (dairy cows including, but not limited to, bred and open heifers) may be made under this subpart to an affected farmer under the conditions in this section.
(b) If the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, in the contaminated milk was used by the affected farmer, the affected farmer must establish that each of the conditions in this section are met:
(1) That the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, when used, was registered (if applicable) and approved for use as provided in § 760.2(f);
(2) That the contaminated milk was not the result of the affected farmer’s failure to use the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, according to the directions and limitations stated on the label; and
(3) That the contaminated milk was not otherwise the affected farmer’s fault.
(c) If the violating substance in the contaminated milk was not used by the affected farmer, the affected farmer must establish that each of the conditions in this section are met:
(1) The affected farmer did not know or have reason to believe that any purchased feed contained a violating substance;
(2) None of the milk was produced by dairy cattle that the affected farmer knew, or had reason to know at the time they were acquired, had elevated levels of a violating substance; and
(3) The contaminated milk was not otherwise the affected farmer’s fault.
(d) The affected farmer has adopted recommended practices and taken action to eliminate or reduce chemical residues of violating substances from the milk as soon as practicable following the initial discovery of the contaminated milk.
§ 760.8 Application for payments for milk.
The affected farmer or his legal representative, as provided in §§ 760.25 and 760.29, must sign and file an application for payment on a form which is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator. The form must be filed with the county FSA office for the county where the farm headquarters are located no later than December 31 following the end of the fiscal year in which the loss occurred, or such later date as the Deputy Administrator may specify. The application for payment shall cover application periods of at least 28 days, except that, if the entire application period, or the last application period, is shorter than 28 days, applications for payment may be filed for such shorter period. The application for payment shall be accompanied by the information required by § 760.6 as well as any other information which will enable the county committee to determine whether the making of an indemnity payment is precluded for any of the reasons set forth in § 760.7. Such information shall be submitted on forms approved for the purpose by the Deputy Administrator.
§ 760.9 Payments for the same loss.
(a) No indemnity payment shall be made for contaminated milk resulting from residues of chemicals or toxic substances if, within 30 days after receiving a complete application, the Deputy Administrator determines that other legal recouse is available to the farmer. An application shall not be deemed complete unless it contains all information necessary to make a determination as to whether other legal recourse is available to the farmer. However, notwithstanding such a determination, the Deputy Administrator may reopen the case at a later date and make a new determination on the merits of the case as may be just and equitable.
(b) In the event that a farmer receives an indemnity payment under this subpart, and such farmer is later compensated for the same loss by the person (or the representative or successor in interest of such person) responsible for such loss, the indemnity payment shall be refunded by the farmer to the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That the amount of such refund shall not exceed the amount of other compensation received by the farmer.
(c) For any affected farmer that exceeded 3 months of milk indemnity payments before December 13, 2021 no further payments for milk indemnity will be made for the same loss except as provided in § 760.3(b) and the affected farmer may apply for cow indemnity as specified in this subpart.
(d) An affected farmer that has an approved application for cow indemnity is no longer eligible for milk indemnity payments for the same loss.
(e) Cows purchased or bred after the initial discovery of the milk contamination are not eligible for DIPP benefits due to the same loss.
§ 760.10 Indemnity payments for cows.
(a) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) will determine eligibility for DIPP indemnification based on if the cows of the affected farmer are likely to be not marketable for 3 months or longer [from the date the affected farmer submits an application for cow indemnification per § 760.13]. The Deputy Administrator will review the following factors in making that determination:
(1) Milk testing results;
(2) Non marketability of affected cows through commercial marketing facilities;
(3) Type and source of chemical residues impacting the milk and animal tissues; and
(4) Projected duration for chemical residue reduction including the actions taken by the affected farmer to reduce the chemical residues to marketable levels since the affected cows were discovered.
(b) See § 760.11 for indemnity payment eligibility for bred and open heifers.
(c) Affected farmers applying for indemnification of cows, including heifers, must develop a removal plan both to permanently remove the affected cows by depopulating the cows.
(1) The removal plan for affected cows for which an affected farmer applies for indemnification under DIPP must be approved by the applicable public agency where the cows are located and must be in accordance with any applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and public agency depopulation and animal disposal requirements and guidelines, including contaminant disposal requirements, in the State where the affected cows are located.
(2) The approved removal plan must be submitted with the application for indemnification.
(d) The amount of an indemnity payment for cows to an affected farmer who is determined by the Deputy Administrator to be eligible for indemnification and by the county committee to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart will be based on the national average fair market value of the cows. DIPP cow indemnification will be based on the 100 percent value of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) rates as applicable for the calendar year for milk indemnification established for dairy cows, per head. For example, for a 100-cow farm: 100 cows multiplied by $1,300 (2021 LIP rate based on 100 percent value of average cow) = $130,000 payment.
(e) For any cow indemnification payment under this section or § 760.11, the affected farmer has the option to receive 50 percent of calculated payment in advance after application approval with the remaining fifty percent paid after the affected cows have been depopulated and removed. Otherwise, the affected farmer may choose to receive 100 percent of payment after cows have been depopulated and removed. Documented records of depopulation and removal of affected cows must be provided to FSA to the satisfaction of the county committee, before the final payment will be made.
(f) Upon written request from an affected farmer on a form authorized by the Deputy Administrator, the Deputy Administrator may approve, at the Deputy Administrator’s discretion, indemnification of additional affected cows as specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through (3) of this section.
(1) The affected cows were depopulated or died above normal mortality rates for cows between approval of the affected farmer’s application for the first month of milk indemnity and public agency approval of the affected farmer’s removal plan for cow indemnification. Normal mortality rates established annually by the FSA State committee for their state for the following cow and heifer weight groups will be used:
(i) Dairy, nonadult less than 400 pounds;
(ii) Dairy, nonadult 400 pounds or more; and
(iii) Dairy, adult cow.
(2) This request may include both cows that were included in applications for milk indemnity and heifers that were affected from the same loss.
(3) An affected farmer making such a request must submit the information specified in § 760.12(c).
(g) Affected cows that are marketed as cull or for breeding are not eligible for indemnification.
§ 760.11 Indemnity payments for bred and open heifers.
(a) Bred (young dairy female in gestation) and open (young dairy female not in gestation) heifers that contain elevated levels of chemical residues as the result of the same loss may be eligible for indemnification through DIPP. For affected bred and open heifers participating affected farmers may receive indemnification if the farmer’s dairy cows were determined to be likely not marketable for three months or longer according to § 760.10(a) and the Deputy Administrator determines the bred and open heifers to be eligible under paragraph (b) of this section. Except as provided in this section or otherwise stated in this subpart, the provisions in this subpart for cow indemnity apply equally to bred and open heifers, for example the removal requirements in § 760.10(b).
(b) The county committee will make the recommendation to the Deputy Administrator to determine if eligible bred and open heifers that have been affected by the same loss will likely be not marketable for 3 months or longer from the date the affected farmer submits an application for cow indemnification per § 760.13 because of elevated levels of chemical residues that will pass through milk once lactating. Affected farmers must provide the information specified in § 760.12(a) and (b) for the county committee to make a recommendation of eligibility to the Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator will take into consideration the recommendation of the county committee in making its eligibility determination.
(c) The amount of the cow indemnity for bred and open heifers will be based on the national average fair market value of the non-adult heifers. DIPP bred and open heifer indemnification will be based on the 100 percent value of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) rates as applicable for the calendar year of milk indemnification established for non-adult dairy, by weight range, per head. For example, for an affected farmer with 40 bred or open heifers at different weight ranges: 10 bred heifers at 800 pounds or more multiplied by $986.13 ($9861.30), 10 bred or open heifers at 400 to 799 pounds multiplied by $650.00 ($6500.00), 10 open heifers at 250 to 399 pounds multiplied by $325.00 ($3250.00), and 10 open heifers 250 pounds or less multiplied by $57.65 ($576.50) = $20,187.80 payment.
§ 760.12 Information to be furnished for payment on dairy cows, and bred and open heifers.
(a) To apply for DIPP for affected cows, the affected farmer must provide the county committee complete and accurate information to enable the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart in addition to providing the information requested in § 760.6(a), (b), (h), and (i), if not previously provided to FSA in a milk indemnity application. The information specified in this section must be submitted as part of the cow indemnity application and includes, but is not limited to, the following items:
(1) An inventory of all dairy cows as of the date of application including lactating cows, bred heifers, and open heifers on the farm;
(2) A detailed description and timeline of how, where, and when cows will be depopulated and permanently removed from the farm (the removal plan);
(3) Documentation of public agency approval of the removal plan for cow depopulation and cow and contaminate disposal in accordance with any applicable EPA and public agency disposal requirements and guidelines;
(4) Documentation from 2 separate commercial markets stating that such market declined to accept the affected cows through a cull cow market, slaughter facility, or processing facility due to elevated levels of chemical residues;
(5) Documentation of any projected timelines for reducing chemical residues, any actions the affected farmer has taken to reduce chemical residues to marketable levels including any documents verifying steps undertaken, and any professional assistance obtained, including, discussion of strategy with the public agencies; and
(6) Any other documentation that may support the determination that the affected cows or milk from such cows is likely to be not marketable for longer than 3 months; and other documentation as requested or determined to be necessary by the county committee or the Deputy Administrator.
(b) To apply for DIPP for bred and open heifers the affected farmer must provide the information specified in paragraph (a) of this section and: veterinarian records, blood test results, and other testing information requested by the county committee for the recommendation specified in § 760.11(b) and eligibility for indemnification.
(c) To request consideration for indemnification of affected cows and heifers under § 760.10(e), the affected farmer must submit the information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section to provide an accounting of affected cows and heifers that were depopulated or died above normal mortality rates for cows between approval of the affected farmer’s application for the first month of milk indemnity and the public agency approval of the affected farmer’s removal plan for cow indemnification.
(1) Herd health record documenting cow and heifer deaths; and
(2) Farm inventory or other record identifying the loss of dairy cows and heifers.
(d) The affected farmer certifies at application that once the cow indemnity application is approved, the affected farmer will dry off all lactating cows in a reasonable timeframe and discontinue milking.
§ 760.13 Application for payment of cows.
(a) Any affected farmer may apply for cow indemnity under §§ 760.10 and 760.11. To apply for DIPP for affected cows, the affected farmer must sign and file an application for payment on a form that is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator and provide the information described in § 760.12.
(b) The form must be filed with the FSA county office for the county where the farm headquarters is located by December 31 following the fiscal year end in which the affected farmer’s milk was removed from the commercial market, except that affected farmers that have received 3 months of milk indemnity payments prior to December 13, 2021, must file the form within 120 days after December 13, 2021. Upon written request from an affected farmer and at Deputy Administrator’s discretion, the deadline for that affected farmer may be extended.
Payments to Manufacturers Affected by Pesticides
§ 760.20 Payments to manufacturers of dairy products.
An indemnity payment may be made to the affected manufacturer who is determined by the Deputy Administrator to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart in the amount of the fair market value of the product removed from the commercial market because of pesticide residues, less any amount the manufacturer receives for the product in the form of salvage.
Manufacturers are not eligible for payment when dairy products are contaminated by chemicals, toxic substances (other than pesticides) or nuclear radiation or fallout.
§ 760.21 Application for payments by manufacturers.
The affected manufacturer, or his legal representatives, shall file an application for payment with the Deputy Administrator, FSA, Washington, D.C., through the county office serving the county where the contaminated product is located. The application for payment may be in the form of a letter or memorandum. Such letter or memorandum, however, must be accompanied by acceptable documentation to support such application for payment.
§ 760.22 Information to be furnished by manufacturer.
The affected manufacturer shall furnish the Deputy Administrator, through the county committee, complete and accurate information sufficient to enable him to make the determination as to the manufacturer’s eligibility to receive an indemnity payment. Such information shall include, but is not limited to:
(a) A copy of the notice or other evidence of action by the public agency which resulted in the product being removed from the commercial market.
(b) The name of the pesticide causing the removal of the product from the commercial market and, to the extent possible, the source of the pesticide.
(c) A record of the quantity of milk or butterfat used to produce the product for which an indemnity payment is requested.
(d) The identity of any pesticide used by the affected manufacturer.
(e) Such other information as the Deputy Administrator may request to enable him to make the determinations required in this subpart.
§ 760.23 Other requirements for manufacturers.
An indemnity payment may be made under this subpart to an affected manufacturer only under the following conditions:
(a) If the pesticide contaminating the product was used by the affected manufacturer, he establishes each of the following: (1) That the pesticide, when used, was registered and recommended for such use as provided in § 760.2(f); (2) that the contamination of his product was not the result of his failure to use the pesticide in accordance with the directions and limitations stated on the label of the pesticide; and (3) that the contamination of his product was not otherwise his fault.
(b) If the pesticide contaminating the product was not used by the affected manufacturer: (1) He did not know or have reason to believe that the milk from which the product was processed contained a harmful level of pesticide residue, and (2) the contamination of his product was not otherwise his fault.
(c) In the event that a manufacturer receives an indemnity payment under this subpart, and such manufacturer is later compensated for the same loss by the person (or the representative or successor in interest of such person) responsible for such loss, the indemnity payment shall be refunded by the manufacturer to the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That the amount of such refund shall not exceed the amount of other compensation received by the manufacturer.
General Provisions
(a) County executive directors and State and county committees do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this subpart.
(b) The State committee may take any action authorized or required by the regulations in this subpart to be taken by the county committee when such action has not been taken by the county committee. The State committee may also:
(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by such county committee which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart, or (2) require a county committee to withhold taking any action which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart.
(c) No delegation herein to a State or county committee shall preclude the Deputy Administrator or his designee from determining any question arising under the regulations in this subpart or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.
§ 760.25 Estates and trusts; minors.
(a) A receiver of an insolvent debtor’s estate and the trustee of a trust estate shall, for the purpose of this subpart, be considered to represent an insolvent affected farmer or manufacturer and the beneficiaries of a trust, respectively, and the production of the receiver or trustee shall be considered to be the production of the person or manufacturer he represents. Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.
(b) An affected dairy farmer or manufacturer who is a minor shall be eligible for indemnity payments only if he meets one of the following requirements:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred on him by court proceedings or by statute;
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage his property and the applicable program documents are signed by the guardian; or
(3) A bond is furnished under which the surety guarantees any loss incurred for which the minor would be liable had he been an adult.
§ 760.26 Appeals.
The appeal regulations issued by the Administrator, FSA, part 780 of this chapter, shall be applicable to appeals by dairy farmers or manufacturers from determinations made pursuant to the regulations in this subpart.
§ 760.27 Setoffs.
(a) If the affected farmer or manufacturer is indebted to any agency of the United States and such indebtedness is listed on the county debt record, indemnity payments due the affected farmer or manufacturer under the regulations in this part shall be applied, as provided in the Secretary’s setoff regulations, part 13 of this title, to such indebtedness.
(b) Compliance with the provisions of this section shall not deprive the affected farmer or manufacturer of any right he would otherwise have to contest the justness of the indebtedness involved in the setoff action, either by administrative appeal or by legal action.
§ 760.28 Overdisbursement.
If the indemnity payment disbursed to an affected farmer or to a manufacturer exceeds the amount authorized under the regulations in this subpart, the affected farmer or manufacturer shall be personally liable for repayment of the amount of such excess.
§ 760.29 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of any affected farmer or manufacturer who would otherwise receive an indemnity payment, such payment may be made to the person or persons specified in the regulations contained in part 707 of this chapter. The person requesting such payment shall file Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent,” as provided in that part.
§ 760.30 Records and inspection thereof.
(a) The affected farmer, as well as his milk handler and any other person who furnished information to such farmer or to the county committee for the purpose of enabling such farmer to receive a milk indemnity payment under this subpart, shall maintain any existing books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. The affected farmer, his milk handler, and any other person who furnishes such information to the affected farmer or to the county committee shall permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.
(b) The affected manufacturer or any other person who furnishes information to the Deputy Administrator for the purposes of enabling such manufacturer to receive an indemnity payment under this subpart shall maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. The affected manufacturer or any other person who furnishes such information to the Deputy Administrator shall permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.
§ 760.31 Assignment.
No assignment shall be made of any indemnity payment due or to come due under the regulations in this subpart. Any assignment or attempted assignment of any indemnity payment due or to come due under this subpart shall be null and void.
§ 760.32 Instructions and forms.
The Deputy Administrator shall cause to be prepared such forms and instructions as are necessary for carrying out the regulations in this subpart. Affected farmers and manufacturers may obtain information necessary to make application for a dairy indemnity payment from the county FSA office. Form FSA-373—Application for Indemnity Payment, is available at the county ASC office.
§ 760.33 Availability of funds.
(a) Payment of indemnity claims will be contingent upon the availability of FSA funds to pay such claims. Claims will be, to the extent practicable within funding limits, paid from available funds, on a first-come, first-paid basis, based on the date FSA approves the application, until funds available in that fiscal year have been expended.
(b) DIPP claims received in a fiscal year after all available funds have been expended will not receive payment for such claims.
Subpart B—General Provisions for Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs
§ 760.101 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes general conditions for this subpart and subparts C through H of this part and applies only to those subparts. Subparts C through H cover the following programs provided for in the “2008 Farm Bill” (Pub. L. 110-246):
(1) Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP);
(2) Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP);
(3) Livestock Indemnity Payments Program (LIP);
(4) Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE); and
(5) Tree Assistance Program (TAP).
(b) To be eligible for payments under these programs, participants must comply with all provisions under this subpart and the relevant particular subpart for that program. All other provisions of law also apply.
§ 760.102 Administration of ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, and TAP.
(a) The programs in subparts C through H of this part will be administered under the general supervision and direction of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA (who is referred to as the “Deputy Administrator” in this part).
(b) FSA representatives do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this part as amended or supplemented, except as specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
(c) The State FSA committee will take any action required by the regulations of this part that the county FSA committee has not taken. The State FSA committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require a county FSA committee to correct, any action taken by such county FSA committee that is not in accordance with the regulations of this part or
(2) Require a county FSA committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this part.
(d) No provision or delegation to a State or county FSA committee will preclude the Administrator, the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, or a designee or other such person, from determining any question arising under the programs of this part, or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county FSA committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs may authorize State and county FSA committees to waive or modify non-statutory deadlines, or other program requirements of this part in cases where lateness or failure to meet such requirements does not adversely affect operation of the programs in this part. Participants have no right to seek an exception under this provision. The Deputy Administrator’s refusal to consider cases or circumstances or decision not to exercise this discretionary authority under this provision will not be considered an adverse decision and is not appealable.
§ 760.103 Eligible producer.
(a) In general, the term “eligible producer” means, in addition to other requirements as may apply, an individual or entity described in paragraph (b) of this section that, as determined by the Secretary, assumes the production and market risks associated with the agricultural production of crops or livestock on a farm either as the owner of the farm, when there is no contract grower, or a contract grower of the livestock when there is a contract grower.
(b) To be eligible for benefits, an individual or entity must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien; for purposes of this part, resident alien means “lawful alien” as defined in 7 CFR part 1400;
(3) Partnership of citizens of the United States; or
(4) Corporation, limited liability corporation, or other farm organizational structure organized under State law.
§ 760.104 Risk management purchase requirements.
(a) To be eligible for program payments under:
(1) ELAP, SURE, and TAP, eligible producers for any commodity at any location for which the producer seeks benefits must have for every commodity on every farm in which the producer has an interest for the relevant program year:
(i) In the case of an “insurable commodity,” (which for this part means a commodity for which the Deputy Administrator determines catastrophic coverage is available from the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)) obtained catastrophic coverage or better under a policy or plan of insurance administered by RMA under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA) (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524), except that this obligation will not include crop insurance pilot programs so designated by RMA or to forage crops intended for grazing, and
(ii) In the case of a “noninsurable commodity,” (which is any commodity for which, as to the particular production in question, is not an “insurable commodity,” but for which coverage is available under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) operated under 7 CFR part 1437), have obtained NAP coverage by filing the proper paperwork and fee within the relevant deadlines, except that this requirement will not include forage on grazing land.
(2) LFP, with respect to those grazing lands incurring losses for which assistance is being requested, eligible livestock producers must have:
(i) Obtained a policy or plan of insurance for the forage crop under FCIA, or
(ii) Filed the required paperwork and paid the administrative fee by the applicable State filing deadline for NAP coverage for that grazing land.
(b) Producers who did not purchase a policy or plan of insurance administered by RMA in accordance with FCIA (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524), or NAP coverage for their applicable crops, will not be eligible for assistance under ELAP, LFP, SURE, and TAP, as provided in paragraph (a) of this section unless the producer is one of the classes of farmers for which an exemption under § 760.107 apply, is exempt under the “buy-in” provisions of this subpart, or is granted relief from that requirement by the Deputy Administrator under some other provision of this part.
(c) Producers who have obtained insurance by a written agreement as specified in § 400.652(d) of this title even though that production would not normally be considered an “insurable commodity” under the rules of this subpart, will be considered to have met the risk management purchase requirement of this subpart with respect to such production. The commodity to which the agreement applies will be considered for purposes of this subpart to be an “insurable commodity.”
(d) Producers by an administrative process who were granted NAP coverage for the relevant period as a form of relief in an administrative proceeding, or who were awarded NAP coverage for the relevant period through an appeal through the National Appeals Division (NAD), will be considered as having met the NAP eligibility criteria of this section for that crop as long as the applicable NAP service fee has been paid.
(e) The risk management purchase requirement for programs specified under this part will be determined based on the initial intended use of a crop at the time a policy or plan of insurance or NAP coverage was purchased and as reported on the acreage report.
§ 760.105 Waiver for certain crop years; buy-in.
(a) For the 2008 crop year, the insurance or NAP purchase requirements of § 760.104 (this is referred to as the “purchase” requirement) will be waived for eligible producers for losses during the 2008 crop year if the eligible producer paid a fee (buy-in fee) equal to the applicable NAP service fee or catastrophic risk protection plan fee to the Secretary by September 16, 2008. Payment of a buy-in fee under this section is for the sole purpose of becoming eligible for participation in ELAP, LFP, SURE, and TAP. Payment of a buy-in fee does not provide any actual insurance or NAP coverage or assistance.
(b) For the 2009 crop year, the purchase requirement will be waived for purchases where the closing date for coverage occurred prior to August 14, 2008, so long as the buy-in fee set by the Secretary of Agriculture was paid by January 12, 2009.
(c) Any producer of 2008 commodities who is otherwise ineligible because of the purchase requirement and who did not meet the conditions of paragraph (a) of this section may still be covered for ELAP, SURE, or TAP assistance if the producer paid the applicable fee described in paragraph (d) of this section no later than May 18, 2009, provided that in the case of each:
(1) Insurable commodity, excluding grazing land, the eligible producers on the farm agree to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under FCIA (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524), excluding a crop insurance pilot program under that subtitle, for the next insurance year for which crop insurance is available to the eligible producers on the farm at a level of coverage equal to 70 percent or more of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified at 100 percent of the expected market price, or an equivalent coverage, and
(2) Noninsurable commodity, the eligible producers on the farm must agree to file the required paperwork, and pay the administrative fee by the applicable State filing deadline, for NAP for the next year for which a policy is available.
(d) For producers seeking eligibility under paragraph (c) of this section, the applicable buy-in fee for the 2008 crop year was the catastrophic risk protection plan fee or the applicable NAP service fee in effect prior to NAP service fee adjustments specified in the 2008 Farm Bill.
§ 760.106 Equitable relief.
(a) The Secretary may provide equitable relief on a case-by-case basis for the purchase requirement to eligible participants that:
(1) Are otherwise ineligible or provide evidence, satisfactory to FSA, that the failure to meet the requirements of § 760.104 for one or more eligible crops on the farm was unintentional and not because of any fault of the participant, as determined by the Secretary, or
(2) Failed to meet the requirements of § 760.104 due to the enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill after the:
(i) Applicable sales closing date for a policy or plan of insurance in accordance with the FCIA (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524) or
(ii) Application closing date for NAP.
(b) Equitable relief will not be granted to participants in instances of:
(1) A scheme or device that had the effect or intent of defeating the purposes of a program of insurance, NAP, or any other program administered under this part or elsewhere in this title,
(2) An intentional decision to not meet the purchase or buy-in requirements,
(3) Producers against whom sanctions have been imposed by RMA or FSA prohibiting the purchase of coverage or prohibiting the receipt of payments otherwise payable under this part,
(4) Violations of highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of 7 CFR part 12,
(5) Producers who are ineligible under any provisions of law, including regulations, relating to controlled substances (see for example 7 CFR 718.6), or
(6) A producer’s debarment by a federal agency from receiving any federal government payment if such debarment included payments of the type involved in this matter.
(c) In general, no relief that is discretionary will be allowed except upon a finding by the Deputy Administrator or the Deputy Administrator’s designee that the person seeking the relief acted in good faith as determined in accordance with such rules and procedures as may be set by the Deputy Administrator.
§ 760.107 Socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or beginning farmer or rancher.
(a) Risk management purchase requirements, as provided in § 760.104, will be waived for a participant who, as specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section, is eligible to be considered a “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher,” a “limited resource farmer or rancher,” or a “beginning farmer or rancher.”
(b) To qualify for this section as a “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher,” “limited resource farmer or rancher,” or “beginning farmer or rancher,” participants must meet eligibility criteria as follows:
(1) A “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” is, for this section, a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Gender is not included as a covered group. Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others unless approved in writing by the Deputy Administrator:
(i) American Indians or Alaskan Natives,
(ii) Asians or Asian-Americans,
(iii) Blacks or African Americans,
(iv) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and
(v) Hispanics.
(2) A “limited resource farmer or rancher” means for this section a producer who is both:
(i) A producer whose direct or indirect gross farm sales do not exceed $100,000 in both of the two calendar years that precede the calendar year that corresponds to the relevant program year, adjusted upwards for any general inflation since fiscal year 2004, inflation as measured using the Prices Paid by Farmer Index compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and
(ii) A producer whose total household income is at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, or less than 50 percent of the county median household income for the same two calendar years referenced in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, as determined annually using Commerce Department data. (Limited resource farmer or rancher status can be determined using a Web site available through the Limited Resource Farmer and Rancher Online Self Determination Tool through the National Resource and Conservation Service at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/tool.asp.)
(3) A “beginning farmer or rancher” means for this section a person or legal entity who for a program year both:
(i) Has never previously operated a farm or ranch, or who has not operated a farm or ranch in the previous 10 years, applicable to all members (shareholders, partners, beneficiaries, etc., as fits the circumstances) of an entity, and
(ii) Will have or has had for the relevant period materially and substantially participated in the operation of a farm or ranch.
(c) If a legal entity requests to be considered a “socially disadvantaged,” “limited resource,” or “beginning” farmer or rancher, at least 50 percent of the persons in the entity must in their individual capacities meet the definition as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section and it must be clearly demonstrated that the entity was not formed for the purposes of avoiding the purchase requirements or formed after the deadline for the purchase requirement.
§ 760.108 Payment limitation.
(a) For 2008, no person, as defined and determined under the provisions in part 1400 of this title in effect for 2008 may receive more than:
(1) $100,000 total for the 2008 program year under ELAP, LFP, LIP, and SURE combined or
(2) $100,000 for the 2008 program year under TAP.
(b) For 2009 and subsequent program years, no person or legal entity, excluding a joint venture or general partnership, as determined by the rules in part 1400 of this title may receive, directly or indirectly, more than:
(1) $100,000 per program year total under ELAP, LFP, LIP, and SURE combined; or
(2) $100,000 per program year under TAP.
(c) The Deputy Administrator may take such actions as needed, whether or not specifically provided for, to avoid a duplication of benefits under the multiple programs provided for in this part, or duplication of benefits received in other programs, and may impose such cross-program payment limitations as may be consistent with the intent of this part.
(1) FSA will review ELAP payments after the funding factor as specified in § 760.208 is determined to be 100 percent. FSA will ensure that total ELAP payments provided to a participant in a year, together with any amount provided to the same participant for the same loss as a result of any Federal crop insurance program, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, or any other Federal disaster program, plus the value of the commodity that was not lost, is not more than 95 percent of the value of the commodity in the absence of the loss, as estimated by FSA.
(2) [Reserved]
(d) In applying the limitation on average adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2008, an individual or entity is ineligible for payment under ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, and TAP if the individual’s or entity’s average adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $2.5 million for 2007, 2006, and 2005 under the provisions in part 1400 of this title in effect for 2008.
(e) For 2009 through 2011, the average AGI limitation provisions in part 1400 of this title relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of average adjusted gross income (AGI) will apply under this subpart and will apply to each applicant for ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, and TAP. Specifically, for 2009 through 2011, a person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross nonfarm income, as defined in § 1404.3 of this title, that exceeds $500,000 will not be eligible to receive benefits under this part.
(f) The direct attribution provisions in part 1400 of this title apply to ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, and TAP for 2009 and subsequent years. Under those rules, any payment to any legal entity will also be considered for payment limitation purposes to be a payment to persons or legal entities with an interest in the legal entity or in a sub-entity. If any such interested person or legal entity is over the payment limitation because of direct payment or their indirect interests or a combination thereof, then the payment to the actual payee will be reduced commensurate with the amount of the interest of the interested person in the payee. Likewise, by the same method, if anyone with a direct or indirect interest in a legal entity or sub-entity of a payee entity exceeds the AGI levels that would allow a participant to directly receive a payment under this part, then the payment to the actual payee will be reduced commensurately with that interest. For all purposes under this section, unless otherwise specified in part 1400 of this title, the AGI figure that will be relevant for a person or legal entity will be an average AGI for the three taxable years that precede the most immediately preceding complete taxable year, as determined by CCC.
§ 760.109 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
(a) A participant who is determined to have deliberately misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination made in accordance with this part, or otherwise used a scheme or device with the intent to receive benefits for which the participant would not otherwise be entitled, will not be entitled to program payments and must refund all such payments received, plus interest as determined in accordance with part 792 of this chapter. The participant will also be denied program benefits for the immediately subsequent period of at least 2 crop years, and up to 5 crop years. Interest will run from the date of the original disbursement by FSA.
(b) A participant will refund to FSA all program payments, plus interest, as determined in accordance with part 792 of this chapter, provided however, that in any case it will run from the date of the original disbursement, received by such participant with respect to all contracts or applications, as may be applicable, if the participant is determined to have knowingly done any of the following:
(1) Adopted any scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of the program,
(2) Made any fraudulent representation, or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination.
§ 760.110 Appeals.
(a) Appeals. Appeal regulations set forth at parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to this part.
(b) Determinations not eligible for administrative review or appeal. FSA determinations that are not in response to a specific individual participant’s application are not to be construed to be individual program eligibility determinations or adverse decisions and are, therefore, not subject to administrative review or appeal under parts 11 or 780 of this title. Such determinations include, but are not limited to, application periods, deadlines, coverage periods, crop years, fees, prices, general statutory or regulatory provisions that apply to similarly situated participants, national average payment prices, regions, crop definition, average yields, and payment factors established by FSA for any of the programs for which this subpart applies or similar matters requiring FSA determinations.
§ 760.111 Offsets, assignments, and debt settlement.
(a) Any payment to any participant under this part will be made without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in part 792 of this title apply to payments made under this part.
(b) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment(s) in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments in part 1404 of this title.
§ 760.112 Records and inspections.
(a) Any participant receiving payments under any program in ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, or TAP, or any other legal entity or person who provides information for the purposes of enabling a participant to receive a payment under ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, or TAP, must:
(1) Maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting the information for 3 years following the end of the year during which the request for payment was submitted, and
(2) Allow authorized representatives of USDA and the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books or records, and to enter the farm and to inspect and verify all applicable livestock and acreage in which the participant has an interest for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of information provided by or for the participant.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 760.113 Refunds; joint and several liability.
(a) In the event that the participant fails to comply with any term, requirement, or condition for payment or assistance arising under ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, or TAP and if any refund of a payment to FSA will otherwise become due in connection with this part, the participant must refund to FSA all payments made in regard to such matter, together with interest and late-payment charges as provided for in part 792 of this chapter provided that interest will in all cases run from the date of the original disbursement.
(b) All persons with a financial interest in an operation or in an application for payment will be jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, that is determined to be due FSA for any reason under this part.
§ 760.114 Minors.
A minor child is eligible to apply for program benefits under ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, or TAP if all the eligibility requirements are met and the provision for minor children in part 1400 of this title are met.
§ 760.115 Deceased individuals or dissolved entities.
(a) Payments may be made for eligible losses suffered by an eligible participant who is now a deceased individual or is a dissolved entity if a representative, who currently has authority to enter into a contract, on behalf of the participant, signs the application for payment.
(b) Legal documents showing proof of authority to sign for the deceased individual or dissolved entity must be provided.
(c) If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment.
§ 760.116 Miscellaneous.
(a) As a condition to receive benefits under ELAP, LFP, LIP, SURE, or TAP, a participant must have been in compliance with the provisions of parts 12 and 718 of this title, and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving benefits under those provisions or under any law.
(b) Rules of the Commodity Credit Corporation that are cited in this part will be applied to this subpart in the same manner as if the programs covered in this subpart were programs funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Subpart C—Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program
§ 760.201 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) will be administered.
(b) Eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish will be compensated to reduce eligible losses that occurred in the calendar year for which the producer requests benefits. The eligible loss must have been a direct result of eligible adverse weather or eligible loss conditions as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, blizzards, wildfires, disease, and insect infestation. ELAP does not cover losses that are covered under LFP, LIP, or SURE.
§ 760.202 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart and to the administration of ELAP. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Adult beef bull means a male beef breed bovine animal that was used for breeding purposes that was at least 2 years old before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Adult beef cow means a female beef breed bovine animal that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. A first-time bred beef heifer is also considered an adult beef cow if it was pregnant on or by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Adult buffalo and beefalo bull means a male animal of those breeds that was used for breeding purposes and was at least 2 years old before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Adult buffalo and beefalo cow means a female animal of those breeds that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. A first-time bred buffalo or beefalo heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or beefalo cow if it was pregnant by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Adult dairy bull means a male dairy breed bovine animal that was used primarily for breeding dairy cows and was at least 2 years old by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Adult dairy cow means a female bovine dairy breed animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that had delivered one or more offspring by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. A first-time bred dairy heifer is also considered an adult dairy cow if it was pregnant by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Agricultural operation means a farming operation.
Application means FSA form used to apply for either the emergency loss assistance for livestock or emergency loss assistance for farm-raised fish or honeybees.
Aquatic species means any species of aquatic organism grown as food for human consumption, fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by humans, or ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic medium by a commercial operator on private property in water in a controlled environment. Catfish and crawfish are both defined as aquatic species for ELAP. However, aquatic species do not include reptiles or amphibians.
Bait fish means small fish caught for use as bait to attract large predatory fish. For ELAP, it also must meet the definition of aquatic species and not be raised as food for fish; provided, however, that only bait fish produced in a controlled environment can generate claims under ELAP.
Buck means a male goat.
Commercial use means used in the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible producer.
Contract means, with respect to contracts for the handling of livestock, a written agreement between a livestock owner and another individual or entity setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock or livestock products.
Controlled environment means an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled by the participant with structures, facilities, and growing media (including, but not limited to, water and nutrients) was in fact controlled by the participant at the time of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
County committee or county office means the respective FSA committee or office.
Deputy Administrator or DAFP means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture or the designee.
Eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition means any disease, adverse weather, or other loss condition as determined by the Deputy Administrator. The eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition would have resulted in agricultural losses not covered by other programs in this part for which the Deputy Administrator determines financial assistance needs to be provided to producers. The disease, adverse weather, or other conditions may include, but are not limited to, blizzards, wildfires, water shortages, and other factors. Specific eligible adverse weather and eligible loss conditions may vary based on the type of loss. Identification of eligible adverse weather and eligible loss conditions will include locations (National, State, or county-level) and start and end dates.
Equine animal means a domesticated horse, mule, or donkey.
Ewe means a female sheep.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in producing agricultural products.
Farm-raised fish means any aquatic species that is propagated and reared in a controlled environment.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency.
Game or sport fish means fish pursued for sport by recreational anglers; provided, however, that only game or sport fish produced in a controlled environment can generate claims under ELAP.
Goat means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, including Angora goats. Goats are further delineated into categories by sex (bucks and nannies) and age (kids).
Kid means a goat less than 1 year old.
Lamb means a sheep less than 1 year old.
Livestock owner, for death loss purposes, means one having legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested on the day such livestock died due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. For all other purposes of loss under ELAP, “livestock owner” means one having legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Nanny means a female goat.
Non-adult beef cattle means a beef breed bovine animal that does not meet the definition of adult beef cow or bull. Non-adult beef cattle are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time they died. For a loss other than death, means a bovine animal less than 2 years old that that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Non-adult buffalo or beefalo means an animal of those breeds that does not meet the definition of adult buffalo or beefalo cow or bull. Non-adult buffalo or beefalo are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time of death. For a loss other than death, means an animal of those breeds that is less than 2 years old that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Non-adult dairy cattle means a bovine dairy breed animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that does not meet the definition of adult dairy cow or bull. Non-adult dairy cattle are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time they died. For a loss other than death, means a bovine dairy breed animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that is less than 2 years old that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
Normal grazing period, with respect to a county, means the normal grazing period during the calendar year with respect to each specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county.
Normal mortality means the numerical amount, computed by a percentage, as established for the area by the FSA State Committee, of expected livestock deaths, by category, that normally occur during a calendar year for a producer.
Poultry means domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Poultry are further delineated into categories by sex, age, and purpose of production as determined by FSA.
Ram means a male sheep.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the Secretary.
Sheep means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Ovis. Sheep are further defined by sex (rams and ewes) and age (lambs) for purposes of dividing into categories for loss calculations.
State committee, State office, county committee, or county office means the respective FSA committee or office.
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, or boar. Swine for purposes of dividing into categories for loss calculations are further delineated into categories by sex and weight as determined by FSA.
United States means all 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, and the District of Columbia.
§ 760.203 Eligible losses, adverse weather, and other loss conditions.
(a) An eligible loss covered under this subpart is a loss that an eligible producer or contract grower of livestock, honeybees, or farm-raised fish incurs due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, (including, but not limited to, blizzards and wildfires).
(b) A loss covered under LFP, LIP, or SURE is not eligible for ELAP.
(c) To be eligible, the loss must have occurred:
(1) During the calendar year for which payment is being requested and
(2) Due to an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition that occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011.
(d) For a livestock feed loss to be considered an eligible loss, the livestock feed loss must be one of the following:
(1) Loss of purchased forage or feedstuffs that was intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock that was physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. The loss must be due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, blizzard, flood, hurricane, tidal surge, tornado, volcanic eruption, wildfire on non-Federal land, or lightning;
(2) Loss of mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock that was physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. The loss must have occurred after harvest due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, blizzard, flood, hurricane, tidal surge, tornado, volcanic eruption, wildfire on non-Federal land, or lightning;
(3) A loss resulting from the additional cost incurred for providing or transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, costs associated with equipment rental fees for hay lifts and snow removal. The additional costs incurred must have been incurred for losses suffered in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred;
(4) A loss resulting from the additional cost of purchasing additional livestock feed, above normal quantities, required to maintain the eligible livestock during an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, until additional livestock feed becomes available, as determined by the Deputy Administrator. To be eligible, the additional feed purchased above normal quantities must be feed that is fed to maintain livestock in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred.
(e) For a grazing loss to be considered eligible, the grazing loss must have been incurred on eligible grazing lands physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred. The grazing loss must be due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, flood, freeze, hurricane, hail, tidal surge, volcanic eruption, and wildfire on non-Federal land. The grazing loss will not be eligible if it is due to an adverse weather condition covered by LFP as specified in subpart D, such as drought or wildfire on federally managed land where the producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normally permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a fire.
(f) For a loss due to livestock death to be considered eligible, the livestock death must have occurred in the county where the eligible loss condition occurred. The livestock death must be due to an eligible loss condition determined as eligible by the Deputy Administrator and not related to an eligible adverse weather event as specified in Subpart E for LIP.
(g) For honeybee or farm-raised fish feed losses to be considered eligible, the honeybee or farm-raised fish feed producer must have incurred the loss in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred. The honeybee or farm-raised fish feed losses must be for feed that was intended as feed for the honeybees or farm-raised fish that was damaged or destroyed due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, earthquake, excessive wind, flood, hurricane, tidal surge, tornado, volcanic eruption, and wildfire.
(h) For honeybee colony or honeybee hive losses to be considered eligible, the honeybee colony or honeybee hive producer must have incurred the loss in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred. The honeybee colony or honeybee hive losses must be due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, including, but not limited to, earthquake, excessive wind, flood, hurricane, tornado, volcanic eruption, and wildfire. To be eligible for a loss of honeybees due to colony collapse disorder, the eligible honeybee producer must provide acceptable documentation to support that the loss was due to colony collapse disorder. Except for 2008 and 2009 honeybee losses, acceptable documentation must include an acceptable colony collapse disorder certification by an independent third party as determined by the Deputy Administrator, plus any other documentation requested by FSA. For 2008 and 2009 honeybee losses such an independent certification is not required in all cases, but rather a self-certification by the honeybee producer as determined acceptable by the Deputy Administrator may be allowed in addition to whatever other documentation might be requested.
(i) For a death loss for bait fish or game fish to be considered eligible, the producer must have incurred the loss in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred. The bait fish or game fish death must be due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition as determined by the Deputy Administrator including, but not limited to, an earthquake, flood, hurricane, tidal surge, tornado, and volcanic eruption.
§ 760.204 Eligible livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish.
(a) To be considered eligible livestock for livestock feed losses and grazing losses, livestock must meet all the following conditions:
(1) Be alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, adult or non-adult beef cattle, adult or non-adult buffalo, adult or non-adult beefalo, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep, or swine;
(2) Be livestock that would normally have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county;
(3) Be livestock that is owned, cash-leased, purchased, under contract for purchase, or been raised by a contract grower or an eligible livestock producer, during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(4) Be livestock that has been maintained for commercial use as part of the producer’s farming operation on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(5) Be livestock that has not been produced and maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation; and
(6) Be livestock that was not in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as a part of the normal business operation of the producer, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) The eligible livestock types for feed losses and grazing losses are:
(1) Adult beef cows or bulls,
(2) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows or bulls,
(3) Adult dairy cows or bulls,
(4) Alpacas,
(5) Deer,
(6) Elk,
(7) Emus,
(8) Equine,
(9) Goats,
(10) Llamas,
(11) Non-adult beef cattle,
(12) Non-adult buffalo or beefalo,
(13) Non-adult dairy cattle,
(14) Poultry,
(15) Reindeer,
(16) Sheep, and
(17) Swine;
(c) Ineligible livestock for feed losses and grazing losses include, but are not limited to:
(1) Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as a part of the normal business operation of the producer, as determined by FSA;
(2) Yaks;
(3) Ostriches;
(4) All beef and dairy cattle, and buffalo and beefalo that weighed less than 500 pounds on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(5) Any wild free roaming livestock, including horses and deer;
(6) Livestock produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, including, but not limited to, livestock produced or maintained exclusively for recreational purposes, such as:
(i) Roping,
(ii) Hunting,
(iii) Show,
(iv) Pleasure,
(v) Use as pets, or
(vi) Consumption by owner.
(d) For death losses for livestock owners to be eligible, the livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) Be alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, beefalo, buffalo, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep, or swine, and meet all the conditions in paragraph (f) of this section.
(2) Be one of the following categories of animals for which calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately for each producer with respect to each category:
(i) Adult beef bulls;
(ii) Adult beef cows;
(iii) Adult buffalo or beefalo bulls;
(iv) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows;
(v) Adult dairy bulls;
(vi) Adult dairy cows;
(vii) Alpacas;
(viii) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(ix) Chickens, chicks;
(x) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(xi) Deer;
(xii) Ducks;
(xiii) Ducks, ducklings;
(xiv) Elk;
(xv) Emus;
(xvi) Equine;
(xvii) Geese, goose;
(xviii) Geese, gosling;
(xix) Goats, bucks;
(xx) Goats, nannies;
(xxi) Goats, kids;
(xxii) Llamas;
(xxiii) Non-adult beef cattle;
(xxiv) Non-adult buffalo or beefalo;
(xxv) Non-adult dairy cattle;
(xxvi) Reindeer;
(xxvii) Sheep, ewes;
(xxviii) Sheep, lambs;
(xxix) Sheep, rams;
(xxx) Swine, feeder pigs under 50 pounds;
(xxxi) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts 50 to 150 pounds;
(xxxii) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts over 150 pounds;
(xxxiii) Turkeys, poults; and
(xxxiv) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
(e) Under ELAP, “contract growers” will only be deemed to include producers of livestock, other than feedlots, whose income is dependent on the actual weight gain and survival of the livestock. For death losses for contract growers to be eligible, the livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) Be poultry or swine, as defined in § 760.202, and meet all the conditions in paragraph (f) of this section.
(2) Be one of the following categories of animals for which calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately for each contract grower with respect to each category:
(i) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(ii) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(iii) Geese, goose;
(iv) Swine, boars, sows;
(v) Swine, feeder pigs;
(vi) Swine, lightweight barrows, gilts;
(vii) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts; and
(viii) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
(f) For livestock death losses to be considered eligible livestock for the purpose of generating payments under this subpart, livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) They must have died:
(i) On or after the beginning date of the eligible loss condition; and
(ii) On or after January 1, 2008, and no later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the eligible loss condition, but before November 30, 2011; and
(iii) As a direct result of an eligible loss condition that occurs on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011; and
(iv) In the calendar year for which payment is being requested; and
(2) Been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day the livestock died; and
(3) Before dying, not have been produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, such non-eligible uses being understood to include, but not be limited to, any uses of wild free roaming animals or use of the animals for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, hunting, roping, pets, or for show.
(g) For honeybee losses to be eligible, the honeybee colony must meet the following conditions:
(1) Been maintained for the purpose of producing honey or pollination for commercial use in a farming operation on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(2) Been physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(3) Been a honeybee colony in which the participant has a risk in the honey production or pollination farming operation on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
(4) Been a honeybee colony for which the producer had an eligible loss of a honeybee colony, honeybee hive, or honeybee feed; the feed must have been intended as feed for honeybees.
(h) For fish to be eligible to generate payments under ELAP, the fish must be produced in a controlled environment so to be considered “farm raised fish” as defined in this subpart, and the farm-raised fish must:
(1) For feed losses:
(i) Be an aquatic species that is propagated and reared in a controlled environment;
(ii) Be maintained and harvested for commercial use as part of a farming operation; and
(iii) Be physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
(2) For death losses:
(i) Be bait fish or game fish that are propagated and reared in a controlled environment;
(ii) Been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation; and
(iii) Been physically located in the county where the eligible loss adverse weather or eligible loss condition occurred on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
§ 760.205 Eligible producers, owners, and contract growers.
(a) To be considered an eligible livestock producer for livestock feed losses and to receive payments, the participant must have owned, cash-leased, purchased, entered into a contract to purchase, or been a contract grower of eligible livestock during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition and must have had a loss that is determined to be eligible as specified in § 760.203(d), and the producer’s eligible livestock must have been livestock that would normally have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section.
(b) To be considered an eligible livestock producer for grazing losses and to receive payments, the participant must have:
(1) Owned, cash-leased, purchased, entered into a contract to purchase, or been a contract grower of eligible livestock during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, must have had a loss that is determined to be eligible as specified in § 760.203(e), and the loss must have occurred on land that is:
(i) Native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or
(ii) Planted to a crop planted specifically for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock;
(2) Have had eligible livestock that would normally have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county as specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section;
(3) Provided for the eligible livestock pastureland or grazing land, including cash leased pastureland or grazing land for covered livestock that is physically located in the county where the eligible adverse weather or loss condition occurred during the normal grazing period for the county.
(c) For livestock death losses to be eligible the producer must have had a loss that is determined to be eligible as specified in § 760.203(f) and in addition to other eligibility rules that may apply to be eligible as a:
(1) Livestock owner for the payment with respect to the death of an animal under this subpart, the applicant must have had legal ownership of the livestock on the day the livestock died and under conditions in which no contract grower could have been eligible for ELAP payment with respect to the animal. Eligible types of animal categories for which losses can be calculated for an owner are specified in § 760.204(d).
(2) Contract grower for ELAP payment with respect to the death of an animal, the animal must be in one of the categories specified in § 760.204(e), and the contract grower must have had:
(i) A written agreement with the owner of eligible livestock setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock;
(ii) Control of the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died; and
(iii) A risk of loss in the animal.
(d) To be considered an eligible honeybee producer, a participant must have an interest and risk in an eligible honeybee colony, as specified in § 760.204(g), for the purpose of producing honey or pollination for commercial use as part of a farming operation and must have had a loss that is determined to be eligible as specified in § 760.203(g) or (h).
(e) To be considered an eligible farm-raised fish producer for feed loss purposes, the participant must have produced eligible farm-raised fish, as specified in § 760.204(h)(1), with the intent to harvest for commercial use as part of a farming operation and must have had a loss that is determined to be eligible as specified in § 760.203(g);
(f) A producer seeking payments must not be ineligible under the restrictions applicable to foreign persons contained in § 760.103(b) and must meet all other requirements of subpart B and other applicable USDA regulations.
§ 760.206 Notice of loss and application process.
(a) To apply for ELAP, the participant that suffered eligible livestock, honeybee, or farm-raised fish losses must submit, to the FSA administrative county office that maintains the participant’s farm records for the agricultural operation, the following:
(1) A notice of loss to FSA as specified in § 760.207(a),
(2) A completed application as specified in § 760.207(b) for one or both of the following:
(i) For livestock feed, grazing and death losses, the participant must submit a completed Emergency Loss Assistance for Livestock Application;
(ii) For honeybee feed, honeybee colony, honeybee hive, or farm-raised fish feed or death losses, the participant must submit a completed Emergency Loss Assistance for Farm-Raised Fish or Honeybees Application;
(3) A report of acreage;
(4) A copy of the participant’s grower contract, if the participant is a contract grower; and
(5) Other supporting documents required for FSA to determine eligibility of the participant, livestock, and loss.
(b) For livestock, honeybee, or farm-raised fish feed losses, participant must provide verifiable documentation of:
(1) Purchased feed intended as feed for livestock, honeybees, or farm-raised fish that was lost, or additional feed purchased above normal quantities to sustain livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish for a short period of time until additional feed becomes available, due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. To be considered acceptable documentation, the participant must provide original feed receipts and each feed receipt must include the date of feed purchase, name, address, and telephone number of feed vendor, type and quantity of feed purchased, cost of feed purchased, and signature of feed vendor if the vendor does not have a license to conduct this type of transaction.
(2) Harvested feed intended as feed for livestock, honeybees, or farm-raised fish that was lost due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, weight tickets, truck scale tickets, contemporaneous diaries used to verify that the crop was stored with the intent to feed the crop to livestock, honeybees, or farm-raised fish, and custom harvest documents that clearly identify the amount of feed produced from the applicable acreage. Documentation must clearly identify the acreage from which the feed was produced.
(c) For eligible honeybee colony and honeybee hive losses and eligible farm-raised fish losses, the participant must also provide documentation of inventory on the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or loss condition and the ending inventory. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, any combination of the following:
(1) A report of acreage,
(2) Loan records,
(3) Private insurance documents,
(4) Property tax records,
(5) Sales and purchase receipts,
(6) State colony registration documentation, and
(7) Chattel inspections.
(d) For the loss of honeybee colonies due to colony collapse disorder, the participant must also provide acceptable documentation or certification that the loss of the honeybee colony was due to colony collapse disorder. Except for 2008 and 2009 honeybee colony losses, acceptable documentation must include an independent third party certification determined acceptable by the Deputy Administrator, plus such additional information and documentation as may be requested. For 2008 and 2009 honeybee colony losses a self-certification may be accepted by FSA together with any additional information demanded by FSA as determined appropriate by the Deputy Administrator.
(e) For livestock death losses, the participant must provide evidence of loss, current physical location of livestock in inventory, and physical location of claimed livestock at the time of death. The participant must provide:
(1) Documentation listing the quantity and kind of livestock that died as a direct result of the eligible loss condition during the calendar year for which payment is being requested, which must include: Purchase records, veterinarian records, bank or other loan papers, rendering truck receipts, Federal Emergency Management Agency records, National Guard records, written contracts, production records, Internal Revenue Service records, property tax records, private insurance documents, or other similar verifiable documents as determined by FSA.
(2) Adequate proof that the death of the eligible livestock occurred as a direct result of an eligible loss condition in the calendar year for which payment is requested.
(3) If adequate verifiable proof of death documentation is not available, the participant must provide reliable records, in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records, as proof of death. Reliable records may include: Contemporaneous producer records, dairy herd improvement records, brand inspection records, vaccination records, pictures, and other similar reliable documents, as determined by FSA.
(4) Certification of livestock deaths by third parties will be acceptable for eligibility determination only if verifiable proof of death records or reliable proof of death records in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records are not available and both of the following conditions are met:
(i) The livestock owner or livestock contract grower, as applicable, certifies in writing:
(A) That there is no other verifiable or reliable documentation of death available;
(B) The number of livestock, by category as determined by FSA, was in inventory at the time the applicable loss condition occurred;
(C) The physical location of the livestock, by category, in inventory when the deaths occurred; and
(D) Any other details required for FSA to determine the certification acceptable; and
(ii) The third party is an independent source who is not affiliated with the farming operation such as a hired hand and is not a “family member,” defined as a person to whom a member in the farming operation or their spouse is related as a lineal ancestor, lineal descendant, sibling, spouse, or otherwise by marriage, and provides their telephone number, address, and a written statement containing specific details about:
(A) Their knowledge of the livestock deaths;
(B) Their affiliation with the livestock owner;
(C) The accuracy of the deaths claimed by the livestock owner or contract grower including, but not limited to, the number and kind or type of the participant’s livestock that died because of the eligible loss condition; and
(D) Any other information required for FSA to determine the certification acceptable.
(f) FSA will use the data furnished by the participant and the third party to determine eligibility for program payment. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data program, payment will not be approved or provided.
§ 760.207 Notice of loss and application period.
(a) In addition to submitting an application for payment at the appropriate time, the participant that suffered eligible livestock, honeybee, or farm-raised fish losses that create or could create a claim for benefits must:
(1) For losses during calendar year 2008 and in calendar year 2009 prior to September 11, 2009, provide a notice of loss to FSA no later than December 10, 2009;
(2) For losses on or after September 11, 2009, the participant must provide a notice of loss to FSA within the earlier of:
(i) 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent to the participant or
(ii) 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss occurred.
(3) The participant must submit the notice of loss required in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section to the administrative FSA county office
(b) In addition to the notices of loss required in paragraph (a) of this section, a participant must also submit a completed application for payment no later than:
(1) 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss occurred or
(2) December 10, 2009 for losses that occurred during 2008.
§ 760.208 Availability of funds.
By law, “up to” $50 million per year for the years in question may be approved for use by the Secretary and accordingly, within that cap, the only funds that will be considered available to pay claims will be that amount approved by the Secretary. Nothing in these regulations will limit the ability of the Secretary to restrict the availability of funds for the program as permitted by the relevant legislation. Payments will not be made for claims arising out of a particular year until, for all claims for that year, the time for applying for a payment has passed. In the event that, within the limits of the funding made available by the Secretary within the statutory cap, approval of eligible applications would result in expenditures in excess of the amount available, FSA will prorate the available funds by a national factor to reduce the total expected payments to the amount made available by the Secretary. FSA will make payments based on the factor for the national rate determined by FSA. FSA will prorate the payments in such manner as it determines appropriate and reasonable. Claims that are unpaid or prorated for a calendar year for any reason will not be carried forward for payment under other funds for later years or otherwise, but will be considered, as to any unpaid amount, void and nonpayable.
§ 760.209 Livestock payment calculations.
(a) Payments for an eligible livestock producer will be calculated based on losses for no more than 90 days during the calendar year. Payment calculations for feed losses will be based on 60 percent of the producer’s actual cost for:
(1) Livestock feed that was purchased forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock that was physically damaged or destroyed due to the direct result of an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(d)(1);
(2) Livestock feed that was mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock that was physically damaged or destroyed after harvest due to the direct result of an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(d)(2);
(3) The additional cost incurred for providing or transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(d)(3); or
(4) The additional cost of purchasing additional livestock feed above normal, to maintain the eligible livestock during an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition until additional livestock feed becomes available, as provided in § 760.203(d)(4).
(b) Payments for an eligible livestock producer for grazing losses, except for losses due to wildfires on non-Federal land, will be calculated based on 60 percent of the lesser of:
(1) The total value of the feed cost for all covered livestock owned by the eligible livestock producer based on the number of days grazing was lost, not to exceed 90 days of daily feed cost for all covered livestock, or
(2) The total value of grazing lost for all eligible livestock based on the normal carrying capacity, as determined by the Secretary, of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer for the number of grazing days lost, not to exceed 90 days of lost grazing.
(c) The total value of feed cost to be used in the calculation for paragraph (b)(1) of this section is based on the number of days grazing was lost and equals the product obtained by multiplying:
(1) A payment quantity equal to the feed grain equivalent, as determined in paragraph (d) of this section;
(2) A payment rate equal to the corn price per pound, as determined in paragraph (e) of this section;
(3) The number of all covered livestock owned by the eligible producer converted to an animal unit basis;
(4) The number of days grazing was lost, not to exceed 90 calendar days during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land; and
(5) The producer’s ownership share in the livestock.
(d) The feed grain equivalent to be used in the calculation for paragraph (c)(1) of this section equals, in the case of:
(1) An adult beef cow, 15.7 pounds of corn per day or
(2) Any other type or weight of livestock, an amount determined by the Secretary that represents the average number of pounds of corn per day necessary to feed that specific type of livestock.
(e) The corn price per pound to be used in the calculation for paragraph (c)(2) of this section equals the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) The higher of:
(i) The national average corn price per bushel of corn for the 12-month period immediately preceding March 1 of the calendar year for which payments are calculated; or
(ii) The national average corn price per bushel of corn for the 24-month period immediately preceding March 1 of the calendar year for which payments are calculated; by
(2) 56.
(f) The total value of grazing lost to be used in the calculation for paragraph (b)(2) of this section equals the product obtained by multiplying:
(1) A payment quantity equal to the feed grain equivalent of 15.7 pounds of corn per day;
(2) A payment rate equal to the corn price per pound, as determined in paragraph (e) of this section;
(3) The number of animal units the eligible livestock producer’s grazing land or pastureland can sustain during the normal grazing period in the county for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland, in the absence of an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, determined by dividing the:
(i) Number of eligible grazing land or pastureland acres of the specific type of grazing land or pastureland by
(ii) The normal carrying capacity of the specific type of eligible grazing land or pastureland; and
(4) The number of days grazing was lost, not to exceed 90 calendar days during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land.
(g) Payments for an eligible livestock producer for grazing losses due to a wildfire on non-Federal land will be calculated by multiplying:
(1) The result of dividing:
(i) The number of acres of grazing land or pastureland acres affected by the fire by
(ii) The normal carrying capacity of the specific type of eligible grazing land or pastureland; times
(2) The daily value of grazing as calculated by FSA under this section; times
(3) The number of days grazing was lost due to fire, not to exceed 180 calendar days; times
(4) 50 percent.
(h) Payments for an eligible livestock producer for eligible livestock death losses due to an eligible loss condition will be based on the following:
(1) Payments will be calculated by multiplying:
(i) The national payment rate for each livestock category times
(ii) The number of eligible livestock that died in each category as a result of an eligible loss condition in excess of normal mortality, as determined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section;
(2) Normal mortality for each livestock category as determined by FSA on a statewide basis using local data sources including, but not limited to, State livestock organizations and the Cooperative Extension Service for the State.
(3) National payment rates to be used in the calculation for paragraph (b)(1) of this section for eligible livestock owners and eligible livestock contract growers are:
(i) A national payment rate for eligible livestock owners that is based on 75 percent of the average fair market value of the applicable livestock as computed using nationwide prices for the previous calendar year unless some other price is approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(ii) A national payment rate for eligible livestock contract growers that is based on 75 percent of the relevant average income loss sustained by the contract grower, with respect to the dead livestock.
(i) Payments calculated in this section are subject to the adjustments and limits provided for in this part.
§ 760.210 Honeybee payment calculations.
(a) An eligible honeybee producer may receive payments for honeybee feed losses due to an eligible adverse weather or loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(g), based on 60 percent of the producer’s actual cost for honeybee feed that was:
(1) Damaged or destroyed due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition and
(2) Intended as feed for an eligible honeybee colony, as provided in § 760.204(g);
(b) An eligible honeybee producer may receive payments for honeybee colony losses due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(h), based on 60 percent of the average fair market value for the number of honeybee colonies that were damaged or destroyed due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as computed using nationwide prices unless some other price data is approved for use by the Deputy Administrator, for losses in excess of normal honeybee mortality, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) An eligible honeybee producer may receive payments for honeybee hive losses due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(h), based on 60 percent of the average fair market value for the number of honeybee hives that were damaged or destroyed due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as computed using nationwide prices unless some other price data is approved for use by the Deputy Administrator.
(d) Payments calculated in this section are subject to the adjustments and limits provided for in this part.
§ 760.211 Farm-raised fish payment calculations.
(a) An eligible farm-raised fish producer may receive payments for fish feed losses due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(g), based on 60 percent of the producer’s actual replacement cost for the fish feed that was:
(1) Damaged or destroyed due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition and
(2) Intended as feed for the eligible farm-raised fish, as provided in § 760.204(h)(1).
(b) An eligible producer of farm-raised game or sport fish may receive payments for death losses of farm-raised fish due to an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as provided in § 760.203(i), based on 60 percent of the average fair market value of the game fish or sport fish that died as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as computed using nationwide prices unless some other price data is approved for use by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) Payments calculated in this section or elsewhere with respect to ELAP are subject to the adjustments and limits provided for in this part and are also subject to the payment limitations and average adjusted gross income limitations that are contained in subpart B.
Subpart D—Livestock Forage Disaster Program
§ 760.301 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) will be administered.
(b) Eligible livestock producers will be compensated for eligible grazing losses for covered livestock that occur due to a qualifying drought or fire that occurs:
(1) On or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011, and
(2) In the calendar year for which benefits are being requested.
§ 760.302 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart and to the administration of LFP. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Adult beef bull means a male beef breed bovine animal that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Adult beef cow means a female beef breed bovine animal that had delivered one or more offspring. A first-time bred beef heifer is also considered an adult beef cow if it was pregnant on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Adult buffalo and beefalo bull means a male animal of those breeds that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Adult buffalo and beefalo cow means a female animal of those breeds that had delivered one or more offspring. A first-time bred buffalo or beefalo heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or beefalo cow if it was pregnant on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Adult dairy bull means a male dairy breed bovine animal at least 2 years old used primarily for breeding dairy cows on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Adult dairy cow means a female dairy breed bovine animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that had delivered one or more offspring. A first-time bred dairy heifer is also considered an adult dairy cow if it was pregnant on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire.
Agricultural operation means a farming operation.
Application means the “Livestock Forage Disaster Program” form.
Commercial use means used in the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible livestock producer.
Contract means, with respect to contracts for the handling of livestock, a written agreement between a livestock owner and another individual or entity setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock or livestock products.
Covered livestock means livestock of an eligible livestock producer that, during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire, the eligible livestock producer owned, leased, purchased, entered into a contract to purchase, was a contract grower of, or sold or otherwise disposed of due to a qualifying drought during the current production year. It includes livestock that the producer otherwise disposed of due to drought in one or both of the two production years immediately preceding the current production year as determined by the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing portions of this definition, covered livestock for “contract growers” will not include livestock in feedlots. “Contract growers” under LFP will only include producers of livestock not in feedlots whose income is dependent on the actual weight gain and survival of the livestock.
Equine animal means a domesticated horse, mule, or donkey.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in producing agricultural products.
Federal Agency means, with respect to the control of grazing land, an agency of the Federal government that manages rangeland on which livestock is generally permitted to graze. For the purposes of this section, it includes, but is not limited to, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), DOI Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and USDA Forest Service (FS).
Goat means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, including Angora goats.
Non-adult beef cattle means a beef breed bovine animal that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire but that does not meet the definition of adult beef cow or bull.
Non-adult buffalo or beefalo means an animal of those breeds that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire, but does not meet the definition of adult buffalo or beefalo cow or bull.
Non-adult dairy cattle means a bovine animal, of a breed used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption, that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire, but that does not meet the definition of adult dairy cow or bull.
Normal carrying capacity means, with respect to each type of grazing land or pastureland in a county, the normal carrying capacity that would be expected from the grazing land or pastureland for livestock during the normal grazing period in the county, in the absence of a drought or fire that diminishes the production of the grazing land or pastureland.
Normal grazing period means, with respect to a county, the normal grazing period during the calendar year with respect to each specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county served by the applicable county committee.
Owner means one who had legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested during the 60 days prior to the beginning of a qualifying drought or fire.
Poultry means a domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, or goose. Poultry are further delineated by sex, age, and purpose of production, as determined by FSA.
Sheep means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Ovis.
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, or boar. Swine are further delineated by sex and weight, as determined by FSA.
U.S. Drought Monitor is a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought. It is a collaborative effort between Federal and academic partners, produced on a weekly basis, to synthesize multiple indices, outlooks, and drought impacts on a map and in narrative form. This synthesis of indices is reported by the National Drought Mitigation Center at http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.
§ 760.303 Eligible livestock producer.
(a) To be considered an eligible livestock producer, the eligible producer on a farm must:
(1) During the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire, own, cash or share lease, or be a contract grower of covered livestock or
(2) Provide pastureland or grazing land for covered livestock, including cash-leased pastureland or grazing land, that is:
(i) Physically located in a county affected by a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county or
(ii) Rangeland managed by a Federal agency for which the otherwise eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock due to a qualifying fire.
(b) The eligible livestock producer must have certified that the livestock producer has suffered a grazing loss due to a qualifying drought or fire to be eligible for LFP payments.
(c) An eligible livestock producer does not include any owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of livestock that rents or leases pastureland or grazing land owned by another person on a rate-of-gain basis. (That is, where the lease or rental agreement calls for payment based in whole or in part on the amount of weight gained by the animals that use the pastureland or grazing land.)
(d) A producer seeking payment must not be ineligible for payments under the restrictions applicable to foreign persons contained in § 760.103(b) and must meet all other requirements of subpart B and other applicable USDA regulations.
(e) If a contract grower is an eligible livestock producer for covered livestock, the owner of that livestock is not eligible for payment.
§ 760.304 Covered livestock.
(a) To be considered covered livestock for LFP payments, livestock must meet all the following conditions:
(1) Be adult or non-adult beef cattle, adult or non-adult beefalo, adult or non-adult buffalo, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep, or swine;
(2) Be livestock that would normally have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland in the county:
(i) During the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county or
(ii) When the Federal agency prohibited the eligible livestock producer from using the managed rangeland for grazing due to a fire;
(3) Be livestock that the eligible livestock producer:
(i) During the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire:
(A) Owned,
(B) Leased,
(C) Purchased,
(D) Entered into a contract to purchase, or
(E) Was a contract grower of; or
(ii) Sold or otherwise disposed of due to qualifying drought during:
(A) The current production year or
(B) 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately preceding the current production year;
(4) Been maintained for commercial use as part of the producer’s farming operation on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire;
(5) Not have been produced and maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation. Such excluded uses include, but are not limited to, any uses of wild free roaming animals or use of the animals for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, roping, hunting, pets, or for show; and
(6) Not have been livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire, as a part of the normal business operation of the eligible livestock producer, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) The covered livestock categories are:
(1) Adult beef cows or bulls,
(2) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows or bulls,
(3) Adult dairy cows or bulls,
(4) Alpacas,
(5) Deer,
(6) Elk,
(7) Emu,
(8) Equine,
(9) Goats,
(10) Llamas,
(11) Non-adult beef cattle,
(12) Non-adult buffalo or beefalo,
(13) Non-adult dairy cattle,
(14) Poultry,
(15) Reindeer,
(16) Sheep, and
(17) Swine.
(c) Livestock that are not covered include, but are not limited to:
(1) Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire, as a part of the normal business operation of the eligible livestock producer, as determined by the Secretary;
(2) Yaks;
(3) Ostriches;
(4) All beef and dairy cattle, and buffalo and beefalo that weighed less than 500 pounds on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire;
(5) Any wild free roaming livestock, including horses and deer; and
(6) Livestock produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, including, but not limited to, livestock produced or maintained for recreational purposes, such as:
(i) Roping,
(ii) Hunting,
(iii) Show,
(iv) Pleasure,
(v) Use as pets, or
(vi) Consumption by owner.
§ 760.305 Eligible grazing losses.
(a) A grazing loss due to drought is eligible for LFP only if the grazing loss for the covered livestock occurs on land that:
(1) Is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or
(2) Is planted to a crop planted specifically for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock; and
(3) Is grazing land or pastureland that is owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer that is physically located in a county that is, during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county, rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a:
(i) D2 (severe drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least 8 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county, as determined by the Secretary, or
(ii) D3 (extreme drought) or D4 (exceptional drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county, as determined by the Secretary. (As specified elsewhere in this subpart, the amount of potential payment eligibility will be higher than under (a)(3)(i) of this section where the D4 trigger applies or where the D3 condition as determined by the Secretary lasts at least 4 weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county.)
(b) A grazing loss is not eligible for LFP if the grazing loss due to drought on land used for haying or grazing under the Conservation Reserve Program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831-3835a).
(c) A fire qualifies for LFP only if:
(1) The grazing loss occurs on rangeland that is managed by a Federal agency and
(2) The eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a fire.
(d) An eligible livestock producer may be eligible for LFP payments only on those grazing lands incurring losses for which the livestock producer:
(1) Meets the risk management purchase requirements specified in § 760.104; or
(2) Does not meet the risk management purchase requirements specified in § 760.104 because the risk management purchase requirement is waived according to §§ 760.105, 760.106, or 760.107.
§ 760.306 Application for payment.
(a) To apply for LFP, the participant that suffered eligible grazing losses:
(1) During 2008, must submit a completed application for payment and required supporting documentation to the administrative FSA county office no later than December 10, 2009 or
(2) During 2009 and later years, must submit a completed application for payment and required supporting documentation to the administrative FSA county office no later than 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.
(b) A participant must also provide a copy of the grower contract, if a contract grower, and other supporting documents required for determining eligibility as an applicant at the time the participant submits the completed application for payment. Supporting documents must include:
(1) Evidence of loss,
(2) Current physical location of livestock in inventory,
(3) Evidence of meeting risk management purchase requirements as specified in subpart B,
(4) Evidence that grazing land or pastureland is owned or leased,
(5) A report of acreage according to part 718 of this chapter for the grazing lands incurring losses for which assistance is being requested under this subpart;
(6) Adequate proof, as determined by FSA that the grazing loss:
(i) Was for the covered livestock;
(ii) If the loss of grazing occurred as the result of a fire that the:
(A) Loss was due to a fire and
(B) Participant was prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a fire;
(iii) Occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011; and
(iv) Occurred in the calendar year for which payments are being requested;
(7) Adequate proof, absent an appropriate waiver (if there is a waiver, it itself must be documented by the producer), as determined by FSA, that the participant had obtained, for the grazing land incurring the losses for which assistance is being requested, one or both of the following:
(i) A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524); or
(ii) Filed the required paperwork, and paid the administrative fee by the applicable State filing deadline, for the noninsured crop disaster assistance program;
(8) Any other supporting documentation as determined by FSA to be necessary to make a determination of eligibility of the participant. Supporting documents include, but are not limited to: Verifiable purchase and sales records; grower contracts; veterinarian records; bank or other loan papers; rendering truck receipts; Federal Emergency Management Records; National Guard records; written contracts; production records; private insurance documents; sales records; and similar documents determined acceptable to FSA.
(c) Data furnished by the participant will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data, program benefits will not be approved or provided.
§ 760.307 Payment calculation.
(a) An eligible livestock producer will be eligible to receive payments for grazing losses for qualifying drought as specified in § 760.305(a) equal to one, two, or three times the monthly payment rate specified in paragraphs (e) or (f) of this section. Total LFP payments to an eligible livestock producer in a calendar year for grazing losses due to qualifying drought will not exceed three monthly payments for the same livestock. Payments calculated in this section or elsewhere with respect to LFP are subject to the adjustments and limits provided for in this part and are also subject to the payment limitations and average adjusted gross income provisions that are contained in subpart B. Payment may only be made to the extent that eligibility is specifically provided for in this subpart. Hence, with respect to drought, payments will be made only as a “one month” payment, a “two month” payment, or a “three month” payment based on the provisions of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
(b) To be eligible to receive a one month payment, that is a payment equal to the monthly feed cost as determined under paragraph (g) of this section, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D2 severe drought (intensity) in any area of the county for at least 8 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county.
(c) To be eligible to receive a two month payment, that is a payment equal to twice the monthly feed cost as determined under paragraph (g) of this section, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county.
(d) To be eligible to receive a three month payment, that is a payment equal to three times the monthly feed cost as determined under paragraph (g) of this section, the eligible livestock producer must own or lease grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least 4 weeks during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county, or is rated as having a D4 (exceptional drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for the county.
(e) The monthly payment rate for LFP for grazing losses due to a qualifying drought, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, will be equal to 60 percent of the lesser of:
(1) The monthly feed cost for all covered livestock owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer, as determined in paragraph (g) of this section or
(2) The monthly feed cost calculated by using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer, as determined in paragraph (j) of this section.
(f) In the case of an eligible livestock producer that sold or otherwise disposed of covered livestock due to a qualifying drought in 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately preceding the current production year, the payment rate is 80 percent of the monthly payment rate calculated in paragraph (e) of this section.
(g) The monthly feed cost for covered livestock equals the product obtained by multiplying:
(1) 30 days;
(2) A payment quantity equal to the amount referred to in paragraph (h) of this section as the “feed grain equivalent”, as determined under paragraph (h) of this section; and
(3) A payment rate equal to the corn price per pound, as determined in paragraph (i) of this section.
(h) The feed grain equivalent equals, in the case of:
(1) An adult beef cow, 15.7 pounds of corn per day or
(2) In the case of any other type or weight of covered livestock, an amount determined by the Secretary that represents the average number of pounds of corn per day necessary to feed that specific type of livestock.
(i) The corn price per pound equals the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) The higher of:
(i) The national average corn price per bushel for the 12-month period immediately preceding March 1 of the calendar year for which LFP payment is calculated or
(ii) The national average corn price per bushel for the 24-month period immediately preceding March 1 of the calendar year for which LFP payment is calculated
(2) By 56.
(j) The monthly feed cost using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land equals the product obtained by multiplying:
(1) 30 days;
(2) A payment quantity equal to the feed grain equivalent of 15.7 pounds of corn per day;
(3) A payment rate equal to the corn price per pound, as determined in paragraph (i) of this section; and
(4) The number of animal units the eligible livestock producer’s grazing land or pastureland can sustain during the normal grazing period in the county for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland, in the absence of a drought or fire, determined by dividing the:
(i) Number of eligible grazing land or pastureland acres of the specific type of grazing land or pastureland by
(ii) The normal carrying capacity of the specific type of eligible grazing land or pastureland as determined under this subpart.
(k) An eligible livestock producer will be eligible to receive payments for grazing losses due to a fire as specified in § 760.305(c):
(1) For the period, subject to paragraph (l)(2) of this section:
(i) Beginning on the date on which the Federal Agency prohibits the eligible livestock producer from using the managed rangeland for grazing and
(ii) Ending on the earlier of the last day of the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer or the day that would make the period a 180 day period and
(2) For grazing losses that occur on not more than 180 days per calendar year.
(3) For 50 percent of the monthly feed cost, as determined under § 760.308(g), pro-rated to a daily rate, for the total number of livestock covered by the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer.
Subpart E—Livestock Indemnity Program
§ 760.401 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) will be administered under Titles XII and XV of the 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246).
(b) Eligible livestock owners and contract growers will be compensated in accordance with § 760.406 for eligible livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality that occurred in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event. An “eligible adverse weather event” is one, as determined by the Secretary, occurring in the program year that could and did, even when normal preventative or corrective measures were taken and good farming practices were followed, directly result in the death of livestock. Because feed can be purchased or otherwise obtained in the event of a drought, drought is not an eligible adverse weather event except when anthrax, resulting from drought, causes the death of eligible livestock.
§ 760.402 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Adult beef bull means a male beef breed bovine animal that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes before it died.
Adult beef cow means a female beef breed bovine animal that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred beef heifer is also considered an adult beef cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Adult buffalo and beefalo bull means a male animal of those breeds that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes before it died.
Adult buffalo and beefalo cow means a female animal of those breeds that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred buffalo or beefalo heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or beefalo cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Adult dairy bull means a male dairy breed bovine animal at least 2 years old used primarily for breeding dairy cows before it died.
Adult dairy cow means a female bovine dairy breed animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred dairy heifer is also considered an adult dairy cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Adverse weather means damaging weather events, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, and extreme cold.
Agricultural operation means a farming operation.
Application means the “Livestock Indemnity Program” form.
Buck means a male goat.
Commercial use means used in the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible producer.
Contract means, with respect to contracts for the handling of livestock, a written agreement between a livestock owner and another individual or entity setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock or livestock products.
Deputy Administrator or DAFP means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture or the designee.
Equine animal means a domesticated horse, mule, or donkey.
Ewe means a female sheep.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in producing agricultural products.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency.
Goat means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, including Angora goats. Goats are further defined by sex (bucks and nannies) and age (kids).
Kid means a goat less than 1 year old.
Lamb means a sheep less than 1 year old.
Livestock owner means one having legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested on the day such livestock died.
Nanny means a female goat.
Non-adult beef cattle means a beef breed bovine animal that does not meet the definition of adult beef cow or bull. Non-adult beef cattle are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time they died.
Non-adult buffalo or beefalo means an animal of those breeds that does not meet the definition of adult buffalo or beefalo cow or bull. Non-adult buffalo or beefalo are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time of death.
Non-adult dairy cattle means a dairy breed bovine animal, of a breed used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption, that does not meet the definition of adult dairy cow or bull. Non-adult dairy cattle are further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time they died.
Normal mortality means the numerical amount, computed by a percentage, as established for the area by the FSA State Committee, of expected livestock deaths, by category, that normally occur during a calendar year for a producer.
Poultry means domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Poultry are further delineated by sex, age, and purpose of production as determined by FSA.
Ram means a male sheep.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the Secretary.
Sheep means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Ovis. Sheep are further defined by sex (rams and ewes) and age (lambs) for purposes of dividing into categories for loss calculations.
State committee, State office, county committee, or county office means the respective FSA committee or office.
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, or boar. Swine for purposes of dividing into categories for loss calculations are further delineated by sex and weight as determined by FSA.
United States means all fifty States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the District of Columbia.
§ 760.403 Eligible owners and contract growers.
(a) In addition to other eligibility rules that may apply, to be eligible as a:
(1) Livestock owner for benefits with respect to the death of an animal under this subpart, the applicant must have had legal ownership of the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died and under conditions in which no contract grower could have been eligible for benefits with respect to the animal. Eligible types of animal categories for which losses can be calculated for an owner are specified in § 760.404(a).
(2) Contract grower for benefits with respect to the death of an animal, the animal must be in one of the categories specified on § 760.404(b), and the contract grower must have had
(i) A written agreement with the owner of eligible livestock setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock;
(ii) Control of the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died; and
(iii) A risk of loss in the animal.
(b) A producer seeking payment must not be ineligible under the restrictions applicable to foreign persons contained in § 760.103(b) and must meet all other requirements of subpart B and other applicable USDA regulations.
§ 760.404 Eligible livestock.
(a) To be considered eligible livestock for livestock owners, the kind of livestock must be alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, elk, emus, equine, llamas, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, deer, or reindeer and meet all the conditions in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) To be considered eligible livestock for contract growers, the kind of livestock must be poultry or swine as defined in § 760.402 and meet all the conditions in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) To be considered eligible livestock for the purpose of generating payments under this subpart, livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) Died as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event that occurred on or after January 1, 2008, and before October 1, 2011;
(2) Died no later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the applicable adverse weather event, but before November 30, 2011;
(3) Died in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested;
(4) Been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died; and
(5) Before dying, not have been produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, such non-eligible uses being understood to include, but not be limited to, any uses of wild, free roaming animals or use of the animals for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, hunting, roping, pets, or for show.
(d) The following categories of animals owned by a livestock owner are eligible livestock and calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately for each producer with respect to each category:
(1) Adult beef bulls;
(2) Adult beef cows;
(3) Adult buffalo or beefalo bulls;
(4) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows;
(5) Adult dairy bulls;
(6) Adult dairy cows;
(7) Alpacas;
(8) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(9) Chickens, chicks;
(10) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(11) Deer;
(12) Ducks;
(13) Ducks, ducklings;
(14) Elk;
(15) Emus;
(16) Equine;
(17) Geese, goose;
(18) Geese, gosling;
(19) Goats, bucks;
(20) Goats, nannies;
(21) Goats, kids;
(22) Llamas;
(23) Non-adult beef cattle;
(24) Non-adult buffalo or beefalo;
(25) Non-adult dairy cattle;
(26) Reindeer;
(27) Sheep, ewes;
(28) Sheep, lambs;
(29) Sheep, rams;
(30) Swine, feeder pigs under 50 pounds;
(31) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts 50 to 150 pounds;
(32) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts over 150 pounds;
(33) Turkeys, poults; and
(34) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
(e) The following categories of animals are eligible livestock for contract growers and calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately for each producer with respect to each category:
(1) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(2) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(3) Geese, goose;
(4) Swine, boars, sows;
(5) Swine, feeder pigs;
(6) Swine, lightweight barrows, gilts;
(7) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts; and
(8) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
§ 760.405 Application process.
(a) In addition to submitting an application for payment at the appropriate time, a producer or contract grower that suffered livestock losses that create or could create a claim for benefits must:
(1) For losses during 2008 and losses in 2009, prior to July 13, 2009, provide a notice of loss to FSA no later than September 13, 2009.
(2) For losses on or after July 13, 2009, provide a notice of loss to FSA within the earlier of:
(i) 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent to the participant or
(ii) 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred.
(3) The participant must submit the notice of loss required in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) to the FSA administrative county office that maintains the participant’s farm records for the agricultural operation.
(b) In addition to the notices of loss required in paragraph (a) of this section, a participant must also submit a completed application for payment no later than
(1) 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred or
(2) September 13, 2009 for losses during 2008.
(c) Applicants must submit supporting documentation with their application. For contract growers, the information must include a copy of the grower contract and other documents establishing their status. In addition, for all applicants, including contract growers, supporting documents must show:
(1) Evidence of loss,
(2) Current physical location of livestock in inventory,
(3) Physical location of claimed livestock at the time of death, and
(4) Inventory numbers and other inventory information necessary to establish actual mortality as required by FSA.
(d) The participant must provide adequate proof that the death of the eligible livestock occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event in the calendar year for which benefits are requested. The quantity and kind of livestock that died as a direct result of the eligible adverse weather event during the calendar year for which benefits are being requested may be documented by: purchase records; veterinarian records; bank or other loan papers; rendering-plant truck receipts; Federal Emergency Management Agency records; National Guard records; written contracts; production records; Internal Revenue Service records; property tax records; private insurance documents; and other similar verifiable documents as determined by FSA.
(e) If adequate verifiable proof of death documentation is not available, the participant may provide reliable records, in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records, as proof of death. Reliable records may include contemporaneous producer records, dairy herd improvement records, brand inspection records, vaccination records, pictures, and other similar reliable documents as determined by FSA.
(f) Certification of livestock deaths by third parties may be accepted only if verifiable proof of death records or reliable proof of death records in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records are not available and both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The livestock owner or livestock contract grower, as applicable, certifies in writing:
(i) That there is no other verifiable or reliable documentation of death available;
(ii) The number of livestock, by category identified in this subpart and by FSA were in inventory at the time the applicable adverse weather event occurred;
(iii) The physical location of the livestock, by category, in inventory when the deaths occurred; and
(iv) Other details required for FSA to determine the certification acceptable; and
(2) The third party is an independent source who is not affiliated with the farming operation such as a hired hand and is not a “family member,” defined as a person whom a member in the farming operation or their spouse is related as lineal ancestor, lineal descendant, sibling, spouse, and provides their telephone number, address, and a written statement containing specific details about:
(i) Their knowledge of the livestock deaths;
(ii) Their affiliation with the livestock owner;
(iii) The accuracy of the deaths claimed by the livestock owner or contract grower including, but not limited to, the number and kind or type of the participant’s livestock that died because of the eligible adverse weather event; and
(iv) Other information required by FSA to determine the certification acceptable.
(g) Data furnished by the participant and the third party will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data program benefits will not be approved or provided.
§ 760.406 Payment calculation.
(a) Under this subpart, separate payment rates for eligible livestock owners and eligible livestock contract growers are specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, respectively. Payments for LIP are calculated by multiplying the national payment rate for each livestock category by the number of eligible livestock in excess of normal mortality in each category that died as a result of an eligible adverse weather event. Normal mortality for each livestock category will be determined by FSA on a State-by-State basis using local data sources including, but not limited to, State livestock organizations and the Cooperative Extension Service for the State. Adjustments will be applied as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(b) The LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock owners is based on 75 percent of the average fair market value of the applicable livestock as computed using nationwide prices for the previous calendar year unless some other price is approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) The LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock contract growers is based on 75 percent of the average income loss sustained by the contract grower with respect to the dead livestock.
(d) The LIP payment calculated for eligible livestock contract growers will be reduced by the amount the participant received from the party who contracted with the producer to raise the livestock for the loss of income from the dead livestock.
Subpart F—Tree Assistance Program
§ 760.500 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) will be administered under Titles XII and XV of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246, the 2008 Farm Bill).
(b) Eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers will be compensated as specified in § 760.506 for eligible tree, bush, and vine losses in excess of 15 percent mortality, or, where applicable, 15 percent damage, adjusted for normal mortality and normal damage, that occurred in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested and as a direct result of a natural disaster.
§ 760.501 Administration.
The program will be administered as specified in § 760.102 and in this subpart.
§ 760.502 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Bush means, a low, branching, woody plant, from which at maturity of the bush, an annual fruit or vegetable crop is produced for commercial purposes, such as a blueberry bush. The definition does not cover plants that produce a bush after the normal crop is harvested such as asparagus.
Commercial use means used in the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible producer.
County committee means the respective FSA committee.
County office means the FSA or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center that is responsible for servicing the farm on which the trees, bushes, or vines are located.
Cutting means a piece of a vine which was planted in the ground to propagate a new vine for the commercial production of fruit, such as grapes, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, or similar fruit.
Deputy Administrator or DAFP means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, USDA, or the designee.
Eligible nursery tree grower means a person or legal entity that produces nursery, ornamental, fruit, nut, or Christmas trees for commercial sale.
Eligible orchardist means a person or legal entity that produces annual crops from trees, bushes, or vines for commercial purposes.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency.
Lost means, with respect to the extent of damage to a tree or other plant, that the plant is destroyed or the damage is such that it would, as determined by FSA, be more cost effective to replace the tree or other plant than to leave it in its deteriorated, low-producing state.
Natural disaster means plant disease, insect infestation, drought, fire, freeze, flood, earthquake, lightning, or other natural occurrence of such magnitude or severity so as to be considered disastrous, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Normal damage means the percentage, as established for the area by the FSA State Committee, of trees, bushes, or vines in the individual stand that would normally be damaged during a calendar year for a producer.
Normal mortality means percentage, as established for the area by the FSA State Committee, of expected lost trees, bushes, or vines in the individual stand that normally occurs during a calendar year for a producer. This term refers to the number of whole trees, bushes, or vines that are destroyed or damaged beyond rehabilitation. Mortality does not include partial damage such as lost tree limbs.
Seedling means an immature tree, bush, or vine that was planted in the ground or other growing medium to grow a new tree, bush, or vine for commercial purposes.
Stand means a contiguous acreage of the same type of trees (including Christmas trees, ornamental trees, nursery trees, and potted trees), bushes (including shrubs), or vines.
State committee means the respective FSA committee.
Tree means a tall, woody plant having comparatively great height, and a single trunk from which an annual crop is produced for commercial purposes, such as a maple tree for syrup, papaya tree, or orchard tree. Trees used for pulp or timber are not considered eligible trees under this subpart.
Vine means a perennial plant grown under normal conditions from which an annual fruit crop is produced for commercial market for human consumption, such as grape, kiwi, or passion fruit, and that has a flexible stem supported by climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface. Perennials that are normally propagated as annuals such as tomato plants, biennials such as the plants that produce strawberries, and annuals such as pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, watermelon, and other melons, are excluded from the term vine in this subpart.
§ 760.503 Eligible losses.
(a) To be considered an eligible loss under this subpart:
(1) Eligible trees, bushes, or vines must have been lost or damaged as a result of natural disaster as determined by the Deputy Administrator;
(2) The individual stand must have sustained a mortality loss or damage, as the case may be, loss in excess of 15 percent after adjustment for normal mortality or damage;
(3) The loss could not have been prevented through reasonable and available measures; and
(4) The trees, bushes, or vines, in the absence of a natural disaster, would not normally have required rehabilitation or replanting within the 12-month period following the loss.
(b) The damage or loss must be visible and obvious to the county committee representative. If the damage is no longer visible, the county committee may accept other evidence of the loss as it determines is reasonable.
(c) The county committee may require information from a qualified expert, as determined by the county committee, to determine extent of loss in the case of plant disease or insect infestation.
(d) The Deputy Administrator will determine the types of trees, bushes, and vines that are eligible.
(e) An individual stand that did not sustain a sufficient loss as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section is not eligible for payment, regardless of the amount of loss sustained.
§ 760.504 Eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers.
(a) To be eligible for TAP payments, the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower must:
(1) Have planted, or be considered to have planted (by purchase prior to the loss of existing stock planted for commercial purposes) trees, bushes, or vines for commercial purposes, or have a production history, for commercial purposes, of planted or existing trees, bushes, or vines;
(2) Have suffered eligible losses of eligible trees, bushes, or vines occurring between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2011, as a result of a natural disaster or related condition;
(3) Meet the risk management purchase requirement as specified in § 760.104 or the waiver requirements in § 760.105 or § 760.107; and
(4) Have continuously owned the stand from the time of the disaster until the time that the TAP application is submitted.
(b) A new owner of an orchard or nursery who does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section may receive TAP payments approved for the previous owner of the orchard or nursery and not paid to the previous owner, if the previous owner of the orchard or nursery agrees to the succession in writing and if the new owner:
(1) Acquires ownership of trees, bushes, or vines for which benefits have been approved;
(2) Agrees to complete all approved practices that the original owner has not completed; and
(3) Otherwise meets and assumes full responsibility for all provisions of this part, including refund of payments made to the previous owner, if applicable.
(c) A producer seeking payment must not be ineligible under the restrictions applicable to citizenship and foreign corporations contained in § 760.103(b) and must meet all other requirements of subpart B of this part.
(d) Federal, State, and local governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof are not eligible for payment under this subpart.
§ 760.505 Application.
(a) To apply for TAP, a producer that suffered eligible tree, bush, or vine losses that occurred:
(1) During calendar years 2008, 2009, or 2010, prior to May 7, 2010, must provide an application for payment and supporting documentation to FSA no later than July 6, 2010.
(2) On or after May 7, 2010, must provide an application for payment and supporting documentation to FSA within 90 calendar days of the disaster event or date when the loss of trees, bushes, or vines is apparent to the producer.
(b) The producer must submit the application for payment within the time specified in paragraph (a) of this section to the FSA administrative county office that maintains the producer’s farm records for the agricultural operation.
(c) A complete application includes all of the following:
(1) A completed application form provided by FSA;
(2) An acreage report for the farming operation as specified in part 718, subpart B, of this chapter;
(3) Subject to verification and a loss amount determined appropriate by the county committee, a written estimate of the number of trees, bushes, or vines lost or damaged that is certified by the producer or a qualified expert, including the number of acres on which the loss occurred; and
(4) Sufficient evidence of the loss to allow the county committee to calculate whether an eligible loss occurred.
(d) Before requests for payment will be approved, the county committee:
(1) Must make an eligibility determination based on a complete application for assistance;
(2) Must verify actual qualifying losses and the number of acres involved by on-site visual inspection of the land and the trees, bushes, or vines;
(3) May request additional information and may consider all relevant information in making its determination; and
(4) Must verify actual costs to complete the practices, as documented by the producer.
§ 760.506 Payment calculations.
(a) Payment to an eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower for the cost of replanting or rehabilitating trees, bushes, or vines damaged or lost due to a natural disaster, in excess of 15 percent damage or mortality (adjusted for normal damage or mortality), will be calculated as follows:
(1) For the cost of planting seedlings or cuttings, to replace lost trees, bushes, or vines, the lesser of:
(i) 70 percent of the actual cost of the practice, or
(ii) The amount calculated using rates established by the Deputy Administrator for the practice.
(2) For the cost of pruning, removal, and other costs incurred for salvaging damaged trees, bushes, or vines, or in the case of mortality, to prepare the land to replant trees, bushes, or vines, the lesser of:
(i) 50 percent of the actual cost of the practice, or
(ii) The amount calculated using rates established by the Deputy Administrator for the practice.
(b) An orchardist or nursery tree grower that did not plant the trees, bushes, or vines, but has a production history for commercial purposes on planted or existing trees and lost the trees, bushes, or vines as a result of a natural disaster, in excess of 15 percent damage or mortality (adjusted for normal damage or mortality), will be eligible for the salvage, pruning, and land preparation payment calculation as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. To be eligible for the replanting payment calculation as specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the orchardist or nursery grower who did not plant the stock must be a new owner who meets all of the requirements of § 760.504(b) or be considered the owner of the trees under provisions appearing elsewhere in this subpart.
(c) Eligible costs for payment calculation include costs for:
(1) Seedlings or cuttings, for tree, bush, or vine replanting;
(2) Site preparation and debris handling within normal horticultural practices for the type of stand being re-established, and necessary to ensure successful plant survival;
(3) Pruning, removal, and other costs incurred to salvage damaged trees, bushes, or vines, or, in the case of tree mortality, to prepare the land to replant trees, bushes, or vines;
(4) Chemicals and nutrients necessary for successful establishment;
(5) Labor to plant seedlings or cuttings as determined reasonable by the county committee; and
(6) Labor used to transplant existing seedlings established through natural regeneration into a productive tree stand.
(d) The following costs are not eligible:
(1) Costs for fencing, irrigation, irrigation equipment, protection of seedlings from wildlife, general improvements, re-establishing structures, and windscreens.
(2) Any other costs not listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(6) of this section, unless specifically determined eligible by the Deputy Administrator.
(e) Producers must provide the county committee documentation of actual costs to complete the practices, such as receipts for labor costs, equipment rental, and purchases of seedlings or cuttings.
(f) When lost stands are replanted, the types planted may be different from those originally planted. The alternative types will be eligible for payment if the new types have the same general end use, as determined and approved by the county committee. Payments for alternative types will be based on the lesser of rates established to plant the types actually lost or the cost to establish the alternative used. If the type of plantings, seedlings, or cuttings differs significantly from the types lost, the costs may not be approved for payment.
(g) When lost stands are replanted, the types planted may be planted on the same farm in a different location than the lost stand. To be eligible for payment, site preparation costs for the new location must not exceed the cost to re-establish the original stand in the original location.
(h) Eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers may elect not to replant the entire eligible stand. If so, the county committee will calculate payment based on the number of qualifying trees, bushes, or vines actually replanted.
(i) If a practice, such as site preparation, is needed to both replant and rehabilitate trees, bushes, or vines, the producer must document the expenses attributable to replanting versus rehabilitation. The county committee will determine whether the documentation of expenses detailing the amounts attributable to replanting versus rehabilitation is acceptable. In the event that the county committee determines the documentation does not include acceptable detail of cost allocation, the county committee will pro-rate payment based on physical inspection of the loss, damage, replanting, and rehabilitation.
(j) The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes, or vines for which a producer may receive payment under this part for losses that occurred between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2011, will not exceed 500 acres.
§ 760.507 Obligations of a participant.
(a) Eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers must execute all required documents and complete the TAP-funded practice within 12 months of application approval.
(b) Eligible orchardist or nursery tree growers must allow representatives of FSA to visit the site for the purposes of certifying compliance with TAP requirements.
(c) Producers who do not meet all applicable requirements and obligations will not be eligible for payment.
Subpart G—Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program
§ 760.601 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies the terms and conditions of the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).
(b) Assistance in the form of SURE payments is available for crop losses occurring in the crop year 2008 through September 30, 2011, caused by disaster as determined by the Secretary. Crop losses must have occurred in crop year 2008 or subsequent crop years due to an eligible disaster event that occurs on or before September 30, 2011.
(c) SURE provides disaster assistance to eligible participants on farms in:
(1) Disaster counties designated by the Secretary, which also includes counties contiguous to such declared disaster counties, if the participant incurred actual production losses of at least 10 percent to at least one crop of economic significance on the farm; and
(2) Any county, if the participant incurred eligible total crop losses of greater than or equal to 50 percent of the normal production on the farm, as measured by revenue, including a loss of at least 10 percent to at least one crop of economic significance on the farm.
(d) Subject to the provisions in subpart B of this part, SURE payments will be issued on 60 percent of the difference between the SURE guarantee and total farm revenue, calculated using the National Average Market Price as specified in this subpart.
§ 760.602 Definitions.
(a) The following definitions apply to all determinations made under this subpart.
(b) The terms defined in parts 718, 1400, and 1437 of this title and subpart B of this part will be applicable, except where those definitions conflict with the definitions set forth in this section In the event that a definition in any of those parts conflicts with the definitions set forth in this subpart, the definitions in this subpart apply. Any additional conflicts will be resolved by the Deputy Administrator.
Actual crop acreage means all acreage for each crop planted or intended to be planted on the farm.
Actual production history yield means the average of the actual production history yields for each insurable or noninsurable crop as calculated under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA) (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524) or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) as set forth in part 1437 of this title, respectively. FSA will use the actual production history yield data provided for crop insurance or NAP, if available, in the SURE payment calculation.
Actual production on the farm means, unless the Deputy Administrator determines that the context requires otherwise, the sum obtained by adding:
(1) For each insurable crop on the farm, excluding value loss crops, the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) 100 percent of the per unit price for the crop used to calculate a crop insurance indemnity for the applicable crop insurance if a crop insurance indemnity is triggered. If a price is not available, then the price is 100 percent of the NAP established price for the crop, times
(ii) The relevant per unit quantity of the crop produced on the farm, adjusted for quality losses, plus
(2) For each noninsurable crop on the farm, excluding value loss crops, the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) 100 percent of the per unit NAP established price for the crop, times
(ii) The relevant per unit quantity of the crop produced on the farm, adjusted for quality losses, plus
(3) For value loss crops, the value of inventory immediately after the disaster.
Adjusted actual production history yield means a yield that will not be less than the participant’s actual production history yield for a year and:
(1) In the case of an eligible participant on a farm that has at least 4 years of actual production history for an insurable crop that are established other than pursuant to section 508(g)(4)(B) of FCIA, the average of the production history for the eligible participant without regard to any yields established under that section;
(2) In the case of an eligible participant on a farm that has less than 4 years of actual production history for an insurable crop, of which one or more were established pursuant to section 508(g)(4)(B) of FCIA, the average of the production history for the eligible participant as calculated without including the lowest of the yields established pursuant to section 508(g)(4)(B) of FCIA; or
(3) In all other cases, the actual production history yield of the eligible participant on a farm.
Adjusted NAP yield means a yield that will not be less than the participant’s actual production history yield for NAP for a year and:
(1) In the case of an eligible participant on a farm that has at least 4 years of actual production history under NAP that are not replacement yields, the average of the production history without regard to any replacement yields;
(2) In the case of an eligible participant on a farm that has less than 4 years of actual production history under NAP that are not replacement yields, the average of the production history without including the lowest of replacement yields; or
(3) In all other cases, the actual production history yield of the eligible participant on the farm under NAP.
Administrative fee means a fixed fee payable by a participant for NAP or crop insurance coverage, including buy-in fees, based on the number of covered crops under NAP or insurance under FCIA.
Appraised production means production determined by FSA, or an insurance provider approved by FCIC, that was unharvested, but which was determined to reflect the crop’s yield potential at the time of appraisal. An appraisal may be provided in terms of a potential value of the crop.
Aquaculture means the reproduction and rearing of aquatic species as specified in part 1437 of this title in controlled or selected environments.
Brownout means a disruption of electrical or other similar power source for any reason. A brownout, although it may indirectly have an adverse effect on crops, is not a disaster for the purposes of this subpart and losses caused by a brownout will not be considered a qualifying loss.
Catastrophic risk protection (CAT) means the minimum level of coverage offered by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for crop insurance. CAT is further specified in parts 402 and 1437 of this title.
Counter-cyclical program payment yield means the weighted average payment yield established under part 1412, subpart C of this title.
County expected yield means an estimated yield, expressed in a specific unit of measure equal to the average of the most recent five years of official county yields established by FSA, excluding the years with the highest and lowest yields, respectively.
Crop insurance indemnity means, for the purpose of this subpart, the net payment to a participant excluding the value of the premium for crop losses covered under crop insurance administered in accordance with FCIA by RMA.
Crop of economic significance means any crop, as defined in this subpart that contributed, or, if the crop is not successfully produced, would have contributed or is expected to contribute, 5 percent or more of the total expected revenue from all of a participant’s crops on a farm.
Crop year means as determined by the Deputy Administrator for a commodity on a nationwide basis the calendar year in which the crop is normally harvested or, where more than one calendar year is involved, the calendar year in which the majority of the crop would have been harvested. For crops on which catastrophic risk protection, as defined in this section, is available, the crop year will be as defined as in such coverage. Crop year determinations by the Deputy Administrator will be final in all cases and, because these are matters of general applicability, will not considered by the Farm Service Agency to be subject to administrative appeal.
Determined acreage or determined production means the amount of acres or production for a farm established by a representative of FSA by use of appropriate means such as official acreage, digitizing and planimetering areas on the photograph or other photographic image, or computations from scaled dimensions or ground measurements. In the case of production, any production established by a representative of FSA through audit, review, measurement, appraisal, or other acceptable means of determining production, as determined by FSA.
Disaster means damaging weather, including drought, excessive moisture, hail, freeze, tornado, hurricane, typhoon, excessive wind, excessive heat, weather-related saltwater intrusion, weather-related irrigation water rationing, or any combination thereof and adverse natural occurrences such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Disaster includes a related condition that occurs as a result of the damaging weather or adverse natural occurrence and exacerbates the condition of the crop, such as disease and insect infestation. It does not include brownouts or power failures.
Disaster county means a county included in the geographic area covered by a qualifying natural disaster designation under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)) and for SURE, the term “disaster county” also includes a county contiguous to a county declared a disaster by the Secretary; however, farms not in a disaster county may qualify under SURE where for the relevant period, as determined under this subpart, the actual production on a farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm.
Double-cropping means, as determined by the Deputy Administrator on a regional basis, planting for harvest a crop of a different commodity on the same acres in cycle with another crop in a 12-month period in an area where such double-cropping is considered normal, or could be considered to be normal, for all growers and under normal growing conditions and normal agricultural practices for the region and being able to repeat the same cycle in the following 12-month period.
Farm means, for the purposes of determining SURE eligibility, the entirety of all crop acreage in all counties that a producer planted or intended to be planted for harvest for normal commercial sale or on-farm livestock feeding, including native and improved grassland intended for haying. In the case of aquaculture, except for species for which an Aquaculture Grant Program payment was received, the term “farm” includes all acreage used for all aquatic species being produced in all counties that the producer intended to harvest for normal commercial sale. In the case of honey, the term “farm” means all bees and beehives in all counties that the participant intended to be harvested for a honey crop for normal commercial sale.
FCIC means the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned Government Corporation operated and managed by USDA RMA.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency.
Harvested means:
(1) For insurable crops, harvested is as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy administered in accordance with FCIA by RMA;
(2) For NAP-covered single harvest crops, a mature crop that has been removed from the field, either by hand or mechanically;
(3) For noninsurable crops with potential multiple harvests in one year or one crop harvested over multiple years, that the participant has, by hand or mechanically, removed at least one mature crop from the field during the crop year; or
(4) For mechanically harvested noninsurable crops, that the mature crop has been removed from the field and placed in or on a truck or other conveyance, except hay is considered harvested when in the bale, whether removed from the field or not. Grazing of land will not be considered harvested for the purpose of determining an unharvested or prevented planting payment factor.
Initial crop means a first crop planted for which assistance is provided under this subpart.
Insurable crop means an agricultural commodity (excluding livestock) for which the participant on a farm is eligible to obtain a policy or plan of crop insurance administered in accordance with FCIA by RMA. Such a crop for which the participant purchased insurance from RMA is referred to as an insured crop.
Insurance is available means when crop information is contained in RMA’s county actuarial documents for a particular crop and a policy or plan of insurance administered in accordance with FCIA by RMA. If the Adjusted Gross Revenue Plan of crop insurance was the only plan of insurance available for the crop in the county in the applicable crop year, insurance is considered not available for that crop. If an AGR plan or a pilot plan was the only plan available, producers are not required to purchase it to meet the risk management purchase requirement, but it will satisfy the risk management purchase requirement. In that case, the other ways to meet the requirement would be, if all the requirements of this subpart are met, a buy-in or NAP.
Intended use means the original use for which a crop or a commodity is grown and produced.
Marketing year means the 12 months immediately following the established final harvest date of the crop of a commodity, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, and not an individual participant’s final harvest date. FSA will use the marketing year determined by NASS, when available.
Maximum average loss level means the maximum level of crop loss that will be used in calculating SURE payments for a participant without reliable or verifiable production records as defined in this section. Loss levels are expressed in either a percent of loss or a yield per acre, and reflect the amount of production that a participant should have produced considering the eligible disaster conditions in the area or county, as determined by the FSA county committee in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
Multi-use crop means a crop intended for more than one use during the calendar year such as grass harvested for seed, hay, or grazing.
Multiple planting means the planting for harvest of the same crop in more than one planting period in a crop year on the same or different acreage. This is also sometimes referred in this rule as multiple cropping.
NAMP means the national average market price determined in accordance with §§ 760.640 and 760.641.
NASS is the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Noninsurable crop means a commercially produced crop for which the eligible participants on a farm may obtain coverage under NAP.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or NAP means the FSA program carried out under 7 U.S.C. 7333, as specified in part 1437 of this title.
Normal production on the farm means, for purposes of the revenue calculations of this subpart, the sum of the expected revenue for all crops on the farm. It is stated in terms of revenue, because different crops may have different units of measure.
Planted acreage means land in which seed, plants, or trees have been placed, appropriate for the crop and planting method, at a correct depth, into a seed bed that has been properly prepared for the planting method and production practice normal to the area, as determined by the FSA county committee.
Prevented planting means the inability to plant an eligible crop with proper equipment during the planting period as a result of a disaster, as determined by FSA. All prevented planted cropland must meet conditions provided in § 718.103 of this chapter. Additionally, all insured crops must satisfy the provisions of prevented planting provided in § 457.8 of this title.
Price election means, for an insured crop, the crop insurance price elected by the participant multiplied by the percentage of price elected by the participant.
Production means quantity of a crop or commodity produced on the farm expressed in a specific unit of measure including, but not limited to, bushels or pounds and used to determine the normal production on a farm. Normal production for the whole farm is stated in terms of revenue, because different crops may have different units of measure.
Qualifying loss means a 10 percent loss of at least one crop of economic significance due to disaster and on a farm that is either:
(1) Located in a disaster county (a county for which a Secretarial disaster designation has been issued or in a county contiguous to a county that has received a Secretarial disaster designation), or
(2) If not located in any disaster county or county contiguous to such a county, but has an overall loss greater than or equal to 50 percent of normal production on the farm (expected revenue for all crops on the farm) due to disaster.
Qualifying natural disaster designation means a natural disaster designated by the Secretary for production losses under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)).
Related condition means, with respect to a disaster, a condition that causes deterioration of a crop such as insect infestation, plant disease, or aflatoxin that is accelerated or exacerbated as a result of damaging weather, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Reliable production records means evidence provided by the participant to the FSA county office that FSA determines is adequate to substantiate the amount of production reported when verifiable records are not available, including copies of receipts, ledgers of income, income statements, deposit slips, register tapes, invoices for custom harvesting, records to verify production costs, contemporaneous measurements, truck scale tickets, and contemporaneous diaries. When the term “acceptable production records” is used in this rule, it may be either reliable or verifiable production records, as defined in this section.
Reported acreage or production means information obtained from the participant or the participant’s agent, on a form prescribed by FSA or through insurance records.
RMA means the Risk Management Agency.
Salvage value means the dollar amount or equivalent for the quantity of the commodity that cannot be marketed or sold in any recognized market for the crop.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
State means a State; the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Subsequent crop means any crop planted after an initial crop, on the same land, during the same crop year.
SURE means the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.
Unit of measure means:
(1) For all insurable crops, the FCIC established unit of measure;
(2) For all noninsurable crops, if available, the established unit of measure used for the NAP price and yield;
(3) For aquatic species, a standard unit of measure such as gallons, pounds, inches or pieces, established by the FSA State committee for all aquatic species or varieties;
(4) For turfgrass sod, a square yard;
(5) For maple sap, a gallon; and
(6) For all other crops, the smallest unit of measure that lends itself to the greatest level of accuracy, as determined by the FSA State committee.
USDA means United States Department of Agriculture.
Value loss crop has the meaning specified in part 1437, subpart D of this title. Unless otherwise announced by FSA, value loss crops for SURE include aquaculture, floriculture, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, mushrooms, ginseng, and turfgrass sod.
Verifiable production records mean evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported and that can be verified by FSA through an independent source.
Volunteer stand means plants that grow from seed residue or are indigenous or are not planted. Volunteer plants may sprout from seeds left behind during a harvest of a previous crop; be unintentionally introduced to land by wind, birds, or fish; or be inadvertently mixed into a crop’s growing medium.
§ 760.610 Participant eligibility.
(a) In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of § 760.103, a participant must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) All insurable crops on the participant’s farm must be covered by crop insurance administered by RMA in accordance with FCIA, and all noninsured crops must be covered under NAP, as specified in § 760.104, unless the participant meets the requirements in either § 760.105 or § 760.107. At the discretion of FSA, the equitable relief provisions in § 760.106 may apply.
(2) Crop losses must have occurred in crop year 2008 or subsequent crop years due to an eligible disaster event that occurred on or before September 30, 2011.
(i) For insured crops, the coverage period, as defined in the insurance policy, must have begun on or before September 30, 2011;
(ii) For NAP crops, the coverage period must have begun on or before September 30, 2011; and
(iii) The final planting date for that crop according to the Federal crop insurance or NAP policy must have been on or before September 30, 2011.
(3) A qualifying loss as defined in § 760.602 must have occurred.
(4) The participant must have been in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions of part 12 of this title, for 2008 and subsequent crop years through September 30, 2011, as applicable, and must not otherwise be barred from receiving benefits or payments under part 12 of this title or any other law.
(5) The participant must not be ineligible or otherwise barred from the requisite risk management insurance programs or NAP because of past violations where those insurance programs or NAP would otherwise be available absent such violations.
(6) The participant must have an entitlement to an ownership share of the crop and also assume production and market risks associated with the production of the crop. In the event the crop was planted but not produced, participants must have an ownership share of the crop that would have been produced.
(i) Any verbal or written contract that precludes the grower from having an ownership share renders the grower ineligible for payments under this subpart.
(ii) Growers growing eligible crops under contract are not eligible participants under this subpart unless the grower has an ownership share of the crop.
(b) In the event that a producer is determined not to be an eligible producer of a crop in accordance with this section, such crop will be disregarded in determining the producer’s production or eligibility for payments under this subpart. However, any insurance, farm program, or NAP payments received by the producer on such crop will count as farm revenue if that producer is an eligible participant as a producer of other crops.
(c) Participants may not receive payments with respect to volunteer stands of crops. Volunteer stands will not be considered in either the calculation of revenue or of the SURE guarantee.
(d) A deceased applicant or an applicant that is a dissolved entity that suffered losses prior to the death or the dissolution that met all eligibility criteria prior to death or dissolution may be eligible for payments for such losses if an authorized representative signs the application for payment. Proof of authority to sign for the deceased participant or dissolved entity must be provided. If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment. Eligibility of such participant will be determined, as it is for other participants, based upon ownership share and risk in producing the crop.
(e) Participants receiving payments under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) as specified in subpart C of this part are not eligible to receive payments under SURE for the same loss.
(f) Participants with a farming interest in multiple counties who apply for SURE payment based on a Secretarial disaster designation must have a 10 percent loss of a crop of economic significance located in at least one disaster county, as defined in this subpart, to be eligible for SURE.
§ 760.611 Qualifying losses, eligible causes and types of loss.
(a) Eligible causes of loss are disasters which cause types of losses where the crop could not be planted or where crop production was adversely affected in quantity, quality, or both. A qualifying loss, as defined in this subpart, must be the result of a disaster.
(b) A loss will not be considered a qualifying loss if any of the following apply:
(1) The cause of the loss was not the result of disaster;
(2) The cause of loss was due to poor management decisions or poor farming practices, as determined by the FSA county committee on a case-by-case basis;
(3) The cause of loss was due to failure of the participant to re-seed or replant to the same crop in a county where it is customary to re-seed or replant after a loss before the final planting date;
(4) The cause of loss was due to water contained or released by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project if an easement exists on the acreage affected by the containment or release of the water;
(5) The cause of loss was due to conditions or events occurring outside of the applicable crop year growing season; or
(6) The cause of loss was due to a brownout.
(c) The following types of loss, regardless of whether they were the result of a disaster, are not qualifying losses:
(1) Losses to crops not intended for harvest in the applicable crop year;
(2) Losses of by-products resulting from processing or harvesting a crop, such as, but not limited to, cotton seed, peanut shells, wheat or oat straw, or corn stalks or stovers;
(3) Losses to home gardens; or to a crop subject to a de minimis election according to § 760.613;
(4) Losses of crops that were grazed or, if prevented from being planted, had the intended use of grazing; or
(5) Losses of first year seeding for forage production, or immature fruit crops.
(d) The following losses of ornamental nursery stock are not a qualifying loss:
(1) Losses caused by a failure of power supply or brownout as defined in § 760.602;
(2) Losses caused by the inability to market nursery stock as a result of quarantine, boycott, or refusal of a buyer to accept production;
(3) Losses caused by fires that are not the result of disaster;
(4) Losses affecting crops where weeds and other forms of undergrowth in the vicinity of nursery stock have not been controlled; or
(5) Losses caused by the collapse or failure of buildings or structures.
(e) The following losses for honey, where the honey production by colonies or bees was diminished, are not a qualifying loss:
(1) Losses caused by the unavailability of equipment or the collapse or failure of equipment or apparatus used in the honey operation;
(2) Losses caused by improper storage of honey;
(3) Losses caused by bee feeding;
(4) Losses caused by the application of chemicals;
(5) Losses caused by theft or fire not caused by a natural condition including, but not limited to, arson or vandalism;
(6) Losses caused by the movement of bees by the participant or any other legal entity or person;
(7) Losses caused by disease or pest infestation of the colonies, unless approved by the Secretary;
(8) Losses of income from pollinators; or
(9) Losses of equipment or facilities.
§ 760.613 De minimis exception.
(a) Participants seeking the de minimis exception to the risk management purchase requirements of this subpart, must certify:
(1) That a specific crop on the farm is not a crop of economic significance on the farm; or
(2) That the administrative fee required for the purchase of NAP coverage for a crop exceeds 10 percent of the value of that coverage.
(b) To be eligible for a de minimis exception to the risk management purchase requirement in § 760.104, the participant must elect such exception at the same time the participant files the application for payment and the certification of interests, as specified in § 760.620, and specify the crop or crops for which the participant is requesting such exception.
(c) FSA will not consider the value of any crop elected under paragraph (b) of this section in calculating both the SURE guarantee and the total farm revenue.
(d) All provisions of this subpart apply in the event a participant does not obtain an exception according to this section.
§ 760.614 Lack of access.
In addition to other provisions for eligibility provided for in this part, the Deputy Administrator may provide assistance to participants who suffered 2008 production losses that meet the lack of access provisions in 19 U.S.C. 2497(g)(7)(F), where deemed appropriate, and consistent with the statutory provision. Such a determination to exercise that authority, and the terms on which to exercise that authority, will be considered to be a determination of general effect, not a “relief” determination, and will not be considered by the Farm Service Agency to be appealable administratively either within FSA or before the National Appeals Division.
§ 760.620 Time and method of application and certification of interests.
(a) Each producer interested in obtaining a SURE payment must file an application for payment and provide an accurate certification of interests. The application will be on a form prescribed by FSA and will require information or certifications from the producer regarding any other assistance, payment, or grant benefit the producer has received for any of the producer’s crops or interests on a farm as defined in this subpart; regardless of whether the crop or interest is covered in the farm’s SURE guarantee according to § 760.631. The producer’s certification of interests will help FSA establish whether the producer is an eligible participant.
(b) Eligible participants with a qualifying loss as defined in this subpart must submit an application for payment and certification of interests by March 1 of the calendar year that is two years after the relevant corresponding calendar year for the crop year which benefits are sought to be eligible for payment (for example, the final date to submit an application for a SURE payment for the 2009 crop year will be March 1, 2011). Producers who do not submit the application by that date will not be eligible for payment.
(c) To the extent available and practicable, FSA will assist participants with information regarding their interests in a farm, as of the date of certification, based on information already available to FSA from various sources. However, the participant is solely responsible for providing an accurate certification from which FSA can determine the participant’s farm interests for the purposes of this program. As determined appropriate by FSA, failure of a participant to provide an accurate certification of interests as part of the application may render the participant ineligible for any assistance under SURE.
(d) To elect a de minimis exception to the risk management purchase requirement for a crop or crops, the participant must meet the requirements specified in § 760.613. When electing a de minimis exception, the participant must specify the crops for which the exception is requested and provide the certification and supporting documentation for that exception at the time the application and certification of interests is filed with FSA.
§ 760.621 Requirement to report acreage and production.
(a) As a condition of eligibility for payment under this subpart, participants must submit an accurate and timely report of all cropland, non-cropland, prevented planting, and subsequent crop acreage and production for the farm in all counties.
(b) Acreage and production reports that have been submitted to FSA for NAP or to RMA for crop insurance purposes may satisfy the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section provided that the participant’s certification of interests submitted as required by § 760.620 corresponds to the report requirements in paragraph (a) of this section, as determined by the FSA county committee.
(c) Reports of production submitted for NAP or FCIA purposes must satisfy the requirements of NAP or FCIA, as applicable. In all other cases, in order for production reports or appraisals to be considered acceptable for SURE, production reports and appraisals must meet the requirements set forth in part 1437 of this title.
(d) In any case where production reports or an appraisal is not acceptable, maximum loss provisions apply as specified in § 760.637.
§ 760.622 Incorrect or false producer production evidence.
(a) If production evidence, including but not limited to acreage and production reports, provided by a participant is false or incorrect, as determined by the FSA county committee at any time after an application for payment is made, the FSA county committee will determine whether:
(1) The participant submitting the production evidence acted in good faith or took action to defeat the purposes of the program, such that the information provided was intentionally false or incorrect.
(2) The same false, incorrect, or unacceptable production evidence was submitted for payment(s) under crop insurance or NAP, and if so, for NAP covered crops, make any NAP program adjustments according to § 1437.15 of this title.
(b) If the FSA county committee determines that the production evidence submitted is false, incorrect, or unacceptable, and the participant who submitted the evidence did not act in good faith or took action to defeat the purposes of the program, the provisions of § 760.109, including a denial of future program benefits, will apply. The Deputy Administrator may take further action, including, but not limited to, making further payment reductions or requiring refunds or taking other legal action.
(c) If the FSA county committee determines that the production evidence is false, incorrect, or unacceptable, but the participant who submitted the evidence acted in good faith, payment may be adjusted and a refund may be required.
§ 760.631 SURE guarantee calculation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, the SURE guarantee for a farm is the sum obtained by adding the dollar amounts calculated in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this section.
(1) For each insurable crop on the farm except for value loss crops, 115 percent of the product obtained by multiplying together:
(i) The price election. If a price election was not made or a participant is eligible as specified in §§ 760.105, 760.106, or 760.107, then the percentage of price will be 55 percent of the NAP established price;
(ii) The payment acres determined according to § 760.632;
(iii) The SURE yield as calculated according to § 760.638; and
(iv) The coverage level elected by the participant. If a coverage level was not elected or a participant is eligible as specified in § 760.105, § 760.106, or § 760.107, a coverage level of 50 percent will be used in the calculation.
(2) For each noninsurable crop on a farm except for value loss crops, 120 percent of the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) 100 percent of the NAP established price for the crop;
(ii) The payment acres determined according to § 760.632;
(iii) The SURE yield calculated according to § 760.638; and
(iv) 50 percent.
(3) The guarantee for value loss crops as calculated according to § 760.634.
(4) In the case of an insurable crop for which crop insurance provides for an adjustment in the guarantee liability, or indemnity, such as in the case of prevented planting, that adjustment will be used in determining the guarantee for the insurable crop.
(5) In the case of a noninsurable crop for which NAP provides for an adjustment in the level of assistance, such as in the case of unharvested crops, that adjustment will be used for determining the guarantee for the noninsurable crop.
(b) Those participants who are eligible according to § 760.105, § 760.106, or § 760.107 who do not have crop insurance or NAP coverage will have their SURE guarantee calculated based on catastrophic risk protection or NAP coverage available for those crops.
(c) FSA will not include in the SURE guarantee the value of any crop that has a de minimis exception, according to § 760.613.
(d) For crops where coverage may exist under both crop insurance and NAP, such as for pasture, rangeland, and forage, adjustments to the guarantee will be the product obtained by multiplying the county expected yield for that crop times:
(1) 115 percent;
(2) 100 percent of the NAP established price;
(3) The payment acres determined according to § 760.632;
(4) The SURE yield calculated according to § 760.638; and
(5) The coverage level elected by the participant.
(e) Participants who do not have a SURE yield as specified in § 760.638 will have a yield determined for them by the Deputy Administrator.
(f) The SURE guarantee may not be greater than 90 percent of the sum of the expected revenue for each of the crops on a farm, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
§ 760.632 Payment acres.
(a) Payment acres as calculated in this section are used in determining both total farm revenue and the SURE guarantee for a farm. Payment acreage will be calculated using the lesser of the reported or determined acres shown to have been planted or prevented from being planted to a crop.
(b) Initial crop acreage will be the payment acreage for SURE, unless the provisions for subsequent crops in this section are met. Subsequently planted or prevented planted acre acreage is considered acreage for SURE only if the provisions of this section are met. All plantings of an annual or biennial crop are considered the same as a planting of an initial crop in tropical regions as defined in part 1437, subpart F, of this title.
(c) In cases where there is double cropped acreage, each crop may be included in the acreage for SURE only if the specific crops are either insured crops eligible for double cropping according to RMA or approved by the FSA State committee as eligible double cropping practices in accordance with procedures approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(d) Except for insured crops, participants with double cropped acreage not meeting the criteria in paragraph (c) of this section may have such acreage included in the acreage for SURE on more than one crop only if the participant submits verifiable records establishing a history of carrying out a successful double cropping practice on the specific crops for which payment is requested.
(e) Participants having multiple plantings may have each planting included in the SURE guarantee only if the planting meets the requirements of part 1437 of this title and all other provisions of this subpart are satisfied.
(f) Provisions of part 718 of this title specifying what is considered prevented planting and how it must be documented and reported will apply to this payment acreage for SURE.
(g) Subject to the provisions of this subpart, the FSA county committee will:
(1) Use the most accurate data available when determining planted and prevented planted acres; and
(2) Disregard acreage of a crop produced on land that is not eligible for crop insurance or NAP.
(h) For any crop acreage for which crop insurance or NAP coverage is canceled, those acres will no longer be considered the initial crop and will, therefore, no longer be eligible for SURE.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these or other applicable regulations that relate to tolerance in part 718 of this title, if a farm has a crop that has both FSA and RMA acreage for insured crops, payment acres for the SURE guarantee calculation will be based on acres for which an indemnity was received if RMA acres do not differ from FSA acres by more than the larger of 5 percent or 10 acres not to exceed 50 acres. If the difference between FSA and RMA acres is more than the larger of 5 percent or 10 acres not to exceed 50 acres, then the payment acres for the SURE guarantee will be calculated using RMA acres. In that case, the participant will be notified of the discrepancy and that refunds of unearned payments may be required after FSA and RMA reconcile acreage data.
§ 760.633 2008 SURE guarantee calculation.
(a) For a participant who is eligible due to the 2008 buy-in waiver for risk management purchase under the provisions of § 760.105(c), the SURE guarantee for their farm for the 2008 crop will be calculated according to § 760.631, or according to § 760.634 for value loss crops, with the exception that the:
(1) Price election in § 760.631(a)(1)(i) is 100 percent of the NAP established price for the crop;
(2) Coverage level in § 760.631(a)(1)(iv) is 70 percent; and
(3) The percent specified in § 760.631(a)(2)(iv) is 70 percent instead of 50 percent; and
(4) Coverage level used in § 760.634(a)(1)(ii) is 70 percent; and
(5) The percent specified in § 760.634(a)(2)(ii) is 70 percent instead of 50 percent.
(b) For those 2008 crops that meet the requirements of §§ 760.104, 760.105(a), 760.106, or 760.107, the SURE guarantee will be the higher of:
(1) The guarantee calculated according to § 760.631, or according to § 760.634 for value loss crops, with the exception that the percent specified in §§ 760.631(a)(1) and 760.634(a)(1) will be 120 percent instead of 115 percent;
(2) The guarantee calculated according to § 760.631, or according to § 760.634 for value loss crops, will be used with the exception that the:
(i) Price election in § 760.631(a)(1)(i) is 100 percent of the NAP established price for the crop; and
(ii) Coverage level in §§ 760.631(a)(1)(iv) and 760.634(a)(1)(ii) will be 70 percent; and
(iii) The percent specified in §§ 760.631(a)(2)(iv) and 760.634(a)(2)(ii) will be 70 percent instead of 50 percent.
§ 760.634 SURE guarantee for value loss crops.
(a) The SURE guarantee for value loss crops will be the sum of the amounts calculated in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, except as otherwise specified.
(1) For each insurable crop on the farm, 115 percent of the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) The value of inventory immediately prior to disaster, and
(ii) The coverage level elected by the participant. If a coverage level was not elected or a participant is eligible as specified in §§ 760.106 or 760.107, a coverage level of 27.5 percent will be used in the calculation.
(2) For each noninsurable crop on the farm, 120 percent of the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) The value of inventory immediately prior to a disaster, and
(ii) 50 percent.
(b) Aquaculture participants who received assistance under the Aquaculture Grant Program (Pub. L. 111-5) will not be eligible for SURE assistance on those species for which a grant benefit was received under the Aquaculture Grant Program for feed losses associated with that species.
(c) In the case of an insurable value loss crop for which crop insurance provides for an adjustment in the guarantee, liability, or indemnity, such as in the case of inventory exceeding peak inventory value, the adjustment will be used in determining the SURE guarantee for the insurable crop.
(d) In the case of a noninsurable value loss crop for which NAP provides for an adjustment in the level of assistance, such as in the case of unharvested field grown inventory, the adjustment will be used in determining the SURE guarantee for the noninsurable crop.
§ 760.635 Total farm revenue.
(a) For the purpose of SURE payment calculation, total farm revenue will equal the sum obtained by adding the amounts calculated in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(12) of this section.
(1) The estimated actual value for each crop produced on a farm, except for value loss crops, which equals the product obtained by multiplying:
(i) The actual production of the payment acres for each crop on a farm for purposes of determining losses under FCIA or NAP; and
(ii) NAMP, as calculated for the marketing year as specified in § 760.640 and as adjusted if required as specified in § 760.641.
(2) The estimated actual value for each value loss crop produced on a farm that equals the value of inventory immediately after disaster.
(3) 15 percent of the amount of any direct payments made to the participant under part 1412 of this title.
(4) The total amount of any counter-cyclical and average crop revenue election payments made to the participant under part 1412 of this title.
(5) The total amount of any loan deficiency payments, marketing loan gains, and marketing certificate gains made to the participant under parts 1421 and 1434 of this title.
(6) The amount of payments for prevented planting.
(7) The amount of crop insurance indemnities.
(8) The amount of NAP payments received.
(9) The value of any guaranteed payments made to a participant in lieu of production pursuant to an agreement or contract, if the crop is included in the SURE guarantee.
(10) Salvage value for any crops salvaged.
(11) The value of any other disaster assistance payments provided by the Federal Government for the same loss for which the eligible participant applied for SURE.
(12) For crops for which the eligible participant received a waiver under the provisions of § 760.105(c) or obtained relief according to § 760.106, the value determined by FSA based on what the participant would have received, irrespective of any other provision, if NAP or crop insurance coverage had been obtained.
(b) Sale of plant parts or by-products, such as straw, will not be counted as farm revenue.
(c) For value loss crops:
(1) Other inventory on hand or marketed at some time other than immediately prior to and immediately after the disaster event are irrelevant for revenue purposes and will not be counted as revenue for SURE.
(2) Revenue will not be adjusted for market loss.
(3) Quality losses will not be considered in determining revenue.
(4) In no case will market price declines in value loss crops, due to any cause, be considered in the calculation of payments for those crops.
§ 760.636 Expected revenue.
The expected revenue for each crop on a farm is:
(a) For each insurable crop, except value loss crops, the product obtained by multiplying:
(1) The SURE yield as specified in § 760.638;
(2) The payment acres as specified in § 760.632; and
(3) 100 percent of the price for the crop used to calculate a crop insurance indemnity for an applicable policy of insurance if a crop insurance indemnity is triggered. If a price is not available, then the price is 100 percent of the NAP established price for the crop, and
(b) For each noninsurable crop, except value loss crops, the product obtained by multiplying
(1) The SURE yield as specified in § 760.638;
(2) The payment acres as specified in § 760.632; and
(3) 100 percent of the NAP price.
(c) For each value loss crop, the value of inventory immediately prior to the disaster.
§ 760.637 Determination of production.
(a) Except for value loss crops, production for the purposes of this part includes all harvested, appraised, and assigned production for the payment acres determined according to § 760.632.
(b) The FSA county committee will use the best available data to determine production, including RMA and NAP loss records and yields for insured and noninsured crops.
(c) The production of any eligible crop harvested more than once in a crop year will include the total harvested production from all harvests.
(d) Crop production losses occurring in tropical regions, as defined in part 1437, subpart F of this chapter, will be based on a crop year beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of the same calendar year. All crop harvests in tropical regions that take place between those dates will be considered a single crop.
(e) Any record of an appraisal of crop production conducted by RMA or FSA through a certified loss adjustor will be used if available. Unharvested appraised production will be included in the calculation of revenue under SURE. If the unharvested appraised crop is subsequently harvested for the original intended use, the larger of the actual or appraised production will be used to determine payment.
(1) If no appraisal is available, the participant is required to submit verifiable or reliable production evidence.
(2) If the participant does not have verifiable or reliable production evidence, the FSA county committee will use the higher of the participant’s crop certification or the maximum average loss level to determine the participant’s crop production losses.
(f) Production will be adjusted based on a whole grain equivalent, as established by FSA, for all crops with an intended use of grain, but harvested as silage, cobbage, or hay, cracked, rolled, or crimped.
(g) For crops sold in a market that is not a recognized market for that crop and has no established county expected yield and NAMP, the quantity of such crops will not be considered production; rather, 100 percent of the salvage value will be included in the revenue calculation.
(h) Production from different counties that is commingled on the farm before it was a matter of record and cannot be separated by using records or other means acceptable to FSA will have the NAMP prorated to each respective county by FSA. Commingled production may be attributed to the applicable county, if the participant made the location of production of a crop a matter of record before commingling, if the participant does either of the following:
(1) Provides copies of verifiable documents showing that production of the crop was purchased, acquired, or otherwise obtained from the farm in that county; or
(2) Had the farm’s production in that county measured in a manner acceptable to the FSA county committee.
(i) The FSA county committee will assign production for the purpose of NAMP for the farm if the FSA county committee determines that the participant failed to provide verifiable or reliable production records.
(j) If RMA loss records are not available, or if the FSA county committee determines that the RMA loss records as reported by the insured participant appear to be questionable or incomplete, or if the FSA county committee makes inquiry, then participants are responsible for:
(1) Retaining and providing, when required, the best available verifiable and reliable production records available for the crops;
(2) Summarizing all the production evidence;
(3) Accounting for the total amount of production for the crop on a farm, whether or not records reflect this production;
(4) Providing the information in a manner that can be easily understood by the FSA county committee; and
(5) Providing supporting documentation if the FSA county committee has reason to question the disaster event or that all production has been taken into account.
(k) The participant must supply verifiable or reliable production records to substantiate production to the FSA county committee. If the eligible crop was sold or otherwise disposed of through commercial channels, acceptable production records include: Commercial receipts; settlement sheets; warehouse ledger sheets or load summaries; or appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA. If the eligible crop was farm-stored, sold, fed to livestock, or disposed of by means other than commercial channels, acceptable production records for these purposes include: Truck scale tickets; appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA; contemporaneous reliable diaries; or other documentary evidence, such as contemporaneous reliable measurements. Determinations of reliability with respect to this paragraph will take into account, as appropriate, the ability of the agency to verify the evidence as well as the similarity of the evidence to reports or data received by FSA for the crop or similar crops. Other factors deemed relevant may also be taken into account.
(l) If no verifiable or reliable production records are available, the FSA county committee will use the higher of the participant’s certification or the maximum average loss level to determine production.
(m) Participants must provide all records for any production of a crop that is grown with an arrangement, agreement, or contract for guaranteed payment.
(n) FSA may verify the production evidence submitted with records on file at the warehouse, gin, or other entity that received or may have received the reported production.
§ 760.638 Determination of SURE yield.
(a) Except for value loss crops as specified in § 760.634, a SURE yield will be determined for each crop, type, and intended use on a farm, using the higher of the participant’s weighted:
(1) Adjusted actual production history yield as determined in paragraph (b) of this section; or
(2) Counter-cyclical yield as determined in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) The adjusted actual production history yield, as defined in § 760.602, will be weighted by the applicable crop year total planted and prevented planted acres, by crop, type, and intended use for each county. RMA data will be used for calculating the SURE yield for insured crops.
(c) The counter-cyclical yield for a crop on a SURE farm will be weighted in such manner as FSA deems fit taking into account a desire for a consistent system and FSA’s ability to make timely yield determinations.
(d) Participants who do not purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage, but who are otherwise eligible for payment, will have a SURE yield determined by the FSA county committee as follows:
(1) A weighted yield, based on planted and prevented planted acres, the location county, crop type, and intended use, will be determined at 65 percent of the county expected yield for each crop.
(2) The SURE yield will be the higher of the yield calculated using the method in paragraph (d)(1) of this section or 65 percent of the weighted counter-cyclical yield as determined in paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) For those participants with crop insurance but without an adjusted actual production history yield, a SURE yield will be determined by the applicable FSA county committee. This paragraph will apply in the case where the insurance policy does not require an actual production history yield, or where a participant has no production history.
§ 760.640 National average market price.
(a) The Deputy Administrator will establish the National Average Market Price (NAMP) using the best sources available, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, which may include, but are not limited to, data from NASS, Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, crop insurance, and NAP.
(b) NAMP may be adjusted by the FSA State committee, in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator and as specified in § 760.641, to recognize average quality loss factors that are reflected in the market by county or part of a county.
(c) With respect to a crop for which an eligible participant on a farm receives assistance under NAP, the NAMP will not exceed the price of the crop established under NAP.
(d) To the extent practicable, the NAMP will be established on a harvested basis without the inclusion of transportation, storage, processing, marketing, or other post-harvest expenses, as determined by FSA.
(e) NAMP may be adjusted by the FSA State committee, as authorized by The Deputy Administrator, to reflect regional variations in price consistent with those prices established under the FCIA or NAP.
§ 760.641 Adjustments made to NAMP to reflect loss of quality.
(a) The Deputy Administrator will authorize FSA county committees, with FSA State committee concurrence, to adjust NAMP for a county or part of a county:
(1) To reflect the average quality discounts applied to the local or regional market price of a crop due to a reduction in the intrinsic characteristics of the production resulting from adverse weather, as determined annually by the State office of the FSA; or
(2) To account for a crop for which the value is reduced due to excess moisture resulting from a disaster related condition.
(3) For adjustments specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, an adjustment factor that represents the regional or local price received for the crop in the county will be calculated by the FSA State committee. The adjustment factor will be based on the average actual market price compared to NAMP.
(b) For adjustments made under paragraph (a) of this section, participants must provide verifiable evidence of actual or appraised production, clearly indicating an average loss of value caused by poor quality or excessive moisture that meets or exceeds the quality adjustment for the county or part of a county established in paragraph (a)(3) of this section to be eligible to receive the quality-adjusted NAMP as part of their SURE payment calculation. In order to be considered at all for the purpose of quality adjustments, the verifiable evidence of production must itself detail the extent of the quality loss for a specific quantity. With regard to test evidence, in addition to meeting all the requirements of this section, tests must have been completed by January 1 of the year following harvest.
§ 760.650 Calculating SURE.
(a) Subject to the provision of this subpart, SURE payments for crop losses in crop year 2008 and subsequent crop years will be calculated as the amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between:
(1) The SURE guarantee, as specified in § 760.631, § 760.633 or § 760.634 of this subpart, and
(2) The total farm revenue, as specified in § 760.635.
(b) In addition to the other provisions of this subpart and subpart B of this part, SURE payments may be adjusted downward as necessary to insure compliance with the payment limitations in subpart B and to insure that payments do not exceed the maximum amount specified in § 760.108(a)(1) or (b)(1) or otherwise exceed the perceived intent of 19 U.S.C. 2497(j). Such adjustments can include, but are not limited to, adjustments to insure that there is no duplication of benefits as specified in § 760.108(c).
Subpart H—Crop Assistance Program
§ 760.701 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies the eligibility requirements and payment calculations for the Crop Assistance Program (CAP), which will be administered using funds authorized by Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c, as amended).
(b) CAP, within the limits of the funds made available by the Secretary for this program, is intended to help reestablish purchasing power to producers of long grain rice, medium or short grain rice, upland cotton, soybeans, and sweet potatoes who suffered a five percent or greater loss in the 2009 crop year due to disaster.
(c) Only producers who have a share in a farm located in a disaster county (a county that is the primary county that is the subject of a Secretarial disaster designation for 2009 crop year due to excessive moisture and related conditions, as determined by FSA) are eligible for CAP benefits.
§ 760.702 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to CAP. The definitions in parts 718, 760, and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Acceptable production records means verifiable or reliable production records deemed acceptable by FSA.
Application means the CAP application form.
Application period means the 45-day period established by the Deputy Administrator for producers on farms in disaster counties to apply for CAP that ends December 9, 2010.
Approved yield means the amount of production per acre, computed in accordance with FCIC’s Actual Production History (APH) Program at part 400, subpart G of this title or, for crops not included under part 400, subpart G of this title, the yield used to determine the guarantee. For crops covered under NAP, the approved yield is established according to part 1437 of this title.
Considered planted means acreage approved as prevented planted or failed in accordance with § 718.103 of this chapter.
Crop means the reported or determined 2009 crop year planted and considered planted acres of long grain rice, medium or short grain rice, upland cotton, soybean, or sweet potatoes as reflected on 2009 crop year form FSA-578, Report of Acreage, for a producer in a disaster county as of October 22, 2010. Subsequent crops, replacement crops, reseeded crops, and replanted crops are not eligible crops under this part and no revision of the Report of Acreage that would increase an eligibility for payment will be permitted to produce that effect.
Crop year means for 2009:
(1) For insurable crops, the crop year as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP covered crops, the crop year as provided in part 1437 of this title.
Disaster means excessive moisture or related condition, resulting from any of the following: flood, flash flooding, excessive rain, moisture, humidity, severe storms, thunderstorms, ground saturation or standing water, hail, winter storms, ice storms, snow, blizzard, hurricane, typhoons, tropical storms, and cold wet weather. A disaster does not include brownouts or power failures.
Disaster county means a county included in the geographic area covered by a qualifying natural disaster designation under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)). For CAP, the term “disaster county” is limited to those primary counties declared a disaster by the Secretary for excessive moisture or a related condition, which are limited to designations based on any of the following: flood, flash flooding, excessive rain, moisture, humidity, severe storms, thunderstorms, ground saturation or standing water, hail, winter storms, ice storms, snow, blizzard, hurricane, typhoons, tropical storms, and cold wet weather.
Expected production means, for a producer on a farm who attempts to determine what the producer might produce for an eligible crop on a farm, the historic yield multiplied by the producer’s share of planted and considered planted acres of the crop for the farm. Expected production may be used to assist producers in determining whether the producer has a crop or crops that suffered a qualifying loss of five percent and to determine whether that crop is eligible for CAP benefits.
Historic yield means, for a producer on a farm, the higher of the county average yield or the producer’s approved yields for eligible crops on the farm.
(1) An insured producer’s yield will be the higher of the county average yield listed or the approved federal crop insurance APH, for the disaster year.
(2) A NAP producer’s yield will be the higher of the county average yield or NAP approved yield for the disaster year.
Replacement crop means the planting or approved prevented planting of any crop for harvest following the failed planting or prevented planting of a crop of long grain rice, medium or short grain rice, upland cotton, soybeans, or sweet potatoes not in a recognized double-cropping sequence. Replacement crops are not eligible for CAP.
Reseeded or replanted crop means the second planting of a crop of long grain rice, medium or short grain rice, upland cotton, soybeans, or sweet potatoes on the same acreage after the first planting of that same crop that failed.
§ 760.703 Producer eligibility requirements.
(a) A producer must meet all of the requirements in this subpart to be eligible for a CAP payment.
(b) To be eligible, a producer must be an individual or entity who is entitled to an ownership share of an eligible crop and who has the production and market risks associated with the agricultural production of the crop on a farm. An eligible producer must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means “lawful alien” as defined in 7 CFR part 1400;
(3) Partnership of citizens of the United States; or
(4) Corporation, limited liability corporation, or other farm organizational structure organized under State law.
(c) To be eligible, a producer must have:
(1) Produced a 2009 crop year planted or considered planted long grain rice, medium or short grain rice, upland cotton, soybean, or sweet potato crop in a 2009 eligible disaster county, and
(2) Suffered a five percent or greater loss in an eligible disaster county in 2009. A list of the disaster counties for CAP is available on the FSA Web site and at FSA county offices.
§ 760.704 Time and method of application.
(a) To request a CAP payment, the producer must submit a CAP application on the form designated by FSA to the FSA county office responsible for administration of the farm.
(b) Producers submitting an application for a crop must certify that they suffered a five percent or greater loss of the crop on the farm in a disaster county and that they have documentation to support that certification as required in § 760.713.
(c) Once submitted by a producer, the application is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the producer’s crop and farm regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(d) Producers requesting benefits under CAP must certify the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as with any documentation that may be provided with the application or documentation that will be provided to FSA in substantiation of the application. All certifications and information are subject to verification by FSA.
(e) Producers applying for CAP must certify that they have an eligible ownership share interest in the 2009 crop acreage that sustained a five percent or greater loss. The determination and certification by a producer that a crop suffered the requisite five percent or greater farm crop loss is the expected quantity of production of the crop less the actual production of the crop.
(f) In the event that the producer does not submit documentation in response to any request of FSA to support the producer’s application or documentation furnished does not show a crop loss of at least five percent as claimed, the application for that crop will be disapproved in its entirety. For quantity losses, producers need to apply a standard similar to the historic yield provisions used under previous ad hoc disaster programs. Those provisions provided that a historic yield was the higher of a county average yield or a producer’s approved yield. Thus, if an applicant is determining whether a farm has a crop that suffered a loss of five percent or greater on the farm’s planted and considered planted acreage, the applicant could compare the amount successfully produced in 2009 from those planted and considered planted acres to what the participant expected to produce from that acreage using either the county average yield (which may be obtained from FSA by request) or based on analysis of approved actual production history yields that may exist for producers of the crop on the farm.
(g) Unless otherwise determined necessary by FSA, producers will not be required to submit documentation of farm crop production or loss at time of application. FSA’s decision not to require proof, documentation, or evidence in support of any application at time of application is not to be construed as a determination of a producer’s eligibility.
(h) Producers who apply are required to retain documentation in support of their application for three years after the date of application in accordance with § 760.713.
(i) The application submitted in accordance with this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this part unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the producer has submitted all the required forms. In addition to the completed, certified application form, if the information for the following forms or certifications is not on file in the FSA county office or is not current for 2009, the producer must also submit:
(1) Farm operating plan for individual or legal entity;
(2) Average adjusted gross income statement for 2009; and
(3) Highly erodible land conservation (HELC) and wetland conservation certification.
(j) Application approval and payment by FSA does not relieve a producer from having to submit any form, records, or documentation required, but not filed at the time of application or payment, according to paragraph (h) of this section.
§ 760.705 Payment rates and calculation of payments.
(a) CAP payments will be calculated by multiplying the total number of reported or determined acres of an eligible crop by the per acre payment rate for that crop. Payment rates are as follows:
(1) Long grain rice, $31.93 per acre;
(2) Medium or short grain rice, $52.46 per acre;
(3) Upland cotton, $17.70 per acre;
(4) Soybeans, $15.62 per acre; and
(5) Sweet potatoes, $155.41 per acre.
(b) Payments will be calculated based on the 2009 crop year reported or determined planted or considered planted acres of an eligible crop on a farm in a disaster county as reflected on a form FSA-578, Report of Acreage, on file in FSA as of October 22, 2010.
§ 760.706 Availability of funds.
(a) Payments specified in this subpart are subject to the availability of funds. The total available program funds are $550 million. In order to keep payments within available funds, the Deputy Administrator may pro-rate payments, to the extent the Deputy Administrator determines that necessary.
(b) Funds for CAP are being made available only for the 2009 crop year reported and determined eligible crop acreage in disaster counties as reflected on a form FSA-578, Report of Acreage, as of October 22, 2010.
§ 760.707 Proof of loss.
(a) All certifications, applications, and documentation are subject to spot check and verification by FSA. Producers must submit documentation to FSA if and when FSA requests documentation to substantiate any certified application.
(b) Producers are responsible for retaining or providing, when required, verifiable or reliable production or loss records available for the crop. Producers are also responsible for summarizing all the production or loss evidence and providing the information in a manner that can be understood by the county committee.
(c) Any producer receiving payment under this subpart agrees to maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting any information or certification made according to this part for 3 years after the end of the year following application.
(d) Producers receiving payments or any other person who furnishes such information to FSA must permit FSA or authorized representatives of USDA and the General Accounting Office during regular business hours to inspect, examine, and to allow such persons to make copies of such books, records or other items for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by the producer.
§ 760.708 Miscellaneous provisions and limitations.
(a) A person ineligible under § 1437.15(c) of this title concerning violations of the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for the 2009 crop year is ineligible for benefits under this subpart.
(b) A person ineligible under § 400.458 of this title for the 2009 crop year concerning violations of crop insurance regulations is ineligible for CAP.
(c) In the event that any request for CAP payment resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the payment will be recalculated and the producer must refund any excess to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement to the producer. If for whatever reason the producer signing a CAP application overstates the loss level of the crop when the actual loss level determined by FSA for the crop is less than the level claimed, or where the CAP payment would exceed the producer’s actual loss, the application will be disapproved for the crop and the full CAP payment for that crop will be required to be refunded with interest from date of disbursement. The CAP payment cannot exceed the producer’s actual loss.
(d) The liability of anyone for any penalty or sanction under or in connection with this subpart, or for any refund to FSA or related charge is in addition to any other liability of such person under any civil or criminal fraud statute or any other provision of law including, but not limited to: 18 U.S.C. 286, 287, 371, 641, 651, 1001, and 1014; 15 U.S.C. 714; and 31 U.S.C. 3729.
(e) The regulations in parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations under this subpart.
(f) Any payment to any person under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the crop, or its proceeds.
(g) Any payment made under this subpart will be considered farm revenue for 2009 for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.
(h) The average AGI limitation provisions in part 1400 of this title relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of average adjusted gross income (AGI) apply to each applicant for CAP. Specifically, a person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross nonfarm income, as defined in § 1404.3 of this title, that exceeds $500,000 is not eligible to receive CAP payments.
(i) No person or legal entity, excluding a joint venture or general partnership, as determined by the rules in part 1400 of this title may receive, directly or indirectly, more than $100,000 in payments under this subpart.
(j) The direct attribution provisions in part 1400 of this title apply to CAP. Under those rules, any payment to any legal entity will also be considered for payment limitation purposes to be a payment to persons or legal entities with an interest in the legal entity or in a sub-entity. If any such interested person or legal entity is over the payment limitation because of direct payment or their indirect interests or a combination thereof, then the payment to the actual payee will be reduced commensurate with the amount of the interest of the interested person in the payee. Likewise, by the same method, if anyone with a direct or indirect interest in a legal entity or sub-entity of a payee entity exceeds the AGI levels that would allow a producer to directly receive a CAP payment, then the payment to the actual payee will be reduced commensurately with that interest. For CAP, unless otherwise specified in part 1400 of this title, the AGI amount will be that person’s or legal entity’s average AGI for the three taxable years that precede the 2008 taxable year (that is 2005, 2006, and 2007).
(k) For the purposes of the effect of lien on eligibility for Federal programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), FSA waives the restriction on receipt of funds under CAP but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of such waiver, agree to apply the CAP payments to reduce the amount of the judgment lien.
(l) For CAP, producers are either eligible or ineligible. Therefore, the provisions of § 718.304 of this chapter, “Failure to Fully Comply,” do not apply to this subpart.
(m) The regulations in subpart B apply to CAP. In addition to those regulations that specifically include subpart H or apply to this part, the following sections specifically apply to this subpart: §§ 760.113(a), 760.114, and 760.116(a).
Subpart I—2005-2007 Crop Disaster Program
§ 760.800 Applicability.
This part sets forth the terms and conditions for the 2005-2007 Crop Disaster Program (2005-2007 CDP). CDP makes emergency financial assistance available to producers who have incurred crop losses in quantity or quality for eligible 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop years due to disasters as determined by the Secretary under provisions of Title IX of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Pub. L. 110-28). However, to be eligible for assistance, the crop subject to the loss must have been planted or existed before February 28, 2007, or, in the case of prevented planting, would have been planted before February 28, 2007.
§ 760.801 Administration.
(a) The program will be administered under the general supervision of the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs and will be carried out in the field by FSA State and county committees.
(b) State and county committees and representatives do not have the authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of this part.
(c) The State committee will take any action required by this part that has not been taken by a county committee. The State committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by that FSA county committee that is not in accordance with this part; and
(2) Require a county committee to withhold taking or reverse any action that is not in accordance with this part.
(d) No provision or delegation to a State or county committee will prevent the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs may authorize State and county committees to waive or modify non-statutory deadlines or other program requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such does not adversely affect the operation of the program.
§ 760.802 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this part. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Actual production means the total quantity of the crop appraised, harvested, or assigned, as determined by the FSA State or county committee in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.
Administrative fee means an amount the producer must pay for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) enrollment for non-insurable crops.
Affected production means, with respect to quality losses, the harvested production of an eligible crop that has a documented quality reduction of 25 percent or more on the verifiable production record.
Appraised production means production determined by FSA, or a company reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), that was unharvested but was determined to reflect the crop’s yield potential at the time of appraisal.
Approved yield means the amount of production per acre, computed in accordance with FCIC’s Actual Production History (APH) Program at part 400, subpart G of this title or, for crops not included under part 400, subpart G of this title, the yield used to determine the guarantee. For crops covered under NAP, the approved yield is established according to part 1437 of this title. Only the approved yields based on production evidence submitted to FSA prior to May 25, 2007 will be used for purposes of the 2005-2007 CDP.
Aquaculture means a value loss crop for the reproduction and rearing of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments including, but not limited to, ocean ranching, except private ocean ranching of Pacific salmon for profit in those States where such ranching is prohibited by law.
Aquaculture facility means any land or structure including, but not limited to, a laboratory, concrete pond, hatchery, rearing pond, raceway, pen, incubator, or other equipment used in aquaculture.
Aquaculture species means any aquaculture species as defined in part 1437 of this title.
Average market price means the price or dollar equivalent on an appropriate basis for an eligible crop established by FSA, or CCC, or RMA, as applicable, for determining payment amounts. Such price will be based on historical data of the harvest basis excluding transportation, storage, processing, packing, marketing, or other post-harvesting expenses. Average market prices are generally applicable to all similarly situated participants and are not established in response to individual participants. Accordingly, the established average market prices are not appealable under parts 11 or 780 of this title.
Catastrophic risk protection means the minimum level of coverage offered by FCIC.
CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Controlled environment means, with respect to those crops for which a controlled environment is expected to be provided, including but not limited to ornamental nursery, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and floriculture, an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled with structures, facilities, growing media (including, but not limited to, water, soil, or nutrients) by the producer, is in fact controlled by the producer.
Crop insurance means an insurance policy reinsured by FCIC under the provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended.
Crop year means:
(1) For insured crops, the crop year as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP covered crops, as provided in part 1437 of this title.
Damaging weather means drought, excessive moisture, hail, freeze, tornado, hurricane, typhoon, excessive wind, excessive heat, weather-related saltwater intrusion, weather-related irrigation water rationing, and earthquake and volcanic eruptions, or any combination. It also includes a related condition that occurs as a result of the damaging weather and exacerbates the condition of the crop, such as crop disease, and insect infestation.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture or designee.
Eligible crop means a crop insured by FCIC as defined in part 400 of this title, or included under NAP as defined under part 1437 of this title for which insurance or NAP coverage was obtained timely for the year which CDP benefits are sought.
End use means the purpose for which the harvested crop is used, such as grain, hay, or seed.
Expected production means, for an agricultural unit, the historic yield multiplied by the number of planted or prevented acres of the crop for the unit.
FCIC means the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned Government Corporation within USDA.
Final planting date means the latest date, established by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for insured crops, by which the crop must initially be planted in order to be insured for the full production guarantee or amount of insurance per acre. For NAP covered crops, the final planting date is as provided in part 1437 of this title.
Flood prevention means:
(1) For aquaculture species, placing the aquaculture facility in an area not prone to flood;
(2) In the case of raceways, devices or structures designed for the control of water level; and
(3) With respect to nursery crops, placing containerized stock in a raised area above expected flood level and providing draining facilities, such as drainage ditches or tile, gravel, cinder, or sand base.
Good nursery growing practices means utilizing flood prevention, growing media, fertilization to obtain expected production results, irrigation, insect and disease control, weed, rodent and wildlife control, and over winterization storage facilities.
Ground water means aqueous supply existing in an aquifer subsurface that is brought to the surface and made available for irrigation by mechanical means such as by pumps and irrigation wells.
Growing media means:
(1) For aquaculture species, media that provides nutrients necessary for the production of the aquaculture species and protects the aquaculture species from harmful species or chemicals or
(2) For nursery crops, a well-drained media with a minimum 20 percent air pore space and pH adjustment for the type of plant produced designed to prevent “root rot.”
Harvested means:
(1) For insured crops, harvested as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP covered single harvest crops, that a crop has been removed from the field, either by hand or mechanically, or by grazing of livestock;
(3) For NAP covered crops with potential multiple harvests in 1 year or harvested over multiple years, that the producer has, by hand or mechanically, removed at least one mature crop from the field during the crop year;
(4) For mechanically-harvested NAP covered crops, that the crop has been removed from the field and placed in a truck or other conveyance, except hay is considered harvested when in the bale, whether removed from the field or not. Grazed land will not be considered harvested for the purpose of determining an unharvested or prevented planting payment factor. A crop that is intended for mechanical harvest, but subsequently grazed and not mechanically harvested, will have an unharvested factor applied.
Historic yield means, for a unit, the higher of the county average yield or the participant’s approved yield.
(1) An insured participant’s yield will be the higher of the county average yield listed or the approved federal crop insurance APH, for the disaster year.
(2) NAP participant’s yield will be the higher of the county average or approved NAP APH for the disaster year.
Insurable crop means an agricultural crop (excluding livestock) for which the producer on a farm is eligible to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Marketing contract means a legally binding written contract between a purchaser and grower for the purpose of marketing a crop.
Market value means:
(1) The price(s) designated in the marketing contract; or
(2) If not designated in a marketing contract, the rate established for quantity payments under § 760.811.
Maximum average loss level means the maximum average level of crop loss to be attributed to a participant without acceptable production records (verifiable or reliable). Loss levels are expressed in either a percent of loss or yield per acre, and are intended to reflect the amount of production that a participant would have been expected to make if not for the eligible disaster conditions in the area or county, as determined by the county committee in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
Multi-use crop means a crop intended for more than one end use during the calendar year such as grass harvested for seed, hay, and grazing.
Multiple cropping means the planting of two or more different crops on the same acreage for harvest within the same crop year.
Multiple planting means the planting for harvest of the same crop in more than one planting period in a crop year on different acreage.
NASS means the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Net crop insurance indemnity means the indemnity minus the producer paid premium.
NAP covered means a crop for which the participants obtained assistance under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).
Normal mortality means the percentage of dead aquaculture species that would normally occur during the crop year.
Person means person as defined in part 1400 of this title, and all rules with respect to the determination of a person found in that part are applicable to this part. However, the determinations made in this part in accordance with part 1400, subpart B, Person Determinations, of this title will also take into account any affiliation with any entity in which an individual or entity has an interest, regardless of whether or not such entities are considered to be actively engaged in farming.
Planted acreage means land in which seed, plants, or trees have been placed, appropriate for the crop and planting method, at a correct depth, into a seedbed that has been properly prepared for the planting method and production practice normal to the USDA plant hardiness zone as determined by the county committee.
Prevented planting means the inability to plant an eligible crop with proper equipment during the planting period as a result of an eligible cause of loss, as determined by FSA.
Production means quantity of the crop or commodity produced expressed in a specific unit of measure including, but not limited to, bushels or pounds.
Rate means price per unit of the crop or commodity.
Recording county means, for a producer with farming interests in only one county, the FSA county office in which the producer’s farm is administratively located or, for a producer with farming interests that are administratively located in more than one county, the FSA county office designated by FSA to control the payments received by the producer.
Related condition means, with respect to a disaster, a condition that causes deterioration of a crop, such as insect infestation, plant disease, or aflatoxin, that is accelerated or exacerbated as a result of damaging weather, as determined in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
Reliable production records means evidence provided by the participant that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported when verifiable records are not available, including copies of receipts, ledgers of income, income statements of deposit slips, register tapes, invoices for custom harvesting, and records to verify production costs, contemporaneous measurements, truck scale tickets, and contemporaneous diaries that are determined acceptable by the county committee.
Repeat crop means, with respect to production, a commodity that is planted or prevented from being planted in more than one planting period on the same acreage in the same crop year.
RMA means the Risk Management Agency.
Salvage value means the dollar amount or equivalent for the quantity of the commodity that cannot be marketed or sold in any recognized market for the crop.
Secondary use means the harvesting of a crop for a use other than the intended use.
Secondary use value means the value determined by multiplying the quantity of secondary use times the FSA or CCC-established price for that use.
State committee means the FSA State committee.
Surface irrigation water means aqueous supply anticipated for irrigation of agricultural crops absent an eligible disaster condition impacting either the aquifer or watershed. Surface irrigation water may result from feral sources or from irrigation districts.
Tropical crops has the meaning assigned in part 1437 of this title.
Tropical region has the meaning assigned in part 1437 of this title.
Unharvested factor means a percentage established for a crop and applied in a payment formula to reduce the payment for reduced expenses incurred because commercial harvest was not performed. Unharvested factors are generally applicable to all similarly situated participants and are not established in response to individual participants. Accordingly established unharvested factors are not appealable under parts 11 and 780 of this title.
Unit means, unless otherwise determined by the Deputy Administrator, basic unit as defined in part 457 of this title that, for ornamental nursery production, includes all eligible plant species and sizes.
Unit of measure means:
(1) For all insured crops, the FCIC-established unit of measure;
(2) For all NAP covered crops, the established unit of measure, if available, used for the 2005, 2006, or 2007 NAP price and yield;
(3) For aquaculture species, a standard unit of measure such as gallons, pounds, inches, or pieces, established by the State committee for all aquaculture species or varieties;
(4) For turfgrass sod, a square yard;
(5) For maple sap, a gallon;
(6) For honey, pounds; and
(7) For all other crops, the smallest unit of measure that lends itself to the greatest level of accuracy with minimal use of fractions, as determined by the State committee.
United States means all 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and to the extent the Deputy Administrator determines it to be feasible and appropriate, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which include Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
USDA means the United States Department of Agriculture.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone means 11 regions or planting zones as defined by a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.
Value loss crop has the meaning assigned in part 1437 of this title.
Verifiable production record means:
(1) For quantity losses, evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported and that can be verified by FSA through an independent source; or
(2) For quality losses, evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported and that can be verified by FSA through an independent source including determined quality factors and the specific quantity covered by those factors.
Yield means unit of production, measured in bushels, pounds, or other unit of measure, per area of consideration, usually measured in acres.
§ 760.803 Eligibility.
(a) Participants will be eligible to receive disaster benefits under this part only if they incurred qualifying quantity or quality losses for the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crops, as further specified in this part, as a result of damaging weather or any related condition. Participants may not receive benefits with respect to volunteer stands of crops.
(b) Payments may be made for losses suffered by an eligible participant who, at the time of application, is a deceased individual or is a dissolved entity if a representative, who currently has authority to enter into a contract for the participant, signs the 2005, 2006, or 2007 Crop Disaster Program application. Participants must provide proof of the authority to sign legal documents for the deceased individual or dissolved entity. If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment.
(c) As a condition to receive benefits under this part, the Participant must have been in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions of part 12 of this title for the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop year, as applicable, and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving benefits under parts 12 or 1400 of this title or any law.
§ 760.804 Time and method of application.
(a) The 2005, 2006, 2007 Crop Disaster Program application must be submitted on a completed FSA-840, or such other form designated for such application purpose by FSA, in the FSA county office in the participant’s control county office before the close of business on a date that will be announced by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) Once signed by a participant, the application for benefits is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the participant regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(c) The participant requesting benefits under this program certifies the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as any documentation filed with or in support of the application. All information is subject to verification by FSA. For example, as specified in § 760.818(f), the participant may be required to provide documentation to substantiate and validate quality standards and marketing contract prices. Refusal to allow FSA or any agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in the participant’s forfeiting eligibility under this program. Furnishing required information is voluntary; however without it, FSA is under no obligation to act on the application or approve benefits. Providing a false certification to the government is punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties.
(d) FSA may require the participant to submit any additional information it deems necessary to implement or determine any eligibility provision of this part. For example, as specified in § 760.818(f), the participant may be required to provide documentation to substantiate and validate quality standards and marketing contract prices.
(e) The application submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this part unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the participant has submitted all of following completed forms:
(1) If Item 16 on FSA-840 is answered “YES,” FSA-840M, Crop Disaster Program for Multiple Crop—Same Acreage Certification;
(2) CCC-502, Farm Operating Plan for Payment Eligibility;
(3) CCC-526, Payment Eligibility Average Adjusted Gross Income Certification;
(4) AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation Certification; and
(5) FSA-578, Report of Acreage.
(f) Application approval and payment by FSA does not relieve a participant from having to submit any form required, but not filed, according to paragraph (e) of this section.
§ 760.805 Limitations on payments and other benefits.
(a) A participant may receive benefits for crop losses for only one of the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop years as specified under this part.
(b) Payments will not be made under this part for grazing losses.
(c) Payments determined to be issued are considered due and payable not later than 60 days after a participant’s application is completed with all information necessary for FSA to determine producer eligibility for benefits.
(d) FSA may divide and classify crops based on loss susceptibility, yield, and other factors.
(e) No person, as defined by part 1400 subpart B of this title, may receive more than a total of $80,000 in disaster benefits under this part. In applying the $80,000 per person payment limitation, regardless of whether 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop year benefits are at issue or sought, the most restrictive “person” determination for the participant in the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, will be used to limit benefits.
(f) No participant may receive disaster benefits under this part in an amount that exceeds 95 percent of the value of the expected production for the relevant period as determined by FSA. Accordingly, the sum of the value of the crop not lost, if any; the disaster payment received under this part; and any crop insurance payment or payments received under the NAP for losses to the same crop, cannot exceed 95 percent of what the crop’s value would have been if there had been no loss.
(g) An individual or entity whose adjusted gross income is in excess of $2.5 million, as defined by and determined under part 1400 subpart G of this title, is not eligible to receive disaster benefits under this part.
(h) Any participant in a county eligible for either of the following programs must complete a duplicate benefits certification. If the participant received a payment authorized by either of the following, the amount of that payment will be reduced from the calculated 2005-2007 CDP payment:
(1) The Hurricane Indemnity Program (subpart B of this part);
(2) The Hurricane Disaster Programs (subparts D, E, F, and G of part 1416 of this title);
(3) The 2005 Louisiana Sugarcane Hurricane Disaster Assistance Program; or
(4) The 2005 Crop Florida Sugarcane Disaster Program.
§ 760.806 Crop eligibility requirements.
(a) A participant on a farm is eligible for assistance under this section with respect to losses to an insurable commodity or NAP if the participant:
(1) In the case of an insurable commodity, obtained a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act for the crop incurring the losses; or
(2) In the case of a NAP covered crop, filed the required paperwork and paid the administrative fee by the applicable filing deadline, for the noninsurable commodity under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 for the crop incurring the losses.
(b) The reasons a participant either elected not to have coverage or did not have coverage mentioned in paragraphs (a)(1) or (2) of this section are not relevant to the determination of the participant’s ineligibility under this section. In addition, such reasons for not having crop insurance coverage have no bearing for consideration under part 718, subpart D of this chapter.
§ 760.807 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) A person is not eligible to receive disaster assistance under this part if it is determined by FSA that the person has:
(1) Adopted any scheme or other device that tends to defeat the purpose of this part;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation;
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination;
(4) Is ineligible under § 1400.5 of this title; or
(5) Does not have entitlement to an ownership share of the crop.
(i) Growers growing eligible crops under contract for crop owners are not eligible unless the grower can be determined to have a share of the crop.
(ii) Any verbal or written contract that precludes the grower from having an ownership share renders the grower ineligible for benefits under this part.
(b) A person ineligible under § 1437.15(c) of this title for any year is likewise ineligible for benefits under this part for that year or years.
(c) A person ineligible under § 400.458 of this title for any year is likewise ineligible for benefits under this part for that year or years.
(d) All persons with a financial interest in the operation receiving benefits under this part are jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, which is determined to be due FSA for any reason.
(e) In the event that any request for assistance or payment under this part resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the assistance or payment will be recalculated and any excess refunded to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement to the producer.
(f) The liability of anyone for any penalty or sanction under or in connection with this part, or for any refund to FSA or related charge is in addition to any other liability of such person under any civil or criminal fraud statute or any other provision of law including, but not limited to: 18 U.S.C. 286, 287, 371, 641, 651, 1001, and 1014; 15 U.S.C. 714; and 31 U.S.C. 3729.
(g) The regulations in parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations under this part.
(h) Any payment to any person will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the crop, or its proceeds.
(i) For the purposes of the effect of lien on eligibility for Federal programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), FSA waives the restriction on receipt of funds or benefits under this program but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of such waiver, agree to apply the benefits received under this part to reduce the amount of the judgment lien.
(j) Under this program, participants are either eligible or ineligible. Participants in general, do not render performance or need to comply. They either suffered eligible losses or they did not. Accordingly, the provisions of § 718.304 of this chapter do not apply to this part.
§ 760.808 General provisions.
(a) For calculations of loss, the participant’s existing unit structure will be used as the basis for the calculation established in accordance with:
(1) For insured crops, part 457 of this title; or
(2) For NAP covered crops, part 1437 of this title.
(b) County average yield for loss calculations will be the average of the 2001 through 2005 official county yields established by FSA, excluding the years with the highest and lowest yields, respectively.
(c) County committees will assign production or reduce the historic yield when the county committee determines:
(1) An acceptable appraisal or record of harvested production does not exist;
(2) The loss is due to an ineligible cause of loss or practices, soil type, climate, or other environmental factors that cause lower yields than those upon which the historic yield is based;
(3) The participant has a contract providing a guaranteed payment for all or a portion of the crop; or
(4) The crop was planted beyond the normal planting period for the crop.
(d) The county committee will establish a maximum average loss level that reflects the amount of production producers would have produced if not for the eligible damaging weather or related conditions in the area or county for the same crop. The maximum average loss level for the county will be expressed as either a percent of loss or yield per acre. The maximum average loss level will apply when:
(1) Unharvested acreage has not been appraised by FSA, or a company reinsured by FCIC; or
(2) Acceptable production records for harvested acres are not available from any source.
(e) Assignment of production or reduction in yield will apply for practices that result in lower yields than those for which the historic yield is based.
§ 760.809 Eligible damaging conditions.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, to be eligible for benefits under this part the loss of the crop, or reduction in quality, or prevented planting must be due to damaging weather or related conditions as defined in § 760.802.
(b) Benefits are not available under this part for any losses in quantity or quality, or prevented planting due to:
(1) Poor farming practices;
(2) Poor management decisions; or
(3) Drifting herbicides.
(c) With the exception of paragraph (d) of this section, in all cases, the eligible damaging condition must have directly impacted the specific crop or crop acreage during its planting or growing period.
(d) If FSA has determined that there has been an eligible loss of surface irrigation water due to drought and such loss of surface irrigation water impacts eligible crop acreage, FSA may approve assistance to the extent permitted by section 760.814.
§ 760.810 Qualifying 2005, 2006, or 2007 quantity crop losses.
(a) To receive benefits under this part, the county committee must determine that because of eligible damaging weather or related condition specifically impacting the crop or crop acreage, the participant with respect to the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop:
(1) Was prevented from planting a crop;
(2) Sustained a loss in excess of 35 percent of the expected production of a crop; or
(3) Sustained a loss in excess of 35 percent of the value for value loss crops.
(b) Qualifying losses under this part do not include losses:
(1) For the 2007 crop, those acres planted, or in the case of prevented planting, would have been planted, on or after February 28, 2007;
(2) That are determined by FSA to be the result of poor management decisions, poor farming practices, or drifting herbicides;
(3) That are the result of the failure of the participant to re-seed or replant the same crop in the county where it is customary to re-seed or replant after a loss;
(4) That are not as a result of a damaging weather or a weather related condition specifically impacting the crop or crop acreage;
(5) To crops not intended for harvest in crop year 2005, 2006, or 2007;
(6) Of by-products resulting from processing or harvesting a crop, such as cottonseed, peanut shells, wheat, or oat straw;
(7) To home gardens;
(8) That are a result of water contained or released by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project if an easement exists on the acreage affected for the containment or release of the water; or
(9) If losses could be attributed to conditions occurring outside of the applicable crop year growing season.
(c) Qualifying losses under this part for nursery stock will not include losses:
(1) For the 2007 crop, that nursery inventory acquired on or after February 28, 2007;
(2) Caused by a failure of power supply or brownouts;
(3) Caused by the inability to market nursery stock as a result of lack of compliance with State and local commercial ordinances and laws, quarantine, boycott, or refusal of a buyer to accept production;
(4) Caused by fire unless directly related to an eligible natural disaster;
(5) Affecting crops where weeds and other forms of undergrowth in the vicinity of the nursery stock have not been controlled; or
(6) Caused by the collapse or failure of buildings or structures.
(d) Qualifying losses under this part for honey, where the honey production by colonies or bees was diminished, will not include losses:
(1) For the 2007 crop, for production from those bees acquired on or after February 28, 2007;
(2) Where the inability to extract was due to the unavailability of equipment, the collapse or failure of equipment, or apparatus used in the honey operation;
(3) Resulting from storage of honey after harvest;
(4) To honey production because of bee feeding;
(5) Caused by the application of chemicals;
(6) Caused by theft, fire, or vandalism;
(7) Caused by the movement of bees by the producer or any other person; or
(8) Due to disease or pest infestation of the colonies.
(e) Qualifying losses for other value loss crops, except nursery, will not include losses for the 2007 crop that were acquired on or after February 28, 2007.
(f) Loss calculations will take into account other conditions and adjustments provided for in this part.
§ 760.811 Rates and yields; calculating payments.
(a)(1) Payments made under this part to a participant for a loss of quantity on a unit with respect to yield-based crops are determined by multiplying the average market price times 42 percent, times the loss of production which exceeds 35 percent of the expected production, as determined by FSA, of the unit.
(2) Payments made under this part to a participant for a quantity loss on a unit with respect to value-based crops are determined by multiplying the payment rate established for the crop by FSA times the loss of value that exceeds 35 percent of the expected production value, as determined by FSA, of the unit.
(3) As determined by FSA, additional quality loss payments may be made using a 25 percent quality loss threshold. The quality loss threshold is determined according to § 760.817.
(b) Payment rates for the 2005, 2006, or 2007 year crop losses will be 42 percent of the average market price.
(c) Separate payment rates and yields for the same crop may be established by the State committee as authorized by the Deputy Administrator, when there is supporting data from NASS or other sources approved by FSA that show there is a significant difference in yield or value based on a distinct and separate end use of the crop. Despite potential differences in yield or values, separate rates or yields will not be established for crops with different cultural practices, such as those grown organically or hydroponically.
(d) Production from all end uses of a multi-use crop or all secondary uses for multiple market crops will be calculated separately and summarized together.
(e) Each eligible participant’s share of a disaster payment will be based on the participant’s ownership entitlement share of the crop or crop proceeds, or, if no crop was produced, the share of the crop the participant would have received if the crop had been produced. If the participant has no ownership share of the crop, the participant is ineligible for assistance under this part.
(f) When calculating a payment for a unit loss:
(1) An unharvested payment factor will be applied to crop acreage planted but not harvested;
(2) A prevented planting factor will be applied to any prevented planted acreage eligible for payment; and
(3) Unharvested payment factors may be adjusted if costs normally associated with growing the crop are not incurred.
§ 760.812 Production losses; participant responsibility.
(a) Where available and determined accurate by FSA, RMA loss records will be used for insured crops.
(b) If RMA loss records are not available, or if the FSA county committee determines the RMA loss records are inaccurate or incomplete, or if the FSA county committee makes inquiry, participants are responsible for:
(1) Retaining or providing, when required, the best verifiable or reliable production records available for the crop;
(2) Summarizing all the production evidence;
(3) Accounting for the total amount of unit production for the crop, whether or not records reflect this production;
(4) Providing the information in a manner that can be easily understood by the county committee; and
(5) Providing supporting documentation if the county committee has reason to question the damaging weather event or question whether all production has been accounted for.
(c) In determining production under this section, the participant must supply verifiable or reliable production records to substantiate production to the county committee. If the eligible crop was sold or otherwise disposed of through commercial channels, production records include: commercial receipts; settlement sheets; warehouse ledger sheets; load summaries; or appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA. If the eligible crop was farm-stored, sold, fed to livestock, or disposed of in means other than commercial channels, production records for these purposes include: truck scale tickets; appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA; contemporaneous diaries; or other documentary evidence, such as contemporaneous measurements.
(d) Participants must provide all records for any production of a crop that is grown with an arrangement, agreement, or contract for guaranteed payment.
§ 760.813 Determination of production.
(a) Production under this part includes all harvested production, unharvested appraised production, and assigned production for the total planted acreage of the crop on the unit.
(b) The harvested production of eligible crop acreage harvested more than once in a crop year includes the total harvested production from all these harvests.
(c) If a crop is appraised and subsequently harvested as the intended use, the actual harvested production must be taken into account to determine benefits. FSA will analyze and determine whether a participant’s evidence of actual production represents all that could or would have been harvested.
(d) For all crops eligible for loan deficiency payments or marketing assistance loans with an intended use of grain but harvested as silage, ensilage, cobbage, hay, cracked, rolled, or crimped, production will be adjusted based on a whole grain equivalent as established by FSA.
(e) For crops with an established yield and market price for multiple intended uses, a value will be calculated by FSA with respect to the intended use or uses for disaster purposes based on historical production and acreage evidence provided by the participant and FSA will determine the eligible acres for each use.
(f) For crops sold in a market that is not a recognized market for the crop with no established county average yield and average market price, 42 percent of the salvage value received will be deducted from the disaster payment.
(g) If a participant does not receive compensation based upon the quantity of the commodity delivered to a purchaser, but has an agreement or contract for guaranteed payment for production, the determination of the production will be the greater of the actual production or the guaranteed payment converted to production as determined by FSA.
(h) Production that is commingled between units before it was a matter of record or combination of record and cannot be separated by using records or other means acceptable to FSA will be prorated to each respective unit by FSA. Commingled production may be attributed to the applicable unit, if the participant made the unit production of a commodity a matter of record before commingling and does any of the following, as applicable:
(1) Provides copies of verifiable documents showing that production of the commodity was purchased, acquired, or otherwise obtained from beyond the unit;
(2) Had the production measured in a manner acceptable to the county committee; or
(3) Had the current year’s production appraised in a manner acceptable to the county committee.
(i) The county committee will assign production for the unit when the county committee determines that:
(1) The participant has failed to provide adequate and acceptable production records;
(2) The loss to the crop is because of a disaster condition not covered by this part, or circumstances other than natural disaster, and there has not otherwise been an accounting of this ineligible cause of loss;
(3) The participant carries out a practice, such as multiple cropping, that generally results in lower yields than the established historic yields;
(4) The participant has a contract to receive a guaranteed payment for all or a portion of the crop;
(5) A crop was late-planted;
(6) Unharvested acreage was not timely appraised; or
(7) Other appropriate causes exist for such assignment as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(j) For peanuts, the actual production is all peanuts harvested for nuts, regardless of their disposition or use, as adjusted for low quality.
(k) For tobacco, the actual production is the sum of the tobacco: marketed or available to be marketed; destroyed after harvest; and produced but unharvested, as determined by an appraisal.
§ 760.814 Calculation of acreage for crop losses other than prevented planted.
(a) Payment acreage of a crop is limited to the lesser of insured acreage or NAP covered acreage of the crop, as applicable, or actual acreage of the crop planted for harvest.
(b) In cases where there is a repeat crop or a multiple planted crop in more than one planting period, or if there is multiple cropped acreage meeting criteria established in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, each of these crops may be considered separate crops if the county committee determines that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Were planted with the intent to harvest;
(2) Were planted within the normal planting period for that crop;
(3) Meet all other eligibility provisions of this part including good farming practices; and
(4) Could reach maturity if each planting was harvested or would have been harvested.
(c) In cases where there is multiple-cropped acreage, each crop may be eligible for disaster assistance separately if both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The specific crops are approved by the State committee as eligible multiple-cropping practices in accordance with procedures approved by the Deputy Administrator and separately meet all requirements, including insurance or NAP requirements ; and
(2) The farm containing the multiple-cropped acreage has a history of successful multiple cropping more than one crop on the same acreage in the same crop year, in the year previous to the disaster, or at least 2 of the 4 crop years immediately preceding the disaster crop year based on timely filed crop acreage reports.
(d) A participant with multiple-cropped acreage not meeting the criteria in paragraph (c) of this section may be eligible for disaster assistance on more than one crop if the participant has verifiable records establishing a history of carrying out a successful multiple-cropping practice on the specific crops for which assistance is requested. All required records acceptable to FSA as determined by the Deputy Administrator must be provided before payments are issued.
(e) A participant with multiple-cropped acreage not meeting the criteria in paragraphs (c) or (d) of this section must select the crop for which assistance will be requested. If more than one participant has an interest in the multiple cropped acreage, all participants must agree to the crop designated for payment by the end of the application period or no payment will be approved for any crop on the multiple-cropped acreage.
(f) Benefits under this part apply to irrigated crops where, in cases determined by the Deputy Administrator, acreage was affected by a lack of surface irrigation water due to drought or contamination of ground water or surface irrigation water due to saltwater intrusion. In no case is a loss of ground water, for any reason, an eligible cause of loss.
§ 760.815 Calculation of prevented planted acreage.
(a) When determining losses under this part, prevented planted acreage will be considered separately from planted acreage of the same crop.
(b) For insured crops, or NAP covered crops, as applicable, disaster payments under this part for prevented planted acreage will not be made unless RMA or FSA, as applicable, documentation indicates that the eligible participant received a prevented planting payment under either NAP or the RMA-administered program.
(c) The participant must prove, to the satisfaction of the county committee, an intent to plant the crop and that such crop could not be planted because of an eligible disaster. The county committee must be able to determine the participant was prevented from planting the crop by an eligible disaster that:
(1) Prevented other producers from planting on acreage with similar characteristics in the surrounding area;
(2) Occurred after the previous planting period for the crop; and
(3) Unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Administrator, began no earlier than the planting season for that crop.
(d) Prevented planted disaster benefits under this part do not apply to:
(1) Acreage not insured or NAP covered;
(2) Any acreage on which a crop other than a cover crop was harvested, hayed, or grazed during the crop year;
(3) Any acreage for which a cash lease payment is received for the use of the acreage the same crop year, unless the county committee determines the lease was for haying and grazing rights only and was not a lease for use of the land;
(4) Acreage for which the participant or any other person received a prevented planted payment for any crop for the same acreage, excluding share arrangements;
(5) Acreage for which the participant cannot provide verifiable proof to the county committee that inputs such as seed, chemicals, and fertilizer were available to plant and produce a crop with the expectation of producing at least a normal yield; and
(6) Any other acreage for which, for whatever reason, there is cause to question whether the crop could have been planted for a successful and timely harvest, or for which prevented planting credit is not allowed under the provisions of this part.
(e) Prevented planting payments are not provided on acreage that had either a previous or subsequent crop planted in the same crop year on the acreage, unless the county committee determines that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) There is an established practice of planting two or more crops for harvest on the same acreage in the same crop year;
(2) Both crops could have reached maturity if each planting was harvested or would have been harvested;
(3) Both the initial and subsequent planted crops were planted or prevented planting within the normal planting period for that crop;
(4) Both the initial and subsequent planted crops meet all other eligibility provisions of this part including good farming practices; and
(5) The specific crops meet the eligibility criteria for a separate crop designation as a repeat or approved multiple cropping practice set out in § 760.814.
(f)(1) Disaster benefits under this part do not apply to crops where the prevented planted acreage was affected by a disaster that was caused by drought unless on the final planting date or the late planting period for non-irrigated acreage, the area that was prevented from being planted had insufficient soil moisture for germination of seed and progress toward crop maturity because of a prolonged period of dry weather;
(2) Verifiable information collected by sources whose business or purpose is to record weather conditions, including, but not limited to, local weather reporting stations of the U.S. National Weather Service.
(g) Prevented planting benefits under this part apply to irrigated crops where adequate irrigation facilities were in place before the eligible disaster and the acreage was prevented from being planted due to a lack of water resulting from drought conditions or contamination by saltwater intrusion of an irrigation supply resulting from drought conditions.
(h) For NAP covered crops, prevented planting provisions apply according to part 718 of this chapter.
(i) Late-filed crop acreage reports for prevented planted acreage in previous years are not acceptable for CDP purposes.
§ 760.816 Value loss crops.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, this section applies to value loss crops and tropical crops. Unless otherwise specified, all the eligibility provisions of part 1437 of this title apply to value loss crops and tropical crops under this part.
(b) For value loss crops, benefits under this part are calculated based on the loss of value at the time of the damaging weather or related condition, as determined by FSA.
(c) For tropical crops:
(1) CDP benefits for 2005 are calculated according to general provisions of part 1437, but not subpart F, of this title.
(2) CDP benefits for 2006 and 2007 are calculated according to part 1437, subpart F of this title.
§ 760.817 Quality losses for 2005, 2006, and 2007 crops.
(a) Subject to other provisions of this part, assistance will be made available to participants determined eligible under this section for crop quality losses of 25 percent or greater of the value that all affected production of the crop would have had if the crop had not suffered a quality loss.
(b) The amount of payment for a quality loss will be equal to 65 percent of the quantity of the crop affected by the quality loss, not to exceed expected production based on harvested acres, multiplied by 42 percent of the per unit average market value based on percentage of quality loss for the crop as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) This section applies to all crops eligible for 2005, 2006, and 2007 crop disaster assistance under this part, with the exceptions of value loss crops, honey, and maple sap, and applies to crop production that has a reduced economic value due to the reduction in quality.
(d) Participants may not be compensated under this section to the extent that such participants have received assistance under other provisions of this part, attributable in whole or in part to diminished quality.
§ 760.818 Marketing contracts.
(a) A marketing contract must meet all of the conditions outlined in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
(b) A marketing contract, at a minimum, must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) Be a legal contract in the State where executed;
(2) Specify the commodity under contract;
(3) Specify crop year;
(4) Be signed by both the participant, or legal representative, and the purchaser of the specified commodity;
(5) Include a commitment to deliver the contracted quantity;
(6) Include a commitment to purchase the contracted quantity that meets specified minimum quality standards and other criteria as specified;
(7) Define a determinable quantity by containing either a:
(i) Specified production quantity or
(ii) A specified acreage for which production quantity can be calculated;
(8) Define a determinable price by containing either a:
(i) Specified price or
(ii) Method to determine such a price;
(9) Contain a relationship between the price and the quality using either:
(i) Specified quality standards or
(ii) A method to determine such quality standards from published third party data; and
(10) Have been executed within 10 days after:
(i) End of insurance period for insured crops or
(ii) Normal harvest date for NAP covered crops as determined by FSA.
(c) The purchaser of the commodity specified in the marketing contract must meet at least one of the following:
(1) Be a licensed commodity warehouseman;
(2) Be a business enterprise regularly engaged in the processing of a commodity, that possesses all licenses and permits for marketing the commodity required by the State in which it operates, and that possesses or has contracted for facilities with enough equipment to accept and process the commodity within a reasonable amount of time after harvest; or
(3) Is able to physically receive the harvested production.
(d) In order for the commodity specified in the marketing contract to be considered sold pursuant to the marketing contract, the commodity must have been produced by the participant in the crop year specified in the contract, and at least one of the following conditions must be met:
(1) Commodity was sold under the terms of the contract or
(2) Participant attempted to deliver the commodity to the purchaser, but the commodity was rejected due to quality factors as specified in the contract.
(e) The amount of payment for affected production, as determined in § 760.817(b), sold pursuant to one or more marketing contracts will take into consideration the marketing contract price as determined by FSA.
(f) County committees have the authority to require a participant to provide necessary documentation, which may include, but is not limited to, previous marketing contracts fulfilled, to substantiate and validate quality standards in paragraph (b)(9) of this section and marketing contract price received for the commodity for which crop quality loss assistance is requested. In cases where the county committee has reason to believe the participant lacks the capacity or history to fulfill the quality provisions of the marketing contract the county committee will require such documentation.
§ 760.819 Misrepresentation, scheme, or device.
(a) A person is ineligible to receive assistance under this part if it is determined that such person has:
(1) Adopted any scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of this program;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation under this program;
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program or person determination; or
(4) Has violated or been determined ineligible under § 1400.5 of this title.
§ 760.820 Offsets, assignments, and debt settlement.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, any payment to any person will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the crop, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings found at part 1403 of this title apply to any payments made under this part.
(b) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payments in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments found at part 1404 of this title.
(c) A debt or claim may be settled according to part 792 of this chapter.
§ 760.821 Compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation.
(a) The highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions of part 12 of this title apply to the receipt of disaster assistance for 2005, 2006, and 2007 crop losses made available under this authority.
(b) Eligible participants must be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation compliance provisions for the year for which financial assistance is requested.
Subpart J—2005-2007 Livestock Indemnity Program
§ 760.900 Administration.
(a) The regulations in this subpart specify the terms and conditions applicable to the 2005-2007 Livestock Indemnity Program (2005-2007 LIP), which will be administered under the general supervision and direction of the Administrator, FSA.
(b) FSA representatives do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this subpart.
(c) The State FSA committee will take any action required by the regulations of this subpart that the county FSA committee has not taken. The State FSA committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by such county committee that is not in accordance with the regulations of this subpart; or
(2) Require a county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.
(d) No delegation to a State or county FSA committee will preclude the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county FSA committee.
§ 760.901 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the 2005-2007 LIP will be administered under Title IX of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Pub. L. 110-28) for eligible counties as specified in § 760.902(a).
(b) Eligible livestock owners and contract growers will be compensated in accordance with § 760.909 for eligible livestock deaths that occurred in eligible counties as a direct result of an eligible disaster event. Drought is not an eligible disaster event except when anthrax, as a related condition that occurs as a result of drought, results in the death of eligible livestock.
§ 760.902 Eligible counties and disaster periods.
Counties are eligible for agricultural assistance under the 2005-2007 LIP if they received a timely Presidential designation, a timely Secretarial declaration, or a qualifying Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice (APLN) determination in a county otherwise the subject of a timely Presidential declaration, or are counties contiguous to such counties. Presidential designations and Secretarial declarations will be considered timely only if made after January 1, 2005, and before February 28, 2007. Eligible counties, disaster events, and disaster periods are listed at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
§ 760.903 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Adult beef bull means a male beef bovine animal that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes before it died.
Adult beef cow means a female beef bovine animal that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred beef heifer is also considered an adult beef cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Adult buffalo and beefalo bull means a male animal of those breeds that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes before it died.
Adult buffalo and beefalo cow means a female animal of those breeds that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred buffalo or beefalo heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or beefalo cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Adult dairy bull means a male dairy breed bovine animal at least 2 years old used primarily for breeding dairy cows before it died.
Adult dairy cow means a female bovine animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that had delivered one or more offspring before dying. A first-time bred dairy heifer is also considered an adult dairy cow if it was pregnant at the time it died.
Agricultural operation means a farming operation.
Application means the “2005-2007 Livestock Indemnity Program” form.
Application period means the date established by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs for participants to apply for program benefits.
Buck means a male goat.
Catfish means catfish grown as food for human consumption by a commercial operator on private property in water in a controlled environment.
Commercial use means used in the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible producer to apply for program benefits.
Contract means, with respect to contracts for the handling of livestock, a written agreement between a livestock owner and another individual or entity setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock or livestock products.
Controlled environment means an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled by the participant with structures, facilities, and growing media (including, but not limited to, water and nutrients) and was in fact controlled by the participant at the time of the disaster.
Crawfish means crawfish grown as food for human consumption by a commercial operator on private property in water in a controlled environment.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture or the designee.
Doe means a female goat.
Equine animal means a domesticated horse, mule, or donkey.
Ewe means a female sheep.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in producing agricultural products.
Goat means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, including Angora goats. Goats are further defined by sex (bucks and does) and age (kids).
Kid means a goat less than 1 year old.
Lamb means a sheep less than 1 year old.
Livestock owner means one having legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested on the day such livestock died due to an eligible disaster.
Non-adult beef cattle means a bovine that does not meet the definition of adult beef cow or bull. Non-adult beef cattle are further delineated by weight categories of less than 400 pounds, and 400 pounds or more at the time they died.
Non-adult buffalo or beefalo means an animal of those breeds that does not meet the definition of adult buffalo/beefalo cow or bull. Non-adult buffalo or beefalo are further delineated by weight categories of less than 400 pounds, and 400 pounds or more at the time of death.
Non-adult dairy cattle means a bovine livestock, of a breed used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption, that do not meet the definition of adult dairy cow or bull. Non-adult dairy cattle are further delineated by weight categories of less than 400 pounds, and 400 pounds or more at the time they died.
Poultry means domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Poultry are further delineated by sex, age, and purpose of production as determined by FSA.
Ram means a male sheep.
Sheep means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Ovis. Sheep are further defined by sex (rams and ewes) and age (lambs).
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, and boar. Swine are further delineated by sex and weight as determined by FSA.
§ 760.904 Limitations on payments and other benefits.
(a) A participant may receive benefits for livestock losses for only one of the 2005, 2006, or 2007 calendar years as specified under this part.
(b) A “person” as determined under part 1400 of this title may receive no more than $80,000 under this subpart. In applying the $80,000 per person payment limitation, regardless of whether 2005, 2006, or 2007 calendar year benefits are at issue or sought, the most restrictive “person” determination for the participant in the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, will be used to limit benefits.
(c) The provisions of part 1400, subpart G, of this title relating to limits to payments for individuals or entities with certain levels of adjusted gross income apply to this program.
(d) As a condition to receive benefits under this subpart, a participant must have been in compliance with the provisions of parts 12 and 718 of this title and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving benefits under any law.
(e) An individual or entity determined to be a foreign person under part 1400 of this title is not eligible to receive benefits under this subpart.
§ 760.905 Eligible owners and contract growers.
(a) To be considered eligible, a livestock owner must have had legal ownership of the eligible livestock, as provided in § 760.906(a), on the day the livestock died.
(b) To be considered eligible, a contract grower on the day the livestock died must have had:
(1) A written agreement with the owner of eligible livestock setting the specific terms, conditions, and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock; and
(2) Control of the eligible livestock, as provided in § 760.906(b), on the day the livestock died.
§ 760.906 Eligible livestock.
(a) To be considered eligible livestock for livestock owners, livestock must be adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, catfish, crawfish, equine, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, deer, or reindeer and meet all the conditions in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) To be considered eligible livestock for contract growers, livestock must be poultry or swine as defined in § 760.903 and meet all the conditions in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) To be considered eligible, livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
(1) Died in an eligible county as a direct result of an eligible disaster event;
(i) After January 1, 2005, but before February 28, 2007;
(ii) No later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the applicable disaster period, but before February 28, 2007; and
(iii) In the calendar year for which benefits are being requested.
(2) The disaster event that caused the loss must be the same event for which a natural disaster was declared or designated.
(3) Been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died; and
(4) Before dying, not have been produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, including, but not limited to, wild free roaming animals or animals used for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, hunting, roping, pets, or for show.
(d) In those counties in § 760.902, the following types of animals owned by a livestock owner are eligible livestock:
(1) Adult beef bulls;
(2) Adult beef cows;
(3) Adult buffalo or beefalo bulls;
(4) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows;
(5) Adult dairy bulls;
(6) Adult dairy cows;
(7) Catfish;
(8) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(9) Chickens, chicks;
(10) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(11) Crawfish;
(12) Deer;
(13) Ducks;
(14) Ducks, ducklings;
(15) Equine;
(16) Geese, goose;
(17) Geese, gosling;
(18) Goats, bucks;
(19) Goats, does;
(20) Goats, kids;
(21) Non-adult beef cattle;
(22) Non-adult buffalo/beefalo;
(23) Non-adult dairy cattle;
(24) Reindeer
(25) Sheep, ewes;
(26) Sheep, lambs;
(27) Sheep, rams;
(28) Swine, feeder pigs under 50 pounds;
(29) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts 50 to 150 pounds;
(30) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts over 150 pounds;
(31) Turkeys, poults; and
(32) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
(e) In those counties in § 760.902, the following types of animals are eligible livestock for contract growers:
(1) Chickens, broilers, pullets;
(2) Chickens, layers, roasters;
(3) Geese, goose;
(4) Swine, boars, sows;
(5) Swine, feeder pigs;
(6) Swine, lightweight barrows, gilts;
(7) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts; and
(8) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
§ 760.907 Application process.
(a) To apply for 2005-2007 LIP, submit a completed application to the administrative county FSA office that maintains the farm records for your agricultural operation, a copy of your grower contract, if you are a contract grower, and other supporting documents required for determining your eligibility as an applicant. Supporting documents must show:
(1) Evidence of loss,
(2) Current physical location of livestock in inventory, and
(3) Physical location of claimed livestock at the time of death.
(b) The application must be filed during the application period announced by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) A minor child is eligible to apply for program benefits if all eligibility requirements are met and one of the following conditions exists:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred upon the minor by court proceedings or statute;
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the minor’s property, and the applicable program documents are executed by the guardian; or
(3) A bond is furnished under which a surety guarantees any loss incurred for which the minor would be liable had the minor been an adult.
(d) The participant must provide adequate proof that the death of the eligible livestock occurred in an eligible county as a direct result of an eligible disaster event during the applicable disaster period. The quantity and kind of livestock that died as a direct result of the eligible disaster event may be documented by: purchase records; veterinarian records; bank or other loan papers; rendering truck receipts; Federal Emergency Management Agency records; National Guard records; written contracts; production records; Internal Revenue Service records; property tax records; private insurance documents; and other similar verifiable documents as determined by FSA.
(e) Certification of livestock deaths by third parties may be accepted only if both the following conditions are met:
(1) The livestock owner or livestock contract grower, as applicable, certifies in writing:
(i) That there is no other documentation of death available;
(ii) The number of livestock, by category determined by FSA, were in inventory at the time the applicable disaster event occurred; and
(iii) Other details required for FSA to determine the certification acceptable; and
(2) The third party provides their telephone number, address, and a written statement containing:
(i) Specific details about their knowledge of the livestock deaths;
(ii) Their affiliation with the livestock owner;
(iii) The accuracy of the deaths claimed by the livestock owner; and
(iv) Other details required by FSA to determine the certification acceptable.
(f) Data furnished by the participant will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data program benefits will not be approved or provided.
§ 760.908 Deceased individuals or dissolved entities.
(a) Payments may be made for eligible losses suffered by an eligible participant who is now a deceased individual or is a dissolved entity if a representative, who currently has authority to enter into a contract, on behalf of the participant, signs the application for payment.
(b) Legal documents showing proof of authority to sign for the deceased individual or dissolved entity must be provided.
(c) If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment.
§ 760.909 Payment calculation.
(a) Under this subpart separate payment rates are established for eligible livestock owners and eligible livestock contract growers in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. Payments for the 2005-2007 LIP are calculated by multiplying the national payment rate for each livestock category, as determined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, by the number of eligible livestock in each category, as provided in § 760.906. Adjustments will be applied in accordance with paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.
(b) The 2005-2007 LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock owners is based on 26 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock.
(c) The 2005-2007 LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock contract growers is based on 26 percent of the average income loss sustained by the contract grower with respect to the dead livestock.
(d) The 2005 payment calculated under 2005-2007 LIP for eligible livestock owners will be reduced by the amount the participant received under:
(1) The Livestock Indemnity Program (subpart E of this part);
(2) The Aquaculture Grant Program (subpart G of this part); and
(3) The Livestock Indemnity Program II (part 1416, subpart C of this title).
(e) The 2005 payment calculated under 2005-2007 LIP for eligible livestock contract growers will be reduced by the amount the participant received:
(1) Under the Livestock Indemnity Program (subpart E of this part);
(2) For the loss of income from the dead livestock from the party who contracted with the producer to grow the livestock; and
(3) Under the Livestock Indemnity Program II (part 1416, subpart C of this title).
§ 760.910 Appeals.
The appeal regulations set forth at parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations made pursuant to this subpart.
§ 760.911 Offsets, assignments, and debt settlement.
(a) Any payment to any participant will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings found at part 792 of this chapter apply to payments made under this subpart.
(b) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments found at part 1404 of this title.
§ 760.912 Records and inspections.
Participants receiving payments under this subpart or any other person who furnishes information for the purposes of enabling such participant to receive a payment under this subpart must maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. Participants receiving payments or any other person who furnishes such information to FSA must allow authorized representatives of USDA and the General Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books or records, and to enter upon, inspect and verify all applicable livestock and acreage in which the participant has an interest for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of information provided by or for the participant.
§ 760.913 Refunds; joint and several liability.
In the event there is a failure to comply with any term, requirement, or condition for payment or assistance arising under this subpart, and if any refund of a payment to FSA will otherwise become due in connection with this subpart, all payments made in regard to such matter must be refunded to FSA together with interest and late-payment charges as provided for in part 792 of this chapter.
Subpart K—General Provisions for 2005-2007 Livestock Compensation and Catfish Grant Programs
§ 760.1000 Applicability.
(a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which the following programs will be administered under Title IX of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 for participants affected by eligible disaster events and located in counties that are eligible as specified in § 760.1001:
(1) The 2005-2007 Livestock Compensation Program (2005-2007 LCP); and
(2) The 2005-2007 Catfish Grant Program (2005-2007 CGP).
(b) Farm Service Agency (FSA) funds as are necessary for the programs in subparts L and M of this part are available under Title IX of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007.
§ 760.1001 Eligible counties, disaster events, and disaster periods.
(a) Except as provided in this subpart, FSA will provide assistance under the programs listed in § 760.1000 to eligible participants who have suffered certain losses due to eligible disaster events in eligible disaster counties provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) The “Disaster Period” is the time period in which losses occurred for the particular disaster that may be considered eligible for the programs under subparts L and M of this part. The start and end dates for each eligible disaster period are specified at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
(c) Eligible counties are those primary counties declared by the Secretary or designated for the applicable loss by the President, including counties contiguous to those counties, between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007 (that is after January 1, 2005 and before February 28, 2007). The listing is provided at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. For counties where there was an otherwise timely Presidential declaration, but the declarations do not cover agricultural physical loss, the subject counties may still be eligible if the counties were the subject of an approved Administrator’s Physical Loss Notice (APLN) when the APLN applies to a natural disaster timely designated by the President.
§ 760.1002 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to the programs in subpart L and M of this part. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Commercial use means a use performed as part of the operation of a business activity engaged in as a means of livelihood for profit by the eligible producer.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in producing agricultural products.
§ 760.1003 Limitations on payments and other benefits.
(a) A participant may receive benefits for eligible livestock feed losses, including additional feed costs, for only one of the 2005, 2006, or 2007 calendar years under 2005-2007 LCP, subpart L of this part, or under the CGP of subpart M of this part.
(b) As specified in § 760.1106(c), the payment under the 2005-2007 LCP may not exceed the smaller of the calculated payment in § 760.1106(a) or the value of the producer’s eligible feed loss, increased feed costs, or forage or grazing loss.
(c) A person may receive no more than $80,000 under 2005-2007 LCP, subpart L of this part. In applying the $80,000 per person payment limitation, regardless of whether the 2005, 2006, or 2007 calendar year benefits are at issue or sought, the most restrictive “person” determination for the participant in the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, will be used to limit benefits. The rules and definitions of part 1400 of this title apply in construing who is a qualified separate “person” for purposes of this limit. All payment eligibility requirements of part 1400 as they apply to any other payments, also apply to payments under subpart L of this part.
(d) For payments under 2005-2007 CGP, a farming operation may receive no more than $80,000, except for general partnerships and joint ventures, in which case assistance will not exceed $80,000 times the number of eligible members of the general partnership or joint venture. This limit must be enforced by the state government administering the grant program.
(e) The provisions of part 1400, subpart G, of this title apply to these programs. That is the rules that limit the eligibility for benefits of those individuals or entities with an adjusted gross income greater than a certain limit will be applied in the same manner to payments under subparts L and M of this part.
(f) As a condition to receive benefits under subparts L and M of this part, a participant must have been in compliance with the provisions of parts 12 and 718 of this title for the calendar year for which benefits are being requested and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving benefits under any law.
(g) An individual or entity determined to be a foreign person under part 1400 of this title is not eligible to receive benefits under subparts L and M of this part.
(h) In addition to limitations provided in subparts L and M of this part, participants cannot receive duplicate benefits under subparts L and M of this part for the same loss or any similar loss under:
(1) An agricultural disaster assistance provision contained in the announcement of the Secretary on January 26, 2006, or August 29, 2006;
(2) The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Pub. L. 109-234; 120 Stat. 418); or
(3) Any other disaster assistance program.
Subpart L—2005-2007 Livestock Compensation Program
§ 760.1100 Applicability.
This subpart sets forth the terms and conditions applicable to the 2005-2007 Livestock Compensation Program (LCP).
§ 760.1101 Administration.
(a) This program is administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA).
(b) FSA representatives do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this subpart.
(c) The State FSA committee must take any action required by the regulations of this subpart that the county FSA committee has not taken. The State committee must also:
(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by such county committee that is not in accordance with the regulations of this subpart; or
(2) Require a county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.
(d) No provision or delegation to a State or county FSA committee will preclude the FSA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (Deputy Administrator), or a designee of such, from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county FSA committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs may authorize state and county committees to waive or modify nonstatutory deadlines or other program requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such does not adversely affect the operation of the program.
§ 760.1102 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart.
Adult beef bull means a male beef bovine animal that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Adult beef cow means a female beef bovine animal that had delivered one or more offspring before the disaster period. A first-time bred beef heifer is also considered an adult beef cow if it was pregnant on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Adult buffalo and beefalo bull means a male animal of those breeds that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Adult buffalo and beefalo cow means a female animal of those breeds that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the applicable disaster period. A first-time bred buffalo or beefalo heifer is also considered to be an adult buffalo or beefalo cow if it was pregnant on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Adult dairy bull means a male dairy bovine breed animal at least 2 years old used primarily for breeding dairy cows on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Adult dairy cow means a female bovine animal used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the applicable disaster period. A first-time bred dairy heifer is also considered an adult dairy cow if it was pregnant on the beginning date of the disaster period.
Agricultural operation means a farming operation.
Application means the “2005/2006/2007 Livestock Compensation Program” form.
Application period means the date established by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs for participants to apply for program benefits.
Disaster period means the applicable disaster period specified in § 760.1001.
Equine animal means a domesticated horse, mule, or donkey.
Goat means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Capra, including Angora goats.
Non-adult beef cattle means a bovine animal that weighed 500 pounds or more on the beginning date of the disaster period, but does not meet the definition of an adult beef cow or bull.
Non-adult buffalo/beefalo means an animal of those breeds that weighed 500 pounds or more on the beginning date of the disaster period, but does not meet the definition of an adult buffalo or beefalo cow or bull.
Non-adult dairy cattle means a bovine livestock, of a breed used for the purpose of providing milk for human consumption, that weighed 500 pounds or more on the beginning date of the disaster period, but does not meet the definition of an adult dairy cow or bull.
Owner means one who had legal ownership of the livestock for which benefits are being requested under this subpart on the beginning date of the applicable disaster period as set forth in § 760.1001.
Poultry means a domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, or goose. Poultry are further delineated by sex, age and purpose of production, as determined by FSA.
Sheep means a domesticated, ruminant mammal of the genus Ovis.
Swine means a domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, and boar. Swine are further delineated by sex and weight as determined by FSA.
§ 760.1103 Eligible livestock and producers.
(a) To be considered eligible livestock to generate benefits under this subpart, livestock must meet all the following conditions:
(1) Be adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, equine, poultry, elk, reindeer, sheep, goats, swine, or deer;
(2) Been physically located in the eligible disaster county on the beginning date of the disaster period;
(3) Been maintained for commercial use as part of the producer’s farming operation on the beginning date of the disaster period; and
(4) Not have been produced and maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation. Such excluded uses include, but are not limited to, wild free roaming animals or animals used for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, roping, hunting, pets, or for show.
(b) To be considered an eligible livestock producer, the participant’s eligible livestock must have been located in the eligible disaster county on the beginning date of the disaster period. To be eligible, also, the livestock producer must have:
(1) Owned or cash-leased eligible livestock on the beginning date of the disaster period (provided that if there is a cash lease, only the cash lessee and not the owner will be eligible); and
(2) Suffered any of the following:
(i) A grazing loss on eligible grazing lands physically located in the eligible disaster county, where the forage was damaged or destroyed by an eligible disaster event, and intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock;
(ii) A loss of feed from forage or feedstuffs physically located in the eligible disaster county, that was mechanically harvested and intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock, that was damaged or destroyed after harvest as the result of an eligible disaster event;
(iii) A loss of feed from purchased forage or feedstuffs physically located in the eligible disaster county, intended for use as feed for the participant’s eligible livestock, that was damaged or destroyed by an eligible disaster event; or
(iv) Increased feed costs incurred in the eligible disaster county, due to an eligible disaster event, to feed the participant’s eligible livestock.
(c) The eligible livestock categories are:
(1) Adult beef cows or bulls;
(2) Non-adult beef cattle;
(3) Adult buffalo or beefalo cows or bulls;
(4) Non-adult buffalo or beefalo;
(5) Adult dairy cows or bulls;
(6) Non-adult dairy cattle;
(7) Goats;
(8) Sheep;
(9) Equine;
(10) Reindeer;
(11) Elk;
(12) Poultry; and
(13) Deer.
(d) Ineligible livestock include, but are not limited to, livestock:
(1) Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot regardless of whether there was a disaster or where such livestock were in a feedlot as part of a participant’s normal business operation, as determined by FSA;
(2) Emus;
(3) Yaks;
(4) Ostriches;
(5) Llamas;
(6) All beef and dairy cattle, and buffalo and beefalo that weighed less than 500 pounds on the beginning date of the disaster period;
(7) Any wild free roaming livestock, including horses and deer;
(8) Livestock produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, including, but not limited to, livestock produced or maintained for recreational purposes, such as:
(i) Roping,
(ii) Hunting,
(iii) Show,
(iv) Pleasure,
(v) Use as pets, or
(vi) Consumption by owner.
§ 760.1104 Application for payment.
(a) To apply for 2005-2007 LCP, an application and required supporting documentation must be submitted to the administrative county FSA office.
(b) The application must be filed during the application period announced by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.
(c) Payments may be made for eligible losses suffered by an eligible livestock producer who is now a deceased individual or is a dissolved entity if a representative who currently has authority to enter into a contract, on behalf of the livestock producer, signs the application for payment. Legal documents showing proof of authority to sign for the deceased individual or dissolved entity must be provided. If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment.
(d) Data furnished by the participant will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data program benefits will not be approved or provided.
(e) A minor child is eligible to apply for program benefits if all eligibility requirements are met and one of the following conditions exists:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred upon the minor by court proceedings or statute;
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the minor’s property, and the applicable program documents are executed by the guardian; or
(3) A bond is furnished under which a surety guarantees any loss incurred for which the minor would be liable had the minor been an adult.
§ 760.1105 Application process.
(a) Participants must submit to FSA:
(1) A completed application in accordance with § 760.1104;
(2) Adequate proof, as determined by FSA, that the feed lost:
(i) Was for the claimed eligible livestock;
(ii) Was lost as a direct result of an eligible disaster event during an eligible disaster period specified in § 760.1001;
(iii) Was lost after January 1, 2005, but before February 28, 2007; and
(iv) Occurred in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested; and
(3) Any other supporting documentation as determined by FSA to be necessary to make a determination of eligibility of the participant. Supporting documents include, but are not limited to: verifiable purchase records; veterinarian records; bank or other loan papers; rendering truck receipts; Federal Emergency Management Agency records; National Guard records; written contracts; production records; Internal Revenue Service records; property tax records; private insurance documents; sales records, and similar documents determined acceptable by FSA.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 760.1106 Payment calculation.
(a) Preliminary, unadjusted LCP payments are calculated for a producer by multiplying the national payment rate for each livestock category, as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, by the number of eligible livestock for the producer in each category. The national payment rate represents the cost of the amount of corn needed to maintain the specific livestock for 30 days, as determined by FSA. As provided in subpart K of this part, a producer may receive benefits for only one of the three program years, 2005, 2006, or 2007. The producer must indicate which year has been chosen. Payments are available only with respect to disaster-related fees losses in the period from January 2, 2005 through February 27, 2007, in eligible counties for losses during the times specified for the disaster periods as specified in § 760.1001(b).
(b) The preliminary LCP payment calculated in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section:
(1) For 2005 LCP provided for under this subpart will be reduced by the amount the participant received for the specific livestock under the Feed Indemnity Program in accordance with subpart D of this part and LCP for the 2005 hurricanes under subpart B of part 1416 of this title; and
(2) For 2006 LCP under this subpart will be reduced by the amount the participant received for the same or similar loss under the Livestock Assistance Grant Program in accordance with subpart H of this part.
(c) Subject to such other limitations as may apply, including those in paragraph (b) of this section, the payment under the 2005-2007 LCP may not exceed for the relevant year chosen by the producer the smaller of either the:
(1) Payment calculated in paragraph (a) of this section for that year; or
(2) Value of the producer’s eligible feed loss, increased feed costs, or forage or grazing loss as determined by FSA for that year.
(d) The actual payment to the producer will be the amount provided for in paragraph (c) of this section subject to the adjustments and limits provided for in this section or in this part.
§ 760.1107 Appeals.
The appeal regulations in parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations made under this subpart.
§ 760.1108 Offsets, assignments, and debt settlement.
(a) Any payment to any participant will be made without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in parts 792 and 1403 of this title apply to payments made under this subpart.
(b) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payments in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments in part 1404 of this chapter.
§ 760.1109 Recordkeeping and inspections.
Participants receiving payments under this subpart or any other person who furnishes information for the purposes of enabling the participant to receive a payment under this subpart must maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting that information for a minimum of 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. Participants receiving payments or any other person who furnishes the information to FSA must allow authorized representatives of USDA and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, and to enter upon, inspect, examine, and make copies of the books or records, and to inspect and verify all applicable livestock and acreage in which the participant has an interest for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by or for the participant.
§ 760.1110 Refunds; joint and several liability.
In the event there is a failure to comply with any term, requirement, or condition for payment or assistance arising under this subpart, and if any refund of a payment to FSA will otherwise become due in connection with this subpart, all payments made in regard to such matter must be refunded to FSA together with interest and late-payment charges as provided for in part 792 of this title, provided that interest will run from the date of the disbursement of the refund to the producer.
Subpart M—2005-2007 Catfish Grant Program
§ 760.1200 Administration.
FSA will administer a limited 2005-2007 CGP to provide assistance to catfish producers in eligible counties that suffered catfish feed and related losses between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2007, that is after January 1, 2005, and before February 28, 2007. Under the 2005-2007 CGP, FSA will provide grants to State governments in those States that have catfish producers that are located in eligible counties and that have agreed to participate in the 2005-2007 CGP. The amount of each grant will be based on the total value of catfish feed and related losses suffered in eligible counties in the subject state. Each State must submit a work plan providing a summary of how the State will implement the 2005-2007 CGP.
§ 760.1201 Application for payment.
Application procedures for 2005-2007 CGP will be as determined by the State governments.
§ 760.1202 Eligible producers.
(a) To be considered an eligible catfish producer, an participant must:
(1) Raise catfish in a controlled environment and be physically located in an eligible county on the beginning date of the disaster period;
(2) Maintain the catfish for commercial use as part of a farming operation;
(3) Have a risk in production of such catfish; and
(4) Have suffered one of the following types of losses relating to catfish feed as a direct result of the county’s disaster event that occurred in that year:
(i) Physical loss of feed that was damaged or destroyed,
(ii) Cost to the extent allowed by FSA, associated with lost feeding days, or
(iii) Cost associated with increased feed prices.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 760.1203 Payment calculation.
(a) Producers must be paid for feed losses of higher costs only for one of the three years, 2005, 2006, or 2007, and the loss must be for eligible catfish feed losses in an eligible county, as determined pursuant to subpart K of this part. Further, the feed loss or higher costs must be caused by the disaster that caused the county to qualify as an eligible county. The loss, moreover, to qualify for payment, must have occurred during the allowable time period provided in this part, namely the period beginning on January 2, 2005 and ending February 27, 2007. The producer must pick the year of the benefits sought.
(b) Subject to all adjustments and limits provided for in this part the amount of assistance provided to each participant from the State will be equal to the smaller of:
(1) Depending on the year chosen by the producer, the value of the participant’s 2005, 2006, or 2007 catfish feed and related losses as a direct result of an eligible disaster event, as determined by the State or
(2) Result of multiplying:
(i) Total tons of catfish feed purchased by the participant in depending on the year chosen by the producer 2005 (entire year), 2006 (entire year), or 2007 (through February 27, 2007, only), times,
(ii) Catfish feed payment rate for 2005, 2006, or 2007, as applicable, as set by FSA.
(c) The catfish feed rate represents 61 percent of the normal cost of a ton of feed for a year divided by six to reflect the normal feeding price for catfish.
Subpart N—Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment Program
§ 760.1301 Administration.
(a) This subpart establishes, subject to the availability of funds, the terms and conditions under which the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payments (DELAP) program as authorized by section 10104 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) will be administered with respect to funds appropriated under Section 748 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Pub. L. 111-80).
(b) The DELAP program will be administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, FSA, and the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA (who is referred to as the “Deputy Administrator” in this part), and will be carried out by FSA’s Price Support Division (PSD) and Kansas City Management Office (KCMO).
(c) FSA representatives do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations of this subpart, except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section.
(d) The State committee will take any action required by the provisions of this subpart that has not been taken by the county committee. The State committee will also:
(1) Correct or require the county committee to correct any action taken by the county committee that is not in compliance with the provisions of this subpart.
(2) Require a county committee to not take an action or implement a decision that is not in compliance with the provisions of this subpart.
(e) No provision or delegation of this subpart to PSD, KCMO, a State committee, or a county committee will preclude the Administrator, FSA, or a designee, from determining any question arising under the program or from reversing or modifying any determination made by PSD, KCMO, a State committee, or a county committee.
(f) The Deputy Administrator may waive or modify non-statutory deadlines and other program requirements of this part in cases where lateness or failure to meet other requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the program. Participants have no right to seek an exception under this provision. The Deputy Administrator’s refusal to consider cases or circumstances or decision not to exercise the discretionary authority of this provision will not be considered an adverse decision and is not appealable.
§ 760.1302 Definitions and acronyms.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title also apply, except where they may conflict with the definitions in this section.
County office or FSA county office means the FSA offices responsible for administering FSA programs in a specific areas, sometimes encompassing more than one county, in a State.
Dairy operation means any person or group of persons who, as a single unit, as determined by FSA, produce and market milk commercially produced from cows, and whose production facilities are located in the United States. In any case, however, dairy operation may be given by the agency the same meaning as the definition of dairy operation as found in part 1430 of this title for other dairy assistance programs.
Department or USDA means the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm programs (DAFP), FSA, or a designee.
Eligible production means milk from cows that was produced during February through July 2009, by a dairy producer in the United States and marketed commercially by a producer in a participating State.
Farm Service Agency or FSA means the Farm Service Agency of the USDA.
Fiscal year or FY means the year beginning October 1 and ending the following September 30. The fiscal year will be designated for this subpart by year reference to the calendar year in which it ends. For example, FY 2009 is from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009 (inclusive).
Marketed commercially means sold to the market to which the dairy operation normally delivers whole milk and receives a monetary amount and in any case this term will be construed to allow the use of MILC records in making DELAP payments.
Milk handler means the marketing agency to or through which the dairy operation commercially markets whole milk.
Milk marketing means a marketing of milk for which there is a verifiable sales or delivery record of milk marketed for commercial use.
Participating State means each of the 50 States in the United States of America, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States.
Payment quantity means the pounds of milk production for which an operation is eligible to be paid under this subpart.
Producer means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, estate, trust association, cooperative, or other business enterprise or other legal entity, as defined in 7 CFR 1400.3, who is, or whose members are, a citizen of or legal resident alien in the United States, and who directly or indirectly, as determined by the Secretary, shares in the risk of producing milk, and who is entitled to a share of the commercial production available for marketing from the dairy operation. This term, and other terms in this subpart, will in any case be applied in a way that allows MILC records to be used to make DELAP payments.
United States means the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Verifiable production records means evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of production marketed commercially by a dairy operation and its producers and that can be verified by FSA through an independent source.
§ 760.1303 Requesting benefits.
(a) If as a dairy operation or producer, your records are currently available in the FSA county office from previous participation in a fiscal year 2009 dairy program administered by FSA, you do not need to request benefits under this subpart to receive payments. FSA will make payments as specified in this subpart to eligible dairy producers based on production data maintained by the FSA county office for the months of February through July 2009.
(b) If records are not available in the FSA county office, dairy producers may request benefits. The request for benefits may be a letter or email; no specific form is required.
(1) Submit your request for DELAP to: Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, USDA, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0512; Attention: DELAP Program. Or you may send your request for DELAP via fax to (202) 690-1536 or e-mail to [email protected].
(2) The complete request as described in this subpart must be received by FSA by the close of business on January 19, 2010.
(3) The complete request for benefits must include all of the following:
(i) The name and location of the dairy operation;
(ii) Contact information for the dairy operation, including telephone number;
(iii) Name, percentage share, and tax identification number for the entity or individual producer’s receiving a share of the payment; and
(iv) Proof of production (acceptable documentation as specified in § 760.1305).
(4) Requests for benefits and related documents not provided to FSA as required by this subpart, will not be approved.
(5) If not already provided and available to FSA, the dairy producer or dairy operation must provide documentation to support:
(i) The amount (quantity in pounds) of milk produced by the dairy operation during the months of February 2009 through July 2009;
(ii) Percentage share of milk production during February through July 2009 attributed to each producer in the dairy operation; and
(iii) Average adjusted gross income for each individual or entity with a share in the operation and any additional entities or individuals as needed to apply the adjusted gross income rules of these regulations.
(6) Each dairy producer requesting benefits under this subpart is responsible for providing accurate and truthful information and any supporting documentation. If the dairy operation provides the required information, each dairy producer who shares in the risk of a dairy operation’s total production is responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of the information submitted for the request for benefits before the request will be considered complete. Providing a false statement, request, or certification to the Government may be punishable by imprisonment, fines, other penalties, or sanctions.
(c) All information provided by the dairy producer or dairy operation is subject to verification, spot check, and audit by FSA. Further verification information may be obtained from the dairy operation’s milk handler or marketing cooperative if necessary for FSA to verify provided information. Refusal to allow FSA or any other USDA agency to verify any information provided or the inability of FSA to verify such information will result in a determination of ineligibility for benefits under this subpart.
(d) Data furnished by dairy producers and dairy operations, subject to verification, will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Although participation in the DELAP program is voluntary, program benefits will not be provided unless a producer or operation furnishes all requested data or such data is already recorded at the FSA county office.
§ 760.1304 Eligibility.
(a) Payment under DELAP will only be made to producers, but the dairy “operation” must first qualify its production within limits provided for in this subpart in order to have the individuals or entities that qualify as “producers” receive payment subject to whatever additional limits (such as the adjusted gross income provisions of these regulations) apply. As needed the agency may construe the terms of this regulation in any manner needed to facilitate and expedite payments using existing data and records from other assistance programs. Further, those parties (State and local governments and their political subdivisions and related agencies) excluded from the MILC program will not be eligible for DELAP payments notwithstanding any other provision of these regulation. That said, to be eligible to receive payments under this subpart, a dairy producer in the United States must:
(1) Have produced milk in the United States and commercially marketed the milk produced any time during February 2009 through July 2009;
(2) Be a producer, as defined in § 760.1302;
(3) Provide FSA with proof of milk production commercially marketed by all dairy producers in the dairy operation during February 2009 through July 2009; and
(4) Submit an accurate and complete request for benefits as specified in § 760.1303, if production data is not available in the FSA county office.
(b) To be eligible to receive a payment, each producer in an eligible dairy operation must meet the average adjusted gross income eligibility requirements of 7 CFR part 1400. No person or entity will be eligible to receive any payment or direct or indirect benefit under this subpart if their annual average adjusted nonfarm income is over $500,000 as determined under 7 CFR part 1400. In the case of indirect benefits, direct benefits to other parties will be reduced accordingly. This will mean that all of the attribution rules of part 1400 will apply. For example if Individual A is over the limit and owns 100 percent of Corporation C which had a 20 percent interest in Corporation B which had a 50 percent interest in milk producer Corporation A, the AGI of Individual A would result in a 10 percent (100 percent times 20 percent times 50 percent) loss in benefits to Corporation A. For DELAP, the relevant period for the annual average adjusted nonfarm income is 2005 through 2007.
(1) Individual dairy producers in a dairy operation that is an entity are only eligible for a payment based on their share of the dairy operation.
(2) No payment will be made to any other producer based on the share of any dairy producer who exceeds the income limit or who, because of the attribution rules, has their payment reduced.
§ 760.1305 Proof of production.
(a) Dairy producers requesting benefits must, as required by this subpart, provide adequate proof of the dairy operation’s eligible production during the months of February through July 2009, if those records are not already available at the FSA county office. The dairy operation must also provide proof that the eligible production was also commercially marketed during the same period.
(b) To be eligible for payment, dairy producers marketing milk during February through July 2009 must provide any required supporting documents to assist FSA in verifying production. Supporting documentation may be provided by either the dairy producer or by the dairy operation for each of its producers. Examples of supporting documentation may include, but are not limited to: Milk marketing payment stubs, tank records, milk handler records, daily milk marketings, copies of any payments received as compensation from other sources, or any other documents available to confirm the production and production history of the dairy operation. Dairy operations and producers may also be required to allow FSA to examine the herd of cattle as production evidence. If supporting documentation requested is not presented to FSA, the request for benefits will be denied.
§ 760.1306 Availability of funds.
(a) Payments under this subpart are subject to the availability of funds. The total available program funds are $290,000,000.
(b) FSA will prorate the available funds by a national factor to ensure payments do not exceed $290,000,000. The payment will be made based on the national payment rate as determined by FSA. FSA will prorate the payments based on the amount of milk production eligible for payments in a fair and reasonable manner.
(c) A reserve will be created to handle new applications, appeals, and errors.
§ 760.1307 Dairy operation payment quantity.
(a) A dairy operation’s payment quantity (the quantity of milk on which the “operation” can generate payments for “producers” involved in the operation) will be determined by FSA, based on the pounds of production of commercially marketed milk during the months of February 2009 through July 2009, multiplied by two.
(b) The maximum payment quantity for which a dairy operation can generate payments for its dairy producers under this subpart will be 6,000,000 pounds.
(c) The dairy operation’s payment quantity will be used to determine the amount of DELAP payments made to dairy producers.
§ 760.1308 Payment rate.
(a) A national per-hundredweight payment rate will be calculated by dividing the available funding, less a reserve established by FSA, by the total pounds of eligible production approved for payment.
(b) Each eligible dairy producer’s payment with respect to an operation will be calculated by multiplying the payment rate determined in paragraph (a) of this section by the dairy producer’s share in the dairy operation’s eligible production payment quantity as determined in accordance with section § 760.1307.
(c) In the event that approval of all eligible requests for benefits would result in expenditures in excess of the amount available, FSA will reduce the payment rate in a manner that FSA determines to be fair and reasonable.
§ 760.1309 Appeals.
The appeal regulations set forth at 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 apply to determinations made under this subpart.
§ 760.1310 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
(a) In addition to other penalties, sanctions or remedies as may apply, a dairy producer or operation will be ineligible to receive benefits under this subpart if the producer or operation is determined by FSA to have:
(1) Adopted any scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of this subpart;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation; or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination.
(b) Any payment to any person or operation engaged in a misrepresentation, scheme, or device, must be refunded with interest together with such other sums as may become due. Any dairy operation or person engaged in acts prohibited by this section and receiving payment under this subpart will be jointly and severally liable with other producers or operations involved in such claim for benefits for any refund due under this section and for related charges. The remedies provided in this subpart will be in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies that may apply.
§ 760.1311 Death, incompetence, or disappearance.
(a) In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of a person or the dissolution of an entity that is eligible to receive benefits in accordance with this subpart, such alternate person or persons specified in 7 CFR part 707 may receive such benefits, as determined appropriate by FSA.
(b) Payments may be made to an otherwise eligible dairy producer who is now deceased or to a dissolved entity if a representative who currently has authority to enter into an application for the producer or the producer’s estate makes the request for benefits as specified in § 760.1303. Proof of authority over the deceased producer’s estate or a dissolved entity must be provided.
(c) If a dairy producer is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must be identified in the request for benefits.
§ 760.1312 Maintaining records.
(a) Persons requesting benefits under this subpart must maintain records and accounts to document all eligibility requirements specified in this subpart. Such records and accounts must be retained for 3 years after the date of payment to the dairy producer under this subpart.
(b) Destruction of the records after 3 years from the date of payment will be at the decision and risk of the party undertaking the destruction.
§ 760.1313 Refunds; joint and several liability.
(a) Any dairy producer that receives excess payment, payment as the result of erroneous information provided by any person, or payment resulting from a failure to comply with any requirement or condition for payment under this subpart, must refund the amount of that payment to FSA.
(b) Any refund required will be due from the date of the disbursement by the agency with interest determined in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section and late payment charges as provided in 7 CFR part 1403.
(c) Each dairy producer that has an interest in the dairy operation will be jointly and severally liable for any refund and related charges found to be due to FSA.
(d) Interest will be applicable to any refunds to FSA required in accordance with 7 CFR parts 792 and 1403. Such interest will be charged at the rate that the U.S. Department of the Treasury charges FSA for funds, and will accrue from the date FSA made the payment to the date the refund is repaid.
(e) FSA may waive the accrual of interest if it determines that the cause of the erroneous payment was not due to any action of the person or entity, or was beyond the control of the person or entity committing the violation. Any waiver is at the discretion of FSA alone.
§ 760.1314 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) Offset. FSA may offset or withhold any amount due to FSA from any benefit provided under this subpart in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 1403.
(b) Claims. Claims or debts will be settled in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 1403.
(c) Other interests. Payments or any portion thereof due under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the milk production, or proceeds thereof, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government.
(d) Assignments. Any dairy producer entitled to any payment under this part may assign any payments in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR part 1404.
(e) Violations of highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions. The provisions of part 12 of this title apply to this subpart. That part sets out certain conservation requirements as a general condition for farm benefits.
(f) Violations regarding controlled substances. The provisions of § 718.6 of this title, which generally limit program payment eligibility for persons who have engaged in certain offenses with respect to controlled substances, will apply to this subpart.
Subpart O—Agricultural Disaster Indemnity Programs
§ 760.1500 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies the terms and conditions for the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) and the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+).
(b) The 2017 WHIP provides disaster assistance for necessary expenses related to crop, tree, bush, and vine losses related to the consequences of wildfires, hurricanes, and Tropical Storm Cindy that occurred in calendar year 2017, and for losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017 due to extreme cold, and blueberry productivity losses in calendar year 2018 due to extreme cold and hurricane damage in calendar year 2017.
(c) WHIP+ provides disaster assistance for necessary expenses related to losses of crops, trees, bushes, and vines, as a consequence of Hurricanes Michael and Florence, other hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, wildfires, excessive moisture, and qualifying drought occurring in calendar years 2018 and 2019.
§ 760.1501 Administration.
(a) Programs under this subpart are administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA. Programs under this subpart are carried out by FSA State and county committees with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) FSA State and county committees, and representatives and their employees, do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this subpart or instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) The FSA State committee will take any action required by the regulations in this subpart that the FSA county committee has not taken. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require an FSA county committee to correct, any action taken by the FSA county committee that is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart; or
(2) Require an FSA county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.
(d) No delegation to an FSA State or county committee precludes the FSA Administrator, the Deputy Administrator, or a designee, from determining any question arising under this subpart or from reversing or modifying any determination made by an FSA State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator has the authority to permit State and county committees to waive or modify a non-statutory deadline specified in this part.
(f) Items of general applicability to program participants, including, but not limited to, application periods, application deadlines, internal operating guidelines issued to FSA State and county offices, prices, yields, and payment factors established under this subpart, are not subject to appeal in accordance with part 780 of this chapter.
§ 760.1502 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in §§ 718.2 and 1400.3 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section. In the event of conflict, the definitions in this section apply.
2017 WHIP factor means the factor in § 760.1511, determined by the Deputy Administrator, that is based on the crop insurance or NAP coverage level elected by the 2017 WHIP participant for a crop for which a payment is being requested; or, as applicable, the factor that applies for a crop of a crop year where the participant had no insurance or NAP coverage.
2017 WHIP yield means, for a unit:
(1) For an insured crop, excluding crops located in Puerto Rico, the approved federal crop insurance APH, for the disaster year;
(2) For a NAP covered crop, excluding crops located in Puerto Rico, the approved yield for the disaster year;
(3) For a crop located in Puerto Rico or an uninsured crop, excluding citrus crops located in Florida, the county expected yield for the disaster year; and
(4) For citrus crops located in Florida, the yield based on documentation submitted according to § 760.1511(c)(3), or if documentation is not submitted, the county expected yield.
Actual production means the total quantity of the crop appraised, harvested, or assigned, as determined by the FSA State or county committee in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
Administrative county office means the FSA county office designated to make determinations, handle official records, and issue payments for the farm as specified in accordance part 718 of this title.
Appraised production means the amount of production determined by FSA, or a company reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), that was unharvested but was determined to reflect the crop’s yield potential at the time of appraisal.
Approved yield means the amount of production per acre, computed as specified in FCIC’s Actual Production History (APH) Program in part 400, subpart G of this title or, for crops not included in part 400, subpart G of this title, the yield used to determine the guarantee. For crops covered under NAP, the approved yield is established according to part 1437 of this title.
Average adjusted gross farm income means the average of the portion of adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity that is attributable to activities related to farming, ranching, or forestry. The relevant tax years are:
(1) For 2017 WHIP, 2013, 2014, and 2015; and
(2) For WHIP+, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Average adjusted gross income means the average of the adjusted gross income as defined under 26 U.S.C. 62 or comparable measure of the person or legal entity. The relevant tax years are:
(1) For 2017 WHIP, 2013, 2014, and 2015; and
(2) For WHIP+, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Bush means, a low, branching, woody plant, from which at maturity of the bush, an annual fruit or vegetable crop is produced for commercial market for human consumption, such as a blueberry bush. The definition does not cover nursery stock or plants that produce a bush after the normal crop is harvested.
Buy-up NAP coverage means NAP coverage at a payment amount that is equal to an indemnity amount calculated for buy-up coverage computed under section 508(c) or (h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act and equal to the amount that the buy-up coverage yield for the crop exceeds the actual yield for the crop.
Catastrophic coverage has the meaning as defined in § 1437.3 of this title.
Citrus crops and citrus trees include grapefruit, lemon, lime, Mandarin, Murcott, orange (all types), pummelo (pomelo), tangelo, tangerine, tangor.
County disaster yield means the average yield per acre calculated for a county or part of a county for the applicable crop year based on disaster events, and is intended to reflect the amount of production that a participant would have been expected to make based on the eligible disaster conditions in the county or area, as determined by the FSA county committee in accordance with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
County expected yield has the meaning assigned in § 1437.102(b) of this title.
Coverage level means the percentage determined by multiplying the elected yield percentage under a crop insurance policy or NAP coverage by the elected price percentage.
Crop insurance means an insurance policy reinsured by FCIC under the provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended. It does not include private plans of insurance.
Crop insurance indemnity means, for the purpose of this subpart, the payment to a participant for crop losses covered under crop insurance administered by RMA in accordance with the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Crop year means:
(1) For insurable crops, trees, bushes, and vines, the crop year as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP eligible crops, the crop year as defined in § 1437.3 of this title;
(3) For uninsurable trees, bushes, and vines, the calendar year in which the qualifying disaster event occurred.
Damage factor means a percentage of the value lost when a tree, bush, or vine is damaged and requires rehabilitation but is not completely destroyed, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Eligible crop means a crop for which coverage was available either from FCIC under part 400 of this title, or through NAP under § 1437.4 of this title, that was affected by a qualifying disaster event.
Eligible disaster event means a disaster event that was:
(1) For insured crops, an eligible cause of loss under the applicable crop insurance policy for the crop year;
(2) For NAP covered crops and uninsured crops, an eligible cause of loss as specified in § 1437.10 of this title.
End use means the purpose for which the harvested crop is used, such as grain, hay, or seed.
Expected production means, for an agricultural unit, the historic yield multiplied by the number of planted or prevented planted acres of the crop for the unit.
FCIC means the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned Government Corporation of USDA, administered by RMA.
Final planting date means the latest date, established by RMA for insurable crops, by which the crop must initially be planted in order to be insured for the full production guarantee or amount of insurance per acre. For NAP eligible crops, the final planting date is as defined in § 1437.3 of this title.
Growth stage means a classification system for trees, bushes, and vines based on a combination of age and production capability, determined by:
(1) The applicable insurance policy for insurable trees, bushes, and vines; or
(2) The Deputy Administrator for trees, bushes, and vines for which RMA does not offer an insurance policy.
Harvested means:
(1) For insurable crops, harvested as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP eligible single harvest crops, that a crop has been removed from the field, either by hand or mechanically;
(3) For NAP eligible crops with potential multiple harvests in 1 year or harvested over multiple years, that the producer has, by hand or mechanically, removed at least one mature crop from the field during the crop year;
(4) For mechanically-harvested NAP eligible crops, that the crop has been removed from the field and placed in a truck or other conveyance, except hay is considered harvested when in the bale, whether removed from the field or not. Grazed land will not be considered harvested for the purpose of determining an unharvested or prevented planting payment factor.
Insurable crop means an agricultural crop (excluding livestock) for which the producer on a farm is eligible to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Multi-use crop means a crop intended for more than one end use during the crop year such as grass harvested for seed, hay, and grazing.
Multiple cropping means the planting of two or more different crops on the same acreage for harvest within the same crop year.
Multiple planting means the planting for harvest of the same crop in more than one planting period in a crop year on different acreage.
NASS means the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
NAP means the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) and part 1437 of this title.
NAP covered crop means a crop for which the producer on a farm obtained NAP coverage.
NAP eligible crop means an agricultural crop for which the producer on a farm is eligible to obtain NAP coverage.
NAP service fee means the amount the producer must pay to obtain NAP coverage.
Planted acreage means land in which seed, plants, or trees have been placed, appropriate for the crop and planting method, at a correct depth, into a seedbed that has been properly prepared for the planting method and production practice normal to the USDA plant hardiness zone as determined by the county committee.
Prevented planting means the inability to plant an eligible crop with proper equipment during the planting period as a result of an eligible cause of loss, as determined by FSA.
Price means price per unit of the crop or commodity and will be:
(1) For an insured crop under a crop insurance policy that establishes a price, and under WHIP+, the price for a crop for which the producer obtained a revenue plan of insurance is the greater of the projected price or the harvest price to determine liability, that established price;
(2) For an insured crop under a crop insurance policy that does not establish a price to determine crop insurance liability, the county average price, as determined by FSA;
(3) For a NAP covered crop or uninsured crop, the average market price determined in § 1437.12 of this title; or
(4) For a tree, bush, or vine, the price determined by the Deputy Administrator based on the species of tree, bush, or vine and its growth stage.
Production means quantity of the crop or commodity produced expressed in a specific unit of measure including, but not limited to, bushels or pounds. Production under this subpart includes all harvested production, unharvested appraised production, and assigned production for the total planted acreage of the crop on the unit.
Qualifying disaster event means:
(1) For 2017 WHIP, a hurricane, wildfire, or Tropical Storm Cindy or related condition that occurred in the 2017 calendar year; extreme cold in calendar year 2017 for losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017; and extreme cold and hurricane damage in calendar year 2017 for blueberry productivity losses in calendar year 2018; and
(2) For WHIP+, a hurricane, flood, tornado, typhoon, volcanic activity, snowstorm, wildfire, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, or related condition that occurred in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year.
Qualifying drought means an area within the county was rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D3 (extreme drought) or higher level of drought intensity during the applicable calendar year.
Related condition means damaging weather or an adverse natural occurrence that occurred as a direct result of a specified qualifying disaster event, as determined by FSA, such as excessive rain, high winds, flooding, mudslides, and heavy smoke, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Repeat crop means, with respect to production, a commodity that is planted or prevented from being planted in more than one planting period on the same acreage in the same crop year.
RMA means the Risk Management Agency.
Salvage value means the dollar amount or equivalent for the quantity of the commodity that cannot be marketed or sold in any recognized market for the crop.
Secondary use means the harvesting of a crop for a use other than the intended use.
Secondary use value means the value determined by multiplying the quantity of secondary use times the FSA-established price for that use.
Tree means a tall, woody plant having comparatively great height, and a single trunk from which an annual crop is produced for commercial market for human consumption, such as a maple tree for syrup, or papaya or orchard tree for fruit. It includes immature trees that are intended for commercial purposes. Nursery stock, banana and plantain plants, and trees used for pulp or timber are not considered eligible trees under this subpart.
Tropical crops is defined in § 1437.501 of this title.
Tropical region is defined in § 1437.502 of this title.
Unharvested payment factor means a percentage established by FSA for a crop and applied in a payment formula to reduce the payment for reduced expenses incurred because commercial harvest was not performed.
Uninsured means a crop that was not covered by crop insurance or NAP for the crop year for which a payment is being requested under this subpart.
Unit means, unless otherwise determined by the Deputy Administrator, basic unit as defined in part 457 or § 1437.9 of this title, for ornamental nursery production, includes all eligible plant species and sizes.
Unit of measure means:
(1) For insurable crops, the FCIC-established unit of measure; and
(2) For NAP eligible crops, the established unit of measure used for the NAP price and yield.
USDA means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone means the 11 regions or planting zones as defined by a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature.
U.S. drought monitor is a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought. It is a collaborative effort between Federal and academic partners, produced on a weekly basis, to synthesize multiple indices, outlooks, and drought impacts on a map and in narrative form. This synthesis of indices is reported by the National Drought Mitigation Center at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Value loss crop has the meaning specified in subpart D, of part 1437 of this title.
Vine means a perennial plant grown under normal conditions from which an annual fruit crop is produced for commercial market for human consumption, such as grape, kiwi, or passion fruit, and that has a flexible stem supported by climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface. Nursery stock, perennials that are normally propagated as annuals such as tomato plants, biennials such as strawberry plants, and annuals such as pumpkin, squash, cucumber, watermelon, and other melon plants, are excluded from the term vine in this subpart.
WHIP+ factor means the factor in § 760.1511, determined by the Deputy Administrator, that is based on the crop insurance or NAP coverage level elected by the WHIP+ participant for a crop for which a payment is being requested; or, as applicable, the factor that applies for a crop during a crop year in which the participant had no insurance or NAP coverage.
WHIP+ yield means, for a unit:
(1) For an insured crop, excluding crops located in Puerto Rico, the approved federal crop insurance APH, for the crop year;
(2) For a NAP covered crop, excluding crops located in Puerto Rico, the approved yield for the crop year;
(3) For a crop located in Puerto Rico or an uninsured crop, excluding select crops, the county expected yield for the crop year; and
(4) For select crops, the yield based on documentation submitted according to § 760.1511(c)(3), or if documentation is not submitted, the county expected yield.
Yield means unit of production, measured in bushels, pounds, or other unit of measure, per area of consideration, usually measured in acres.
§ 760.1503 Eligibility.
(a) Participants will be eligible to receive a payment under this subpart only if they incurred a loss to an eligible crop, tree, bush, or vine due to a qualifying disaster event, as further specified in this subpart.
(b) To be an eligible participant under this subpart a producer who is a person or legal entity must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien; for purposes of this subpart, resident alien means “lawful alien;”
(3) Partnership consisting of solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens; or
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens.
(c) If any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment dies before the payment is received, payment may be released as specified in § 707.3 of this title. Similarly, if any person or legal entity who would otherwise been eligible to apply for a payment dies or is dissolved, respectively, before the payment is applied for, payment may be released in accordance with this subpart if a timely application is filed by an authorized representative. Proof of authority to sign for the deceased producer or dissolved entity must be provided. If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application for payment. Eligibility of such participant will be determined, as it is for other participants, based upon ownership share and risk in producing the crop.
(d) Growers growing eligible crops under contract for crop owners are not eligible unless the grower is also determined to have an ownership share of the crop. Any verbal or written contract that precludes the grower from having an ownership share renders the grower ineligible for payments under this subpart.
(e) A person or legal entity is not eligible to receive disaster assistance under this subpart if it is determined by FSA that the person or legal entity:
(1) Adopted any scheme or other device that tends to defeat the purpose of this subpart or any of the regulations applicable to this subpart;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation; or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination under any or all of the following: This subpart and parts 12, 400, 1400, and 1437 of this title.
(g) A person ineligible for crop insurance or NAP under §§ 400.458 or 1437.16 of this title, respectively, for any year is ineligible for payments under this subpart for the same year.
(h) The provisions of § 718.11 of this title, providing for ineligibility for payments for offenses involving controlled substances, apply.
(i) As a condition of eligibility to receive payments under this subpart, the participant must have been in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions of part 12 of this title for the applicable crop year for which the producer is applying for benefits under this subpart, and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving payments under parts 12, 400, 1400, or 1437 of this title or any law.
(j) Members of cooperative processors are not eligible for WHIP+ assistance for sugar beet losses.
§ 760.1504 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) All persons with a financial interest in the legal entity receiving payments under this subpart are jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, which is determined to be due to FSA for any reason.
(b) In the event that any application for payment under this subpart resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the payment will be recalculated and any excess refunded to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement.
(c) Any payment to any participant under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in part 792 of this chapter apply to payments made under this subpart.
(d) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment(s) in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments in part 792 of this chapter.
(e) The regulations in parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations under this subpart.
§ 760.1505 General provisions.
(a) For loss calculations, the participant’s unit structure will be:
(1) For an insured crop, the participant’s existing unit structure established in accordance with part 457 of this title;
(2) For a crop with NAP coverage, the participant’s existing unit structure established in accordance with part 1437 of this title;
(3) For an uninsured crop, the participant’s unit structure established in accordance with part 1437 of this title.
(b) FSA county committees will make the necessary adjustments to assign production or reduce the 2017 WHIP yield or WHIP+ yield when the county committee determines:
(1) An acceptable appraisal or record of harvested production does not exist;
(2) The loss is due to an ineligible cause of loss;
(3) The loss is due to practices, soil type, climate, or other environmental factors that cause lower yields than those upon which the historic yield is based;
(4) The participant has a contract providing a guaranteed payment for all or a portion of the crop; or
(5) The crop was planted beyond the normal planting period for the crop.
(c) Assignment of production or reduction in yield will apply for practices that result in lower yields than those for which the historic yield is based.
(d) Eligibility and payments under this subpart will be determined based on a unit’s:
(1) Physical location county for insured crops; and
(2) Administrative county for NAP covered crops and uninsured crops.
(e) FSA may separate or combine types and varieties as a crop for eligibility and payment purposes under this subpart when specific credible information as determined by FSA shows the crop of a specific type or variety has a significantly different or similar value, respectively, when compared to other types or varieties, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(f) Unless otherwise specified, all the eligibility provisions of part 1437 of this title apply to value loss crops and tropical crops under this subpart.
(g) The quantity or value of a crop will not be reduced for any quality consideration unless a zero value is established based on a total loss of quality, except as specified in § 760.1513(i).
(h) FSA will use the most reliable data available at the time payments under this subpart are calculated. If additional data or information is provided or becomes available after a payment is issued, FSA will recalculate the payment amount and the producer must return any overpayment amount to FSA. In all cases, payments can only issue based on the payment formula for losses that affirmatively occurred.
(i) A participant who received a payment for a loss under 2017 WHIP cannot:
(1) Be paid for the same loss under WHIP+; or
(2) Refund the 2017 WHIP payment to be eligible for payment for that loss under WHIP+.
§ 760.1506 Availability of funds and timing of payments.
(a) For 2017 WHIP:
(1) An initial payment will be issued for 50 percent of each 2017 WHIP payment calculated according to this subpart, as determined by the Secretary. The remainder of the calculated 2017 WHIP payment will be paid to a participant only after the application period has ended and any crop insurance indemnity or NAP payment the participant is entitled to receive for the crop has been calculated and reported to FSA, and then only if there are funds available for such payment as discussed in this subpart.
(2) In the event that, within the limits of the funding made available by the Secretary, approval of eligible applications would result in payments in excess of the amount available, FSA will prorate payments by a national factor to reduce the payments to an amount that is less than available funds as determined by the Secretary. FSA will prorate the payments in such manner as it determines equitable.
(3) Applications and claims that are unpaid or prorated for any reason will not be carried forward for payment under other funds for later years or otherwise, but will be considered, as to any unpaid amount, void and nonpayable.
(b) For WHIP:
(1) For the 2018 crop year, the calculated WHIP+ payment will be paid at 100 percent.
(2) For the 2019 and 2020 crop years, an initial payment will be issued for 50 percent of each WHIP+ payment calculated according to this subpart, as determined by the Secretary. Up to the remaining 50 percent of the calculated WHIP+ payment will be paid only to the extent that there are funds available for such payment as discussed in this subpart.
(3) In the event that, within the limits of the funding made available by the Secretary, approval of eligible applications would result in payments in excess of the amount available, FSA will prorate 2019 and 2020 payments by a national factor to reduce the payments to the remaining available funds, as determined by the Secretary. FSA will prorate the payments accordingly.
(4) Applications and claims that are unpaid or prorated for aforementioned reasons of fund availability will not be carried forward for payment and will be considered, as to any unpaid amount, void and non-payable.
§ 760.1507 Payment limitation.
(a) For any 2017 WHIP payments for the 2017 or 2018 crop year combined, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly, 2017 WHIP payments of not more than:
(1) $125,000, if less than 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income is average adjusted gross farm income; or
(2) $900,000, if not less than 75 percent of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity is average adjusted gross farm income.
(b) For any WHIP+ payments, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly, WHIP+ payments of not more than:
(1) $125,000 combined for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years, if less than 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income is average adjusted gross farm income; or
(2) $250,000 for each of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years, if 75 percent or more of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity is average adjusted gross farm income, and such payments cannot exceed a total of $500,000 combined for all of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years.
(c) A person or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income and average adjusted gross farm income are determined based on the:
(1) 2013, 2014, and 2015 tax years for 2017 WHIP;
(2) 2015, 2016, and 2017 tax years for WHIP+.
(d) To be eligible for more than $125,000 in payments for the applicable period specified in this section, a person or legal entity must submit FSA-892 and provide a certification in the manner prescribed by FSA from a certified public accountant or attorney that at least 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income was average adjusted gross farm income. Persons or legal entities who fail to provide FSA-892 and the required certification may not receive a 2017 WHIP payment, directly or indirectly, of more than $125,000.
(e) The direct attribution provisions in part 1400 of this chapter apply to payments under this subpart for both payment limitation as well as in determining average AGI as defined and used in this rule.
§ 760.1508 Qualifying disaster events.
(a) A producer will be eligible for payments under this subpart for a crop, tree, bush, or vine loss only if the producer suffered a loss to the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit due to a qualifying disaster event.
(b) For a loss due to hurricane and conditions related to hurricanes, the crop, tree, bush, or vine loss must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:
(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a hurricane occurring in the 2017 calendar year; or
(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a hurricane occurring in the 2017 calendar year.
(c) A producer with crop, tree, bush, or vine losses on acreage not located in a physical location county that was eligible under paragraph (b) of this section will be eligible for 2017 WHIP for losses due to hurricane and related conditions only if the producer provides supporting documentation that is acceptable to FSA from which the FSA county committee determines that the loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
(d) For a loss due to wildfires and conditions related to wildfire in the 2017 calendar year, all counties where wildfires occurred, as determined by FSA county committees, are eligible for 2017 WHIP; a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation for wildfire is not required. The loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine must be reasonably related to wildfire and conditions related to wildfire, as specified in this subpart’s definition of qualifying disaster event.
(e) For WHIP+, for a loss due to a qualifying disaster event, the crop, tree, bush, or vine loss must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:
(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years; or
(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years.
(f) A producer with crop, tree, bush, or vine losses on acreage not located in a physical location county that was eligible under paragraph (e) of this section will be eligible for WHIP+ for losses due to qualifying disaster events only if the producer provides supporting documentation that is acceptable to FSA from which the FSA county committee determines that the loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
§ 760.1509 Eligible and ineligible losses.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section, to be eligible for payments under this subpart the unit must have suffered a loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine, or prevented planting of a crop, due to a qualifying disaster event.
(b) A loss will not be eligible under this subpart if any of the following apply:
(1) The cause of loss is determined by FSA to be the result of poor management decisions, poor farming practices, or drifting herbicides;
(2) The cause of loss was due to failure of the participant to re-seed or replant to the same crop in a county where it is customary to re-seed or replant after a loss before the final planting date;
(3) The cause of loss was due to water contained or released by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project if an easement exists on the acreage affected by the containment or release of the water;
(4) The cause of loss was due to conditions or events occurring outside of the applicable growing season for the crop, tree, bush, or vine;
(5) The cause of loss was due to failure of a power supply or brownout; or
(6) FSA or RMA have previously disapproved a notice of loss for the crop and disaster event unless that notice of loss was disapproved solely because it was filed after the applicable deadline.
(c) The following types of loss, regardless of whether they were the result of an eligible disaster event, are not eligible losses:
(1) Losses to crops intended for grazing;
(2) Losses to crops for which FCIC coverage or NAP coverage is unavailable;
(3) Losses to volunteer crops;
(4) Losses to crops not intended for harvest;
(5) Losses of by-products resulting from processing or harvesting a crop, such as, but not limited to, cotton seed, peanut shells, wheat or oat straw, or corn stalks or stovers;
(6) Losses to home gardens;
(7) Losses of first year seeding for forage production, or immature fruit crops; or
(8) Losses to crops that occur after harvest.
(d) The following losses of ornamental nursery stock are not eligible losses:
(1) Losses caused by the inability to market nursery stock as a result of lack of compliance with State and local commercial ordinances and laws, quarantine, boycott, or refusal of a buyer to accept production;
(2) Losses affecting crops where weeds and other forms of undergrowth in the vicinity of nursery stock have not been controlled; or
(3) Losses caused by the collapse or failure of buildings or structures.
(e) The following losses for honey, as a crop, where the honey production by colonies or bees was diminished, are not eligible losses:
(1) Losses caused by the unavailability of equipment or the collapse or failure of equipment or apparatus used in the honey operation;
(2) Losses caused by improper storage of honey;
(3) Losses caused by bee feeding;
(4) Losses caused by the application of chemicals;
(5) Losses caused by theft;
(6) Losses caused by the movement of bees by or for the participant;
(7) Losses caused by disease or pest infestation of the colonies, unless approved by the Deputy Administrator;
(8) Losses of income from pollinators; or
(9) Losses of equipment or facilities.
(f) Qualifying losses for trees, bushes, and vines will not include losses:
(1) That could have been prevented through reasonable and available measures; and
(2) To trees, bushes, or vines that were abandoned or were not in use or intended for commercial operation at the time of the loss.
§ 760.1510 Application for payment.
(a) An application for payment under this subpart must be submitted to the FSA county office serving as the farm’s administrative county office by the close of business on October 30, 2020. Producers must submit:
(1) For 2017 WHIP, a completed form FSA-890, Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Application; or
(2) For WHIP+, a completed form FSA-894, Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program + Application.
(b) Once signed by a producer, the application for payment is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the producer regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(c) The producer applying for payment under this subpart certifies the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as any documentation filed with or in support of the application. All information is subject to verification or spot check by FSA at any time, either before or after payment is issued. Refusal to allow FSA or any agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in the participant’s forfeiting eligibility for payment under this subpart. FSA may at any time, including before, during, or after processing and paying an application, require the producer to submit any additional information necessary to implement or determine any eligibility provision of this subpart. Furnishing required information is voluntary; however, without it FSA is under no obligation to act on the application or approve payment. Providing a false certification will result in ineligibility and can also be punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties.
(d) The application submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this subpart unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the participant has submitted all of following completed forms and information:
(1) Report of all acreage for the crop for the unit for which payments under this subpart are requested, on FSA-578, Report of Acreage, or in another format acceptable to FSA;
(2) AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation Certification; and
(3) For 2017 WHIP:
(i) FSA-891, Crop Insurance and/or NAP Coverage Agreement;
(ii) FSA-892, Request for an Exception to the WHIP Payment Limitation of $125,000, if the applicant is requesting 2017 WHIP payments in excess of the $125,000 payment limitation; and
(iii) FSA-893, 2018 Citrus Actual Production History and Approved Yield Record, Florida Only, for participants applying for payment for a citrus crop located in Florida;
(4) For WHIP+:
(i) FSA-895, Crop Insurance and/or NAP Coverage Agreement;
(ii) FSA-896, Request for an Exception to the WHIP Payment Limitation of $125,000, if 75 percent or more of an applicant’s average AGI is attributable to activities related to farming, ranching, or forestry and the applicant wants to be eligible to receive WHIP+ payments of more than $125,000, up to the $250,000 payment limitation per crop year, with an overall WHIP+ limit of $500,000; and
(iii) FSA-897, Actual Production History and Approved Yield Record (WHIP+ Select Crops Only), for applicants requesting payments for select crops.
(e) Application approval and payment by FSA does not relieve a participant from having to submit any form required, but not filed, according to paragraph (d) of this section.
§ 760.1511 Calculating payments for yield-based crop losses.
(a) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for a loss to yield-based crops, including losses due to prevented planting, subject to § 760.1514(i) and (j), are determined for a unit by:
(1) Multiplying the eligible acres by the 2017 WHIP yield in paragraph (c) of this section or the WHIP+ yield in paragraph (d) of this section by the price;
(2) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(1) of this section by the applicable 2017 WHIP factor or WHIP+ factor in paragraph (b) of this section;
(3) Multiplying the applicable production in paragraph (d) of this section by the price;
(4) Subtracting the result from paragraph (a)(3) of this section from the result of paragraph (a)(2) of this section;
(5) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(4) of this section by the participant’s share in paragraph (e) of this section;
(6) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(5) of this section by the applicable payment factor in paragraph (g) of this section;
(7) Subtracting the amount of the gross insurance indemnity or NAP payment from the result from paragraph (a)(6) of this section;
(8) Subtracting the secondary use or salvage value of the crop from the result from paragraph (a)(7) of this section; and
(b) If the NAP or crop insurance coverage is at the coverage level listed in the first column, then the 2017 WHIP factor is listed in the second column, and the WHIP+ factor is listed in the third column:
Table 1 to § 760.1511(
| Coverage level | 2017 WHIP factor (percent) | WHIP+ factor (percent) |
|---|---|---|
| (1) No crop insurance or No NAP coverage | 65 | 70 |
| (2) Catastrophic coverage | 70 | 75 |
| (3) More than catastrophic coverage but less than 55 percent | 72.5 | 77.5 |
| (4) At least 55 percent but less than 60 percent | 75 | 80 |
| (5) At least 60 percent but less than 65 percent | 77.5 | 82.5 |
| (6) At least 65 percent but less than 70 percent | 80 | 85 |
| (7) At least 70 percent but less than 75 percent | 85 | 87.5 |
| (8) At least 75 percent but less than 80 percent | 90 | 92.5 |
| (9) At least 80 percent | 95 | 95 |
(c) The 2017 WHIP yield is:
(1) The producer’s APH for insured crops under a crop insurance policy that has an associated yield and for NAP covered crops, excluding all crops located in Puerto Rico;
(2) The county expected yield for crops located in Puerto Rico and uninsured crops, excluding citrus crops located in Florida; or
(3) For uninsured citrus crops located in Florida:
(i) Determined based on information provided on FSA-893 and supported by evidence that meets the requirements of § 760.1513(c), or
(ii) If FSA-893 and supporting documentation are not submitted, the county expected yield.
(d) The WHIP+ yield is:
(1) The producer’s APH for insured crops under a crop insurance policy that has an associated yield and for NAP covered crops, excluding all crops located in Puerto Rico;
(2) The county expected yield for crops located in Puerto Rico and uninsured crops, excluding select crops; or
(3) For select crops:
(i) Determined based on information provided on FSA-897 and supported by evidence that meets the requirements of § 760.1513(c), or
(ii) If FSA-897 and supporting documentation are not submitted, the county expected yield.
(e) The production used to calculate a payment under this subpart will be determined as specified in § 760.1513.
(f) The eligible participant’s share of a payment under this subpart is based on the participant’s ownership entitlement share of the crop or crop proceeds, or, if no crop was produced, the share of the crop the participant would have received if the crop had been produced. If the participant has no ownership share of the crop, the participant is ineligible for payment.
(g) Payment factors will be used to calculate payments for crops produced with significant and variable production and harvesting expenses that are not incurred because the crop acreage was prevented planted, or planted but not harvested, as determined by FSA. The use of payment factors is based on whether the crop acreage was unharvested or prevented planted, not whether a participant actually incurs or does not incur expenses. Payment factors are generally applicable to all similarly situated participants and are not established in response to individual participants. Accordingly established payment factors are not appealable under parts 11 and 780 of this title. A crop that is intended for mechanical harvest, but subsequently grazed and not mechanically harvested, will have an unharvested payment factor applied.
(h) Production from all end uses of a multi-use crop will be calculated separately and summarized together.
§ 760.1512 Production losses; participant responsibility.
(a) For any record submitted along with the certification of production, the record must be either a verifiable or reliable record that substantiates the certification to the satisfaction of the FSA county committee. If the eligible crop was sold or otherwise disposed of through commercial channels, a record of that disposition must be provided to FSA with the certification.
(1) Acceptable production records include:
(i) RMA or NAP records, if accurate and complete;
(ii) Commercial receipts;
(iii) Settlement sheets;
(iv) Warehouse ledger sheets or load summaries; or
(v) Appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA.
(2) If the eligible crop was farm-stored, sold, fed to livestock, or disposed of by means other than verifiable commercial channels, acceptable records for these purposes include:
(i) Truck scale tickets;
(ii) Appraisal information from a loss adjuster acceptable to FSA;
(iii) Contemporaneous reliable diaries; or
(iv) Other documentary evidence, such as contemporaneous reliable measurements.
(3) Determinations of reliability with respect to this paragraph will take into account, as appropriate, the ability for FSA to review and verify or compare the evidence against the similarity of the evidence or reports or data received by FSA for the crop or similar crops. Other factors deemed relevant may also be taken into account.
(b) If RMA or NAP records are not available, or if the FSA county committee determines the RMA or NAP records as reported by the insured or covered participant appear to be questionable or incomplete, or if the FSA county committee makes inquiry, the participant is responsible for:
(1) Retaining and providing, at time of application and whenever required by FSA, the best available verifiable or reliable or other production records for the crop;
(2) Summarizing all the production evidence;
(3) Accounting for the total amount of unit production for the crop, whether or not records reflect this production;
(4) Providing the information in a manner that can be easily understood by the FSA county committee; and
(5) Providing supporting documentation if the FSA county committee has reason to question the disaster event or that all production has been taken into account.
(c) FSA may verify the production evidence submitted with records on file at the warehouse, gin, or other entity that received or may have received the reported production.
(d) Participants must provide all records for any production of a crop that is grown with an arrangement, agreement, or contract for guaranteed payment.
(e) Under WHIP+, participants requesting payments for losses to adulterated wine grapes must submit verifiable sales tickets that document that the reduced price received was due to adulteration due to a qualifying disaster event. For adulterated wine grapes that have not been sold, participants must submit verifiable records obtained by testing or analysis to establish that the wine grapes were adulterated due to a qualifying disaster event and the price they would receive due to adulteration.
§ 760.1513 Determination of production.
(a) The harvested production of eligible crop acreage harvested more than once in a crop year includes the total harvested production from all the harvests in the crop year.
(b) If a crop is appraised and subsequently harvested as the intended use, the actual harvested production must be taken into account to determine payments. FSA will analyze and determine whether a participant’s evidence of actual production represents all that could or would have been harvested.
(c) For all crops eligible for loan deficiency payments or marketing assistance loans (see parts 1421 and 1434 of this title) with an intended use of grain but harvested as silage, ensilage, cabbage, hay, cracked, rolled, or crimped, production will be converted to a whole grain equivalent based on conversion factors as previously established by FSA.
(d) If a participant does not receive compensation based upon the quantity of the commodity delivered to a purchaser, but has an agreement or contract for guaranteed payment for production, the determination of the production will be the greater of the actual production or the guaranteed payment converted to production as determined by FSA.
(e) Production that is commingled between crop years, units, ineligible and eligible acres, or different practices before it was a matter of record or combination of record and cannot be separated by using records or other means acceptable to FSA will be prorated to each respective year, unit, type of acreage, or practice, respectively. Commingled production may be attributed to the applicable unit, if the participant made the unit production of a commodity a matter of record before commingling and does any of the following, as applicable:
(1) Provides copies of verifiable documents showing that production of the commodity was purchased, acquired, or otherwise obtained from beyond the unit;
(2) Had the production measured in a manner acceptable to the FSA county committee; or
(3) Had the current year’s production appraised in a manner acceptable to the FSA county committee.
(f) The FSA county committee will assign production for the unit when the FSA county committee determines that:
(1) The participant has failed to provide adequate and acceptable production records;
(2) The loss to the crop is because of a disaster condition not covered by this subpart, or circumstances other than natural disaster, and there has not otherwise been an accounting of this ineligible cause of loss;
(3) The participant carries out a practice, such as multiple cropping, that generally results in lower yields than the established historic yields;
(5) A crop was late-planted;
(6) Unharvested acreage was not timely appraised; or
(7) Other appropriate causes exist for such assignment as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(g) The FSA county committee will establish a county disaster yield that reflects the amount of production producers would have produced considering the eligible disaster events in the county or area for the same crop. The county disaster yield for the county or area will be expressed as either a percent of loss or yield per acre. The county disaster yield will apply when:
(1) Unharvested acreage has not been appraised by FSA or a company reinsured by FCIC; or
(2) Acceptable production records for harvested acres are not available from any source.
(h) In no case will the production amount of any applicant be less than the producer’s certified loss.
(i) Under WHIP+, production for eligible adulterated wine grapes will be adjusted for quality deficiencies due to a qualifying disaster event. Wine grapes are eligible for production adjustment only if adulteration occurred prior to harvest and as a result of a qualifying disaster event or as a result of a related condition (such as application of fire retardant). Losses due to all other causes of adulteration (such as addition of artificial flavoring or chemicals for economic purposes) are not eligible for WHIP+. Production will be eligible for quality adjustment if, due to a qualifying disaster event, it has a value of less than 75 percent of the average market price of undamaged grapes of the same or similar variety. The value per ton of the qualifying damaged production and the average market price of undamaged grapes will be determined on the earlier of the date the damaged production is sold or the date of final inspection for the unit. Grape production that is eligible for quality adjustment will be reduced by:
(1) Dividing the value per ton of the damaged grapes by the value per ton for undamaged grapes; and
(2) Multiplying this result (not to exceed 1.000) by the number of tons of the eligible damaged grapes.
§ 760.1514 Eligible acres.
(a) Eligible acreage will be calculated using the lesser of the reported or determined acres shown to have been planted or prevented from being planted to a crop.
(b) Initial crop acreage will be the payment acreage for under this subpart, unless the provisions for subsequent crops in this section are met. Subsequently planted or prevented planted acre acreage is considered acreage for under this subpart only if the provisions of this section are met. All plantings of an annual or biennial crop are considered the same as a planting of an initial crop in tropical regions as defined in part 1437, subpart F, of this title.
(c) In cases where there is double cropped acreage, each crop may be included in the acreage only if the specific crops are approved by the FSA State committee as eligible double cropping practices in accordance with procedures approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(d) Except for insured crops, participants with double cropped acreage not meeting the criteria in paragraph (c) of this section may have such acreage included in the acreage on more than one crop only if the participant submits verifiable records establishing a history of carrying out a successful double cropping practice on the specific crops for which payment is requested.
(e) Participants having multiple plantings may receive payments for each planting included only if the planting meets the requirements of part 1437 of this title and all other provisions of this subpart are satisfied.
(f) Losses due to prevented planting are eligible under this subpart only if the loss was due to a qualifying disaster event. Provisions of parts 718 and 1437 of this title specifying what is considered prevented planting and how it must be documented and reported apply. Crops located in tropical regions are not eligible for prevented planting.
(g) Subject to the provisions of this subpart, the FSA county committee will:
(1) Use the most accurate data available when determining planted and prevented planted acres; and
(2) Disregard acreage of a crop produced on land that is not eligible for crop insurance or NAP.
(h) If a farm has a crop that has both FSA and RMA acreage for insured crops, eligible acres will be based on the lesser of RMA or FSA acres.
(i) For 2017 WHIP, prevented planting acres will be considered eligible acres if they meet all requirements of this subpart.
(j) For WHIP+:
(1) 2018 and 2020 crop year prevented planting acres and 2019 crop year uninsured and NAP-covered prevented planting acres will be eligible acres if they meet all requirements of this subpart; and
(2) 2019 crop year insured prevented planting acres will not be eligible acres.
§ 760.1515 Calculating payments for value loss crops.
(a) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for a loss on a unit with respect to value loss crops are determined by:
(1) Multiplying the field market value of the crop immediately before the qualifying disaster event by the 2017 WHIP factor or WHIP+ factor specified in § 760.1511(b);
(2) Subtracting the sum of the field market value of the crop immediately after the qualifying disaster event and the value of the crop lost due to ineligible causes of loss from the result from paragraph (a)(1) of this section;
(3) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(2) of this section by the participant’s share;
(4) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(3) of this section by the applicable payment factor;
(5) Subtracting the gross insurance indemnity or NAP payment from the result from paragraph (a)(4) of this section;
(6) Subtracting the secondary use or salvage value of the crop from the result from paragraph (a)(5) of this section; and
(7) Subtracting the amount of any payment for future economic losses received under the Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program.
(b) In the case of an insurable value loss crop for which crop insurance provides for an adjustment in the guarantee, liability, or indemnity, such as in the case of inventory exceeding peak inventory value, the adjustment will be used in determining the payment under this subpart for the crop.
(c) In the case of a NAP eligible value loss crop for which NAP provides for an adjustment in the level of assistance, such as in the case of unharvested field grown inventory, the adjustment will be used in determining the payment for the crop.
§ 760.1516 Calculating payments for tree, bush, and vine losses.
(a) Payments will be calculated separately based on the growth stage of the trees, bushes, or vines, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for a loss on a unit with respect to tree, bush, and vine losses are determined by:
(1) Multiplying the expected value (see paragraph (c) of this section) of the trees, bushes, or vines immediately before the qualifying disaster event by the 2017 WHIP factor or WHIP+ factor specified in § 760.1511(b);
(2) Subtracting the actual value (see paragraph (d) of this section) of the trees, bushes, or vines immediately after the qualifying disaster event from the result of paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
(3) Multiplying the result of paragraph (b)(2) of this section by the participant’s share;
(4) Subtracting the amount of any insurance indemnity received from the result of paragraph (b)(3) of this section; and
(5) Subtracting the value of any secondary use or salvage value from the result of paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(c) Expected value is determined by multiplying the total number of trees, bushes, or vines that were damaged or destroyed by a qualifying disaster event by the price.
(d) Actual value is determined by:
(1) Multiplying the number of trees, bushes, or vines damaged by a qualifying disaster event by the damage factor;
(2) Adding the result of paragraph (d)(1) of this section and the number of trees, bushes, or vines destroyed by a qualifying disaster event;
(3) Multiplying the result of paragraph (d)(2) of this section by the price; and
(4) Subtracting the result of paragraph (d)(3) of this section from the expected value from paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) The FSA county committee will adjust the number of damaged and destroyed trees, bushes, and vines, if it determines that the number of damaged or destroyed trees, bushes, or vines certified by the participant is inaccurate.
(f) Citrus trees located in Florida are ineligible for payment under 2017 WHIP.
§ 760.1517 Requirement to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage.
(a) For the first 2 consecutive crop years for which crop insurance or NAP coverage is available after the enrollment period for 2017 WHIP or WHIP+ ends, subject to paragraph (c) of this section, a participant who receives payment under this subpart for a crop loss in a county must obtain:
(1) For an insurable crop, crop insurance with at least a 60 percent coverage level for that crop in that county; or
(2) For a NAP eligible crop:
(i) NAP coverage with a coverage level of 60 percent, if available for the applicable crop year, or NAP catastrophic coverage if NAP coverage is not offered at a 60 percent coverage level for that crop year.
(ii) Participants who exceed the average adjusted gross income limitation for NAP payment eligibility
(b) For the first 2 consecutive insurance years for which crop insurance is available after the enrollment period for 2017 WHIP ends, subject to paragraph (c) of this section, any participant who receives 2017 WHIP payments for a tree, bush, or vine loss must purchase a plan of insurance for the tree, bush, or vine with at least a 60 percent coverage level.
(c) The final crop year to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage to meet the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section is the:
(1) 2021 crop year for 2017 WHIP payment eligibility, except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section;
(2) 2023 crop year for:
(i) WHIP+ payment eligibility; and
(ii) 2017 WHIP payment eligibility for losses due to Tropical Storm Cindy, losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017 due to extreme cold, and blueberry productivity losses in calendar year 2018 due to extreme cold and hurricane damage in calendar year 2017.
(d) If a producer fails to obtain crop insurance or NAP coverage as required in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the producer must reimburse FSA for the full amount of 2017 WHIP payment or WHIP+ payment plus interest that the producer received for that crop, tree, bush, or vine loss. A producer will only be considered to have obtained NAP coverage for the purposes of this section if the participant applied and payed the requisite NAP service fee and paid any applicable premium by the applicable deadline and completed all program requirements, including filing an acreage report as may be required under such coverage agreement.
Subpart P—On-Farm Storage Loss Program
§ 760.1600 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies the terms and conditions for the On-Farm Storage Loss Program. The On-Farm Storage Loss Program will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered uncompensated losses of harvested commodities stored in on farm structures as a result from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.
(b) The regulations in this subpart are applicable to crops of barley, small and large chickpeas, corn, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, dry peas, peanuts, rice, wheat, soybeans, oilseeds, hay and other crops designated by Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) stored in on-farm structures. These regulations specify the general provisions under which the On-Farm Storage Loss Program will be administered by CCC. In any case in which money must be refunded to CCC in connection with this part, interest will be due to run from the date of disbursement of the sum to be refunded. This provision will apply, unless waived by the Deputy Administrator, irrespective of any other rule.
(c) Eligible on-farm structures include all on-farm structures deemed acceptable by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.
(d) Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and payment limitation provisions specified in part 760.1607 of this chapter apply to this subpart.
§ 760.1601 Administration.
(a) The On-Farm Storage Loss Program will be administered under the general supervision of the Executive Vice President, CCC and will be carried out in the field by FSA State and county committees, respectively.
(b) State and county committees, and representatives and their employees, do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.
(c) The FSA State committee will take any required action not taken by the FSA county committee. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct or require correction of an action taken by a county committee that is not in compliance with this part; or
(2) Require a county committee to not take an action or implement a decision that is not under the regulations of this part.
(d) The Executive Vice President, CCC, or a designee, may determine any question arising under these programs, or reverse or modify a determination made by a State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA, may authorize State and county committees to waive or modify non-statutory deadlines and other program requirements in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the On-Farm Storage Loss Program.
(f) A representative of CCC may execute applications and related documents only under the terms and conditions determined and announced by CCC. Any document not executed under such terms and conditions, including any purported execution before the date authorized by CCC, will be null and void.
(g) Items of general applicability to program participants, including, but not limited to, application periods, application deadlines, internal operating guidelines issued to State and county offices, prices, and payment factors established by the On-Farm Storage Loss Program, are not subject to appeal.
§ 760.1602 Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply for all purposes of program administration. Terms defined in §§ 760.1502 and 760.1421 of this chapter also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
Administrative County Office is the FSA County Office where a producer’s FSA records are maintained.
CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation.
COC means the FSA county committee.
Covered commodity means wheat, oats, and barley (including wheat, oats, and barley used for haying), corn, grain sorghum, long grain rice, medium grain rice, seed cotton, pulse crops, soybeans, other oilseeds, and peanuts as specified in 7 CFR 1412 and produced and mechanically harvested in the United States.
Crop means with respect to a year, commodities harvested in that year. Therefore, the referenced crop year of a commodity means commodities that when planted were intended for harvest in that calendar year.
Crop year means the relevant contract or application year. For example, the 2014 crop year is the year that runs from October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014, and references to payments for that year refer to payments made under contracts or applications with the compliance year that runs during those dates.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Oilseeds means any crop of sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed, crambe, sesame seed, and other oilseeds as designated by CCC or the Secretary.
Qualifying disaster event means a hurricane, flood, tornado, typhoon, volcanic activity, snowstorm, or wildfire or related condition that occurred in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year.
Recording FSA County Office is the FSA County Office that records eligibility data for producers designated as multi-county producers.
Related condition means damaging weather or an adverse natural occurrence that occurred as a direct result of a hurricane or wildfire qualifying disaster event, such as excessive rain, high winds, flooding, mudslides, and heavy smoke.
Secretary means the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Secretary’s delegate.
STC means the FSA State committee.
§ 760.1603 Eligible producers.
(a) To be an eligible producer, the producer must:
(1) Be a person, partnership, association, corporation, estate, trust, or other legal entity that produces an eligible commodity as a landowner, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper, or in the case of rice, furnishes land, labor, water, or equipment for a share of the rice crop.
(2) Comply with all provisions of this part and, as applicable:
(i) 7 CFR part 12—Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation;
(ii) 7 CFR part 707—Payments Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent;
(iii) 7 CFR part 718—Provisions Applicable to Multiple Programs;
(v) 7 CFR part 1400—Payment Limitation & Payment Eligibility; and
(vii) 7 CFR part 1403—Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
(b) A receiver or trustee of an insolvent or bankrupt debtor’s estate, an executor or an administrator of a deceased person’s estate, a guardian of an estate of a ward or an incompetent person, and trustees of a trust is considered to represent the insolvent or bankrupt debtor, the deceased person, the ward or incompetent, and the beneficiaries of a trust, respectively. The production of the receiver, executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee is considered to be the production of the person or estate represented by the receiver, executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee. On-Farm Storage Loss Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted by CCC only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.
(c) A minor who is otherwise an eligible producer is eligible to receive a program payment only if the minor meets one of the following requirements:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred on the minor by court proceedings or by statute;
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the minor’s property and the applicable program documents are signed by the guardian;
(3) Any program application signed by the minor is cosigned by a person determined by the FSA county committee to be financially responsible; or
(e) A producer must meet the requirements of actively engaged in farming, cash rent tenant, and member contribution as specified in 7 CFR part 1400 to be eligible for program payments.
§ 760.1604 Eligible commodities.
(a) Commodities eligible to be compensated for loss made under this part are:
(1) Covered Commodities;
(2) Hay; and
(3) Stored in an on-farm structure that under normal circumstances, would have maintained the quality of the commodity throughout harvest until marketing or feed if not for the qualifying weather event.
(b) A commodity produced on land owned or otherwise in the possession of the United States that is occupied without the consent of the United States is not an eligible commodity.
§ 760.1605 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) All persons with a financial interest in the legal entity receiving payments under this subpart are jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, which is determined to be due to FSA for any reason.
(b) In the event that any application for payment under this subpart resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the payment will be recalculated and any excess refunded to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement.
(c) Any payment to any participant under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in part 792 of this chapter apply to payments made under this subpart.
(d) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment(s) in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments in part 792 of this chapter.
(e) The regulations in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 apply to determinations under this subpart.
§ 760.1606 General provisions.
Losses will be determined total production in storage at time of loss. Eligibility and payments will be based on physical location of storage. Payments will be made on commodities that were completely lost or destroyed while in storage due to the qualifying weather related event.
§ 760.1607 Availability of funds and timing of payments.
For the On-Farm Storage Loss Program, payments will be issued as applications are approved.
§ 760.1608 Payment limitation and AGI.
(a) Per loss year, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly payments of not more than $125,000.
(b) The direct attribution provisions in § 760.1507 of this part apply for payment limitation as defined and used in this rule.
§ 760.1609 Qualifying disaster events.
(a) The On-Farm Storage Loss Program will provide a payment to eligible producers who suffered losses of harvested commodities while such commodities were stored in on farm structures as a result from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.
(b) For a loss due to or related to an event specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the loss must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:
(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a hurricane occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year; or
(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a hurricane occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year.
(c) A producer with a loss not located in a physical location county that was eligible under paragraph (b)(1) of this section will be eligible for a program payment for losses due to hurricane and related conditions only if the producer provides supporting documentation that is acceptable to FSA from which the FSA county committee determines that the loss of the commodity was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart and meets all other eligibility conditions. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
(d) For a loss due to wildfires and conditions related to wildfire in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year, all counties where wildfires occurred, as determined by FSA county committees, are eligible program payments; a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation for wildfire is not required. The loss must be reasonably related to wildfire and conditions related to wildfire, as specified in this subpart’s definition of qualifying disaster event.
(e) For a loss due to floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or any other directly related weather disaster event, the loss must be reasonably related to the disaster event as specified in this subpart’s definition of qualifying disaster event.
§ 760.1610 Eligible and ineligible losses.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) of this section, to be eligible for payments under this subpart the commodity stored in an eligible structure must have suffered a loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
(b) A loss will not be eligible for the On-Farm Storage Loss Program this subpart if any of the following apply:
(1) The cause of loss is determined by FSA to be the result of poor management decisions, poor farming practices, or previously damaged structures;
(2) The cause of loss was due to failure of the participant to store the commodity in an eligible structure before the qualifying disaster event; or
(3) The cause of loss was due to water contained or released by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project if an easement exists on the acreage affected by the containment or release of the water.
(c) The following types of loss, regardless of whether they were the result of an eligible disaster event, are not eligible losses:
(1) Losses to crops that have not been harvested.
(2) Losses to crops not intended for harvest;
(4) Losses caused by improper storage;
(5) Losses caused by the application of chemicals; and
(6) Losses caused by theft.
§ 760.1611 Application for payment.
(a) An application for payment under this subpart must be submitted to the FSA county office serving as the farm’s administrative county office by the close of business on a date that will be announced by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) Once signed by a producer, the application for payment is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the producer regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(c) The producer applying for the On-Farm Storage Loss Program under this subpart certifies the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as any documentation filed with or in support of the application. All information is subject to verification or spot check by FSA at any time, either before or after payment is issued. Refusal to allow FSA or any agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in the participant’s forfeiting eligibility for this program. FSA may at any time, including before, during, or after processing and paying an application, require the producer to submit any additional information necessary to implement or determine any eligibility provision of this subpart. Furnishing required information is voluntary; however, without it FSA is under no obligation to act on the application or approve payment. Providing a false certification will result in ineligibility and can also be punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties.
(d) The application submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this subpart unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the participant has submitted all required documentation.
(e) Application approval and payment by FSA does not relieve a participant from having to submit any form required, but not filed.
§ 760.1612 Calculating payments on-farm storage losses.
(a) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for loss of stored commodities are calculated, except hay or silage, by:
(1) Multiplying the eligible quantity of the eligible commodity by the RMA determined price;
(2) Multiplying the result from paragraph (a)(1) of this section by a 75 percent factor.
(b) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for loss of stored hay or silage, by:
(1) Multiplying the eligible quantity of the eligible commodity by a price as determined by the Secretary;
(2) Multiplying the result from paragraph (b)(1) of this section by a 75 percent factor.
Subpart Q—Milk Loss Program
§ 760.1700 Applicability.
This subpart specifies the terms and conditions for the Milk Loss Program. The Milk Loss Program will provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to the results of droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including polar vortex), and smoke exposure that occurred in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 calendar year. The Milk Loss Program will also provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to the results of tornadoes that occurred in the 2022 calendar year.
§ 760.1701 Administration.
This milk loss payment program will be carried out by FSA under the direction and supervision of the Deputy Administrator. In the field, the program will be administered by the State and county committees.
§ 760.1702 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to the Milk Loss Program.
Affected farmer means an individual person or legal entity who produces milk which is removed from the commercial market any time or who produces but was unable to deliver milk to a commercial market as a result of a qualifying event, which is limited to either a:
(1) Weather-related event preventing transportation of the milk; or
(2) Weather-related event causing a power outage or structural damage causing milk to be unmerchantable.
Application period means any period during calendar year 2020, 2021, and 2022 which an affected farmer’s milk is dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial market due to a qualifying disaster event for which application for payment is made.
Average adjusted gross farm income means the average of the person or legal entity’s adjusted gross income derived from farming, ranching, and forestry operations for the 3 taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding complete taxable year.
(1) If the resulting average adjusted gross farm income derived from items 1 through 12 of the definition of “income derived from farming, ranching, and forestry operations” is at least 66.66 percent of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity, then the average adjusted gross farm income may also take into consideration income or benefits derived from the following:
(i) The sale of equipment to conduct farm, ranch, or forestry operations; and
(ii) The provision of production inputs and services to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and farm operations.
(2) The relevant tax years are:
(i) For the 2020 program year, 2016, 2017, and 2018; and
(ii) For the 2021 program year, 2017, 2018, and 2019; and
(iii) For the 2022 program year, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Average adjusted gross income means the average of the adjusted gross income as defined under 26 U.S.C. 62 or comparable measure of the person or legal entity. The relevant tax years are:
(1) For the 2020 program year, 2016, 2017, and 2018;
(2) For the 2021 program year, 2017, 2018, and 2019; and
(3) For the 2022 program year, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Base period means the first full calendar month prior to the claim period in which no qualifying disaster event occurred. If the claim period is multiple consecutive months, the base period remains the same calendar month preceding the start of the claim period.
Beginning farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and who materially and substantially participates in the operation. For a legal entity to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher, at least 50 percent of the interest must be beginning farmers or ranchers.
Claim period means the calendar month, or months, in which milk was dumped or removed and usually is the calendar month immediately following the base period.
Commercial market means the market to which the affected farmer normally delivers milk and from which it was removed.
County committee means the FSA county committee.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Income derived from farming, ranching, and forestry operations means income of an individual or entity derived from:
(1) Production of crops, specialty crops, and unfinished raw forestry products;
(2) Production of livestock, aquaculture products used for food, honeybees, and products derived from livestock;
(3) Production of farm-based renewable energy;
(4) Selling (including the sale of easements and development rights) of farm, ranch, and forestry land, water or hunting rights, or environmental benefits;
(5) Rental or lease of land or equipment used for farming, ranching, or forestry operations, including water or hunting rights;
(6) Processing, packing, storing, and transportation of farm, ranch, forestry commodities including renewable energy;
(7) Feeding, rearing, or finishing of livestock;
(8) Payments of benefits, including benefits from risk management practices, crop insurance indemnities, and catastrophic risk protection plans;
(9) Sale of land that has been used for agricultural purposes;
(10) Payments and benefits authorized under any program made available and applicable to payment eligibility and payment limitation rules;
(11) Income reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule F or other schedule used by the person or legal entity to report income from such operations to the IRS;
(12) Wages or dividends received from a closely held corporation, and IC-DISC or legal entity comprised entirely of family members when more than 50 percent of the legal entity’s gross receipts for each tax year are derived from farming, ranching, or forestry activities as defined in this subpart; and
(13) Any other activity related to farming, ranching, and forestry, as determined by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.
Limited resource farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:
(1) Who is a person whose:
(i) Direct or indirect gross farm sales did not exceed:
(A) $180,300 in each calendar year for 2017 and 2018 (the relevant years for the 2020 program year); or
(B) $179,000 in each of the 2018 and 2019 calendar years for the 2021 program year;
(C) $189,200 in each of the 2019 and 2020 calendar years for the 2022 program year; and,
(ii) Total household income was at or below the national poverty level for a family of four in each of the same two previous years referenced in paragraph (1)(i) of this definition;
(2) That is an entity and all members who hold an ownership interest in the entity meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.
Milk marketing organization means the marketing agency to or through which the affected dairy farmer marketed milk at the time the milk was either dumped or unable to be delivered to the commercial market due to a qualifying weather related event.
Ownership interest means to have either a legal ownership interest or a beneficial ownership interest in a legal entity. For the purposes of administering this subpart, a person or legal entity that owns a share or stock in a legal entity that is a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or similar type entity where members hold a legal ownership interest and shares in the profits or losses of such entity is considered to have an ownership interest in such legal entity. A person or legal entity that is a beneficiary of a trust or heir of an estate who benefits from the profits or losses of such entity is considered to have a beneficial ownership interest in such legal entity.
Pay period means:
(1) In the case of an affected farmer who markets milk through a milk marketing organization, the period used by the milk marketing organization in settling with the affected farmer for milk, usually biweekly or monthly; or
(2) In the case of an affected farmer whose commercial market consists of direct retail sales to consumers, a calendar month.
Payment subject to refund means a payment which is made by a milk marketing organization to an affected farmer, and which such farmer is obligated to refund to the milk marketing organization.
Person means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
Qualifying disaster event means droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), and smoke exposure, occurring in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 calendar years. Qualifying disaster event also includes tornadoes occurring in the 2022 calendar year. Losses due to drought are only eligible if any area within the county in which the loss occurs was rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (Severe Drought) for eight consecutive weeks or a D3 (Extreme Drought) or higher level of drought intensity during the applicable calendar years.
Removed from the commercial market means:
(1) Produced and destroyed or fed to livestock;
(2) Produced and delivered to a milk marketing organization who destroyed it or disposed of it as salvage; or
(3) Produced and otherwise diverted to other than the commercial market.
Same loss means the event or trigger that caused the milk to be removed from the commercial market.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or any officer or employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to whom the Secretary delegates authority to act as the Secretary.
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. For entities, at least 50 percent of the ownership interest must be held by individuals who are members of such a group. Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others unless approved in writing by the FSA Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (Deputy Administrator):
(1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives;
(2) Asians or Asian-Americans;
(3) Blacks or African Americans;
(4) Hispanics or Hispanic Americans;
(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders; and
(6) Women.
State committee means the FSA State committee.
Underserved farmer or rancher means a beginning farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or veteran farmer or rancher.
Veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:
(1) Who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(10)
(i) Has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years; or
(ii) Has obtained status as a veteran (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2)
(2) That is an entity, and at least 50 percent of the ownership interest is held by members who meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.
§ 760.1703 Eligible affected farmers.
(a) To be eligible, an affected farmer, the farmer must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means “lawful alien” as defined in 7 CFR 1400.3;
(3) Partnership organized under state law consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens;
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens; or
(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(b) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section, to be eligible, an affected farmer must comply with all provisions of this subpart and, as applicable:
(1) 7 CFR part 12—Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation;
(2) 7 CFR part 707—Payments Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent;
(3) 7 CFR part 718—Provisions Applicable to Multiple Programs; and
(4) 7 CFR part 1403—Debt Settlement Policies and Procedures.
§ 760.1704 Payments to dairy farmers for milk.
(a) A milk loss payment will be made to an affected farmer who is determined by the FSA county committee to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart in the amount equal to 90 percent for affected farmers who meet the definition of underserved farmer or rancher or 75 percent for all other affected farmers of the fair market value of the farmer’s normal marketings for the application period, less:
(1) Any amount the affected farmer received for milk marketed during the application period; and
(2) Any payment not subject to refund that the affected farmer received from a milk handler with respect to milk removed from the commercial market during the application period.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 760.1705 Normal marketings of milk.
(a) The FSA county committee will determine the affected farmer’s normal marketings of milk which, for the purposes of this subpart, will be the sum of the quantities of milk for which the farmer would have sold in the commercial market in each of the pay periods in the application period be it not for the removal of the affected farmer’s milk from the commercial market as a result of a qualifying disaster event.
(b) Normal marketings for each pay period are based on the average daily production during the base period.
(c) Normal marketings determined in paragraph (b) of this section are adjusted for any change in the daily average number of cows milked during each pay period the milk is off the market compared with the average number of cows milked daily during the base period.
(d) If only a portion of a pay period falls within the application period, normal marketings for such pay period will be reduced so that they represent only that part of such pay period which is within the application period.
(e) The days eligible for indemnification begin on the date milk was removed or dumped and continue for the concurrent days milk was removed or dumped. Once the dairy operation returns to the normal marketing of milk, the dairy operation is no longer eligible for assistance for milk removed or dumped due to that qualifying disaster event unless after restarting commercial marketing of milk, additional milk is removed or dumped due to the same qualifying disaster event.
§ 760.1706 Fair market value of milk.
(a) The FSA county committee will determine the fair market value of the affected farmer’s dumped milk, which, for the purposes of this subpart, will be the sum of the net proceeds such farmer would have received for normal marketings in each of the pay periods in the application period but for the qualifying disaster event.
(b) The base period per cow average daily milk production is determined by dividing the full month of milk marketings by the average number of cows in milk production for that month and the number of days in that month. To determine the milk loss payment, the base period per cow average daily milk production is multiplied by the number of milking cows in production for the claim period and by the number of days milk was removed or dumped in the claim period with the result divided by 100 to determine the applicable hundredweight and then multiplied by the hundredweight pay price.
(c) To determine the hundredweight pay price for milk, the FSA county committee will deduct from the gross pay price from the claim period milk marketing statement the per hundredweight hauling rate for the applicable month and the per hundredweight $0.15 promotion fee which it determines are normally incurred by the affected farmer but which were not incurred because of the removal of the farmer’s milk from the commercial market.
§ 760.1707 Information to be furnished.
(a) The affected farmer must furnish to the FSA county committee complete and accurate information sufficient to enable the FSA county committee or the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart. Such information must include, but is not limited to:
(1) A copy of the notice from, or other evidence of action by, the public agency which resulted in the dumping or removal of the affected farmer’s milk from the commercial market.
(2) The specific weather or disaster event and its results on milk marketing for the claim period.
(3) The quantity and butterfat test of milk produced and marketed during the base period. This information must be a certified statement from the affected farmer’s milk marketing organization or any other evidence the FSA county committee accepts as an accurate record of milk production and butterfat tests during the base period.
(4) The average number of dry cows, bred heifers, and cows milked during the base period and during each pay period in the application.
(5) The affected farmer will provide two milk marketing statements, one for the base period and one for the claim period.
(6) On the milk marketing statement the per hundredweight hauling rate and the per hundredweight $0.15 promotion fee, which are normally incurred by affected farmers who market through the milk marketing organization, that the affected farmer did not incur because of the dumping or removal of the milk from the commercial market, then the average price stated by the milk marketing organization will be the average gross price paid less these costs. If the milk marketing organization does not have this information, the affected farmer will furnish a statement specifying these costs, if any.
(7) The amount of proceeds, if any, received by the affected farmer from the marketing of milk produced during the application period.
(8) The amount of any payments not subject to refund made to the affected farmer by the milk marketing organization with respect to the milk produced during the application period and removed from the commercial market.
(9) A detailed written statement from the affected farmer regarding the circumstances of the milk removal or dumping, the type and geographic scope of the weather event, what transportation limitations occurred in addition to how and where the removed or dumped milk was discarded.
(b) If requested by FSA, the affected farmer must provide additional documentation that establishes the affected farmer’s eligibility for a Milk Loss Program payment.
§ 760.1708 Application for payments for milk loss.
The affected farmer or the affected farmer’s legal representative must sign and file an application for payment on a form which is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator. The form must be filed with the county FSA office for the county where the farm headquarters are located no later than close of business of the designated deadline announced by the Secretary for 2020, 2021, and 2022 losses.
§ 760.1709 Payment limitation and AGI.
(a) Per calendar year, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly payments of not more than $125,000 according to the provisions in § 760.1507(b)(1); or not more than $250,000 according to the provisions in § 760.1507(b)(2) if at least 75 percent of the person’s or legal entity’s average adjusted gross income is average adjusted gross farm income and the applicant provides the required certification(s) and documentation. Payments made to a joint venture or general partnership cannot exceed an amount determined by multiplying the maximum payment limitation by the number of persons and legal entities that comprise the first-level ownership of the joint venture or general partnership.
(b) To certify the average adjusted gross farm income, a person or legal entity, including all members with an ownership interest in a legal entity, general partnership, or joint venture, must provide the following:
(1) A certification in the manner prescribed by FSA from the person or legal entity that the average adjusted gross farm income of the person or legal entity is at least 75 percent of the average adjusted gross income; and
(2) A certification in the manner prescribed by FSA from a licensed certified public accountant or attorney that the average adjusted gross farm income of the person or legal entity is at least 75 percent of the average adjusted gross income.
(c) A new legal entity will have its adjusted gross farm income averaged only for those years for which it was in business; however, a new legal entity will not be considered “new” to the extent it takes over an existing operation and has any elements of common ownership interest and land with the preceding person or legal entity, or with persons or legal entities with an interest in the “old” legal entity. When there is such commonality, income of the previous person or legal entity will be averaged with that of the “new” legal entity for the base period.
(d) For a person filing a joint federal tax return, the certification of average adjusted gross farm income will be reported as if the person had filed a separate federal tax return and the calculation is consistent with the information supporting the filed joint return.
(e) All persons and legal entities are subject to an audit by FSA of any information submitted for the purpose of increasing the program’s payment limitation. As a part of this audit, income tax returns may be requested, and if requested, must be supplied by all related persons and legal entities. In addition to any other requirement under any Federal statute, relevant Federal income tax returns and documentation must be retained a minimum of 2 years after the end of the calendar year corresponding to the year for which payments or benefits are requested. Failure to provide necessary and accurate information to verify compliance will result in ineligibility for Milk Loss Program benefits.
(f) The direct attribution provisions in § 760.1507 apply for both payment limitation as well as in determining average adjusted gross farm income as defined and used in this subpart.
§ 760.1710 Time and method of application.
(a) A completed FSA-376, Milk Loss Program Application, must be submitted at the time of application along with the information listed in § 760.1707 to the affected farmer’s recording county office by the close of business on the Milk Loss Program application deadline. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail, email, facsimile, or other methods announced by FSA. The Deputy Administrator has the discretion and authority to waive or modify deadlines and other requirements or program provisions in cases where the Deputy Administrator determines it is equitable to do so and where the Deputy Administrator finds that the lateness or failure to meet such other requirements or program provisions do not adversely affect Milk Loss Program operation.
(b) Failure of an individual, entity, or a member of an entity to submit the following payment limitation and payment eligibility forms within 60 days from the date of the Milk Loss Program application deadline, may result in no payment or a reduced payment:
(1) Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, for new customers or existing customers who need to update their customer profile;
(2) Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, if applicable for the program year or years for which the affected farmer is applying for the Milk Loss Program and if the affected farmer chooses to provide that certification;
(3) Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities, if applicable;
(4) Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
(5) Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, accompanied by a certification from a certified public accountant or attorney as to that person or legal entity’s certification, for a legal entity and all members of that entity, for each applicable program year, including the legal entity’s members, partners, or shareholders, as provided in 7 CFR part 1400; and
(6) Form AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification, for the Milk Loss Program and applicable affiliates as provided in 7 CFR part 12.
(c) If supporting documentation is requested under § 760.1707(b), the documentation must be submitted to FSA within 60 calendar days from the request or the application will be disapproved by FSA.
(d) Milk Loss Program payments are limited to 30 days per year for each of 2020, 2021, and 2022.
(e) Each Milk Loss Program application is limited to the milk loss for one calendar month due to a qualifying disaster event or multiple qualifying disaster events. Milk loss that occurs in a subsequent month for the same qualifying disaster event will require a separate application.
(a) FSA county executive directors and State and county committees do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this subpart.
(b) The FSA State committee may take any action authorized or required by the regulations in this subpart to be taken by the FSA county committee when such action has not been taken by the FSA county committee. The FSA State committee may also:
(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by such county committee which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart; or
(2) Require a county committee to withhold taking any action which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart.
(c) No delegation herein to a State or county committee will preclude the Deputy Administrator or designee from determining any question arising under the regulations in this subpart or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.
§ 760.1712 Estates and trusts; minors.
(a) A receiver of an insolvent debtor’s estate and the trustee of a trust estate will, for the purpose of this subpart, be considered to represent an insolvent affected farmer and the beneficiaries of a trust, respectively, and the production of the receiver or trustee will be considered to be the production of the represented person. Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.
(b) An affected dairy farmer who is a minor will be eligible for milk loss payments only if at least one of the following requirements is true:
(1) The right of majority has been conferred on him by court proceedings or by law;
(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the property and the applicable program documents are signed by the guardian; or
(3) A bond is furnished under which the surety guarantees any loss incurred for which the minor would be liable had the person been an adult.
§ 760.1713 Setoffs.
(a) If the affected farmer is indebted to any agency of the United States and such indebtedness is listed on the county debt record, milk loss payments due the affected farmer the regulations in this part will be applied, as provided in the Secretary’s setoff regulations, 7 CFR part 13, to such indebtedness.
(b) Compliance with the provisions of this section will not deprive the affected farmer of any right that would otherwise be available have to contest the justness of the indebtedness involved in the setoff action, either by administrative appeal or by legal action.
§ 760.1714 Overdisbursement.
If the milk loss payment disbursed to an affected farmer exceeds the amount authorized under the regulations in this subpart, the affected farmer will be personally liable for repayment of the amount of such excess.
§ 760.1715 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of any affected farmer who would otherwise receive a milk loss payment, such payment may be made to the person or persons specified in the regulations contained in part 707 of this chapter. The person requesting such payment must file Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent,” as provided in that part.
§ 760.1716 Records and inspection of records.
(a) The affected farmer, milk marketing organization, and any other person who furnished information to such farmer or to the FSA county committee for the purpose of enabling such farmer to receive a milk loss payment under this subpart, must maintain any existing books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed.
(b) The affected farmer, milk marketing organization, and any other person who furnishes such information to the affected farmer or to the FSA county committee must permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.
§ 760.1717 Assignment.
No assignment will be made of any milk loss payment due or to come due under the regulations in this subpart. Any assignment or attempted assignment of any indemnity payment due or to come due under this subpart will be null and void.
§ 760.1718 Instructions and forms.
Affected farmers may obtain information necessary to make application for a milk loss payment from the county FSA office.
§ 760.1719 Availability of funds.
Milk loss program payments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications received after all funds are used will not be paid.
§ 760.1720 Calculating payments for milk losses.
(a) Payments made under this subpart to a participant for loss of milk as a result of a qualifying disaster event are calculated as follows:
(1) Amount of the fair market value of the farmer’s normal marketings for the application period; less
(2) Any amount the farmer received for milk marketed during the applications period; and
(3) Any payment not subject to refund which the farmer received from a milk marketing organization with respect to milk removed from the commercial market during the application period;
(4) Multiplied by a program factor of 90 percent for underserved farmers or ranchers, or 75 percent for all other farmers or ranchers.
(b) [Reserved]
Subpart R—Quality Loss Adjustment Program
§ 760.1800 Applicability.
This subpart specifies the terms and conditions for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program. The QLA Program provides disaster assistance for crop quality losses that were a consequence of hurricanes, excessive moisture, floods, qualifying drought, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires occurring in calendar years 2018 and 2019.
§ 760.1801 Administration.
(a) The QLA Program is administered under the general supervision of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA. The QLA Program is carried out by FSA State and county committees with instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
(b) FSA State and county committees, and representatives and their employees, do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this subpart or instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) The FSA State committee will take any action required by the regulations in this subpart that the FSA county committee has not taken. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require an FSA county committee to correct, any action taken by the FSA county committee that is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart; or
(2) Require an FSA county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.
(d) No delegation to an FSA State or county committee precludes the FSA Administrator or the Deputy Administrator from determining any question arising under this subpart or from reversing or modifying any determination made by an FSA State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator has the authority to:
(1) Permit State and county committees to waive or modify a non-statutory deadline specified in this subpart; and
(2) Delegate authority to FSA State or county committees to make determinations under § 760.1812(f) and (g).
(f) Items of general applicability to program participants, including, but not limited to, application periods, application deadlines, internal operating guidelines issued to FSA State and county offices, prices, and payment factors established under this subpart, are not subject to appeal in accordance with part 780 of this chapter.
§ 760.1802 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in §§ 718.2 and 1400.3 of this title also apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section. In the event of conflict, the definitions in this section apply.
Affected production means the producer’s ownership share of harvested production of an eligible crop, adjusted to standard moisture as established by the U.S. Grains Standards Act, a State regulatory agency, or industry standard, that had both:
(1) A quality loss due to a qualifying disaster event; and
(2) At least a 5 percent quality loss due to all eligible disaster events.
Average market price means the average market price determined according to § 1437.12 of this title.
Coverage level means the percentage determined by multiplying the elected yield percentage under a crop insurance policy or NAP coverage by the elected price percentage.
Crop insurance means an insurance policy reinsured by FCIC under the provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended. It does not include private plans of insurance.
Crop insurance indemnity means, for the purpose of this subpart, the payment to a participant for crop losses covered under crop insurance administered by RMA in accordance with the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Crop year means:
(1) For insurable crops, the crop year as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy; and
(2) For NAP-eligible crops, the crop year as defined in § 1437.3 of this title.
Eligible crop means a crop for which coverage was available either from FCIC under part 400 of this title, or through NAP under § 1437.4 of this title.
Eligible disaster event means a disaster event that is an eligible cause of loss specified in § 1437.10 of this title, excluding insect infestation.
FCIC means the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned Government Corporation of USDA, administered by RMA.
FSA means the Farm Service Agency, an agency of USDA.
Grading factor means a factor that describes the physical condition or a feature that is evaluated to determine the quality of the production, such as broken kernels and low-test weight.
Good farming practices means the cultural practices generally recognized as compatible with agronomic and weather conditions and used for the crop to make normal progress toward maturity, as determined by FSA. These practices are:
(1) For conventional farming practices, those generally recognized by agricultural experts for the area, which could include one or more counties; or
(2) For organic farming practices, those generally recognized by the organic agricultural experts for the area or contained in the organic system plan that is in accordance with the National Organic Program specified in part 205 of this title.
Harvested means:
(1) For insurable crops, harvested as defined according to the applicable crop insurance policy;
(2) For NAP-eligible single harvest crops, that a crop has been removed from the field, either by hand or mechanically;
(3) For NAP-eligible crops with potential multiple harvests in 1 year or harvested over multiple years, that the producer has, by hand or mechanically, removed at least 1 mature crop from the field during the crop year; and
(4) For mechanically harvested NAP-eligible crops, that the crop has been removed from the field and placed in a truck or other conveyance, except hay is considered harvested when in the bale, whether removed from the field or not.
Insurable crop means an agricultural crop (excluding livestock) for which the producer on a farm is eligible to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Multiple market crop means a crop that is delivered to a single market but can have fresh and processed prices based on grading. For example, a producer may intend to sell all production of an apple crop as fresh production; however, based on grading of the crop at the market, the producer is compensated for some production at the fresh price and for some production at the processing price.
Multiple planting means the planting for harvest of the same crop in more than one planting period in a crop year on different acreage.
NAP means the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) and part 1437 of this title.
NAP-eligible crop means an agricultural crop for which the producer on a farm is eligible to obtain NAP coverage.
NAP service fee means the amount specified in § 1437.7 of this title that the producer must pay to obtain NAP coverage.
Nutrient factor means a factor determined by a test that measures the nutrient value of a crop to be fed to livestock. Examples include, but are not limited to, relative feed value and total digestible nutrients.
Production means quantity of the crop produced, which is expressed in a specific unit of measure including, but not limited to, bushels or pounds.
QLA Program means the Quality Loss Adjustment Program.
Qualifying disaster event means a hurricane, flood, tornado, typhoon, volcanic activity, snowstorm, wildfire, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, or a related condition that occurred in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year.
Qualifying drought means an area within the county was rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D3 (extreme drought) or higher level of drought intensity during the applicable calendar year.
Quality loss means:
(1) For forage crops, a reduction in an applicable nutrient factor for the crop; and
(2) For crops other than forage, a reduction in the total dollar value of the crop due to reduction in the physical condition of the crop indicated by an applicable grading factor.
Related condition means damaging weather or an adverse natural occurrence that occurred as a direct result of a specified qualifying disaster event, such as excessive rain, high winds, flooding, mudslides, and heavy smoke, as determined by the Deputy Administrator. The term does not include insect infestation.
Reliable production record means evidence provided by the participant that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported when verifiable records are not available, including copies of receipts, ledgers of income, income statements of deposit slips, register tapes, invoices for custom harvesting, and records to verify production costs, contemporaneous measurements, truck scale tickets, and contemporaneous diaries that are determined acceptable by the FSA county committee. To determine whether the records are acceptable, the FSA county committee will consider whether they are consistent with the records of other producers of the crop in that area.
RMA means the Risk Management Agency, an agency of USDA.
Salvage value means the dollar amount or equivalent for the quantity of the commodity that cannot be marketed or sold in any recognized market for the crop.
Secondary use means the harvesting of a crop for a use other than the intended use.
Unit of measure means:
(1) For insurable crops, the FCIC-established unit of measure; and
(2) For NAP-eligible crops, the established unit of measure used for the NAP price and yield.
USDA means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. Drought Monitor is a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought. It is a collaborative effort between Federal and academic partners, produced on a weekly basis, to synthesize multiple indices, outlooks, and drought impacts on a map and in narrative form. This synthesis of indices is reported by the National Drought Mitigation Center at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Value loss crop has the meaning specified in subpart D of part 1437 of this title.
Verifiable documentation means evidence that can be verified by FSA through an independent source.
Verifiable percentage of loss is the percentage of loss determined by comparing the applicable nutrient factors for a producer’s affected production of a forage crop with the average of such nutrient factors from the 3 preceding crop years, as documented on FSA-899, Historical Nutritional Value Weighted Average Worksheet.
WHIP+ means the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus under subpart O of this part.
§ 760.1803 Participant eligibility.
(a) Participants will be eligible to receive a payment under this subpart only if they incurred a loss to an eligible crop due to a qualifying disaster event, as further specified in this subpart.
(b) To be an eligible participant under this subpart, a person or legal entity must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien; for purposes of this subpart, resident alien means “lawful alien” (see § 1400.3 of this title);
(3) Partnership consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens; or
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other similar organizational structure organized under State law consisting solely of citizens or resident aliens of the United States.
(c) If any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment dies before the payment is received, payment may be released as specified in § 707.3 of this chapter. Similarly, if any person or legal entity who would otherwise have been eligible to apply for a payment dies or is dissolved, respectively, before the payment is applied for, payment may be released in accordance with this subpart if a timely application is filed by an authorized representative. Proof of authority to sign for the deceased producer or dissolved entity must be provided. If a participant is now a dissolved general partnership or joint venture, all members of the general partnership or joint venture at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representatives must sign the application. Eligibility of such participant will be determined, as it is for other participants, based upon ownership share and risk in producing the crop.
(d) An ownership share is required to be eligible for a payment under this subpart. Growers growing eligible crops under contract for crop owners are not eligible for a payment under this subpart unless the grower is also determined to have an ownership share of the crop. Any verbal or written contract that precludes the grower from having an ownership share renders the grower ineligible for payments under this subpart.
(e) A person or legal entity is not eligible to receive assistance under this subpart if FSA determines that the person or legal entity:
(1) Adopted any scheme or other device that tends to defeat the purpose of this subpart or any of the regulations applicable to this subpart;
(2) Made any fraudulent representation; or
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination under any or all of the following: This subpart and parts 12, 400, 1400, and 1437 of this title.
(f) A person who is ineligible for crop insurance or NAP under § 400.458 or § 1437.16 of this title, respectively, for any year is ineligible for payments under this subpart for the same year.
(g) The provisions of § 718.11 of this chapter, providing for ineligibility for payments for offenses involving controlled substances, apply.
(h) As a condition of eligibility to receive payments under this subpart, the participant must have been in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions of part 12 of this title for the applicable crop year for which the producer is applying for benefits under this subpart, and must not otherwise be precluded from receiving payments under part 12, 400, 1400, or 1437 of this title or any law.
§ 760.1804 Eligibility of affected production.
(a) To be eligible for the QLA Program, an eligible crop’s affected production must have suffered a quality loss due to a qualifying disaster event and had at least a 5 percent quality loss due to all eligible disaster events. Whether affected production of a crop had a 5 percent loss will be determined separately for crops with different crop types, intended uses, certified organic or conventional status, county, and crop year.
(b) Affected production of the following is not eligible for the QLA Program:
(1) Crops that were not grown commercially;
(2) Crops that were intended for grazing or were grazed;
(3) Crops not intended for harvest;
(4) Volunteer crops;
(5) Value loss crops;
(6) Maple sap;
(7) Honey;
(8) By-products resulting from processing or harvesting a crop, such as, but not limited to, cotton seed, peanut shells, wheat or oat straw, or corn stalks or stovers;
(9) First-year seeding for forage production;
(10) Immature fruit crops;
(11) Crops for which FCIC coverage or NAP coverage is unavailable;
(12) Multiple market crops for which the producer previously received a crop insurance indemnity or WHIP+ payment for a quality loss;
(13) Crops for which production used to calculate a crop insurance indemnity or WHIP+ payment was adjusted based on a comparison of the producer’s sale price to FCIC established price;
(14) Crops that received a crop insurance indemnity, NAP payment, or WHIP+ payment based on the quantity of production that was considered unmarketable;
(15) Crops for which the producer previously received a crop insurance indemnity, NAP payment, or WHIP+ payment for which production was reported as salvage value or secondary use;
(16) Sugar beets for which a member of a cooperative processor received a payment through a cooperative agreement; and
(17) Crops that were destroyed.
(c) Only affected production from initial crop acreage will be eligible for a QLA Program payment, unless the provisions for subsequent crops in this section are met. All plantings of an annual or biennial crop are considered the same as a planting of an initial crop in tropical regions as defined in part 1437, subpart F, of this title.
(d) In cases where there is double cropped acreage, affected production of each crop may be eligible only if the specific crops are approved by the FSA State committee as eligible double cropping practices in accordance with procedures approved by the Deputy Administrator.
(e) Participants having affected production from multiple plantings may receive payments for each planting only if the planting meets the requirements of part 1437 of this title and all other provisions of this subpart are satisfied.
§ 760.1805 Qualifying disaster events.
(a) A producer is eligible for payments under this subpart only if the producer’s affected production of an eligible crop suffered a crop quality loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
(b) A crop quality loss due to a qualifying disaster event must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:
(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years; or
(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years.
(c) A producer with a crop quality loss on acreage not physically located in a county that was eligible under paragraph (b) of this section will be eligible for the QLA Program for losses due to qualifying disaster events only if the producer provides supporting documentation from which the FSA county committee determines that the crop quality loss on the unit was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.
§ 760.1806 Ineligible losses.
(a) A loss is not eligible under this subpart if any of the following apply:
(1) The cause of loss is determined by FSA to be the result of poor management decisions, poor farming practices, or drifting herbicides;
(2) The loss could have been mitigated using good farming practices, including losses due to high moisture content that could be mitigated by following best practices for drying and storing the crop;
(3) The qualifying disaster event occurred after the crop was harvested;
(4) FSA or RMA have previously disapproved a notice of loss for the crop and disaster event, unless that notice of loss was disapproved solely because it was filed after the applicable deadline; or
(5) The cause of loss was due to:
(i) Conditions or events occurring outside of the applicable growing season for the crop;
(ii) Insect infestation;
(iii) Water contained or released by any governmental, public, or private dam or reservoir project if an easement exists on the acreage affected by the containment or release of the water;
(iv) Failure of a power supply or brownout; or
(v) Failure to harvest or market the crop due to lack of a sufficient plan or resources.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 760.1807 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) All persons with a financial interest in a legal entity receiving payments under this subpart are jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, that is determined to be due to FSA for any reason.
(b) In the event that any application under this subpart resulted from erroneous information or a miscalculation, the payment will be recalculated and any excess refunded to FSA with interest to be calculated from the date of the disbursement.
(c) Any payment to any participant under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law, and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity, or proceeds, in favor of the owner or any other creditor except agencies of the U.S. Government. The regulations governing offsets and withholdings in part 3 of this chapter apply to payments made under this subpart.
(d) Any participant entitled to any payment may assign any payment(s) in accordance with regulations governing the assignment of payments in part 3 of this chapter.
(e) The regulations in parts 11 and 780 of this title apply to determinations under this subpart.
§ 760.1808 General provisions.
(a) Eligibility and payments under this subpart will be determined based on the county where the affected production was harvested.
(b) FSA county committees will make any necessary adjustments to the applicant’s affected production and other information on the application form used to calculate a payment when the county committee determines:
(1) Additional documentation has been requested by FSA but has not been provided by the participant;
(2) The loss is due to an ineligible cause; or
(3) The participant has a contract providing a guaranteed payment for all or a portion of the crop.
(c) Unless otherwise specified, all eligibility provisions of part 1437 of this title also apply to tropical crops for eligibility under this subpart.
(d) FSA will use the most reliable data available at the time payments under this subpart are calculated. If additional data or information is provided or becomes available after a payment is issued, FSA will recalculate the payment amount and the producer must return any overpayment amount to FSA. In all cases, payments can only issue based on the payment formula for losses that affirmatively occurred.
(e) Production that is commingled between counties, crop years, or ineligible and eligible acres before it was a matter of record or combination of record and cannot be separated by using records or other means acceptable to FSA will be prorated to each respective year, county, or type of acreage, respectively.
§ 760.1809 Payment and adjusted gross income limitation.
(a) A person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly, payments of not more than $125,000 for each of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years under this subpart.
(b) Payments made to a joint operation, including a joint venture or general partnership, cannot exceed the amount determined by multiplying the maximum payment amount specified in paragraph (a) of this section by the number of persons and legal entities, other than joint operations, that comprise the ownership of the joint operation.
(c) The direct attribution provisions in § 1400.105 of this title apply to payments under this subpart.
(d) The notification of interest provisions in § 1400.107 of this title apply to payments under this subpart.
(e) The provisions for recognizing persons added to a farming operation for payment limitation purposes as described in § 1400.104 of this title apply to payments under this subpart.
(f) The $900,000 average AGI limitation provisions in part 1400 of this title relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, apply to each applicant for the QLA Program unless at least 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry-related activities. A person’s or legal entity’s average AGI for each of the program years 2018, 2019 or 2020, is determined by using the average of the adjusted gross incomes for the 3 taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding taxable year. If the person’s or legal entity’s average AGI is below $900,000 or at least 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry-related activities, the person or legal entity, is eligible to receive payments under this subpart.
§ 760.1810 Time and method of application.
(a) A completed FSA-898, Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program Application, must be submitted in person, by mail, email, or facsimile to any FSA county office by the close of business on March 5, 2020.
(b) An application submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is not considered valid and complete for issuance of payment under this subpart unless FSA determines all the applicable eligibility provisions have been satisfied and the producer has submitted all of following by March 19, 2020:
(1) Documentation required by § 760.1811;
(2) FSA-578, Report of Acreage, for all acreage for any crop for which payments under this subpart are requested;
(3) FSA-895, Crop Insurance and/or NAP Coverage Agreement; and
(4) For forage crops, FSA-899, Historical Nutritional Value Weighted Average Worksheet, if verifiable documentation of historical nutrient factors is available.
(c) In addition to the forms listed in paragraph (b) of this section, applicants must also submit all the following eligibility forms within 60 days from the date of signing the QLA Program application if not already on file with FSA:
(1) AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation Certification;
(2) CCC-902 Automated, Farm Operating Plan for Payment Eligibility 2009 and Subsequent Program Years;
(3) CCC-941 Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information; and
(4) CCC-942 Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable.
(d) Failure to submit all required forms by the applicable deadlines in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section may result in no payment or a reduced payment.
(e) Application approval and payment by FSA does not relieve a participant from having to submit any form required, but not filed, according to this section.
(f) Once signed by a producer, the application is considered to contain information and certifications of and pertaining to the producer regardless of who entered the information on the application.
(g) The producer applying for payment under this subpart certifies the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application as well as any documentation filed with or in support of the application. All information is subject to verification or spot check by FSA at any time, either before or after payment is issued. Refusal to allow FSA or any agency of the USDA to verify any information provided will result in the participant’s forfeiting eligibility for payment under this subpart. FSA may at any time, including before, during, or after processing and paying an application, require the producer to submit any additional information necessary to implement or determine any eligibility provision of this subpart. Furnishing information specified in this subpart is voluntary; however, FSA may choose not to act on the application or approve payment if the required information is not provided. Providing a false certification will result in ineligibility and can also be punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties.
§ 760.1811 Required documentation and verification.
(a) If requested by FSA, an applicant must provide documentation that establishes the applicant’s ownership share and value at risk in the crop.
(b) The applicant must provide acceptable documentation that is dated and contains all information required to substantiate the applicant’s certification to the satisfaction of the FSA county committee. Verifiable documentation is required to substantiate the total dollar value loss and associated affected production, grading factors, and nutritional factors. FSA may verify the records with records on file at the warehouse, gin, or other entity that received or may have received the reported production. Reliable production records are required to substantiate the reported amount of affected production for applications not based on the total dollar value loss.
(c) To be considered acceptable, verifiable documentation for grain crops that were sold may come from any time between harvest and sale of the affected production, unless the FSA county committee determines the record is not representative of the condition within 30 days of harvest. For all other crops, the verifiable documentation must come from tests or analysis completed within 30 days of harvest, unless the FSA county committee determines that the record is representative of the condition of the affected production at time of harvest. Examples of acceptable records for purposes of this paragraph (c) include:
(1) Warehouse grading sheets;
(2) Settlement sheets;
(3) Sales receipts showing grade and price or disposition to secondary market due to quality; and
(4) Laboratory test results.
(d) For forage crops, producers must submit verifiable documentation showing the nutrient factors for the affected production. Producers must also submit verifiable documentation of the historical nutrient factors for the 3 preceding crop years if available. The nutrient factors that must be documented for a crop will determined by the FSA county committee based on the standard practice for the crop in that county.
(e) For all crops other than forage crops, producers must submit verifiable documentation of the total dollar value loss due to quality, if available, and verifiable documentation of grading factors due to quality.
(f) The participant is responsible for:
(1) Retaining, providing, and summarizing, at time of application and whenever required by FSA, the best available verifiable production records for the crop;
(2) Providing the information in a manner that can be easily understood by the FSA county committee; and
(3) Providing supporting documentation about the disaster event if the FSA county committee has reason to question the disaster event.
(e) Participants must provide all records for any production of a crop that is grown with an arrangement, agreement, or contract for guaranteed payment.
(f) Participants are required to retain documentation in support of their application for 3 years after the date of approval.
(g) Participants receiving QLA Program payments or any other person who furnishes such information to USDA must permit authorized representatives of USDA or the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to enter the agricultural operation and to inspect, examine, and make copies of books, records, or other items for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by the participant.
§ 760.1812 Payment calculation.
(a) Payments will be calculated separately for crops based on the crop type, intended use, certified organic or conventional status, county, and crop year.
(b) For forage crops with verifiable documentation of nutrient factors for the affected production and for the 3 preceding crop years, the payment will be equal to the producer’s total affected production multiplied by the producer’s verifiable percentage of loss, multiplied by the average market price, multiplied by 70 percent.
(c) For forage crops with verifiable documentation of nutrient factors for the affected production but not for the 3 preceding crop years, the payment will be equal to the producer’s total affected production multiplied by the county average percentage of loss in paragraph (f) of this section, multiplied by the average market price, multiplied by 70 percent, multiplied by 50 percent.
(d) For crops other than forage with verifiable documentation of the total dollar value loss due to quality, the payment will be equal to the producer’s total dollar value loss on the affected production, multiplied by 70 percent.
(e) For crops other than forage without verifiable documentation of the total dollar value loss but with verifiable documentation of grading factors, the payment will be equal to the producer’s affected production multiplied by the county average loss per unit of measure in paragraph (g) of this section, multiplied by 70 percent, multiplied by 50 percent.
(f) The county average percentage of loss is the average percentage of loss from producers eligible for payment under paragraph (b) of this section if at least 5 producers in a county are eligible for payment for a crop under paragraph (b) of this section. If less than 5 producers in a county are eligible for payment for a crop under paragraph (b) of this section, the Deputy Administrator will:
(1) Determine a county average percentage of loss based on the best available data, including, but not limited to, evidence of losses in contiguous counties; or
(2) If a county average percentage of loss cannot be determined due to insufficient data, not issue payments to applicants under paragraph (c) of this section.
(g) The county average loss per unit of measure is based on the weighted average sales price from producers eligible for payment under paragraph (d) of this section if at least 5 producers in a county are eligible for payment for a crop under paragraph (d) of this section. If less than 5 producers are eligible for payment in a county under paragraph (d) of this section, the Deputy Administrator will:
(1) Determine a county average loss per unit of measure based on the best available data, including, but not limited to, evidence of losses in contiguous counties; or
(2) If a county average loss per unit of measure cannot be determined due to insufficient data, not issue payments to applicants under paragraph (e) of this section.
§ 760.1813 Availability of funds and timing of payments.
(a) Payments will be issued after the application period has ended and all applications have been reviewed by FSA.
(b) In the event that, within the limits of the funding made available by the Secretary, approval of eligible applications would result in payments in excess of the amount available, FSA will prorate payments by a national factor to reduce the payments to an amount that is less than available funds as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Applications and claims that are unpaid or prorated for any reason will not be carried forward for payment under other funds for later years or otherwise, but will be considered, as to any unpaid amount, void and nonpayable.
§ 760.1814 Requirement to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage.
(a) For the first 2 consecutive crop years for which crop insurance or NAP coverage is available after the enrollment period for the QLA Program ends, a participant who receives payment under this subpart for a crop loss in a county must obtain:
(1) For an insurable crop, crop insurance with at least a 60 percent coverage level for that crop in that county; or
(2) For a NAP-eligible crop, NAP coverage with a coverage level of 60 percent.
(b) Participants who exceed the average adjusted gross income limitation for NAP payment eligibility
(c) The final crop year to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section is the 2023 crop year.
(d) A participant who obtained crop insurance or NAP coverage for the crop in accordance with the requirements for WHIP+ in § 760.1517 is considered to have met the requirement to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage for the QLA Program.
(e) If a producer fails to obtain crop insurance or NAP coverage as required in this section, the producer must reimburse FSA for the full amount of QLA Program payment plus interest. A producer will only be considered to have obtained NAP coverage for the purposes of this section if the participant submitted a NAP application for coverage and paid the requisite NAP service fee and any applicable premium by the applicable deadline and completed all program requirements required under the coverage agreement, including filing an acreage report.
Subpart S—Emergency Relief Program
§ 760.1900 Applicability and administration.
(a) This subpart specifies the eligibility requirements and payment calculations for Phase 2 of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). ERP provides payments to producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to qualifying disaster events, which include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions occurring in calendar years 2020 and 2021.
(b) ERP is administered under the general supervision and direction of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA).
(c) The FSA State committee will take any action required by this subpart that an FSA county committee has not taken. The FSA State committee will also:
(1) Correct, or require an FSA county committee to correct, any action taken by such county FSA committee that is not in accordance with the regulations of this subpart; or
(2) Require an FSA county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.
(d) No provision or delegation to an FSA State or county committee will preclude the FSA Administrator, the Deputy Administrator, or a designee or other such person, from determining any question arising under the programs of this subpart, or from reversing or modifying any determination made by an FSA State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator has the authority to permit State and county committees to waive or modify deadlines (except deadlines specified in a law) and other requirements or program provisions not specified in law, in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements or program provisions do not adversely affect operation of ERP.
§ 760.1901 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in parts 718 and 1400 of this title apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.
2017 WHIP means the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program under 7 CFR part 760, subpart O.
Administrative fee means the amount an insured producer paid for catastrophic risk protection, and additional coverage for each crop year as specified in the applicable crop insurance policy.
Application means the ERP Phase 2 application form.
Aquaculture means any species of aquatic organisms grown as food for human or livestock consumption or for industrial or biomass uses, fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by humans, and ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic medium. Eligible aquacultural species must be raised by a commercial operator and in water in a controlled environment.
ARC and PLC means the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs under 7 CFR part 1412.
Average adjusted gross farm income means the average of the person or legal entity’s adjusted gross income derived from farming, ranching, or forestry operations for the 3 taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding complete taxable year.
(1) If the resulting average adjusted gross farm income is at least 66.66 percent of the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity, then the average adjusted gross farm income may also take into consideration income or benefits derived from the following:
(i) The sale of equipment to conduct farm, ranch, or forestry operations; and
(ii) The provision of production inputs and services to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and farm operations.
(2) The relevant tax years are:
(i) For the 2020 program year, 2016, 2017, and 2018; and
(ii) For the 2021 program year, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Average adjusted gross income means the average of the adjusted gross income as defined under 26 U.S.C. 62 or comparable measure of the person or legal entity. The relevant tax years are:
(1) For the 2020 program year, 2016, 2017, and 2018; and
(2) For the 2021 program year, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
BCAP means the Biomass Crop Assistance Program under 7 CFR part 1450.
Beginning farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and who materially and substantially participates in the operation. For a legal entity to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher, at least 50 percent of the interest must be beginning farmers or ranchers.
Benchmark revenue means allowable gross revenue for the benchmark year. If a producer began farming in 2020 or 2021 and did not have allowable gross revenue in either 2018 or 2019, the benchmark revenue is the producer’s reasonably expected allowable gross revenue for the disaster year prior to the impact of the qualifying disaster event.
Benchmark year means the 2018 or 2019 tax year, as elected by the producer.
Buy-up NAP coverage means NAP coverage at a payment amount that is equal to an indemnity amount calculated for buy-up coverage computed under section 508(c) or (h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act and equal to the amount that the buy-up coverage yield for the crop exceeds the actual yield for the crop.
Catastrophic coverage has the same meaning as in 7 CFR 1437.3.
CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Certifying agent means a private or governmental entity accredited by the USDA Secretary for the purpose of certifying a production, processing, or handling operation as organic.
CFAP means the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 1 and 2 under 7 CFR part 9, subparts A through C, excluding assistance for contract producers specified in § 9.203(l) through (o).
Controlled environment means an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled by the producer with structures, facilities, and growing media (including but not limited to water, soil, or nutrients), is in fact controlled by the producer, as determined by industry standards.
County means the county or parish of a state. For Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, a county is an area designated by the State committee with the concurrence of the Deputy Administrator.
County committee means the FSA county committee.
Coverage level means the percentage determined by multiplying the elected yield percentage under a crop insurance policy or NAP coverage by the elected price percentage.
Crop insurance means an insurance policy reinsured by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation under the provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended.
Crop insurance indemnity means the payment to a participant for crop losses covered under crop insurance administered by RMA in accordance with the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524).
Deputy Administrator means Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or their designee.
Direct market crop means a crop sold directly to consumers without the intervention of an intermediary such as a registered handler, wholesaler, retailer, packer, processor, shipper, or buyer (for example, a crop sold at a farmer’s market or roadside stand), excluding crops sold for livestock consumption.
Disaster year means the calendar year in which the qualifying disaster event occurred (that is, 2020 or 2021).
Disaster year revenue means the allowable gross revenue for:
(1) The 2020 or 2021 tax year, as elected by the producer, for the 2020 disaster year; and
(2) The 2021 or 2022 tax year, as elected by the producer, for the 2021 disaster year.
(3) Producers must choose consecutive tax years if they are applying for both the 2020 and 2021 disaster years (that is, they may choose 2020 tax year revenue for the 2020 disaster year, and 2021 tax year revenue for the 2021 disaster year; or they may choose 2021 tax year revenue for the 2020 disaster year, and 2022 tax year revenue for the 2021 disaster year).
ELAP means the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program under part 1416, subpart B, of this title.
Eligible crop means a crop, including eligible aquaculture, that is produced in the United States as part of a farming operation and is intended to be commercially marketed. It excludes:
(1) Crops for grazing;
(2) Aquatic species that do not meet the definition of aquaculture;
(3) Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant that does not meet the definition of hemp; and
(4) Timber.
Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in the production of agricultural products, commodities, or livestock, operated by a person, legal entity, or joint operation, and that is eligible to receive payments, directly or indirectly, under this subpart. A person or legal entity may have more than one farming operation if the person or legal entity is a member of one or more legal entity or joint operation.
FCIC means the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned Government Corporation of USDA, administered by RMA.
Hemp means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, that is grown under a license or other required authorization issued by the applicable governing authority that permits the production of the hemp.
High value crop means:
(1) Any eligible crop not specifically identified as a specialty crop or listed in the definition of “other crop”; and
(2) Any eligible crop, regardless of whether it is identified as a specialty crop or listed in the definition of “other crop,” if the crop is a direct market crop, organic crop, or a crop grown for a specific market in which specialized products can be sold resulting in an increased value compared to the typical market for the crops (for example, soybeans intended for tofu production), as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Income derived from farming, ranching, and forestry operations means income of an individual or entity derived from:
(1) Production of crops, specialty crops, and unfinished raw forestry products;
(2) Production of livestock, aquaculture products used for food, honeybees, and products derived from livestock;
(3) Production of farm-based renewable energy;
(4) Selling (including the sale of easements and development rights) of farm, ranch, and forestry land, water or hunting rights, or environmental benefits;
(5) Rental or lease of land or equipment used for farming, ranching, or forestry operations, including water or hunting rights;
(6) Processing, packing, storing, and transportation of farm, ranch, forestry commodities including renewable energy;
(7) Feeding, rearing, or finishing of livestock;
(8) Payments of benefits, including benefits from risk management practices, crop insurance indemnities, and catastrophic risk protection plans;
(9) Sale of land that has been used for agricultural purposes;
(10) Payments and benefits authorized under any program made available and applicable to payment eligibility and payment limitation rules;
(11) Income reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule F or other schedule used by the person or legal entity to report income from such operations to the IRS;
(12) Wages or dividends received from a closely held corporation, Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation (IC-DISC), or legal entity comprised entirely of family members when more than 50 percent of the legal entity’s gross receipts for each tax year are derived from farming, ranching, or forestry activities as defined in this document; and
(13) Any other activity related to farming, ranching, and forestry, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
IRS means the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.
LDP means the Loan Deficiency Payment programs in 7 CFR parts 1421, 1425, 1427, 1434, and 1435.
Legal entity means a corporation, joint stock company, association, limited partnership, irrevocable trust, estate, charitable organization, or other similar organization including any such organization participating in a business structure as a partner in a general partnership, a participant in a joint venture, a grantor of a revocable trust, or as a participant in a similar organization. A business operating as a sole proprietorship is considered a legal entity.
Limited resource farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:
(1) Who is a person whose:
(i) Direct or indirect gross farm sales did not exceed:
(A) $180,300 in each calendar year for 2017 and 2018 (the relevant years for the 2020 program year); or
(B) $179,000 in each of the 2018 and 2019 calendar years for the 2021 program year;
and
(ii) Total household income was at or below the national poverty level for a family of four in each of the same two previous years referenced in paragraph (1)(i) of this definition;
(2) That is an entity and all members who hold an ownership interest in the entity meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.
LFP means the Livestock Forage Disaster Program under CFR part 1416, subpart C.
MLG means marketing loan gains under the Marketing Assistance Loan program provisions in 7 CFR parts 1421, 1425, 1427, 1434, and 1435.
Minor child means a person who is under 18 years of age as of June 1, 2020.
MFP means the 2018 Market Facilitation Program under 7 CFR part 1409, subpart A, and the 2019 Market Facilitation Program under 7 CFR part 1409, subpart B.
NAP means the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) and 7 CFR part 1437.
On-Farm Storage Loss Program means the On-Farm Storage Loss Program under 7 CFR part 760, subpart P.
Organic crop means a crop that is organically produced consistent with section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502) and grown on acreage certified by a certifying agent as conforming to organic standards specified in 7 CFR part 205.
Other crop means cotton, peanuts, rice, feedstock, and any crop grown with an intended use of grain, silage, or forage, unless the crop meets the requirements in paragraph (2) of the definition of “high value crop.”
Ownership interest means to have either legal ownership interest or beneficial ownership interest in a legal entity. For the purposes of administering ERP Phase 2, a person or legal entity that owns a share or stock in a legal entity that is a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or similar type entity where members hold a legal ownership interest and shares in the profits or losses of such entity is considered to have an ownership interest in such legal entity. A person or legal entity that is a beneficiary of a trust or heir of an estate who benefits from the profits or losses of such entity is also considered to have a beneficial ownership interest in such legal entity.
Person means an individual, natural person and does not include a legal entity.
Premium means the premium paid by the producer for crop insurance coverage or NAP buy-up coverage levels.
Producer means a person or legal entity who was entitled to a share in the eligible crop available for marketing or would have shared had the eligible crop been produced and marketed.
Program year means:
(1) For ERP Phase 2, the disaster year; and
(2) For all other programs, the program year as defined in the applicable program provisions.
Qualifying disaster event means wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions.
Qualifying drought means an area within the county was rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a drought intensity of D2 (severe drought) for eight consecutive weeks or D3 (extreme drought) or higher level for any period of time during the applicable calendar year.
Related condition means damaging weather and adverse natural occurrences that occurred concurrently with and as a direct result of a specified qualifying disaster event. Related conditions include, but are not limited to:
(1) Excessive wind that occurred as a direct result of a derecho;
(2) Silt and debris that occurred as a direct and proximate result of flooding;
(3) Excessive wind, storm surges, tornados, tropical storms, and tropical depressions that occurred as a direct result of a hurricane; and
(4) Excessive wind and blizzards that occurred as a direct result of a winter storm.
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. For entities, at least 50 percent of the ownership interest must be held by individuals who are members of such a group. Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others unless approved in writing by the Deputy Administrator:
(1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives;
(2) Asians or Asian-Americans;
(3) Blacks or African Americans;
(4) Hispanics or Hispanic Americans;
(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders; and
(6) Women.
Specialty crops means fruits, tree nuts, vegetables, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, and nursery, floriculture, and horticulture crops. This includes common specialty crops identified by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop and other crops as designated by the Deputy Administrator.
Substantial beneficial interest (SBI) has the same meaning as specified in the applicable crop insurance policy. For the purposes of ERP Phase 1, Federal crop insurance records for “transfer of coverage, right to indemnity” are considered the same as SBIs.
STRP means the Seafood Trade Relief Program announced in the notice of funds availability published on September 14, 2020 (85 FR 56572-56575).
Underserved farmer or rancher means a beginning farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or veteran farmer or rancher.
United States means all 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
U.S. Drought Monitor means the system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought. It is a collaborative effort between Federal and academic partners, produced on a weekly basis, to synthesize multiple indices, outlooks, and drought impacts on a map and in narrative form. This synthesis of indices is reported by the National Drought Mitigation Center at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:
(1) Who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(10)
(i) Has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years; or
(ii) Has obtained status as a veteran (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2)
(2) That is an entity and at least 50 percent of the ownership interest is held by members who meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.
WHIP+ means the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus under 7 CFR part 760, subpart O.
§ 760.1902 Producer eligibility requirements.
(a) To be eligible for ERP Phase 2, a producer must have suffered a loss in disaster year allowable gross revenue, as compared to the benchmark allowable gross revenue, due to necessary expenses associated with losses of eligible crops due in whole or in part to a qualifying disaster event that occurred in the 2020 or 2021 calendar year.
(b) To be eligible for an ERP Phase 2 payment, a producer must be a:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means “lawful alien” as defined in part 1400 of this title;
(3) Partnership organized under State law consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens;
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law consisting solely of citizens of the United States or resident aliens; or
(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
§ 760.1903 Allowable gross revenue.
(a) For the purposes of this subpart, “allowable gross revenue” includes revenue from:
(1) Sales of eligible crops produced by the producer, which includes sales resulting from value added through post-production activities that were reportable on IRS Schedule F;
(2) Sales of eligible crops a producer purchased for resale that had a change in characteristic due to the time held (for example, a plant purchased at a size of 2 inches and sold as an 18-inch plant after 4 months), less the cost or other basis of such eligible crops;
(3) The taxable amount of cooperative distributions directly related to the sale of the eligible crops produced by the producer;
(4) Benefits for eligible crops under the following agricultural programs: 2017 WHIP, ARC and PLC, BCAP, LDP, MLG, MFP, the On-Farm Storage Loss Program, and STRP;
(5) CCC loans for eligible crops, if treated as income and reported to IRS;
(6) Crop insurance proceeds for eligible crops, minus the amount of administrative fees and premiums;
(7) NAP payments for eligible crops, minus the amount of service fees and premiums;
(8) ELAP payments for an aquaculture crop;
(9) Payments issued through grant agreements with FSA for losses of eligible crops;
(10) Grants from the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and State program funds providing direct payments for the loss of eligible crops or the loss of revenue from eligible crops;
(11) Other revenue directly related to the production of eligible crops that IRS requires the producer to report as income;
(12) For the disaster year only, ERP Phase 1 payments issued to another person or entity for the producer’s share of an eligible crop, regardless of the tax year in which the payment would be reported to IRS; and
(13) For the benchmark year only, 2018, 2019 and 2020 WHIP+ and QLA payments.
(b) Allowable gross revenue does not include revenue from sources other than those listed in paragraph (a) of this section, including but not limited to, revenue from:
(1) Federal assistance programs not included in paragraph (a) of this section;
(2) Sales of livestock, animal by-products, and any commodities that are excluded from “eligible crops”;
(3) Resale items not held for characteristic change;
(4) Income from a pass-through entity such as an S Corp or limited liability company;
(5) Conservation program payments;
(6) Any pandemic assistance payments that were not for the loss of eligible crops or the loss of revenue from eligible crops;
(7) Custom hire income;
(8) Net gain from hedging or speculation;
(9) Wages, salaries, tips, and cash rent;
(10) Rental of equipment or supplies; and
(11) Acting as a contract producer of an agricultural commodity.
(c) A producer is required to certify to an adjusted allowable gross revenue for the benchmark year on FSA-521 if the producer had a decreased operation capacity in a disaster year for which they are applying for ERP Phase 2, compared to the benchmark year.
(d) A producer may certify to an adjusted allowable gross revenue for the benchmark year on FSA-521 if either of the following apply:
(1) The producer did not have a full year of revenue for 2018 or 2019; or
(2) The producer had expanded their operation capacity in a disaster year for which they are applying for ERP Phase 2, compared to the benchmark year.
(e) Change in operation capacity does not include crop rotation from year to year, changes in farming practices such as converting from conventional tillage to no-till, or increasing the rate of fertilizers or chemicals. If requested by FSA, producers are required to submit documentation to FSA to support adjustments described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section within 30 calendar days of the request. The documentation to support an adjustment due to a change in operation capacity must show that the adjustment to the producer’s benchmark revenue is due to an:
(1) Addition or decrease in production capacity of the farming operation;
(2) Increase or decrease in the use of existing production capacity; or
(3) Physical alterations that were made to existing production capacity.
(f) If a producer began farming in 2020 or 2021 and did not have allowable gross revenue in a benchmark year, the producer may certify to an adjusted benchmark allowable gross revenue on form FSA-521 that represents what had been the producer’s reasonably expected disaster year revenue prior to the impact of the qualifying disaster event. If requested by FSA, documentation required to support a producer’s certification must be provided within 30 calendar days of FSA’s request, or the producer will be considered ineligible for ERP Phase 2. Acceptable documentation must be generated in the ordinary course of business and dated prior to the impact of the disaster event and includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Financial documents such as a business plan or cash flow statement that demonstrate an expected level of revenue;
(2) Sales contracts or purchase agreements; and
(3) Documentation supporting production capacity, use of existing production capacity, or physical alterations that demonstrate production capacity.
(g) The allowable gross revenue will be based on the year for which the revenue would be reported for the purpose of filing a tax return, except for the ERP Phase 1 payments specified in paragraph (a)(12) of this section.
(h) Producers who file or would be eligible to file a joint tax return will certify their allowable gross revenue based on what it would have been had they filed taxes separately for the applicable year.
(i) On form FSA-521, for each applicable disaster year, producers must indicate the percentage of their allowable gross revenue from specialty and high value crops and the percentage from other crops. The percentages certified must be equal to the percentages that the producer would have reasonably expected to receive for the disaster year if not for the qualifying disaster event.
(j) The Deputy Administrator may determine that certain eligible crops produced by a producer that do not generate revenue for the producer directly from the sale of the crop and that the producer uses within their ordinary operation may be included in a producer’s allowable gross revenue. This determination is at the Deputy Administrator’s discretion. The value of the eligible crop reported in the producer’s allowable gross revenue will be based on the producer’s actual production of the crop and a price for the crop based on the best available data for each crop, as determined by the Deputy Administrator and published through guidance on FSA’s website.
§ 760.1904 Time and method of application.
(a) A completed FSA-521, Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2 Application, must be submitted to the producer’s recording county office by the close of business on the date announced by the Deputy Administrator. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail, email, facsimile, or other methods announced by FSA.
(b) Failure of an individual, entity, or a member of an entity to submit the following payment limitation and payment eligibility forms within 60 days from the date of the ERP Phase 2 application deadline, may result in no payment or a reduced payment:
(1) Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, for new customers or existing customers who need to update their customer profile;
(2) Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, applicable for the program year or years for which the producer is applying for ERP;
(3) Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities, if applicable;
(4) Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
(5) Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, accompanied by a certification from a certified public accountant or attorney as to that person or legal entity’s certification, for a legal entity and all members of that entity, for each applicable program year, including the legal entity’s members, partners, or shareholders, as provided in 7 CFR part 1400; and
(6) Form AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification, for the ERP Phase 2 applicant and applicable affiliates as provided in 7 CFR part 12.
(c) If requested by FSA, the producer must provide additional documentation that establishes the producer’s eligibility for ERP Phase 2. If supporting documentation is requested, the documentation must be submitted to FSA within 30 calendar days from the request or the application will be disapproved by FSA. FSA may request supporting documentation to verify information provided by the producer and the produce’s eligibility including, but not limited to, the producer’s:
(1) Allowable gross revenue reported on the ERP Phase 2 application;
(2) Percentages of the expected allowable gross revenue from:
(i) Specialty and high value crops; and
(ii) Other crops; and
(3) Ownership share in the agricultural commodities.
§ 760.1905 Payment calculation.
(a) ERP Phase 2 payments will be calculated separately for each disaster year. If a producer indicates that they have expected revenue for both specialty and high value crops and other crops for a disaster year, a payment will be calculated separately for:
(1) Specialty and high value crops; and
(2) Other crops.
(b) To determine a producer’s ERP Phase 2 payment amount, FSA will calculate:
(1) The producer’s benchmark year allowable gross revenue, adjusted according to 7 CFR 760.1903, if applicable, multiplied by the ERP factor of 70 percent; minus
(2) The producer’s disaster year allowable gross revenue; minus
(3) The sum of the producer’s gross ERP Phase 1 payments for the 2020 program year, if the calculation is for the 2020 disaster year, or for the 2021 and 2022 program years, if the calculation is for the 2021 disaster year; minus
(4) The sum of the producer’s net CFAP payments (excluding payments for contract producer revenue), net 2020 WHIP+ payments, and net 2020 Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program payments, if the calculation is for the 2020 disaster year; and
(5) Multiplied by the percentage of the expected disaster year revenue for specialty and high value crops or other crops, as applicable, to determine the separate payments for specialty and high value crops or other crops.
(c) FSA will issue an initial payment equal to the lesser of the amount calculated according to this section or the maximum initial payment amount of $2,000. If a producer has also received a payment under ERP Phase 1, FSA will reduce the producer’s initial ERP Phase 2 payment amount by subtracting the producer’s ERP Phase 1 gross payment amount.
(d) After the close of the ERP Phase 2 application period, FSA will issue a final payment equal to the amount calculated according to this section minus the amount of the producer’s initial payment. If total calculated payments exceed the total funding available for ERP Phase 2, the ERP factor may be adjusted and the final payment amounts will be prorated to stay within the amount of available funding. If there are insufficient funds, a differential of 15 percent will be used for underserved producers similar to ERP Phase 1, but with a cap at the statutory maximum of 70 percent. For example, if the ERP Factor is set at 50 percent, the factor used for underserved producers will be 65 percent, but if the factor is set at 55 percent or higher, the factor for underserved producers will be capped at 70 percent.
(e) If a producer receives assistance through CFAP or ERP Phase 1 after their ERP Phase 2 payment is calculated, the producer’s ERP Phase 2 payment will be recalculated and the producer must refund any resulting overpayment.
§ 760.1906 Payment limitation and attribution.
(a) The payment limitation for ERP is determined by the person’s or legal entity’s average adjusted gross farm income (income from activities related to farming, ranching, or forestry). Specifically, if their average adjusted gross farm income is less than 75 percent of their average adjusted gross income (AGI) for the three taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding complete tax year, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, cannot receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 in payments for specialty crops and high value crops
(1) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2020 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2020, combined; and
(2) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2021 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2021, combined.
(b) If at least 75 percent of the person or legal entity’s average AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities and the producer provides the required certification and documentation, as discussed below, the person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or indirectly, up to:
(1) $900,000 for specialty crops and high value crops combined for:
(i) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2020 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2020, combined; and
(ii) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2021 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2021, combined.; and
(2) $250,000 for all other crops for:
(i) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2020 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2020, combined; and
(ii) ERP Phase 1 for program year 2021 and ERP Phase 2 for program year 2021, combined.
(c) The relevant tax years for establishing a producer’s AGI and percentage derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities are:
(1) Years 2016, 2017, and 2018 for program year 2020; and
(2) Years 2017, 2018, and 2019 for program year 2021.
(d) To receive more than $125,000 in ERP payments, producers must submit form FSA-510, accompanied by a certification from a certified public accountant or attorney as to that person or legal entity’s certification. If a producer requesting the increased payment limitation is a legal entity, all members of that entity must also complete form FSA-510 and provide the required certification according to the direct attribution provisions in 7 CFR 1400.105, “Attribution of Payments.” If a legal entity would be eligible for the increased payment limitation based on the legal entity’s average AGI from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities but a member of that legal entity either does not complete a form FSA-510 and provide the required certification or is not eligible for the increased payment limitation, the payment to the legal entity will be reduced for the limitation applicable to the share of the ERP Phase 2 payment attributed to that member.
(e) If a producer files form FSA-510 and the accompanying certification after their ERP Phase 2 payment is issued but before the deadline announced by FSA, FSA will process the form FSA-510 and issue the additional payment amount if a maximum initial payment amount has not been reached.
(f) A payment made to a legal entity will be attributed to those members who have a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal entity, unless the payment of the legal entity has been reduced by the proportionate ownership interest of the member due to that member’s ineligibility. Attribution of payments made to legal entities will be tracked through four levels of ownership in legal entities as follows:
(1) First level of ownership: Any payment made to a legal entity that is owned in whole or in part by a person will be attributed to the person in an amount that represents the direct ownership interest in the first-level or payment legal entity;
(2) Second level of ownership: Any payment made to a first-level legal entity that is owned in whole or in part by another legal entity (referred to as a second-level legal entity) will be attributed to the second-level legal entity in proportion to the ownership of the second-level legal entity in the first-level legal entity; if the second-level legal entity is owned in whole or in part by a person, the amount of the payment made to the first-level legal entity will be attributed to the person in the amount that represents the indirect ownership in the first-level legal entity by the person;
(3) Third and fourth levels of ownership: Except as provided in the second-level ownership in paragraph (f)(2) of this section and in the fourth level of ownership in paragraph (f)(4) of this section, any payments made to a legal entity at the third and fourth levels of ownership will be attributed in the same manner as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section; and
(4) Fourth-level of ownership: If the fourth level of ownership is that of a legal entity and not that of a person, a reduction in payment will be applied to the first-level or payment legal entity in the amount that represents the indirect ownership in the first-level or payment legal entity by the fourth-level legal entity.
(g) Payments made directly or indirectly to a person who is a minor child will not be combined with the earnings of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.
(h) A producer that is a legal entity must provide the names, addresses, ownership share, and valid taxpayer identification numbers of the members holding an ownership interest in the legal entity. Payments to a legal entity will be reduced in proportion to a member’s ownership share when a valid taxpayer identification number for a person or legal entity that holds a direct or indirect ownership interest, at the first through fourth levels of ownership in the business structure, is not provided to FSA.
(i) If an individual or legal entity is not eligible to receive ERP Phase 2 payments due to the individual or legal entity failing to satisfy payment eligibility provisions, the payment made either directly or indirectly to the individual or legal entity will be reduced to zero. The amount of the reduction for the direct payment to the producer will be commensurate with the direct or indirect ownership interest of the ineligible individual or ineligible legal entity.
(j) Like other programs administered by FSA, payments made to an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), will not be subject to payment limitation.
§ 760.1907 Eligibility subject to verification.
(a) Producers who are approved for participation in ERP Phase 2 are required to retain documentation in support of their application for 3 years after the date of approval.
(b) Participants receiving ERP Phase 2 payments must permit authorized representatives of USDA or the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to enter the agricultural operation and to inspect, examine, and to allow representatives to make copies of books, records, or other items for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by the participant.
§ 760.1908 Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) If an ERP Phase 2 payment resulted from erroneous information provided by a producer, or any person acting on their behalf, the payment will be recalculated and the producer must refund any excess payment with interest calculated from the date of the disbursement of the payment.
(b) If FSA determines that the producer intentionally misrepresented information provided on their application, the application will be disapproved and the producer must refund the full payment to FSA with interest from the date of disbursement.
(c) Any required refunds must be resolved in accordance with part 3 of this title.
(d) A producer, whether a person or legal entity, that either fails to timely provide all required documentation or fails to satisfy any eligibility requirement for ERP Phase 2, is not eligible to receive ERP Phase 2 payments, directly or indirectly. An ERP Phase 2 payment to an eligible legal entity applicant whose member(s) either fails to timely provide all required documentation or fails to satisfy any eligibility requirement for ERP Phase 2 will be reduced proportionate to that member’s ownership interest in the legal entity.
(e) Any payment under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity or proceeds from the sale of the commodity. The regulations governing offsets in part 3 of this title apply to payments made under this subpart.
(f) For the purposes of the effect of a lien on eligibility for Federal programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), USDA waives the restriction on receipt of funds under ERP Phase 2 but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of the waiver, agree to apply the ERP Phase 2 payments to reduce the amount of the judgment lien.
(g) In addition to any other Federal laws that apply to ERP Phase 2, the following laws apply: 15 U.S.C. 714; 18 U.S.C. 286, 287, 371, and 1001.
§ 760.1909 Perjury.
In either applying for or participating in ERP Phase 2, or both, the producer is subject to laws against perjury and any resulting penalties and prosecution, including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1621. If the producer willfully makes and represents as true any verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or verification that the producer knows or believes not to be true, in the course of either applying for or participating in ERP Phase 2, or both, then the producer may be guilty of perjury and, except as otherwise provided by law, may be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, regardless of whether the producer makes such verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or verification within or without the United States.
§ 760.1910 Requirement to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage.
(a) Producers must report all crops that suffered a revenue loss in whole or in part due to a qualifying disaster event on form FSA-522, Crop Insurance and/or NAP Coverage Agreement.
(b) All producers who receive ERP Phase 2 payments must file an accurate acreage report and purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage where crop insurance is not available, for the next 2 available crop years. For each crop reported according to paragraph (a) of this section, participants must obtain crop insurance or NAP, as may be applicable:
(1) At a coverage level equal to or greater than 60 percent for insurable crops; or
(2) At the catastrophic level or higher for NAP crops.
(c) Availability will be determined from the date a producer receives an ERP payment and may vary depending on the timing and availability of crop insurance or NAP for a producer’s particular crops. The final crop year to purchase crop insurance or NAP coverage to meet the second year of coverage for this requirement is the 2026 crop year.
(d) In situations where crop insurance is unavailable for a crop, an ERP participant must obtain NAP coverage. Section 1001D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (1985 Farm Bill) provides that a person or entity with an AGI greater than $900,000 is not eligible to participate in NAP; however, producers with an AGI greater than $900,000 are eligible for ERP. To reconcile this restriction in the 1985 Farm Bill and the requirement to obtain NAP or crop insurance coverage, ERP participants may meet the purchase requirement by purchasing Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) crop insurance coverage, if eligible, or they may pay the applicable NAP service fee despite their ineligibility for a NAP payment. In other words, the service fee must be paid even though no NAP payment may be made because the AGI of the person or entity exceeds the 1985 Farm Bill limitation.
(e) If both Federal crop insurance and NAP coverage are unavailable for a crop, the producer must obtain WFRP crop insurance coverage, if eligible.
(f) For all crops listed on form FSA-522, producers who have the crop or crop acreage in subsequent years and who fail to obtain the 2 years of crop insurance or NAP coverage required as required by this section, must refund the ERP Phase 2 payment with interest from the date of disbursement. Producers who do not plant a crop listed on form FSA-522 in a year for which this requirement applies are not subject to the crop insurance or NAP purchase requirement for that year.
(g) Producers who received an ERP Phase 1 payment for a crop are not required to obtain additional years of crop insurance or NAP coverage for that crop if they also receive an ERP Phase 2 payment for a loss associated with that crop.
PART 761—FARM LOAN PROGRAMS; GENERAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 761.1 Introduction.
(a) The Administrator delegates the responsibility to administer Farm Loan Programs of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) to the Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs subject to any limitations established in 7 CFR 2.16(a)(2) and 7 CFR 2.42.
(b) The Deputy Administrator:
(1) Delegates to each State Executive Director within the State Executive Director’s jurisdiction the authority, and in the absence of the State Executive Director, the person acting in that position, to act for, on behalf of, and in the name of the United States of America or the Farm Service Agency to do and perform acts necessary in connection with making and guaranteeing loans, such as, but not limited to, making advances, servicing loans and other indebtedness, and obtaining, servicing, and enforcing or releasing security and other instruments related to the loan. For actions that do not result in a loss to the Farm Service Agency, a State Executive Director may redelegate authorities received under this paragraph to a Farm Loan Chief, Farm Loan Specialist, District Director, Farm Loan Manager, or Senior Farm Loan Officer, Farm Loan Officer, Loan Analyst, Loan Resolution Specialist, or Program Technician.
(2) May establish procedures for further redelegation or limitation of authority.
(c) This part and parts 762 through 767 of this subchapter describe the Agency’s policies for its Farm Loan Programs. The objective of these programs is to provide progression lending and management assistance to eligible farmers to become owners or operators, or both, of family farms, to continue such operations when credit is not available elsewhere, or to return to normal farming operations after sustaining substantial losses as a result of a designated or declared disaster. The programs are designed to allow those who participate to transition to private commercial credit or other sources of credit in the shortest period of time practicable through the use of progression lending, including farm assessments, borrower training, market placement, and borrower graduation requirements. These regulations apply to loan applicants, borrowers, lenders, holders, Agency personnel, and other parties involved in making, guaranteeing, holding, servicing, or liquidating such loans.
(d) This part describes the Agency’s general and administrative policies for its guaranteed and direct Farm Loan Programs. In general, this part addresses issues that affect both guaranteed and direct loan programs.
(e) Part 3 of this title and 31 CFR part 285 describe the policies and procedures the Agency will follow for non-centralized offset (including administrative offset) and referral to Treasury for centralized offset (TOP), Federal salary offset, Administrative Wage Garnishment, and collection through Treasury’s private collection agencies (cross-servicing). Supplemental provisions for FLP purposes are described in part 761, subpart F of this title.
(f) Part 3 of this title and 31 CFR parts 900-904 describe the policies and procedures the Agency will follow for debt settlement authorities pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection Standards. Supplemental provisions for FLP purposes are described in part 761, subpart F of this title.
(g) Part 761, subpart F of this title describes the debt settlement policies and procedures for FLP debt pursuant to the Act.
§ 761.2 Abbreviations and definitions.
The following abbreviations and definitions are applicable to the Farm Loan Programs addressed in parts 761 through 767 and 769 unless otherwise noted.
(a) Abbreviations.
ARA Alternative Repayment Agreement.
CL Conservation Loan.
CLP Certified Lender Program.
DSA Disaster Set-Aside.
EE Economic Emergency loan.
EM Emergency loan.
FCCS Federal Claims Collection Standards.
FLP Farm Loan Programs.
FO Farm Ownership loan.
FSA Farm Service Agency, an Agency of the USDA, including its personnel and any successor Agency.
HPRP The Heirs’ Property Relending Program.
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate.
ML Microloan.
MLP Micro Lender Program.
NRCS National Resources and Conservation Service, USDA.
OIG Office of the Inspector General, USDA.
OGC Office of the General Counsel of the USDA.
OL Operating loan.
PLP Preferred Lender Program.
RHF Rural Housing loan for farm service buildings.
RL Recreation loan.
SAA Shared Appreciation Agreement.
SA Shared Appreciation loan.
SEL Standard Eligible Lender.
ST Softwood Timber loan.
SW Soil and Water loan.
USDA United States Department of Agriculture.
USPAP Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
(b) Definitions.
Abandoned security property is security property that a borrower is not occupying, is not in possession of, or has relinquished control of and has not made arrangements for its care or sale.
Accrued deferred interest is unpaid interest from past due installments posted to a borrower’s loan account.
Act is the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.).
Additional security is property which provides security in excess of the amount of security value equal to the loan amount.
Adequate security is property which is required to provide security value at least equal to the direct loan amount.
Adjustment means the settlement of an FLP debt for less than the total amount owed. The adjusted amount is collected through a series of payments that are scheduled over time. An adjustment is not a final settlement until all scheduled payments have been made. After applying all payments pursuant to the adjustment agreement, any remaining balance is canceled. The amount canceled is reported to the IRS pursuant to § 3.90 of this title and applicable IRS requirements.
Administrative appraisal review is a review of an appraisal to determine if the appraisal:
(1) Meets applicable Agency requirements; and
(2) Is accurate outside the requirements of standard 3 of USPAP.
Agency is the FSA.
Agreement for the use of proceeds is an agreement between the borrower and the Agency for each production cycle that reflects the proceeds from the sale of normal income security that will be used to pay scheduled FLP loan installments, including any past due installments, during the production cycle covered by the agreement.
Agricultural commodity means livestock, grains, cotton, oilseeds, dry beans, tobacco, peanuts, sugar beets, sugar cane, fruit, vegetable, forage, nursery crops, nuts, aquacultural species, and the products resulting from: livestock, tree farming, and other plant or animal production as determined by the Agency.
Allonge is an attachment or an addendum to a promissory note.
Allowable costs are those costs for replacement or repair that are supported by acceptable documentation, including, but not limited to, written estimates, invoices, and bills.
Alternative repayment agreement is a written repayment agreement accepted by both the borrower and the Agency as specified in §§ 3.42(b) and 3.80 of this title. The agreement may allow for payments to be made from the borrower to the Agency as an alternative to collecting the payment amounts through administrative offset, or Federal salary offset.
Applicant is the individual or entity applying for a loan or loan servicing under either the direct or guaranteed loan program.
Apprentice means an individual who receives applied guidance and input from an individual with the skills and knowledge pertinent to the successful operation of the farm enterprise being financed.
Aquaculture is the husbandry of any aquatic organisms (including fish, mollusks, crustaceans or other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, or aquatic plants) raised in a controlled or selected environment of which the applicant has exclusive rights to use.
Assignment of guaranteed portion is a process by which the lender transfers the right to receive payments or income on a guaranteed loan to another party, usually in return for payment in the amount of the loan’s guaranteed principal. The lender retains the unguaranteed portion in its portfolio and receives a fee from the purchaser or assignee to service the loan and receive and remit payments according to a written assignment agreement. This assignment can be reassigned or sold multiple times.
Assignment of indemnity is the transfer of rights to compensation under an insurance contract.
Assistance is financial assistance in the form of a direct or guaranteed loan or interest subsidy or servicing action.
Assumption is the act of agreeing to be legally responsible for another party’s indebtedness.
Assumption agreement is a written agreement on the appropriate Agency form to pay the FLP debt incurred by another.
Basic part of an applicant’s total farming operation is any single agricultural commodity or livestock production enterprise of an applicant’s farming operation which normally generates sufficient income to be considered essential to the success of such farming operation.
Basic security is all farm machinery, equipment, vehicles, foundation and breeding livestock herds and flocks, including replacements, and real estate that serves as security for a loan made or guaranteed by the Agency.
Beginning farmer is an individual or entity who:
(1) Meets the loan eligibility requirements for a direct or guaranteed CL, FO, or OL, as applicable;
(2) Has not operated a farm for more than 10 years. This requirement applies to all members of an entity;
(3) Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm:
(i) In the case of a loan made to an individual, individually or with the family members, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm, consistent with the practices in the county or State where the farm is located.
(ii) In the case of a loan made to an entity, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm. Material and substantial participation requires that the member provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if the individual did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm would be seriously impaired;
(4) Agrees to participate in any loan assessment and borrower training required by Agency regulations;
(5) Except for an OL applicant, does not own real farm property or who, directly or through interests in family farm entities owns real farm property, the aggregate acreage of which does not exceed 30 percent of the average farm acreage of the farms in the county where the property is located. If the farm is located in more than one county, the average farm acreage of the county where the applicant’s residence is located will be used in the calculation. If the applicant’s residence is not located on the farm or if the applicant is an entity, the average farm acreage of the county where the major portion of the farm is located will be used. The average county farm acreage will be determined from the most recent Census of Agriculture;
(6) Demonstrates that the available resources of the applicant and spouse (if any) are not sufficient to enable the applicant to enter or continue farming on a viable scale; and
(7) In the case of an entity:
(i) All the members are related by blood or marriage; and
(ii) All the members are beginning farmers.
Borrower (or debtor) is an individual or entity that has an outstanding obligation to the Agency or to a lender under any direct or guaranteed FLP loan, without regard to whether the loan has been accelerated. The term “borrower” includes all parties liable for such obligation, including collection-only borrowers, except for debtors whose total loans and accounts have been voluntarily or involuntarily foreclosed, sold, or conveyed, or who have been discharged of all such obligations owed to the Agency or guaranteed lender.
Cancellation means the final resolution of an FLP debt without receiving payment in full. Any amounts still owed, after applying payments in accordance with approved adjustment and compromise agreements, is canceled. The amount canceled is reported to the IRS pursuant to § 3.90 of this title and applicable IRS requirements.
Cash flow budget is a projection listing all anticipated cash inflows (including all farm income, nonfarm income and all loan advances) and all cash outflows (including all farm and nonfarm debt service and other expenses) to be incurred during the period of the budget. Advances and principal repayments of lines of credit may be excluded from a cash flow budget. Cash flow budgets for guaranteed loans under $125,000 do not require income and expenses itemized by categories. A cash flow budget may be completed either for a 12-month period, a typical production cycle, or the life of the loan, as appropriate. It may also be prepared with a breakdown of cash inflows and outflows for each month of the review period and include the expected outstanding operating credit balance for the end of each month. The latter type is referred to as a “monthly cash flow budget.”
Chattel or real estate essential to the operation is chattel or real estate that would be necessary for the applicant to continue operating the farm after the disaster in a manner similar to the manner in which the farm was operated immediately prior to the disaster, as determined by the Agency.
Chattel security is property that may consist of, but is not limited to: Crops; livestock; aquaculture species; farm equipment; inventory; accounts; contract rights; general intangibles; and supplies that are covered by financing statements and security agreements, chattel mortgages, and other security instruments.
Civil action is a court proceeding to protect the Agency’s financial interests. A civil action does not include bankruptcy and similar proceedings to impound and distribute the bankrupt’s assets to creditors, or probate or similar proceedings to settle and distribute estates of incompetents or decedents, and pay claims of creditors.
Closing agent is the attorney or title insurance company selected by the applicant and approved by the Agency to provide closing services for the proposed loan or servicing action. Unless a title insurance company provides loan closing services, the term “title company” does not include “title insurance company.”
Coastal barrier is an area of land identified as part of the national Coastal Barrier Resources System under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1980.
Compromise is the settlement of an FLP debt or claim by a lump-sum payment of less than the total amount owed in satisfaction of the debt or claim.
Conditional commitment is the Agency’s commitment to a lender that the material the lender has submitted is approved subject to the completion of all listed conditions and requirements.
Conservation Contract is a contract under which a borrower agrees to set aside land for conservation, recreation or wildlife purposes in exchange for reduction of a portion of an outstanding FLP debt.
Conservation Contract review team is comprised by the appropriate offices of FSA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Conservation Districts, National Park Service, Forest Service, State Historic Preservation Officer, State Conservation Agencies, State Environmental Protection Agency, State Natural Resource Agencies, adjacent public landowner, and any other entity that may have an interest and qualifies to be a management authority for a proposed conservation contract.
Conservation loan means a loan made to eligible applicants to cover the costs to the applicant of carrying out a qualified conservation project.
Conservation plan means an NRCS-approved written record of the land user’s decisions and supporting information, for treatment of a land unit or water as a result of the planning process, that meets NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) quality criteria for each natural resource (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) and takes into account economic and social considerations. The conservation plan describes the schedule of operations and activities needed to solve identified natural resource problems and takes advantage of opportunities at a conservation management system level. This definition only applies to the direct loans and guaranteed loans for the Conservation Loan Program.
Conservation practice means a specific treatment, such as a structural or vegetative measure, or management technique, commonly used to meet specific needs in planning and implementing conservation, for which standards and specifications have been developed. Conservation practices are contained in the appropriate NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), which is based on the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP).
Conservation project means conservation measures that address provisions of a conservation plan or Forest Stewardship Management Plan.
Consolidation is the process of combining the outstanding principal and interest balance of two or more loans of the same type made for operating purposes.
Construction is work such as erecting, repairing, remodeling, relocating, adding to, or salvaging any building or structure, and the installing, repairing, or adding to heating and electrical systems, water systems, sewage disposal systems, walks, steps, and driveways.
Controlled is when a director or an employee has more than a 50 percent ownership in an entity or, the director or employee, together with relatives of the director or employee, have more than a 50 percent ownership.
Controlled substance is the term as defined in 21 U.S.C. 812.
Cooperative is an entity that has farming as its purpose, whose members have agreed to share the profits of the farming enterprise, and is recognized as a farm cooperative by the laws of the state in which the entity will operate a farm.
Corporation is a private domestic corporation created and organized under the laws of the state in which it will operate a farm.
Cosigner is a party, other than the applicant, who joins in the execution of a promissory note to assure its repayment. The cosigner becomes jointly and severally liable to comply with the repayment terms of the note, but is not authorized to severally receive loan servicing available under 7 CFR parts 765 and 766. In the case of an entity applicant, the cosigner cannot be a member of the entity.
County is a local administrative subdivision of a State or similar political subdivision of the United States.
County average yield is the historical average yield for an agricultural commodity in a particular political subdivision, as determined or published by a government entity or other recognized source.
Criminal action is the prosecution by the United States to exact punishment in the form of fines or imprisonment for alleged violation of criminal statutes.
Crop allotment or quota is a farm’s share of an approved national tobacco or peanut allotment or quota.
Current market value buyout is the termination of a borrower’s loan obligations to the Agency in exchange for payment of the current appraised value of the borrower’s security property and non-essential assets, less any prior liens.
Debt forgiveness means the reduction or termination of a debt under the Act in a manner that results in a loss to the Agency, through:
(i)(A) Writing down or writing off a debt pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2001;
(B) Cancellation of remaining amounts owed after compromising, adjusting, reducing, or charging off a debt or claim pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1981;
(C) Paying a loss pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2005 on a FLP loan guaranteed by the Agency;
(D) Discharging a debt as a result of bankruptcy; or
(E) Releases of liability which result in a loss to the Agency.
(ii) Debt forgiveness does not include:
(A) Debt reduction through a conservation contract;
(B) Any writedown provided as part of the resolution of a discrimination complaint against the Agency;
(C) Prior debt forgiveness that has been repaid in its entirety;
(D) Consolidation, rescheduling, reamortization, or deferral of a loan; and
(E) Forgiveness of a YL debt due to circumstances beyond the borrower’s control.
Debt settlement is a compromise, adjustment, or cancellation of an FLP debt.
Debt service margin is the difference between all of the borrower’s expected expenditures in a planning period (including farm operating expenses, capital expenses, essential family living expenses, and debt payments) and the borrower’s projected funds available to pay all expenses and payments.
Debt writedown is the reduction of the borrower’s debt to that amount the Agency determines to be collectible based on an analysis of the security value and the borrower’s ability to pay.
Default is the failure of a borrower to observe any agreement with the Agency, or the lender in the case of a guaranteed loan, as contained in promissory notes, security instruments, and similar or related instruments.
Deferral is a postponement of the payment of interest or principal, or both.
Delinquent borrower, for loan servicing purposes, is a borrower who has failed to make all scheduled payments by the due date.
Direct loan is a loan funded and serviced by the Agency as the lender.
Disaster is an event of unusual and adverse weather conditions or other natural phenomena, or quarantine, that has substantially affected the production of agricultural commodities by causing physical property or production losses in a county, or similar political subdivision, that triggered the inclusion of such county or political subdivision in the disaster area as designated by the Agency.
Disaster area is the county or counties declared or designated as a disaster area for EM loan assistance as a result of disaster related losses. This area includes counties contiguous to those counties declared or designated as disaster areas.
Disaster set-aside is the deferral of payment of an annual loan installment to the Agency to the end of the loan term in accordance with part 766, subpart B of this chapter.
Disaster yield is the per-acre yield of an agricultural commodity for the operation during the production cycle when the disaster occurred.
Down payment loan is a type of FO loan made to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers to finance a portion of a real estate purchase under part 764, subpart E of this chapter.
Economic Emergency loan is a loan that was made or guaranteed to an eligible applicant to allow for continuation of the operation during an economic emergency which was caused by a lack of agricultural credit or an unfavorable relationship between production costs and prices received for agricultural commodities. EE loans are not currently funded; however, such outstanding loans are serviced by the Agency or the lender in the case of a guaranteed EE loan.
Embedded entity means an entity that has a direct or indirect interest, as a stockholder, member, beneficiary, or otherwise, in another entity.
Emergency loan is a loan made to eligible applicants who have incurred substantial financial losses from a disaster.
Entity means a corporation, partnership, joint operation, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, or other legal business organization, as determined by the Agency, that is authorized to conduct business in the state in which the organization operates. Organizations operating as non-profit entities under Internal Revenue Code 501 (26 U.S.C. 501) and estates are not considered eligible entities for Farm Loan Programs purposes.
Entity member means all individuals and all embedded entities, as well as the individual members of the embedded entities, having an ownership interest in the assets of the entity.
Equitable relief means waiving a requirement for Direct Farm Ownership, Direct Farm Operating, or Direct Emergency loans when the borrower is not in compliance with loan program requirements, but acted in good faith and relied on a material action, advice, or non-action from an Agency official to the detriment of the borrower’s operation.
Essential family living and farm operating expenses:
(1) Are those that are basic, crucial or indispensable.
(2) Are determined by the Agency based on the following considerations:
(i) The specific borrower’s operation;
(ii) What is typical for that type of operation in the area; and
(iii) What is an efficient method of production considering the borrower’s resources.
(3) Include, but are not limited to, essential: Household operating expenses; food, including lunches; clothing and personal care; health and medical expenses, including medical insurance; house repair and sanitation; school and religious expenses; transportation; hired labor; machinery repair; farm building and fence repair; interest on loans and credit or purchase agreement; rent on equipment, land, and buildings; feed for animals; seed, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, spray materials and other necessary farm supplies; livestock expenses, including medical supplies, artificial insemination, and veterinarian bills; machinery hire; fuel and oil; taxes; water charges; personal, property and crop insurance; auto and truck expenses; and utility payments.
Established farmer means a farmer who operates the farm (in the case of an entity, its members as a group) who meets all of the following conditions:
(1) Actively participated in the operation and the management, including, but not limited to, exercising control over, making decisions regarding, and establishing the direction of, the farming operation at the time of the disaster;
(2) Spends a substantial portion of time in carrying out the farming operation;
(3) Planted the crop, or purchased or produced the livestock on the farming operation;
(4) In the case of an entity, is primarily engaged in farming and has over 50 percent of its gross income from all sources from its farming operation based on the operation’s projected cash flow for the next crop year or the next 12-month period, as mutually determined;
(5) Is not an integrated livestock, poultry, or fish processor who operates primarily and directly as a commercial business through contracts or business arrangements with farmers, except a grower under contract with an integrator or processor may be considered an established farmer, provided the farming operation is not managed by an outside full-time manager or management service and Agency loans will be based on the applicant’s share of the agricultural production as specified in the contract; and
(6) Does not employ a full time farm manager.
EZ Guarantee means a type of OL or FO of $100,000 or less made using a simplified loan application. As part of the simplified application process, EZ Guarantees are processed using a streamlined underwriting method to determine financial feasibility.
False information is information provided by an applicant, borrower or other source to the Agency that the applicant or borrower knows to be incorrect.
Family farm is a business operation that:
(1) Produces agricultural commodities for sale in sufficient quantities so that it is recognized as a farm rather than a rural residence;
(2) Has both physical labor and management provided as follows:
(i) The majority of day-to-day, operational decisions, and all strategic management decisions are made by:
(A) The borrower, with input and assistance allowed from persons who are either related to the borrower by blood or marriage, or are a relative, for an individual borrower; or
(B) The members responsible for operating the farm, in the case of an entity.
(ii) A substantial amount of labor to operate the farm is provided by:
(A) The borrower, with input and assistance allowed from persons who are either related to the borrower by blood or marriage, or are a relative, for an individual borrower; or
(B) The members responsible for operating the farm, in the case of an entity.
(3) May use full-time hired labor in amounts only to supplement family labor.
(4) May use reasonable amounts of temporary labor for seasonal peak workload periods or intermittently for labor intensive activities.
Family living expenses are the costs of providing for the needs of family members and those for whom the borrower has a financial obligation, such as alimony, child support, and care expenses of an elderly parent.
Family members are the immediate members of the family residing in the same household with the borrower.
Farm is a tract or tracts of land, improvements, and other appurtenances that are used or will be used in the production of crops, livestock, or aquaculture products for sale in sufficient quantities so that the property is recognized as a farm rather than a rural residence. The term “farm” also includes the term “ranch.” It may also include land and improvements and facilities used in a non-eligible enterprise or the residence which, although physically separate from the farm acreage, is ordinarily treated as part of the farm in the local community.
Farmer is an individual, corporation, partnership, joint operation, cooperative, trust, or limited liability company that is the operator of a farm.
Farm income is the proceeds from the sale of agricultural commodities that are normally sold annually during the regular course of business, such as crops, feeder livestock, and other farm products.
Farm Loan Programs are Agency programs to make, guarantee, and service loans to family farmers authorized under the Act or Agency regulations.
Farm Ownership loan is a loan made to eligible applicants to purchase, enlarge, or make capital improvements to family farms, or to promote soil and water conservation and protection. It also includes the Downpayment loan.
Farm Program payments are benefits received from FSA for any commodity, disaster, or cost share program.
Feasible plan is when an applicant or borrower’s cash flow budget or farm operating plan indicates that there is sufficient cash inflow to pay all cash outflow. If a loan approval or servicing action exceeds one production cycle and the planned cash flow budget or farm operating plan is atypical due to cash or inventory on hand, new enterprises, carryover debt, atypical planned purchases, important operating changes, or other reasons, a cash flow budget or farm operating plan must be prepared that reflects a typical cycle. If the request is for only one cycle, a feasible plan for only one production cycle is required for approval.
Financially distressed borrower is a borrower unable to develop a feasible plan for the current or next production cycle.
Financially viable operation, for the purposes of considering a waiver of OL term limits under § 764.252 of this chapter, is a farming operation that, with Agency assistance, is projected to improve its financial condition over a period of time to the point that the operator can obtain commercial credit without further Agency assistance. Such an operation must generate sufficient income to:
(1) Meet annual operating expenses and debt payments as they become due;
(2) Meet essential family living expenses to the extent they are not met by dependable non-farm income;
(3) Provide for replacement of capital items; and
(4) Provide for long-term financial growth.
Fixture is an item of personal property attached to real estate in such a way that it cannot be removed without defacing or dismantling the structure, or damaging the item itself.
Floodplains are lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters, including flood-prone areas of offshore islands, including at a minimum, that area subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The base floodplain is used to designate the 100-year floodplain (one percent chance floodplain). The critical floodplain is defined as the 500-year floodplain (0.2 percent chance floodplain).
Foreclosed is the completed act of selling security either under the power of sale in the security instrument or through judicial proceedings.
Foreclosure sale is the act of selling security either under the power of sale in the security instrument or through judicial proceedings.
Forest Stewardship Management Plan means a property-specific, long-term, multi-resource plan that addresses private landowner objectives while recommending a set and schedule of management practices designed to achieve a desired future forest condition developed and approved through the USDA Forest Service or its agent.
Good faith is when an applicant or borrower provides current, complete, and truthful information when applying for assistance and in all past dealings with the Agency, and adheres to all written agreements with the Agency including, but not limited to, loan agreement, security instruments, farm operating plans, and agreements for use of proceeds. The Agency considers a borrower to act in good faith, however, if the borrower’s inability to adhere to all agreements is due to circumstances beyond the borrower’s control. In addition, the Agency will consider fraud, waste, or conversion actions, when substantiated by a legal opinion from OGC, when determining if an applicant or borrower has acted in good faith.
Graduation means the payment in full of all direct FLP loans, except for CLs, made for operating, real estate, or both purposes by refinancing with other credit sources either with or without an Agency guarantee.
Guaranteed loan is a loan made and serviced by a lender for which the Agency has entered into a Lender’s Agreement and for which the Agency has issued a Loan Guarantee. This term also includes guaranteed lines of credit except where otherwise indicated.
Guarantor is a party not included in the farming operation who assumes responsibility for repayment in the event of default.
Hazard insurance is insurance covering fire, windstorm, lightning, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, builder’s risk, public liability, property damage, flood or mudslide, workers compensation, or any similar insurance that is available and needed to protect the Agency security or that is required by law.
Hearing official. For the purposes of salary offset, the hearing official is an Administrative Law Judge of the USDA or another individual not under the supervision or control of the USDA. For the purposes of administrative wage garnishment, the hearing official is selected pursuant to part 3, subpart E of this title.
Heirs’ property means a farm that is jointly held by multiple heirs as tenants in common as a result of inheriting title from a relative.
Highly erodible land is land as determined by Natural Resources Conservation Service to meet the requirements provided in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985.
Holder is a person or organization other than the lender that holds all or a part of the guaranteed portion of an Agency guaranteed loan but has no servicing responsibilities. When the lender assigns a part of the guaranteed loan by executing an Agency assignment form, the assignee becomes a holder.
Homestead protection is the previous owner’s right to lease with an option to purchase the principal residence and up to 10 acres of adjoining land which secured an FLP direct loan.
Homestead protection property is the principal residence that secured an FLP direct loan and is subject to homestead protection.
Household contents are essential household items necessary to maintain viable living quarters. Household contents exclude all luxury items such as jewelry, furs, antiques, paintings, etc.
HPRP loan agreement means the signed agreement between FSA and the intermediary that specifies the terms and conditions of the HPRP loan.
HPRP loan funds means cash proceeds of a loan obtained through HPRP, including the portion of an HPRP revolving loan fund directly provided by the HPRP loan as well as the proceeds advanced to an ultimate recipient. HPRP loan funds are Federal funds.
HPRP revolving loan fund means a group of assets, obtained through or related to an HPRP loan and recorded by the intermediary in a bookkeeping account or set of accounts and accounted for, along with related liabilities, revenues, and expenses, as an entity or enterprise separate from the intermediary’s other assets and financial activities.
Inaccurate information is incorrect information provided by an applicant, borrower, lender, or other source without the intent of fraudulently obtaining benefits.
Indian reservation is all land located within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running through the reservation; trust or restricted land located within the boundaries of a former reservation of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe in the State of Oklahoma; or all Indian allotments the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished if such allotments are subject to the jurisdiction of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe.
In-house expenses are expenses associated with credit management and loan servicing by the lender and the lender’s contractor. In-house expenses include, but are not limited to, employee salaries, staff lawyers, travel, supplies, and overhead.
Interest Assistance Agreement is the appropriate Agency form executed by the Agency and the lender containing the terms and conditions under which the Agency will make interest assistance payments to the lender on behalf of the guaranteed loan borrower.
Intermediary means the entity requesting or receiving HPRP loan funds for establishing a revolving loan fund and relending to ultimate recipients.
Inventory property is real estate or chattel property and related rights that formerly secured an FLP loan and to which the Federal Government has acquired title.
Joint financing arrangement is an arrangement in which two or more lenders make separate loans simultaneously to supply the funds required by one applicant.
Joint operation is an operation run by individuals who have agreed to operate a farm or farms together as an entity, sharing equally or unequally land, labor, equipment, expenses, or income, or some combination of these items. The real and personal property is owned separately or jointly by the individuals.
Land contract is an installment contract executed between a buyer and a seller for the sale of real property, in which complete fee title ownership of the property is not transferred until all payments under the contract have been made.
Leasehold is a right to use farm property for a specific period of time under conditions provided for in a lease agreement.
Lender is the organization making and servicing a loan, or advancing and servicing a line of credit that is guaranteed by the Agency. The lender is also the party requesting a guarantee.
Lender’s Agreement is the appropriate Agency form executed by the Agency and the lender setting forth their loan responsibilities when the Loan Guarantee is issued.
Lien is a legally enforceable claim against real or chattel property of another obtained as security for the repayment of indebtedness or an encumbrance on property to enforce payment of an obligation.
Limited resource interest rate is an interest rate normally below the Agency’s regular interest rate, which is available to applicants unable to develop a feasible plan at regular rates and are requesting:
(1) FO or OL loan assistance under part 764 of this title; or
(2) Primary loan servicing on an FO, OL, or SW loan under part 766 of this title.
Line of Credit Agreement is a contract between the borrower and the lender that contains certain lender and borrower conditions, limitations, and responsibilities for credit extension and acceptance where loan principal balance may fluctuate throughout the term of the contract.
Liquidation is the act of selling security for recovery of amounts owed to the Agency or lender.
Liquidation expenses are the costs of an appraisal, due diligence evaluation, environmental assessment, outside attorney fees, and other costs incurred as a direct result of liquidating the security for a direct or guaranteed loan. Liquidation expenses do not include internal Agency expenses for a direct loan or in-house expenses for a guaranteed loan.
Livestock is a member of the animal kingdom, or product thereof, as determined by the Agency.
Loan Agreement is a contract between the borrower and the lender that contains certain lender and borrower agreements, conditions, limitations, and responsibilities for credit extension and acceptance.
Loan servicing programs include any primary loan servicing program, conservation contract, current market value buyout, and homestead protection.
Loan transaction is any loan approval or servicing action.
Loss claim is a request made to the Agency by a lender to receive a reimbursement based on a percentage of the lender’s loss on a loan covered by an Agency guarantee.
Loss rate is the net amount of loan loss claims paid on FSA guaranteed loans made in the previous 7 years divided by the total loan amount of all such loans guaranteed during the same period.
Major deficiency is a deficiency that directly affects the soundness of the loan.
Majority interest is more than a 50 percent interest in an entity held by an individual or group of individuals.
Market value is the amount that an informed and willing buyer would pay an informed and willing, but not forced, seller in a completely voluntary sale.
Microloan means a type of OL or FO of $50,000 or less made using a reduced loan application. Direct MLs are made under modified eligibility and security requirements.
Mineral right is an ownership interest in minerals in land, with or without ownership of the surface of the land.
Minor deficiency is a deficiency that violates Agency regulations, but does not affect the soundness of the loan.
Mortgage is a legal instrument giving the lender a security interest or lien on real or personal property of any kind. The term “mortgage” also includes the terms “deed of trust” and “security agreement.”
Natural disaster is unusual and adverse weather conditions or natural phenomena that have substantially affected farmers by causing severe physical or production, or both, losses.
Negligent servicing is servicing that fails to include those actions that are considered normal industry standards of loan management or comply with the lender’s agreement or the guarantee. Negligent servicing includes failure to act or failure to act in a timely manner consistent with actions of a reasonable lender in loan making, servicing, and collection.
Negotiated sale is a sale in which there is a bargaining of price or terms, or both.
Net recovery value of security is the market value of the security property, assuming that the lender in the case of a guaranteed loan, or the Agency in the case of a direct loan, will acquire the property and sell it for its highest and best use, less the lender’s or the Agency’s costs of property acquisition, retention, maintenance, and liquidation.
Net recovery value of non-essential assets is the appraised market value of the non-essential assets less any prior liens and any selling costs that may include such items as taxes due, commissions, and advertising costs. However, no deduction is made for maintenance of the property while in inventory.
Non-capitalized interest is accrued interest on a loan that was not reclassified as principal at the time of restructuring. Between October 10, 1988, and November 27, 1990, the Agency did not capitalize interest that was less than 90 days past due when restructuring a direct loan.
Non-eligible enterprise is a business that meets the criteria in any one of the following categories:
(1) Produces exotic animals, birds, or aquatic organisms or their products which may be agricultural in nature, but are not normally associated with agricultural production, e.g., there is no established or stable market for them or production is speculative in nature.
(2) Produces non-farm animals, birds, or aquatic organisms ordinarily used for pets, companionship, or pleasure and not typically associated with human consumption, fiber, or draft use.
(3) Markets non-farm goods or provides services which might be agriculturally related, but are not produced by the farming operation.
(4) Processes or markets farm products when the majority of the commodities processed or marketed are not produced by the farming operation.
Non-essential assets are assets in which the borrower has an ownership interest, that:
(1) Do not contribute to:
(i) Income to pay essential family living expenses, or
(ii) The farming operation; and
(2) Are not exempt from judgment creditors or in a bankruptcy action.
Non-monetary default means a situation where a borrower is not in compliance with the covenants or requirements of the loan documents, program requirements, or loan.
Non-program loan is a loan on terms more stringent than terms for a program loan that is an extension of credit for the convenience of the Agency, because the applicant does not qualify for program assistance or the property to be financed is not suited for program purposes. Such loans are made or continued only when it is in the best interest of the Agency.
Normal income security is all security not considered basic security, including crops, livestock, poultry products, other property covered by Agency liens that is sold in conjunction with the operation of a farm or other business, and FSA Farm Program payments.
Normal production yield as used in 7 CFR part 764 for EM loans, is:
(1) The per acre actual production history of the crops produced by the farming operation used to determine Federal crop insurance payments or payment under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for the production year during which the disaster occurred;
(2) The applicant’s own production records, or the records of production on which FSA Farm Program payments are made contained in the applicant’s Farm Program file, if available, for the previous 3 years, when the actual production history in paragraph (1) of this definition is not available;
(3) The county average production yield, when the production records outlined in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this definition are not available.
Operating loan is a loan made to an eligible applicant to assist with the financial costs of operating a farm. The term also includes a Youth loan.
Operator is the individual or entity that provides the labor, management, and capital to operate the farm. The operator can be either an owner-operator or tenant-operator. Under applicable State law, an entity may have to receive authorization from the State in which the farm is located to be the owner and/or operator of the farm. Operating-only entities may be considered owner-operators when the individuals who own the farm real estate own at least 50 percent of the family farm operation.
Participated in the business operations of a farm requires that an applicant has:
(1) Been the owner, manager or operator of a farming operation for the year’s complete production cycle as evidenced by tax returns, FSA farm records or similar documentation;
(2) Been employed as a farm manager or farm management consultant for the year’s complete production cycle; or
(3) Participated in the operation of a farm by virtue of being raised on a farm or having worked on a farm (which can include a farm-related apprenticeship, internship, or similar educational program with applied work experience) with significant responsibility for the day-to-day decisions for the year’s complete production cycle, which may include selection of seed varieties, weed control programs, input suppliers, or livestock feeding programs or decisions to replace or repair equipment.
Partnership is any entity consisting of two or more individuals who have agreed to operate a farm as one business unit. The entity must be recognized as a partnership by the laws of the State in which the partnership will operate a farm. It also must be authorized to own both real and personal property and to incur debt in its own name.
Past due is when a payment is not made by the due date.
Physical loss is verifiable damage or destruction with respect to real estate or chattel, excluding annual growing crops.
Potential liquidation value is the amount of a lender’s protective bid at a foreclosure sale. Potential liquidation value is determined by an independent appraiser using comparables from other forced liquidation sales.
Present value is the present worth of a future stream of payments discounted to the current date.
Presidentially-designated emergency is a major disaster or emergency designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
Primary loan servicing programs include:
(1) Loan consolidation and rescheduling, or reamortization;
(2) Interest rate reduction, including use of the limited resource rate program;
(3) Deferral;
(4) Write-down of the principal or accumulated interest; or
(5) Any combination of paragraphs (1) through (4) of this definition.
Production cycle is the time it takes to produce an agricultural commodity from the beginning of the production process until it is normally disposed of or sold.
Production loss is verifiable damage or destruction with respect to annual growing crops.
Program loans include CL, FO, OL, and EM. In addition, for loan servicing purposes the term includes existing loans for the following programs no longer funded: SW, RL, EE, ST, and RHF.
Promissory note is a written agreement to pay a specified sum on demand or at a specified time to the party designated. The terms “promissory note” and “note” are interchangeable.
Prospectus consists of a transmittal letter, a current balance sheet and projected year’s budget which is sent to commercial lenders to determine their interest in financing or refinancing specific Agency direct loan applicants and borrowers.
Protective advance is an advance made by the Agency or a lender to protect or preserve the collateral from loss or deterioration.
Quarantine is a quarantine imposed by the Secretary under the Plant Protection Act or animal quarantine laws (as defined in section 2509 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990).
Reamortization is the rewriting of rates or terms, or both, of a loan made for real estate purposes.
Reasonable rates and terms are those commercial rates and terms that other farmers are expected to meet when borrowing from a commercial lender or private source for a similar purpose and similar period of time. The “similar period of time” of available commercial loans will be measured against, but need not be the same as, the remaining or original term of the loan.
Recoverable cost is a loan cost expense chargeable to either a borrower or property account.
Recreation loan is a loan that was made to eligible applicants to assist in the conversion of all or a portion of the farm they owned or operated to outdoor income producing recreation enterprises to supplement or supplant farm income. RL’s are no longer funded, however, such outstanding loans are serviced by the Agency.
Redemption right is a Federal or state right to reclaim property for a period of time established by law, by paying the amount paid at the involuntary sale plus accrued interest and costs.
Related by blood or marriage is being connected to one another as husband, wife, parent, child, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, or grandparent.
Relative is the spouse and anyone having one of the following relationships to an applicant or borrower: parent, son, daughter, sibling, stepparent, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, cousin, grandparent, grandson, granddaughter, or the spouses of the foregoing.
Repossessed property is security property in the Agency’s custody.
Rescheduling is the rewriting of the rates or terms, or both, of a loan made for operating purposes.
Restructuring is changing the terms of a debt through rescheduling, reamortization, deferral, writedown, or a combination thereof.
Revolved funds means the cash portion of an HPRP revolving loan fund that is not composed of HPRP loan funds, including funds that are repayments of HPRP loans and including fees and interest collected on such loans.
Rural youth is a person who has reached the age of 10 but has not reached the age of 21 and resides in a rural area or any city or town with a population of 50,000 or fewer people.
Security is property or right of any kind that is subject to a real or personal property lien. Any reference to “collateral” or “security property” will be considered a reference to the term “security.”
Security instrument includes any document giving the Agency a security interest on real or personal property.
Security value is the market value of real estate or chattel property (less the value of any prior liens) used as security for an Agency loan.
Shared Appreciation Agreement is an agreement between the Agency, or a lender in the case of a guaranteed loan, and a borrower on the appropriate Agency form that requires the borrower who has received a writedown on a direct or guaranteed loan to repay the Agency or the lender some or all of the writedown received, based on a percentage of any increase in the value of the real estate securing an SAA at a future date.
Socially disadvantaged applicant or farmer is an individual or entity who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. For an entity, the majority interest must be held by socially disadvantaged individuals. For married couples, the socially disadvantaged individual must have at least 50 percent ownership in the farm business and make most of the management decisions, contribute a significant amount of labor, and generally be recognized as the operator of the farm.
Socially disadvantaged group is a group whose members have been subject to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups consist of: American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and women.
Softwood Timber Program loan was available to eligible financially distressed borrowers who would take marginal land, including highly erodible land, out of production of agricultural commodities other than the production of softwood timber. ST loans are no longer available, however, such outstanding loans are serviced by the Agency.
Soil and Water loan is a loan that was made to an eligible applicant to encourage and facilitate the improvement, protection, and proper use of farmland by providing financing for soil conservation, water development, conservation, and use; forestation; drainage of farmland; the establishment and improvement of permanent pasture; pollution abatement and control; and other related measures consistent with all Federal, State and local environmental standards. SW loans are no longer funded, however, such outstanding loans are serviced by the Agency.
Streamlined Conservation Loan means a direct or guaranteed CL made to eligible applicants based on reduced documentation.
Subordination is a creditor’s temporary relinquishment of all or a portion of its lien priority to another party providing the other party with a priority lien on the collateral.
Subsequent loan is any FLP loan processed by the Agency after an initial loan of the same type has been made to the same borrower.
Succession plan means a general plan to address the continuation of the farm, which may include specific intra-family succession agreements or strategies to address business asset transfer planning to create opportunities for farmers and ranchers.
Supervised bank account is an account with a financial institution established through a deposit agreement entered into between the borrower, the Agency, and the financial institution.
Technical appraisal review is a review of an appraisal to determine if such appraisal meets the requirements of USPAP pursuant to standard 3 of USPAP.
Transfer and assumption is the conveyance by a debtor to an assuming party of the assets, collateral, and liabilities of a loan in return for the assuming party’s binding promise to pay the debt outstanding or the market value of the collateral.
Trust is an entity that under applicable state law meets the criteria of being a trust of any kind but does not meet the criteria of being a farm cooperative, private domestic corporation, partnership, or joint operation.
Ultimate recipient means an entity or individual that receives a loan from an intermediaries’ HPRP revolving loan fund.
Unaccounted for security is security for a direct or guaranteed loan that was misplaced, stolen, sold, or otherwise missing, where replacement security was not obtained or the proceeds from its sale have not been applied to the loan.
Unauthorized assistance is any loan, loan servicing action, lower interest rate, loan guarantee, or subsidy received by a borrower, or lender, for which the borrower or lender was not eligible, which was not made in accordance with all Agency procedures and requirements, or which the Agency obligated from the wrong appropriation or fund. Unauthorized assistance may result from borrower, lender, or Agency error.
Undivided ownership interest means a common interest in the whole parcel of land that is owned by two or more people. Undivided ownership interest does not include those who own a specific piece of a parcel of land; rather they own a percentage interest in a parcel of land as a whole.
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice are standards governing the preparation, reporting, and reviewing of appraisals established by the Appraisal Foundation pursuant to the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989.
United States is any of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
U. S. Attorney is an attorney for the United States Department of Justice.
Veteran is any person who served in the military, naval, or air service during any war as defined in section 101(12) of title 38, United States Code.
Veteran farmer is a farmer who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(10)) and who—
(i) Has not operated a farm;
(ii) Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years; or
(iii) Is a veteran who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released from that service under conditions other than dishonorable and who first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.
Wetlands are those lands or areas of land as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to meet the requirements provided in section 1201 of the Food Security Act of 1985.
Working capital is cash available to conduct normal daily operations including, but not limited to, paying for feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm supplies, cooperative stock, and cash rent.
Youth loan is an operating type loan made to an eligible rural youth applicant to finance a modest income-producing agricultural project.
§ 761.3 Civil rights.
Part 15d of this title contains applicable regulations pertaining to civil rights and filing of discrimination complaints by program participants.
§ 761.4 Conflict of interest.
The Agency enforces conflict of interest policies to maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and impartiality in the making and servicing of direct and guaranteed loans. These requirements are established in 5 CFR parts 2635 and 8301.
§ 761.5 Restrictions on lobbying.
A person who applies for or receives a loan made or guaranteed by the Agency must comply with the restrictions on lobbying in 2 CFR part 418.
§ 761.6 Appeals.
Except as provided in 7 CFR part 762, appeal of an adverse decision made by the Agency will be handled in accordance with 7 CFR parts 11 and 780.
§ 761.7 Appraisals.
(a) General. This section describes Agency requirements for:
(1) Real estate and chattel appraisals made in connection with the making and servicing of direct FLP and Non-program loans; and
(2) Appraisal reviews conducted on appraisals made in connection with the making and servicing of direct and guaranteed FLP and Non-program loans.
(b) Appraisal standards. (1) Real estate appraisals, technical appraisal reviews and their respective forms must comply with the standards contained in USPAP, as well as applicable Agency regulations and procedures for the specific FLP activity involved. Applicable appraisal procedures and regulations are available for review in each Agency State Office.
(2) When a chattel appraisal is required, it must be completed on an applicable Agency form (available in each Agency State Office) or other format containing the same information.
(c) Use of an existing real estate appraisal. Except where specified elsewhere, when a real estate appraisal is required, the Agency will use the existing real estate appraisal to reach loan making or servicing decisions under either of the following conditions:
(1) The appraisal was completed within the previous 18 months and the Agency determines that:
(i) The appraisal meets the provisions of this section and the applicable Agency loan making or servicing requirements; and
(ii) Market values have remained stable since the appraisal was completed; or
(2) The appraisal was not completed in the previous 18 months, but has been updated by the appraiser or appraisal firm that completed the appraisal, and both the update and the original appraisal were completed in accordance with USPAP.
(d) Appraisal reviews. (1) With respect to a real estate appraisal, the Agency may conduct a technical appraisal review or an administrative appraisal review, or both.
(2) With respect to a chattel appraisal, the Agency may conduct an administrative appraisal review.
(e) Appraisal appeals. Challenges to an appraisal used by the Agency are limited as follows:
(1) When an applicant or borrower challenges a real estate appraisal used by the Agency for any loan making or loan servicing decision, except primary loan servicing decisions as specified in § 766.115 of this chapter, the issue for review is limited to whether the appraisal used by the Agency complies with USPAP. The applicant or borrower must submit a technical appraisal review prepared by a State Certified General Appraiser that will be used to determine whether the Agency’s appraisal complies with USPAP. The applicant or borrower is responsible for obtaining and paying for the technical appraisal review.
(2) When an applicant or borrower challenges a chattel appraisal used by the Agency for any loan making or loan servicing decision, except for primary loan servicing decisions as specified in § 766.115 of this chapter, the issue for review is limited to whether the appraisal used by the Agency is consistent with present market values of similar items in the area. The applicant or borrower must submit an independent appraisal review that will be used to determine whether the appraisal is consistent with present market values of similar items in the area. The applicant or borrower is responsible for obtaining and paying for the independent appraisal.
§ 761.8 Loan Limitations.
(a) Dollar limits. The outstanding principal balances for an applicant or anyone who will sign the promissory note cannot exceed any of the following at the time of loan closing or assumption of indebtedness. If the outstanding principal balance exceeds any of the limits at the time of approval, the farm operating plan must reflect that funds will be available to reduce the indebtedness prior to loan closing or assumption of indebtedness.
(1) Farm Ownership, Down payment loans, Conservation loans, and Soil and Water loans:
(i) Direct—$600,000;
(ii) Guaranteed—$1,750,000 (for fiscal year 2019 and increased at the beginning of each fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section);
(iii) Any combination of a direct Farm Ownership loan, direct Conservation loan, direct Soil and Water loan, guaranteed Farm Ownership loan, guaranteed Conservation loan, and guaranteed Soil and Water loan $1,750,000 (for fiscal year 2019 and increased each fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section);
(2) Operating loans:
(i) Direct—$400,000;
(ii) Guaranteed—$1,750,000 (for fiscal year 2019 and increased each fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section);
(iii) Any combination of a direct Operating loan and guaranteed Operating loan—$1,750,000 (for fiscal year 2019 and increased each fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section);
(3) Any combination of guaranteed Farm Ownership loan, guaranteed Conservation loan, guaranteed Soil and Water loan, and guaranteed Operating loan—$1,750,000 (for fiscal year 2019 and increased each fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section);
(4) Any combination of direct Farm Ownership loan, direct Conservation loan, direct Soil and Water loan, direct Operating loan, guaranteed Farm Ownership loan, guaranteed Conservation loan, guaranteed Soil and Water loan, and guaranteed Operating loan-the amount in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section plus $600,000;
(5) Emergency loans—$500,000;
(6) Any combination of direct Farm Ownership loan, direct Conservation loan, direct Soil and Water loan, direct Operating loan, guaranteed Farm Ownership loan, guaranteed Conservation loan, guaranteed Soil and Water loan, guaranteed Operating loan, and Emergency loan-the amount in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section plus $1,100,000.
(b) Guaranteed loan limit. The dollar limits of guaranteed loans will be increased each fiscal year based on the percentage change in the Prices Paid by Farmers Index as compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. The maximum loan limits for the current fiscal year are available in any FSA office and on the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
(c) Line of credit advances. The total dollar amount of guaranteed line of credit advances and income releases cannot exceed the total estimated expenses, less interest expense, as indicated on the borrower’s cash flow budget, unless the cash flow budget is revised and continues to reflect a feasible plan.
§ 761.9 Interest rates for direct loans.
Interest rates for all direct loans are set in accordance with the Act. A copy of the current interest rates may be obtained in any Agency office.
§ 761.10 Planning and performing construction and other development.
(a) Purpose. This section describes Agency policies regarding the planning and performing of construction and other development work performed with:
(1) Direct FLP loan funds; or
(2) Insurance or other proceeds resulting from damage or loss to direct loan security.
(b) Funds for development work. The applicant or borrower:
(1) Must provide the Agency with an estimate of the total cash cost of all planned development prior to loan approval;
(2) Must show proof of sufficient funds to pay for the total cash cost of all planned development at or before loan closing;
(3) Must not incur any debts for materials or labor or make any expenditures for development purposes prior to loan closing with the expectation of being reimbursed from Agency loan funds.
(c) Scheduling, planning, and completing development work. The applicant or borrower:
(1) Is responsible for scheduling and planning development work in a manner acceptable to the Agency and must furnish the Agency information fully describing the planned development, the proposed schedule, and the manner in which it will be accomplished;
(2) Is responsible for obtaining all necessary State and local construction approvals and permits prior to loan closing;
(3) Must ensure that all development work meets the environmental requirements established in part 799 of this chapter;
(4) Must schedule development work to start as soon as feasible after the loan is closed and complete work as quickly as practicable;
(5) Is responsible for obtaining any required technical services from qualified technicians, tradespeople, and contractors.
(d) Construction and repair standards. (1) The construction of a new building and the alteration or repair of an existing building must conform with industry-acceptable construction practices and standards.
(2) All improvements to a property must conform to applicable laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
(3) The applicant or borrower is responsible for selecting a design standard that meets all applicable local and state laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations, including building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, water, and waste management.
(4) The Agency will require drawings, specifications, and estimates to fully describe the work as necessary to protect the Agency’s financial interests. The drawings and specifications must identify any specific development standards being used. Such information must be sufficiently complete to avoid any misunderstanding as to the extent, kind, and quality of work to be performed.
(5) The Agency will require technical data, tests, or engineering evaluations to support the design of the development as necessary to protect its financial interests.
(6) The Agency will require the applicant or borrower to provide written certification that final drawings and specifications conform with the applicable development standard as necessary to protect its financial interests. Certification must be obtained from individuals or organizations trained and experienced in the compliance, interpretation, or enforcement of the applicable development standards, such as licensed architects, professional engineers, persons certified by a relevant national model code organization, authorized local building officials, or national code organizations.
(e) Inspection. (1) The applicant or borrower is responsible for inspecting development work as necessary to protect their interest.
(2) The applicant or borrower must provide the Agency written certification that the development conforms to the plans and good construction practices, and complies with applicable laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
(3) The Agency will require the applicant or borrower to obtain professional inspection services during construction as necessary to protect its financial interests.
(4) Agency inspections do not create or imply any duty or obligation of the Agency to the applicant or borrower.
(f) Warranty and lien waivers. The applicant or borrower must obtain and submit all lien waivers on any construction before the Agency will issue final payment.
(g) Surety. The Agency will require surety to guarantee both payment and performance for construction contracts as necessary to protect its financial interests.
(h) Changing the planned development. An applicant or borrower must request, in writing, Agency approval for any change to a planned development. The Agency will approve a change if all of the following are met:
(1) It will not reduce the value of the Agency’s security;
(2) It will not adversely affect the soundness of the farming operation;
(3) It complies with all applicable laws and regulations;
(4) It is for an authorized loan purpose;
(5) It is within the scope of the original loan proposal;
(6) If required, documentation that sufficient funding for the full amount of the planned development is approved and available;
(7) If required, surety to cover the full revised development amount has been provided; and
(8) The modification is certified in accordance with paragraph (d) (6) of this section.
§ 761.11 Dishonored payment fee.
(a) The Agency will charge a fee for payment transactions that are returned for insufficient funds.
(b) [Reserved]
§§ 761.12-761.50 [Reserved]
Subpart B—Supervised Bank Accounts
§ 761.51 Establishing a supervised bank account.
(a) Supervised bank accounts will be used to:
(1) Assure correct use of funds are planned and released for capital purchases, construction projects, site development work, debt refinancing, or proceeds from the sale of basic security, and perfection of the Agency’s security interest in assets purchased or refinanced when electronic funds transfer or treasury check processes are not practicable;
(2) Protect the Agency’s security interest in insurance indemnities or other loss compensation resulting from loss or damage to loan security; or
(3) Assist borrowers with limited financial skills with cash management, subject to the following conditions:
(i) Use of a supervised bank for this purpose will be temporary and infrequent;
(ii) The need for a supervised bank account in this situation will be determined on a case-by-case basis; and
(iii) The borrower agrees to the use of a supervised bank account for this purpose by executing the deposit agreement.
(b) The borrower may select the financial institution in which the account will be established, provided the institution is Federally insured. If the borrower does not select an institution, the Agency will choose one.
(c) Only one supervised bank account will be established for any borrower.
(d) If both spouses sign an FLP note and security agreement, the supervised bank account will be established as a joint tenancy account with right of survivorship from which either borrower can withdraw funds.
(e) If the funds to be deposited into the account cause the balance to exceed the maximum amount insurable by the Federal Government, the financial institution must agree to pledge acceptable collateral with the Federal Reserve Bank for the excess over the insured amount, before the deposit is made.
(1) If the financial institution is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, the institution must pledge acceptable collateral with a correspondent bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. The correspondent bank must inform the Federal Reserve Bank that it is holding securities pledged for the supervised bank account in accordance with 31 CFR part 202 (Treasury Circular 176).
(2) When the balance in the account has been reduced, the financial institution may request a release of part or all of the collateral, as applicable, from the Agency.
§ 761.52 Deposits into a supervised bank account.
(a) Checks or money orders may be deposited into a supervised bank account provided they are not payable:
(1) Solely to the Federal Government or any agency thereof; or
(2) To the Treasury of the United States as a joint payee.
(b) Loan proceeds may be deposited electronically.
§ 761.53 Interest bearing accounts.
(a) A supervised bank account, if possible, will be established as an interest bearing deposit account provided that the funds will not be immediately disbursed, and the account is held jointly by the borrower and the Agency if this arrangement will benefit the borrower.
(b) Interest earned on a supervised bank account will be treated as normal income security.
§ 761.54 Withdrawals from a supervised bank account.
(a) The Agency will authorize a withdrawal from the supervised bank account for an approved purpose after ensuring that:
(1) Sufficient funds in the supervised bank account are available;
(2) No loan proceeds are disbursed prior to confirmation of proper lien position, except to pay for lien search if needed;
(3) No checks are issued to “cash;” and
(4) The use of funds is consistent with the current farm operating plan or other agreement with the Agency.
(b) A check must be signed by the borrower with countersignature of the Agency, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. All checks must bear the legend “countersigned, not as co-maker or endorser.”
(c) The Agency will withdraw funds from a supervised bank account without borrower counter-signature only for the following purposes:
(1) For application on Agency indebtedness;
(2) To refund Agency loan funds;
(3) To protect the Agency’s lien or security;
(4) To accomplish a purpose for which such advance was made; or
(5) In the case of a deceased borrower, to continue to pay necessary farm expenses to protect Agency security in conjunction with the borrower’s estate.
§ 761.55 Closing a supervised bank account.
(a) If the supervised bank account is no longer needed and the loan account is not paid in full, the Agency will determine the source of the remaining funds in the supervised bank account. If the funds are determined to be:
(1) Loan funds:
(i) From any loan type, except Youth loan, and the balance is less than $1,000, the Agency will provide the balance to the borrower to use for authorized loan purposes;
(ii) From a Youth loan, and the balance is less than $100, the Agency will provide the balance to the borrower to use for authorized loan purposes;
(2) Loan funds:
(i) From any loan type, except Youth loan, and the balance is $1,000 or greater, the Agency will apply the balance to the FLP loan;
(ii) From a Youth loan, and the balance is $100 or greater, the Agency will apply the balance to the FLP loan;
(3) Normal income funds, the Agency will apply the balance to the remaining current year’s scheduled payments and pay any remaining balance to the borrower; and
(4) Basic security funds, the Agency will apply the balance to the FLP loan as an extra payment or the borrower may apply the balance toward the purchase of basic security, provided the Agency obtains a lien on such security and its security position is not diminished.
(b) If the borrower is uncooperative in closing a supervised bank account, the Agency will make written demand to the financial institution for the balance and apply it in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) In the event of a borrower’s death, the Agency may:
(1) Apply the balance to the borrower’s FLP loan;
(2) Continue with a remaining borrower, provided the supervised bank account was established as a joint tenancy with right of survivorship account;
(3) Refund unobligated balances from other creditors in the supervised bank account for specific operating purposes in accordance with any prior written agreement between the Agency and the deceased borrower; or
(4) Continue to pay expenses from the supervised bank account in conjunction with the borrower’s estate.
§§ 761.56-761.100 [Reserved]
Subpart C—Progression Lending
§ 761.101 Applicability.
This subpart applies to all direct applicants and borrowers, except borrowers with only Non-program loans.
§ 761.102 Borrower recordkeeping and reporting.
(a) A borrower must maintain accurate records sufficient to make informed management decisions and to allow the Agency to render loan making and servicing decisions in accordance with Agency regulations. These records must include the following:
(1) Production (e.g., total and per unit for livestock and crops);
(2) Revenues, by source;
(3) Other sources of funds, including borrowed funds;
(4) Operating expenses;
(5) Interest;
(6) Family living expenses;
(7) Profit and loss;
(8) Tax-related information;
(9) Capital expenses;
(10) Outstanding debt; and
(11) Debt repayment.
(b) A borrower also must agree in writing to:
(1) Cooperate with the Agency and comply with all progression lending plans, farm assessments, farm operating plans, year-end analyses, and all other loan-related requirements and documents;
(2) Submit financial information and an updated farm operating plan when requested by the Agency;
(3) Immediately notify the Agency of any proposed or actual significant change in the farming operation, any significant changes in family income, expenses, or the development of problem situations, or any losses or proposed significant changes in security.
(c) If the borrower fails to comply with these requirements, unless due to reasons outside the borrower’s control, the non-compliance may adversely impact future requests for assistance.
§ 761.103 Farm assessment.
(a) The Agency, in collaboration with the applicant, will assess the farming operation to:
(1) Determine the applicant’s financial condition, organizational structure, and management strengths and weaknesses;
(2) Identify and prioritize training and progression lending needs; and
(3) Develop a progressive lending plan to assist the borrower in achieving financial viability and transitioning to private commercial credit or other sources of credit in the shortest time practicable, except for CL.
(b) Except for ML, the initial assessment must evaluate, at a minimum, the:
(1) Farm organization and key personnel qualifications;
(2) Type of farming operation;
(3) Goals for the operation;
(4) Adequacy of real estate, including facilities, to conduct the farming operation;
(5) Adequacy of chattel property used to conduct the farming operation;
(6) Historical performance, except for streamlined CL;
(7) Farm operating plan;
(8) Progression lending plan, except for streamlined CL;
(9) Training plan; and
(10) Graduation plan, except for CL.
(c) For ML, the Agency will complete a narrative that will evaluate, at a minimum, the:
(1) Type of farming operation and adequacy of resources;
(2) Amount of assistance necessary to cover expenses to carry out the proposed farm operating plan, including building an adequate equity base;
(3) The goals of the operation;
(4) The financial viability of the entire operation, including a marketing plan, and available production history, as applicable;
(5) Progression lending plan; and
(6) Training plan.
(d) An assessment update must be prepared for each subsequent loan. The update must include a farm operating plan and any other items discussed in paragraph (b) of this section that have significantly changed since the initial assessment.
(e) The Agency reviews the assessment to determine a borrower’s progress at least annually, combining any required classification and graduation reviews as part of the review. For streamlined CLs, the borrower must provide a current balance sheet and income tax records. Any negative trends noted between the previous years’ and the current years’ information must be evaluated and addressed in the assessment of the streamlined CL borrower.
(f) If a CL borrower becomes financially distressed, delinquent, or receives any servicing options available under part 766 of this chapter, all elements of the assessment in paragraph (b) of this section must be addressed.
§ 761.104 Developing the farm operating plan.
(a) An applicant or borrower must submit a farm operating plan to the Agency, upon request, for loan making or servicing purposes.
(b) An applicant or borrower may request Agency assistance in developing the farm operating plan.
(c) The farm operating plan will be based on accurate and verifiable information.
(1) Historical information will be used as a guide.
(2) Positive and negative trends, mutually agreed upon changes and improvements, and current input prices will be taken into consideration when arriving at reasonable projections.
(3) Projected yields will be calculated according to the following priorities:
(i) The applicant or borrower’s own production records for the previous 3 years;
(ii) The per-acre actual production history of the crops produced by the farming operation used to determine Federal crop insurance payments, if available;
(iii) FSA Farm Program actual yield records;
(iv) County averages;
(v) State averages.
(4) If the applicant or borrower’s production history has been substantially affected by a disaster declared by the President or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture, or the applicant or borrower has had a qualifying loss from such disaster but the farming operation was not located in a declared or designated disaster area, the applicant or borrower may:
(i) Use county average yields, or state average yields if county average yields are not available, in place of the disaster year yields when the county or state average yields are realistic and reasonable compared to the applicant’s actual non-disaster year yields, as determined by the agency approval official; or
(ii) Exclude the production year with the lowest actual or county average yield if their yields were affected by disasters during at least 2 of the 3 years.
(d) Unit prices for agricultural commodities established by the Agency will generally be used. Applicants and borrowers that provide evidence that they will receive a premium price for a commodity may use a price above the price established by the Agency.
(e) For MLs, when projected yields and unit prices cannot be determined as specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section because the data is not available or practicable, other documentation from other reliable sources may be used to assist in developing the applicant’s farm operating plan.
(f) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, the applicant or borrower must sign the final farm operating plan prior to approval of any loan or servicing action.
(g) If the Agency believes the applicant or borrower’s farm operating plan is inaccurate, or the information upon which it is based cannot be verified, the Agency will discuss and try to resolve the concerns with the applicant or borrower. If an agreement cannot be reached, the Agency will make loan approval and servicing determinations based on the Agency’s revised farm operating plan.
§ 761.105 Year-end analysis.
(a) The Agency conducts a year-end analysis at its discretion or if the borrower:
(1) Is being considered for a new direct loan or subordination;
(2) Is financially distressed or delinquent;
(3) Has a loan deferred, excluding deferral of an installment under subpart B of part 766; or
(4) Is receiving a limited resource interest rate on any loan, in which case the review will be completed at least every 2 years.
(b) To the extent practicable, the year-end analysis will be completed within 60 days after the end of the business year or farm budget planning period and must include:
(1) An analysis comparing actual income, expenses, and production to projected income, expenses, and production for the preceding production cycle; and
(2) An updated farm operating plan.
§§ 761.106-761.200 [Reserved]
Subpart D—Allocation of Farm Loan Programs Funds to State Offices
§ 761.201 Purpose.
(a) This subpart addresses:
(1) The allocation of funds for direct and guaranteed FO, CL, and OL loans;
(2) The establishment of socially disadvantaged target participation rates; and
(3) The reservation of loan funds for beginning farmers.
(b) The Agency does not allocate EM loan funds to State Offices but makes funds available following a designated or declared disaster. EM loan funds are available on a first-come first-served basis.
(c) State funding information is available for review in any State Office.
§ 761.202 Timing of allocations.
The Agency’s National Office allocates funds for FO, CL, and OL loans to the State Offices on a fiscal year basis, as made available by the Office of Management and Budget. However, the National Office will retain control over the funds when funding or administrative constraints make allocation to State Offices impractical.
§ 761.203 National reserves for Farm Ownership and Operating loans.
(a) Reservation of funds. At the start of each fiscal year, the National Office reserves a portion of the funds available for each direct and guaranteed loan program. These reserves enable the Agency to meet unexpected or justifiable program needs during the fiscal year.
(b) Allocation of reserved funds. The National Office distributes funds from the reserve to one or more State Offices to meet a program need or Agency objective.
§ 761.204 Methods of allocating funds to State Offices.
FO, CL, and OL loan funds are allocated to State Offices using one or more of the following allocation methods:
(a) Formula allocation, if data, as specified in § 761.205, is available to use the formula for the State.
(b) Administrative allocation, if the Agency cannot adequately meet program objectives with a formula allocation. The National Office determines the amount of an administrative allocation on a case-by-case basis.
(c) Base allocation, to ensure funding for at least one loan in each State, District, or County Office. In making a base allocation, the National Office may use criteria other than those used in the formula allocation, such as historical Agency funding information.
§ 761.205 Computing the formula allocation.
(a) The formula allocation for FO, CL, or OL loan funds is equal to:
(1) The amount available for allocation by the Agency minus the amounts held in the National Office reserve and distributed by base and administrative allocation, multiplied by
(2) The State Factor, which represents the percentage of the total amount of the funds for a loan program that the National Office allocates to a State Office.
(b) To calculate the State Factor, the Agency:
(1) Uses the following criteria, data sources, and weights:
| Criteria | Loan type criterion is used for | Data source | Weight for FO loans (percent) | Weight for OL loans (percent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm operators with sales of $2,500-$39,999 and less than 200 days work off the farm | FO, CL, and OL loans | U.S. Census of Agriculture | 15 | 15 |
| Farm operators with sales of $40,000 or more and less than 200 days work off farm | FO, CL, and OL loans | U.S. Census of Agriculture | 35 | 35 |
| Tenant farm operators | FO, CL, and OL loans | U.S. Census of Agriculture | 25 | 20 |
| 3-year average net farm income | FO, CL, and OL loans | USDA Economic Research Service | 15 | 15 |
| Value of farm real estate assets | FOs and CLs | USDA Economic Research Service | 10 | N/A |
| Value of farm non-real estate assets | OL loans | USDA Economic Research Service | N/A | 15 |
(2) Determines each State’s percentage of the national total for each criterion;
(3) Multiplies the percentage for each State determined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section by the applicable weight for that criterion;
(4) Sums the weighted criteria for each State to obtain the State factor.
§ 761.206 Pooling of unobligated funds allocated to State Offices.
The Agency periodically pools unobligated FO, CL, and OL loan funds that have been allocated to State Offices. When pooling these funds, the Agency places all unobligated funds in the appropriate National Office reserve. The pooled funds may be retained in the national reserve or reallocated to the States.
§ 761.207 Distribution of loan funds by State Offices.
A State Office may distribute its allocation of loan funds to District or County level using the same allocation methods that are available to the National Office. State Offices may reserve a portion of the funds to meet unexpected or justifiable program needs during the fiscal year.
(a) General. (1) The Agency establishes target participation rates for providing FO, CL, and OL loans to members of socially disadvantaged groups.
(2) The Agency sets the target participation rates for State and County levels annually.
(3) When distributing loan funds in counties within Indian reservations, the Agency will allocate the funds on a reservation-wide basis.
(4) The Agency reserves and allocates sufficient loan funds to achieve these target participation rates. The Agency may also use funds that are not reserved and allocated for socially disadvantaged groups to make or guarantee loans to members of socially disadvantaged groups.
(b) FO and CL, loans based on ethnicity or race. The FO and CL, loan target participation rate based on ethnicity or race in each:
(1) State is equal to the percent of the total rural population in the State who are members of such socially disadvantaged groups.
(2) County is equal to the percent of rural population in the county who are members of such socially disadvantaged groups.
(c) OL loans based on ethnicity or race. The OL loan target participation rate based on ethnicity or race in each:
(1) State is equal to the percent of the total number of farmers in the State who are members of such socially disadvantaged groups.
(2) County is equal to the percent of the total number of farmers in the county who are members of socially disadvantaged ethnic groups.
(d) Women farmers. (1) The target participation rate for women farmers in each:
(i) State is equal to the percent of farmers in the State who are women.
(ii) County is equal to the percent of farmers in the county who are women.
(2) In developing target participation rates for women, the Agency will consider the number of women who are current farmers and potential farmers.
§ 761.209 Loan funds for beginning farmers.
Each fiscal year, the Agency reserves a portion of direct and guaranteed FO and OL loan funds for beginning farmers in accordance with section 346(b)(2) of the Act.
§ 761.210 CL funds.
(a) The following applicants and conservation projects will receive priority for CL funding:
(1) Beginning farmer or socially disadvantaged farmer,
(2) An applicant who will use the loan funds to convert to a sustainable or organic agriculture production system as evidenced by one of the following:
(i) A conservation plan that states the applicant is moving toward a sustainable or organic production system, or
(ii) An organic plan, approved by a certified agent and the State organic certification program, or
(iii) A grant awarded by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
(3) An applicant who will use the loan funds to build conservation structures or establish conservation practices to comply with 16 U.S.C. 3812 (section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 1985) for highly erodible land.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 761.211 Transfer of funds.
If sufficient unsubsidized guaranteed OL funds are available, then beginning on:
(a) August 1 of each fiscal year, the Agency will use available unsubsidized guaranteed OL loan funds to make approved direct FO loans to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers under the Down payment loan program; and
(b) September 1 of each fiscal year the Agency will use available unsubsidized guaranteed OL loan funds to make approved direct FO loans to beginning farmers.
Subpart F—Farm Loan Programs Debt Settlement
§ 761.401 Purpose.
(a) This subpart describes the Agency’s policies for debt settlement as authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C. 1921, 7 U.S.C. 1981, 1981a, 1981d, and 2008h).
(b) FLP debts that cannot be debt settled using CONACT debt settlement authority such as when a borrower has received previous debt forgiveness on another direct loan made under the CONACT, will be processed as specified in 31 U.S.C. chapter 37 and 31 CFR parts 900 through 904.
§ 761.402 Abbreviations and definitions.
(a) Abbreviations and definitions for terms used in this subpart are provided in 7 CFR part 3 and § 761.2.
(b) Definitions used only in this subpart include:
(1) Third party converter means an individual or entity who:
(i) Is in possession of agency security property, or money from the sale of security, in relation to a loan or other debt that the individual or entity was not liable for; or
(ii) Assists, or participates knowingly or unknowingly, in the transportation or sale of agency security, in relation to a loan or other debt that the individual or entity was not liable for; or
(iii) Assists, or participates knowingly or unknowingly, in temporarily or permanently relocating or concealing the location of agency security property, or money from the sale of agency security, in relation to a loan or other debt that the individual or entity was not liable for.
(2) [Reserved]
§ 761.403 General.
(a) The Agency will settle debts that result from, except as otherwise specified in this section:
(1)(i) Farm Ownership loans (part 764, subpart D of this chapter), including down payment loans (764, subpart E of this chapter);
(ii) Operating loans (part 764, subpart G of this chapter), including microloans part 764 of this chapter), and youth loans (part 764, subpart H of this chapter);
(iii) Emergency loans (part 764, subpart I of this chapter);
(iv) Conservation loans (part 764, subpart F of this chapter);
(v) Economic Emergency loans (serviced under parts 761 through 767 of this chapter); softwood timber loans; Soil and Water loans; Individual Recreation Loans; Irrigation and Drainage loans; and Shift-in-land-use (Grazing Association) loans;
(2) Costs associated with servicing a borrower’s account including, but not limited to, Uniform Commercial Code filing fees, surveys, appraisals, protective advances, and liquidation expenses;
(3) Debts reduced to judgment;
(4) Non-Program Loans;
(5) Amounts the Agency is authorized to recapture through agreements such as the Shared Appreciation Agreement (part 766, subpart E of this chapter);
(6) Loss claims paid on guaranteed loans (part 762 of this chapter);
(7) Unauthorized assistance;
(8) Amounts the Agency may collect from third party converters, or other individuals or entities having possession of security for FLP loans or monies obtained through the sale of FLP loan security; and
(9) Debt returned to the Agency from the Treasury cross-servicing program.
(b) The debtor’s signature is not required to process some debt settlement actions. These cases include, but are not limited to, debts discharged in bankruptcy and debts returned from Treasury’s cross-servicing program with amounts still owing when no further collection can be taken.
(c) FSA will not engage in settlement of a debt if:
(1) Foreclosure of security has been initiated and is pending with Justice, unless Justice has advised FSA that it does not object to the settlement; or
(2) Debts that have been referred to Justice for a judgment, or a judgement has been obtained by the United States Attorney or Justice, unless Justice closes its file and releases the judgement back to FSA for continued servicing; or
(3) The debtor’s account is involved in a fiscal irregularity investigation in which final action has not been taken or the account shows evidence that a shortage may exist and an investigation will be requested.
(d) The Agency will consider settlement of a debt only when:
(1) All security has been liquidated and the proceeds, less any prior lien amounts, have been applied to the debt; or the Agency received a lump sum payment equal to the security’s current market value, less any prior lien amounts, and
(2) Payment is received based on the Agency’s determination of the amount the borrower can pay to resolve the remaining balance owed on the unsecured debt.
(3) The lump sum payment made under paragraph (d)(1) of this section for the security’s market value may be submitted by the borrower, an individual authorized to act for the borrower pursuant to a power of attorney document or court order, or an individual who is not an obligor on the debt but who has an ownership interest in the security.
(e) If an FLP loan has been accelerated and all security has been liquidated, and the agency has approved an adjustment debt settlement offer in accordance with this subpart, voluntary payments and involuntary payments (such as offsets) will be applied in the following order, as applicable:
(1) Recoverable costs and protective advances plus interest;
(2) Loan principal;
(3) Deferred non-capitalized interest;
(4) Accrued deferred interest; and
(5) Interest accrual to date of payment.
(f) Settlement of FLP debt referred to Treasury’s cross-servicing program and returned to the Agency as uncollectible will not be processed for the borrower until all FLP debts referred to the cross-servicing program for that borrower have been returned, with or without payment agreements.
§ 761.404 Eligibility.
(a) A borrower is eligible for debt settlement if the borrower:
(1) Meets the requirements for the particular type of debt settlement under this part; and
(2) Submits a complete application for debt settlement as specified in § 761.405.
(b) All parties liable for the debt must submit a complete application with the following exceptions:
(1) The applicable information required in § 761.405 can be provided by the administrator or executor of the Estate, heir, or other authorized person who can sign the debt settlement application; or compiled by FSA staff when a signature cannot be obtained.
(2) The debt may be settled when the borrower has no known assets or income from which collection can be made, has disappeared and cannot be located without undue expense, and there is no security remaining for the debt.
(3) In cases where the full amount of the unsecured debt cannot be collected in a reasonable time by legal action or through enforced collection proceedings, the Agency may consider a debt settlement offer submitted by a borrower without requiring a complete application. When evaluating these offers, the Agency will consider the likelihood of the debtor obtaining a larger income or additional assets, including inheritance prospects within 5 years, from which legal or enforced collection could be made.
(c) A borrower is not eligible for debt settlement if:
(1) The borrower is indebted on another active FLP loan that the borrower cannot or will not debt settle; or
(2) The debt has been referred to the OIG, OGC, or Justice because of suspected civil or criminal violation, unless investigation was declined or advice was provided that the debt can be canceled, compromised, or adjusted.
§ 761.405 Application.
(a) A borrower requesting debt settlement must submit complete and accurate information from which the Agency can make a full determination of the borrower’s financial circumstances and repayment ability. Except for the situations listed in § 761.404(b), each liable party, must submit the following:
(1) One completed original debt settlement application on the applicable Agency form signed by all parties liable for the debt;
(2) A current financial statement;
(3) A cash flow projection for the next production or earnings period;
(4) Verification of employment or other earned income, including verification of a nondebtor spouse’s income which will be included as available to pay family living expenses;
(5) Verification of assets including, but not limited to, cash, checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, retirement and pension funds, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and accounts receivable;
(6) Verification of debts exceeding an amount determined by the Agency;
(7) Copies of complete Federal income tax returns for the previous 3 years; and
(8) Any other items requested by the Agency to evaluate the debtor’s financial condition.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 761.406 Types of debt settlement.
(a) Compromise. The Agency may compromise a debt owed to the Agency if the requirements of this subpart are met and:
(1) The borrower pays a lump sum as a compromise for the remaining unsecured debt; and
(2) The amount is reasonable based on the Agency’s determination of what the borrower can pay to settle the debt.
(b) Adjustment. The Agency may settle a debt owed to the Agency through an adjustment agreement if the requirements of this subpart are met and:
(1) The borrower agrees to pay the adjustment amount for a period of time not to exceed 5 years; and
(2) The amount is reasonable based on the Agency’s determination of what the borrower can pay to settle the debt; and
(3) The borrower provides documentation that funds are, or will be, available to pay the adjustment offer through its term.
(c) Cancellation. The Agency may cancel a debt owed to the Agency if the requirements of this subpart are met and the application and supporting documents indicate that the borrower is unable to pay a compromise or adjustment offer.
§ 761.407 Failure to pay.
(a) Failure to pay any compromise amount approved by FSA by the date agreed will result in cancellation of the compromise agreement.
(b) Failure to pay debt adjustment amounts approved by FSA by the dates agreed will result in cancellation of the adjustment agreement.
(c) A debtor who has entered into an agreement under this subpart may request that FSA extend a repayment date for 90 days. The debtor must provide information that supports the basis for the request at the time the request is made.
(d) If a debtor is delinquent under the terms of an adjustment agreement and FSA determines the debtor is likely to be financially unable to meet the terms of the agreement, the existing agreement may be cancelled and the debtor may be allowed to apply for a different type of settlement more consistent with the debtor’s repayment ability.
(e) If an agreement is cancelled, any payments received will be retained as payments on the debt owed.
On an individual case basis, the Agency may consider granting an exception to any requirement of this part if:
(a) The exception is not inconsistent with the authorizing statute or other applicable law; and
(b) The Agency’s financial interest would be adversely affected by acting in accordance with this part and granting an exception would resolve or eliminate the adverse effect upon its financial interest.
PART 762—GUARANTEED FARM LOANS
§§ 762.1-762.100 [Reserved]
§ 762.101 Introduction.
(a) Scope. This subpart contains regulations governing Operating loans, Farm Ownership loans, and Conservation loans guaranteed by the Agency. This subpart applies to lenders, holders, borrowers, Agency personnel, and other parties involved in making, guaranteeing, holding, servicing, or liquidating such loans.
(b) Lender list. The Agency maintains a current list of lenders who express a desire to participate in the guaranteed loan program. This list is made available to farmers upon request.
(c) Lender classification. Lenders who participate in the Agency guaranteed loan program will be classified into one of the following categories:
(1) Standard Eligible Lender under § 762.105;
(2) Certified Lender;
(3) Preferred Lender under § 762.106; or
(4) Micro Lender under § 762.107.
(d) Type of guarantee. Guarantees are available for both a loan note or a line of credit. A loan note is used for a loan of fixed amount and term. A line of credit has a fixed term, but no fixed amount. The principal amount outstanding at any time, however, may not exceed the line of credit ceiling contained in the contract. Both guarantees are evidenced by the same loan guarantee form.
(e) Termination of loan guarantee. The loan guarantee will automatically terminate as follows:
(1) Upon full payment of the guaranteed loan. A zero balance within the period authorized for advances on a line of credit will not terminate the guarantee;
(2) Upon payment of a final loss claim; or
(3) Upon written notice from the lender to the Agency that a guarantee is no longer desired provided the lender holds all of the guaranteed portion of the loan. The loan guarantee will be returned to the Agency office for cancellation within 30 days of the date of the notice by the lender.
§ 762.102 Abbreviations and definitions.
Abbreviations and definitions for terms used in this part are provided in § 761.2 of this chapter.
§ 762.103 Full faith and credit.
(a) Fraud and misrepresentation. The loan guarantee constitutes an obligation supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Agency may contest the guarantee only in cases of fraud or misrepresentation by a lender or holder, in which:
(1) The lender or holder had actual knowledge of the fraud or misrepresentation at the time it became the lender or holder, or
(2) The lender or holder participated in or condoned the fraud or misrepresentation.
(b) Lender violations. The loan guarantee cannot be enforced by the lender, regardless of when the Agency discovers the violation, to the extent that the loss is a result of:
(1) Violation of usury laws;
(2) Negligent servicing;
(3) Failure to obtain the required security; or,
(4) Failure to use loan funds for purposes specifically approved by the Agency.
(c) Enforcement by holder. The guarantee and right to require purchase will be directly enforceable by the holder even if:
(1) The loan guarantee is contestable based on the lender’s fraud or misrepresentation; or
(2) The loan note guarantee is unenforceable by the lender based on a lender violation.
§ 762.104 Appeals.
(a) A decision made by the lender adverse to the borrower is not a decision by the Agency, whether or not concurred in by the Agency, and may not be appealed.
(b) The lender or Agency may request updated information from the borrower to implement an appeal decision.
(c) Appeals will be handled in accordance with parts 11 and 780 of this title.
§ 762.105 Eligibility and substitution of lenders.
(a) General. To participate in FSA guaranteed farm loan programs, a lender must meet the eligibility criteria in this part. The standard eligible lender must demonstrate eligibility and provide such evidence as the Agency may request.
(b) Standard eligible lender eligibility criteria. (1) A lender must have experience in making and servicing agricultural loans and have the capability to make and service the loan for which a guarantee is requested;
(2) The lenders must not have losses or deficiencies in processing and servicing guaranteed loans above a level which would indicate an inability to properly process and service a guaranteed agricultural loan.
(3) A lender must be subject to credit examination and supervision by an acceptable State or Federal regulatory agency;
(4) The lender must maintain an office near enough to the collateral’s location so it can properly and efficiently discharge its loan making and loan servicing responsibilities or use Agency approved agents, correspondents, branches, or other institutions or persons to provide expertise to assist in carrying out its responsibilities. The lender must be a local lender unless it:
(i) Normally makes loans in the region or geographic location in which the applicant’s operation being financed is located, or
(ii) Demonstrates specific expertise in making and servicing loans for the proposed operation.
(5) The lender, its officers, or agents must not be debarred or suspended from participation in Government contracts or programs or be delinquent on a Government debt.
(c) Substitution of lenders. A new eligible lender may be substituted for the original lender, upon the original lender’s concurrence, under the following conditions:
(1) The Agency approves of the substitution in writing by executing a modification of the guarantee to identify the new lender, the amount of debt at the time of the substitution and any new loan terms if applicable.
(2) The new lender agrees in writing to:
(i) Assume all servicing and other responsibilities of the original lender and to acquire the unguaranteed portion of the loan;
(ii) Execute a lender’s agreement if one is not in effect;
(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) Give any holder written notice of the substitution. If the rate and terms are changed, written concurrence from the holder is required.
(3) The original lender will:
(i) Assign their promissory note, lien instruments, loan agreements, and other documents to the new lender.
(ii) If the loan is subject to an existing interest assistance agreement, submit a request for subsidy for the partial year that it has owned the loan.
(d) Lender name or ownership changes. (1) When a lender begins doing business under a new name or undergoes an ownership change the lender will notify the Agency.
(2) The lender’s CLP, PLP, or MLP status is subject to reconsideration when ownership changes.
(3) The lender will execute a new lender’s agreement when ownership changes.
§ 762.106 Preferred and certified lender programs.
(a) General. (1) Lenders who desire PLP or CLP status must prepare a written request addressing:
(i) The States in which they desire to receive PLP or CLP status and their branch offices which they desire to be considered by the Agency for approval; and
(ii) Each item of the eligibility criteria for PLP or CLP approval in this section, as appropriate.
(2) The lender may include any additional supporting evidence or other information the lender believes would be helpful to the Agency in making its determination.
(3) The lender must send its request to the Agency State office for the State in which the lender’s headquarters is located.
(4) The lender must provide any additional information requested by the Agency to process a PLP or CLP request if the lender continues with the approval process.
(b) CLP criteria. The lender must meet the following requirements to obtain CLP status:
(1) Qualify as a standard eligible lender under § 762.105;
(2) Have a lender loss rate not in excess of the maximum CLP loss rate established by the Agency and published periodically in a
(3) Have proven an ability to process and service Agency guaranteed loans by showing that the lender:
(i) Submitted substantially complete and correct guaranteed loan applications; and
(ii) Serviced all guaranteed loans according to Agency regulations;
(4) Have made the minimum number of guaranteed OL, FO, CL, or SW loans established by the Agency and published periodically in a
(5) Not be under any regulatory enforcement action such as a cease and desist order, written agreement, or an appointment of conservator or receiver, based upon financial condition;
(6) Designate a qualified person or persons to process and service Agency guaranteed loans for each of the lender offices which will process CLP loans. To be qualified, the person must meet the following conditions:
(i) Have attended Agency sponsored training in the past 12 months or will attend training in the next 12 months; and
(ii) Agree to attend Agency sponsored training each year;
(7) Use forms acceptable to the Agency for processing, analyzing, securing, and servicing Agency guaranteed loans and lines of credit;
(c) PLP criteria. The lender must meet the following requirements to obtain PLP status:
(1) Meet the CLP eligibility criteria under this section.
(2) Have a credit management system, satisfactory to the Agency, based on the following:
(i) The lender’s written credit policies and underwriting standards;
(ii) Loan documentation requirements;
(iii) Exceptions to policies;
(iv) Analysis of new loan requests;
(v) Credit file management;
(vi) Loan funds and collateral management system;
(vii) Portfolio management;
(viii) Loan reviews;
(ix) Internal credit review process;
(x) Loan monitoring system; and
(xi) The board of director’s responsibilities.
(3) Have made the minimum number of guaranteed OL, FO, CL, or SW loans established by the Agency and published periodically in a
(4) Have a lender loss rate not in excess of the rate of the maximum PLP loss rate established by the Agency and published periodically in a
(5) Show a consistent practice of submitting applications for guaranteed loans containing accurate information supporting a sound loan proposal.
(6) Show a consistent practice of processing Agency guaranteed loans without recurring major or minor deficiencies.
(7) Demonstrate a consistent, above average ability to service guaranteed loans based on the following:
(i) Borrower supervision and assistance;
(ii) Timely and effective servicing; and
(iii) Communication with the Agency.
(8) Designate a person or persons, either by name, title, or position within the organization, to process and service PLP loans for the Agency.
(d) CLP and PLP approval. (1) If a lender applying for CLP or PLP status is or has recently been involved in a merger or acquisition, all loans and losses attributed to both lenders will be considered in the eligibility calculations.
(2) The Agency will determine which branches of the lender have the necessary experience and ability to participate in the CLP or PLP program based on the information submitted in the lender application and on Agency experience.
(3) Lenders who meet the criteria will be granted CLP or PLP status for a period not to exceed 5 years.
(4) PLP status will be conditioned on the lender carrying out its credit management system as proposed in its request for PLP status and any additional loan making or servicing requirements agreed to and documented the PLP lender’s agreement. If the PLP lender’s agreement does not specify any agreed upon process for a particular action, the PLP lender will act according to regulations governing CLP lenders.
(e) Monitoring CLP and PLP lenders. CLP and PLP lenders will provide information and access to records upon Agency request to permit the Agency to audit the lender for compliance with these regulations.
(f) Renewal of CLP or PLP status. (1) PLP or CLP status will expire within a period not to exceed 5 years from the date the lender’s agreement is executed, unless a new lender’s Agreement is executed.
(2) Renewal of PLP or CLP status is not automatic. A lender must submit a written request for renewal of a lender’s agreement with PLP or CLP status which includes information:
(i) Updating the material submitted in the initial application; and,
(ii) Addressing any new criteria established by the Agency since the initial application.
(3) PLP or CLP status will be renewed if the applicable eligibility criteria under this section are met, and no cause exists for denying renewal under paragraph (g) of this section.
(g) Revocation of PLP or CLP status. (1) The Agency may revoke the lender’s PLP or CLP status at any time during the 5 year term for cause.
(2) Any of the following instances constitute cause for revoking or not renewing PLP or CLP status:
(i) Violation of the terms of the lender’s agreement;
(ii) Failure to maintain PLP or CLP eligibility criteria. The Agency may allow a PLP lender with a loss rate which exceeds the maximum PLP loss rate, to retain its PLP status for a two-year period, if:
(A) The lender documents in writing why the excessive loss rate is beyond their control;
(B) The lender provides a written plan that will reduce the loss rate to the PLP maximum rate within two years from the date of the plan, and
(C) The Agency determines that exceeding the maximum PLP loss rate standard was beyond the control of the lender. Examples include, but are not limited to, a freeze with only local impact, economic downturn in a local area, drop in local land values, industries moving into or out of an area, loss of access to a market, and biological or chemical damage.
(D) The Agency will revoke PLP status if the maximum PLP loss rate is not met at the end of the two-year period, unless a second two year extension is granted under this subsection.
(iii) Knowingly submitting false or misleading information to the Agency;
(iv) Basing a request on information known to be false;
(v) Deficiencies that indicate an inability to process or service Agency guaranteed farm loan programs loans in accordance with this subpart;
(vi) Failure to correct cited deficiencies in loan documents upon notification by the Agency;
(vii) Failure to submit status reports in a timely manner;
(viii) Failure to use forms, or follow credit management systems (for PLP lenders) accepted by the Agency; or
(ix) Failure to comply with the reimbursement requirements of § 762.144(c)(7) and (c)(8).
(3) A lender which has lost PLP or CLP status must be reconsidered for eligibility to continue as a Standard Eligible Lender (for former PLP and CLP lenders), or as a CLP lender (for former PLP lenders) in submitting loan guarantee requests. They may reapply for CLP or PLP status when the problem causing them to lose their status has been resolved.
§ 762.107 Micro Lender Program.
(a) General. The lenders must submit the following items:
(1) To request MLP Status, a lender must submit an application form to any local FSA office.
(2) The lender must provide any additional information requested by the Agency to process an MLP request, if the lender continues with the approval process.
(3) MLP lender authorities are limited to originating and servicing EZ Guarantee loans.
(b) MLP criteria. An MLP lender must satisfy the following requirements to obtain MLP Status:
(1) Have experience in making and servicing business loans.
(2) Have the staff and resources to properly and efficiently discharge its loan making and loan servicing responsibilities that may include use of Agency approved agents.
(3) Be subject to oversight as established and announced by the Agency on the FSA Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov).
(4) Have a loss rate not in excess of the maximum MLP loss rate established and announced by the Agency on the FSA Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov).
(5) Have made the minimum number of loans as established and announced by the Agency on the FSA Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov).
(6) Not be debarred or suspended from participation in Government contracts or programs or be delinquent on a Government debt. This includes the lender’s officers and agents.
(c) Renewal of MLP Status. MLP Status will expire within a period not to exceed 5 years from the date the lender’s agreement is executed, unless a new lender’s agreement is executed.
(1) Renewal of MLP Status is not automatic. A lender must submit a new application for renewal.
(2) MLP Status will be renewed if the applicable eligibility criteria under this section are met, and no cause exists for denying renewal under paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(d) Revocation of MLP Status. The Agency may revoke the lender’s MLP Status at any time during the 5 year term for cause as specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(1) Any of the following instances constitutes cause for revoking or not renewing MLP Status:
(i) Violation of the terms of the lender’s agreement;
(ii) Failure to maintain MLP eligibility criteria;
(iii) Knowingly submitting false or misleading information to the Agency;
(iv) Deficiencies that indicate an inability to process or service Agency guaranteed farm loan programs loans in accordance with this subpart;
(v) Failure to correct cited deficiencies in loan documents upon notification by the Agency;
(vi) Failure to submit status reports in a timely manner; or
(vii) Failure to comply with the reimbursement requirements of § 762.144(c)(7) and (c)(8).
(2) A lender that has lost MLP Status may reapply for MLP Status once the problem that caused the MLP Status to be revoked has been resolved.
§§ 762.108-762.109 [Reserved]
§ 762.110 Loan application.
(a) General. This paragraph (a) specifies the general requirements for guaranteed loan applications:
(1) Lenders must perform at least the same level of evaluation and documentation for a guaranteed loan that the lender typically performs for non-guaranteed loans of a similar type and amount.
(2) The application thresholds in this section apply to any single loan, or package of loans submitted for consideration at any one time. A lender must not split a loan into two or more parts in order to fall below the threshold in order to avoid additional documentation.
(3) The Agency may require lenders with a lender loss rate in excess of the rate for CLP lenders to assemble additional documentation specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
(b) EZ Guarantee loans. MLP lenders may submit an EZ Guarantee application for loans up to $50,000. All other lenders may submit EZ Guarantee applications for loans up to $100,000. Lenders must submit:
(1) An EZ Guarantee application form.
(2) If the loan fails to pass the underwriting criteria for EZ Guarantee approval in § 762.125(d), or the responses in the application are insufficient for the Agency to make a loan decision, the lender must provide additional information as requested by the Agency.
(c) Loans up to $125,000. Lenders must submit the following items for loans up to $125,000 (other than EZ Guarantees):
(1) The application form;
(2) Loan narrative, including a plan for servicing the loan;
(3) Balance sheet;
(4) Cash flow budget; and
(5) Credit report.
(d) Loans over $125,000. A complete application for loans over $125,000 will require items specified in paragraph (c) of this section, plus the following items:
(1) Verification of income;
(2) Verification of debts exceeding an amount determined by the Agency;
(3) Three years financial history;
(4) Three years of production history (for standard eligible lenders only);
(5) Proposed loan agreements; and,
(6) If construction or development is planned, a copy of the plans, specifications, and development schedule.
(e) Applications from PLP lenders. Notwithstanding paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, a complete application for PLP lenders will consist of at least:
(1) An application form;
(2) A loan narrative;
(3) Any other items agreed to during the approval of the PLP lender’s status and contained in the PLP lender agreement.
(f) CL Guarantees. In addition to the other requirements in this section, the following items apply when a lender is requesting a CL guarantee:
(1) Lenders must submit a copy of the conservation plan or Forest Stewardship Management Plan;
(2) Lenders must submit plans to transition to organic or sustainable agriculture when the funds requested will be used to facilitate the transition and the lender is requesting consideration for priority funding;
(3) When CL guarantee applicants meet all the following criteria, the cash flow budget requirement in this section will be waived:
(i) Be current on all payments to all creditors including the Agency (if currently an Agency borrower);
(ii) Debt to asset ratio is 40 percent or less;
(iii) Balance sheet indicates a net worth of 3 times the requested loan amount or greater; and
(iv) FICO credit score is at least 700; for entity applicants, the FICO credit score of the majority of the individual members of the entity must be at least 700.
(g) Submitting applications. (1) All lenders must compile and maintain in their files a complete application for each guaranteed loan.
(2) The Agency will notify CLP lenders which items to submit to the Agency.
(3) PLP lenders will submit applications in accordance with their agreement with the Agency for PLP status.
(4) All lenders must certify that the required items, not submitted, are in their files.
(5) The Agency may request additional information from any lender or review the lender’s loan file as needed to make eligibility and approval decisions.
(h) Incomplete applications. If the lender does not provide the information needed to complete its application by the deadline established in an Agency request for the information, the application will be considered withdrawn by the lender.
(i) Conflict of interest. (1) When a lender submits the application for a guaranteed loan, the lender will inform the Agency in writing of any relationship which may cause an actual or potential conflict of interest.
(2) Relationships include:
(i) The lender or its officers, directors, principal stockholders (except stockholders in a Farm Credit System institution that have stock requirements to obtain a loan), or other principal owners having a financial interest (other than lending relationships in the normal course of business) in the applicant or borrower.
(ii) The applicant or borrower, a relative of the applicant or borrower, anyone residing in the household of the applicant or borrower, any officer, director, stockholder or other owner of the applicant or borrower holds any stock or other evidence of ownership in the lender.
(iii) The applicant or borrower, a relative of the applicant or borrower, or anyone residing in the household of the applicant or borrower is an Agency employee.
(iv) The officers, directors, principal stockholders (except stockholders in a Farm Credit System institution that have stock requirements to obtain a loan), or other principal owners of the lender have substantial business dealings (other than in the normal course of business) with the applicant or borrower.
(v) The lender or its officers, directors, principal stockholders, or other principal owners have substantial business dealings with an Agency employee.
(3) The lender must furnish additional information to the Agency upon request.
(4) The Agency will not approve the application until the lender develops acceptable safeguards to control any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
(j) Market placement program. Except for CL guarantees, when the Agency determines that a direct applicant or borrower may qualify for guaranteed credit, the Agency may submit the applicant or borrower’s financial information to one or more guaranteed lenders. If a lender indicates interest in providing financing to the applicant or borrower through the guaranteed loan program, the Agency will assist in completing the application for a guarantee.
§§ 762.111-762.119 [Reserved]
§ 762.120 Applicant eligibility.
Unless otherwise provided, applicants must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a guaranteed OL, FO, or CL.
(a) Agency loss. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory note, has not caused the Agency a loss by receiving debt forgiveness on all or a portion of any direct or guaranteed loan made under the authority of the Act by debt write-down or write-off; compromise, adjustment, reduction, or charge-off under the provisions of section 331 of the Act; discharge in bankruptcy; or through payment of a guaranteed loss claim on:
(i) More than three occasions on or prior to April 4, 1996; or
(ii) Any occasion after April 4, 1996.
(2) The applicant may receive a guaranteed OL to pay annual farm operating and family living expenses, provided the applicant meets all other requirements for the loan, if the applicant and anyone who will execute the promissory note:
(i) Received a write-down under section 353 of the Act;
(ii) Is current on payments under a confirmed reorganization plan under chapter 11, 12, or 13 of title 11 of the United States Code; or
(iii) Received debt forgiveness on not more than one occasion after April 4, 1996, resulting directly and primarily from a Presidentially-designated emergency for a county or contiguous county in which the applicant operates. Only applicants who were current on all existing direct and guaranteed FSA loans prior to the beginning date of the incidence period for a Presidentially-designated emergency and received debt forgiveness on that debt within three years after the designation of such emergency meet this exception.
(b) Delinquent Federal debt. The applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory note, is not delinquent on any Federal debt, other than a debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (Any debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may be considered by the lender in determining cash flow and creditworthiness.)
(c) Outstanding judgments. The applicant, and anyone who will execute the promissory note, have no outstanding unpaid judgment obtained by the United States in any court. Such judgments do not include those filed as a result of action in the United States Tax Courts.
(d) Citizenship. (1) The applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a United States non-citizen national, or a qualified alien under applicable Federal immigration laws. For an entity applicant, the majority interest of the entity must be held by members who are United States citizens, United States non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens under applicable Federal immigration laws.
(2) United States non-citizen nationals and qualified aliens must provide the appropriate documentation as to their immigration status as required by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(e) Legal capacity. The applicant and all borrowers on the loan must possess the legal capacity to incur the obligations of the loan.
(f) False or misleading information. The applicant, in past dealings with the Agency, must not have provided the Agency with false or misleading documents or statements.
(g) Credit history. (1) The individual or entity applicant and all entity members must have acceptable credit history demonstrated by debt repayment.
(2) A history of failures to repay past debts as they came due when the ability to repay was within their control will demonstrate unacceptable credit history.
(3) Unacceptable credit history will not include:
(i) Isolated instances of late payments which do not represent a pattern and were clearly beyond their control; or,
(ii) Lack of credit history.
(h) Test for credit. Except for CL guarantees,
(1) The applicant is unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere without a guarantee to finance actual needs at reasonable rates and terms.
(2) The potential for sale of any significant nonessential assets will be considered when evaluating the availability of other credit.
(3) Ownership interests in property and income received by an individual or entity applicant, and any entity members as individuals will be considered when evaluating the availability of other credit to the applicant.
(i) For OLs:
(1) The individual or entity applicant must be an operator of not larger than a family farm after the loan is closed.
(2) In the case of an entity borrower:
(i) The entity must be authorized to operate, and own if the entity is also an owner, a farm in the State or States in which the farm is located; and
(ii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are related by marriage or blood, at least one member of the entity must operate the family farm; or,
(iii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are not related by marriage or blood, the entity members holding at least 50 percent interest must also operate the family farm.
(j) For FOs:
(1) The individual must be the operator of not larger than a family farm and the owner of a farm after the loan is closed. Ownership of the family farm operation or the farm real estate may be held either directly in the individual’s name or indirectly through interest in a legal entity.
(2) In the case of an entity borrower:
(i) An ownership entity must be authorized to own a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located. An operating entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located; and
(ii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are related by marriage or blood, at least one member of the entity must operate the family farm and at least one member of the entity or the entity must own the farm; or
(iii) If the entity members holding a majority interest are not related by marriage or blood, the entity members holding at least 50 percent interest must operate the family farm and the entity members holding at least 50 percent or the entity must own the farm.
(3) If the entity is an operator-only entity, the individuals that own the farm (real estate) must own at least 50 percent of the family farm (operating entity).
(4) All ownership may be held either directly in the individual’s name or indirectly through interest in a legal entity.
(k) For entity applicants. Except for CL, entity applicants must meet the following additional eligibility criteria:
(1) Each entity member’s ownership interest may not exceed the family farm definition limits;
(2) The collective ownership interest of all entity members may exceed the family farm definition limits only if the following conditions are met:
(i) All of the entity members are related by blood or marriage;
(ii) All of the members are or will be operators of the entity; and,
(iii) The majority interest holders of the entity must meet the requirements of paragraphs (d), (f), (g), and (i) through (j) of this section;
(3) The entity must be controlled by farmers engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States after the loan is made; and
(4) If the applicant has one or more embedded entities, at least 75 percent of the individual ownership interests of each embedded entity must be owned by members actively involved in managing or operating the family farm.
(l) For CL entity applicants. Entity applicants for CL guarantees must meet the following eligibility criteria:
(1) The majority interest holders of the entity must meet the requirements of paragraph (d), (f), and (g) of this section;
(2) The entity must be controlled by farmers engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States after the loan is made;
(3) If the applicant has one or more embedded entities, at least 75 percent of the individual ownership interests of each embedded entity must be owned by members actively involved in managing or operating the family farm; and
(4) The entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the State or States in which the farm is located.
(m) For CL individual applicants. Individual applicants for CL guarantees must be farmers in the United States.
(n) Controlled substances. The applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not be ineligible as a result of a conviction for controlled substances according to 7 CFR part 718 of this chapter. If the lender uses the lender’s Agency approved forms, the certification may be an attachment to the form.
(o) Disqualification. The applicant, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be ineligible due to disqualification resulting from a Federal Crop Insurance violation, according to 7 CFR part 718.
§ 762.121 Loan purposes.
(a) Operating Loan purposes. (1) Loan funds disbursed under an OL guarantee may only be used for the following purposes:
(i) Payment of costs associated with reorganizing a farm to improve its profitability;
(ii) Purchase of livestock, including poultry, and farm equipment or fixtures, quotas and bases, and cooperative stock for credit, production, processing or marketing purposes;
(iii) Payment of annual farm operating expenses, examples of which include feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm supplies, repairs and improvements which are to be expensed, cash rent and family subsistence;
(iv) Payment of scheduled principal and interest payments on term debt provided the debt is for authorized FO or OL purposes;
(v) Other farm needs;
(vi) Payment of costs associated with land and water development for conservation or use purposes;
(vii) Refinancing indebtedness incurred for any authorized OL purpose, when the lender and applicant can demonstrate the need to refinance;
(viii) Payment of loan closing costs;
(ix) Payment of costs associated with complying with Federal or State-approved standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655, 667). This purpose is limited to applicants who demonstrate that compliance or non-compliance with the standards will cause them substantial economic injury; and
(x) Payment of training costs required or recommended by the Agency.
(2) Loan funds under a line of credit may be advanced only for the following purposes:
(i) Payment of annual operating expenses, family subsistence, and purchase of feeder animals;
(ii) Payment of current annual operating debts advanced for the current operating cycle; (Under no circumstances can carry-over operating debts from a previous operating cycle be refinanced);
(iii) Purchase of routine capital assets, such as replacement of livestock, that will be repaid within the operating cycle;
(iv) Payment of scheduled, non-delinquent, term debt payments provided the debt is for authorized FO or OL purposes.
(v) Purchase of cooperative stock for credit, production, processing or marketing purposes; and
(vi) Payment of loan closing costs.
(b) Farm ownership loan purposes. Guaranteed FO are authorized only to:
(1) Acquire or enlarge a farm; examples include, but are not limited to, providing down payments, purchasing easements for the applicant’s portion of land being subdivided, and participating in the down payment FO program under part 764 of this chapter;
(2) Make capital improvements; examples include, but are not limited to, the construction, purchase, and improvement of a farm dwelling, service buildings and facilities that can be made fixtures to the real estate, (Capital improvements to leased land may be financed subject to the limitations in § 762.122);
(3) Promote soil and water conservation and protection; examples include the correction of hazardous environmental conditions, and the construction or installation of tiles, terraces and waterways;
(4) Pay closing costs, including but not limited to, purchasing stock in a cooperative and appraisal and survey fees; and
(5) Refinancing indebtedness incurred for authorized FO and OL purposes, provided the lender and applicant demonstrate the need to refinance the debt.
(c) CL purposes. Loan funds disbursed under a CL guarantee may be used for any conservation activities included in a conservation plan or Forestry Stewardship Management Plan including, but not limited to:
(1) The installation of conservation structures to address soil, water, and related resources;
(2) The establishment of forest cover for sustained yield timber management, erosion control, or shelter belt purposes;
(3) The installation of water conservation measures;
(4) The installation of waste management systems;
(5) The establishment or improvement of permanent pasture;
(6) Other purposes including the adoption of any other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques, or technologies; and
(7) Refinancing indebtedness incurred for any authorized CL purpose, when refinancing will result in additional conservation benefits.
(d) Highly erodible land or wetlands conservation. Loans may not be made for any purpose which contributes to excessive erosion of highly erodible land or to the conversion of wetlands to produce an agricultural commodity. A decision by the Agency to reject an application for this reason may be appealable. An appeal questioning whether the presence of a wetland, converted wetland, or highly erodible land on a particular property must be filed directly with the USDA agency making the determination in accordance with the agency’s appeal procedures.
(e) Judgment debts. Loans may not be used to satisfy judgments obtained in the United States District courts. However, Internal Revenue Service judgment liens may be paid with loan funds.
§ 762.122 Loan limitations.
(a) Dollar limits. The Agency will not guarantee any loan that would result in the applicant’s total indebtedness exceeding the limits established in § 761.8 of this chapter.
(b) Leased land. When FO or CL funds are used for improvements to leased land the terms of the lease must provide reasonable assurance that the applicant will have use of the improvement over its useful life, or provide compensation for any unexhausted value of the improvement if the lease is terminated.
(c) Tax-exempt transactions. The Agency will not guarantee any loan made with the proceeds of any obligation the interest on which is excluded from income under section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Funds generated through the issuance of tax-exempt obligations may not be used to purchase the guaranteed portion of any Agency guaranteed loan. An Agency guaranteed loan may not serve as collateral for a tax-exempt bond issue.
(d) Floodplain restrictions. The Agency will not guarantee any loan to purchase, build, or expand buildings located in a special 100 year floodplain as defined by FEMA flood hazard area maps unless flood insurance is available and purchased.
§ 762.123 Insurance and farm inspection requirements.
(a) Insurance. (1) Lenders must require borrowers to maintain adequate property, public liability, and crop insurance to protect the lender and Government’s interests.
(2) By loan closing, applicants must either:
(i) Obtain at least the catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of crop insurance coverage, if available, for each crop of economic significance, as defined by § 400.651 of this title, or
(ii) Waive eligibility for emergency crop loss assistance in connection with the uninsured crop. EM loan assistance under part 764 of this chapter is not considered emergency crop loss assistance for purposes of this waiver and execution of the waiver does not render the borrower ineligible for EM loans.
(3) Applicants must purchase flood insurance if buildings are or will be located in a special flood hazard area as defined by FEMA flood hazard area maps and if flood insurance is available.
(4) Insurance, including crop insurance, must be obtained as required by the lender or the Agency based on the strengths and weaknesses of the loan.
(b) Farm inspections. Before submitting an application the lender must make an inspection of the farm to assess the suitability of the farm and to determine any development that is needed to make it a suitable farm.
§ 762.124 Interest rates, terms, charges, and fees.
(a) Interest rates. (1) The interest rate on a guaranteed loan or line of credit may be fixed or variable as agreed upon between the borrower and the lender. The lender may charge different rates on the guaranteed and the non-guaranteed portions of the note. The guaranteed portion may be fixed while the unguaranteed portion may be variable, or vice versa. If both portions are variable, different bases may be used.
(2) If a variable rate is used, it must be tied to an index or rate specifically agreed to between the lender and borrower in the loan instruments and the rate adjustments must be in accordance with normal practices of the lender for unguaranteed loans. Upon request, the lender must provide the Agency with copies of its written rate adjustment practices.
(3) At the time of loan closing or loan restructuring, the interest rate on both the guaranteed portion and the unguaranteed portion of a fixed or variable rate OL or FO loan may not exceed the rates established and announced by the Agency on the FSA website (www.fsa.usda.gov).
(4) Interest must be charged only on the actual amount of funds advanced and for the actual time the funds are outstanding. Interest on protective advances made by the lender to protect the security will be charged at the note rate but limited to paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
(5) The lender and borrower may collectively obtain a temporary reduction in the interest rate through the interest assistance program in accordance with § 762.150.
(b) OL terms. (1) Loan funds or advances on a line of credit used to pay annual operating expenses will be repaid when the income from the year’s operation is received, except when the borrower is establishing a new enterprise, developing a farm, purchasing feed while feed crops are being established, or recovering from disaster or economic reverses.
(2) The final maturity date for each loan cannot exceed 7 years from the date of the promissory note or line of credit agreement. Advances for purposes other than for annual operating expenses will be scheduled for repayment over the minimum period necessary considering the applicant’s ability to repay and the useful life of the security, but not in excess of 7 years.
(3) All advances on a line of credit must be made within 5 years from the date of the Loan Guarantee.
(c) FO terms. Each loan must be scheduled for repayment over a period not to exceed 40 years from the date of the note or such shorter period as may be necessary to assure that the loan will be adequately secured, taking into account the probable depreciation of the security.
(d) CL terms. Each loan must be scheduled for repayment over a period not to exceed 30 years from the date of the note or such shorter period as may be necessary to assure that the loan will be adequately secured, taking into account the probable depreciation of the security.
(e) Balloon installments under loan note guarantee. Balloon payment terms are permitted on FO, OL, or CL subject to the following:
(1) Extended repayment schedules may include equal, unequal, or balloon installments if needed on any guaranteed loan to establish a new enterprise, develop a farm, or recover from a disaster or an economical reversal.
(2) Loans with balloon installments must have adequate collateral at the time the balloon installment comes due. Crops, livestock other than breeding livestock, or livestock products produced are not sufficient collateral for securing such a loan.
(3) The borrower must be projected to be able to refinance the remaining debt at the time the balloon payment comes due based on the expected financial condition of the operation, the depreciated value of the collateral, and the principal balance on the loan.
(f) Charges and fees. (1) The lender may charge the applicant and borrower fees for the loan provided they are no greater than those charged to unguaranteed customers for similar transactions. Similar transactions are those involving the same type of loan requested (for example, operating loans or farm real estate loans).
(2) Late payment charges (including default interest charges) are not covered by the guarantee. These charges may not be added to the principal and interest due under any guaranteed note or line of credit. However, late payment charges may be made outside of the guarantee if they are routinely made by the lender in similar types of loan transactions.
(3) Lenders may not charge a loan origination and servicing fee greater than 1 percent of the loan amount for the life of the loan when a guaranteed loan is made in conjunction with a down payment FO under part 764 of this chapter.
§ 762.125 Financial feasibility.
(a) General. Except for streamlined CL guarantees (see § 762.110(f)), the following requirements must be met:
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, PLP lenders will follow their internal procedures on financial feasibility as agreed to by the Agency during PLP certification.
(2) The applicant’s proposed operation must project a feasible plan.
(3) For standard eligible lenders, the projected income and expenses of the borrower and operation used to determine a feasible plan must be based on the applicant’s proven record of production and financial management.
(4) For CLP lenders, the projected income and expenses of the borrower and the operation must be based on the applicant’s financial history and proven record of financial management.
(5) For those farmers without a proven history, a combination of any actual history and any other reliable source of information that are agreeable with the lender, the applicant, and the Agency will be used.
(6) The cash flow budget analyzed to determine a feasible plan must represent the predicted cash flow of the operating cycle.
(7) Lenders must use price forecasts that are reasonable and defensible. Sources must be documented by the lender and acceptable to the Agency.
(8) When a feasible plan depends on income from other sources in addition to income from owned land, the income must be dependable and likely to continue.
(9) The lender will analyze business ventures other than the farm operation to determine their soundness and contribution to the operation. Except for CL, guaranteed loan funds will not be used to finance a nonfarm enterprise. Nonfarm enterprises include, but are not limited to: raising earthworms, exotic birds, tropical fish, dogs, or horses for nonfarm purposes; welding shops; boarding horses; and riding stables.
(10) When the applicant has or will have a cash flow budget developed in conjunction with a proposed or existing Agency direct loan, the two cash flow budgets must be consistent.
(b) Estimating production. Except for streamlined CL guarantees (see § 762.110(f)), the following requirements must be met:
(1) Standard eligible lenders must use the best sources of information available for estimating production in accordance with this subsection when developing cash flow budgets.
(2) Deviations from historical performance may be acceptable, if specific to changes in operation and adequately justified and acceptable to the Agency.
(3) For existing farmers, actual production for the past 3 years will be utilized.
(4) For those farmers without a proven history, a combination of any actual history and any other reliable source of information that are agreeable with the lender, the applicant, and the Agency will be used.
(5) When the production of a growing commodity can be estimated, it must be considered when projecting yields.
(6) When the applicant’s production history has been so severely affected by a declared disaster that an accurate projection cannot be made, the following applies:
(i) County average yields are used for the disaster year if the applicant’s disaster year yields are less than the county average yields. If county average yields are not available, State average yields are used. Adjustments can be made, provided there is factual evidence to demonstrate that the yield used in the farm plan is the most probable to be realized.
(ii) To calculate a historical yield, the crop year with the lowest actual or county average yield may be excluded, provided the applicant’s yields were affected by disasters at least 2 of the previous 5 consecutive years.
(c) Refinancing. Loan guarantee requests for refinancing must ensure that a reasonable chance for success still exists. The lender must demonstrate that problems with the applicant’s operation that have been identified, can be corrected, and the operation returned to a sound financial basis.
(d) EZ Guarantee feasibility. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section:
(1) The Agency will evaluate EZ Guarantee application financial feasibility using criteria determined and announced by the Agency on the FSA Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov).
(2) EZ Guarantee applications that satisfy the criteria will be determined to meet the financial feasibility standards in this section.
(3) EZ Guarantee applications that do not satisfy the criteria will require further documentation as determined by the Agency and announced on the FSA Web site (www.fsa.usda.gov).
§ 762.126 Security requirements.
(a) General. (1) The lender is responsible for ensuring that proper and adequate security is obtained and maintained to fully secure the loan, protect the interest of the lender and the Agency, and assure repayment of the loan or line of credit.
(2) The lender will obtain a lien on additional security when necessary to protect the Agency’s interest.
(b) Guaranteed and unguaranteed portions. (1) All security must secure the entire loan or line of credit. The lender may not take separate security to secure only that portion of the loan or line of credit not covered by the guarantee.
(2) The lender may not require compensating balances or certificates of deposit as means of eliminating the lender’s exposure on the unguaranteed portion of the loan or line of credit. However, compensating balances or certificates of deposit as otherwise used in the ordinary course of business are allowed for both the guaranteed and unguaranteed portions.
(c) Identifiable security. The guaranteed loan must be secured by identifiable collateral. To be identifiable, the lender must be able to distinguish the collateral item and adequately describe it in the security instrument.
(d) Type of security. (1) Guaranteed loans may be secured by any property if the term of the loan and expected life of the property will not cause the loan to be undersecured.
(2) For loans with terms greater than 7 years, a lien must be taken on real estate.
(3) Loans can be secured by a mortgage on leasehold properties if the lease has a negotiable value and is subject to being mortgaged.
(4) The lender or Agency may require additional personal and corporate guarantees to adequately secure the loan. These guarantees are separate from, and in addition to, the personal obligations arising from members of an entity signing the note as individuals.
(e) Lien position. All guaranteed loans will be secured by the best lien obtainable. Provided that:
(1) Any chattel-secured guaranteed loan must have a higher lien priority (including purchase money interest) than an unguaranteed loan secured by the same chattels and held by the same lender.
(2) Junior lien positions are acceptable only if the total amount of debt with liens on the security, including the debt in junior lien position, is less than or equal to 85 percent of the value of the security. Junior liens on crops or livestock products will not be relied upon for security unless the lender is involved in multiple guaranteed loans to the same borrower and also has the first lien on the collateral.
(3) When taking a junior lien, prior lien instruments will not contain future advance clauses (except for taxes, insurance, or other reasonable costs to protect security), or cancellation, summary forfeiture, or other clauses that jeopardize the Government’s or the lender’s interest or the borrower’s ability to pay the guaranteed loan, unless any such undesirable provisions are limited, modified, waived or subordinated by the lienholder for the benefit of the Agency and the lender.
(f) Additional security, or any loan of $10,000 or less may be secured by the best lien obtainable on real estate without title clearance or legal services normally required, provided the lender believes from a search of the county records that the applicant can give a mortgage on the farm and provided that the lender would, in the normal course of business, waive the title search. This exception to title clearance will not apply when land is to be purchased.
(g) Multiple owners. If security has multiple owners, all owners must execute the security documents for the loan.
(h) Exceptions. The Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs has the authority to grant an exception to any of the requirements involving security, if the proposed change is in the best interest of the Government and the collection of the loan will not be impaired.
§ 762.127 Appraisal requirements.
(a) General. The general requirements for an appraisal are:
(1) Value of collateral. The lender is responsible for ensuring that the value of chattel and real estate pledged as collateral is sufficient to fully secure the guaranteed loan.
(2) Additional security. The lender is not required to complete an appraisal or evaluation of collateral that will serve as additional security, but the lender must provide an estimated value.
(3) Appraisal cost. Except for authorized liquidation expenses, the lender is responsible for all appraisal costs, which may be passed on to the borrower or transferee in the case of a transfer and assumption.
(b) Chattel security. The requirements for chattel appraisals are:
(1) Need for chattel appraisal. A current appraisal (not more than 12 months old) of primary chattel security is required on all loans except loans or lines of credit for annual production purposes secured by crops, which require an appraisal only when the guarantee is requested late in the current production year and actual yields can be reasonably estimated. An appraisal is not required for loans of $50,000 or less if a strong equity position exists.
(2) Basis of value. The appraised value of chattel property will be based on public sales of the same or similar property in the market area. In the absence of such public sales, reputable publications reflecting market values may be used.
(3) Appraisal form. Appraisal reports may be on the Agency’s appraisal of chattel property form or on any other appraisal form containing at least the same information.
(4) Experience and training. Chattel appraisals will be performed by appraisers who possess sufficient experience or training to establish market (not retail) values as determined by the Agency.
(c) Real estate security. The requirements for real estate appraisals are:
(1) Loans of $250,000 or less. The lender must document the value of the real estate by applying the same policies and procedures as their non-guaranteed loans.
(2) Loans greater than $250,000. The lender must document the value of real estate using a current appraisal (not more than 18 months old) completed by a State Certified General Appraiser. Real estate appraisals must be completed in accordance with USPAP. Restricted reports as defined in USPAP are not acceptable. The Agency may allow an appraisal more than 18 months old to be used only if documentation provided by the lender reflects each of the following:
(i) Market conditions have remained stable or improved based on sales of similar properties,
(ii) The property in question remains in the same or better condition, and
(iii) The value of the property has remained the same or increased.
(3) Agency determinations under paragraph (c)(2) of this section to permit appraisals more than 18 months old are not appealable.
§ 762.128 Environmental and special laws.
(a) Environmental requirements. The requirements found in part 799 of this chapter must be met for guaranteed OL, FO, and CL. CLP, PLP, and MLP lenders may certify that they have documentation in their file to demonstrate compliance with paragraph (c) of this section. Standard eligible lenders must submit evidence supporting compliance with this section.
(b) Determination. The Agency determination of whether an environmental problem exists will be based on:
(1) The information supplied with the application;
(2) The Agency Official’s personal knowledge of the operation;
(3) Environmental resources available to the Agency including, but not limited to, documents, third parties, and governmental agencies;
(4) A visit to the farm operation when the available information is insufficient to make a determination;
(5) Other information supplied by the lender or applicant upon Agency request. If necessary, information not supplied with the application will be requested by the Agency.
(c) Special requirements. Lenders will assist in the environmental review process by providing environmental information. In all cases, the lender must retain documentation of their investigation in the applicant’s case file.
(1) A determination must be made as to whether there are any potential impacts to a 100 year floodplain as defined by Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain maps, Natural Resources Conservation Service data, or other appropriate documentation.
(2) The lender will assist the borrower in securing any applicable permits or waste management plans. The lender may consult with the Agency for guidance on activities which require consultation with State regulatory agencies, special permitting or waste management plans.
(3) The lender will examine the security property to determine if there are any structures or archeological sites which are listed or may be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The lender may consult with the Agency for guidance on which situations will need further review in accordance with the National Historical Preservation Act and part 799 of this chapter.
(4) The applicant must certify they will not violate the provisions of § 363 of the Act, the Food Security Act of 1985, and Executive Order 11990 relating to Highly Erodible Land and Wetlands.
(5) All lenders are required to ensure that due diligence is performed in conjunction with a request for guarantee of a loan involving real estate. Due diligence is the process of evaluating real estate in the context of a real estate transaction to determine the presence of contamination from release of hazardous substances, petroleum products, or other environmental hazards and determining what effect, if any, the contamination has on the security value of the property. The Agency will accept as evidence of due diligence the most current version of the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) transaction screen questionnaire available from 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-2959, or similar documentation, approved for use by the Agency, supplemented as necessary by the ASTM phase I environmental site assessments form.
(d) Equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. (1) With respect to any aspect of a credit transaction, the lender will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age, provided the applicant can execute a legal contract. Nor will the lender discriminate on the basis of whether all or a part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program, or whether the applicant in good faith, exercises any rights under the Consumer Protection Act.
(2) Where the guaranteed loan involves construction, the contractor or subcontractor must file all compliance reports, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination forms, and otherwise comply with all regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Executive Orders 11246 and 11375.
(e) Other Federal, State and local requirements. Lenders are required to coordinate with all appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and comply with special laws and regulations applicable to the loan proposal.
§ 762.129 Percent of guarantee and maximum loss.
(a) Percent of guarantee. The percent of guarantee will not exceed 90 percent based on the credit risk to the lender and the Agency both before and after the transaction. The Agency will determine the percentage of guarantee. See paragraph (b) of this section for exceptions.
(b) Exceptions. The guarantee will be determined by the Agency except:
(1) For OLs and FOs, the guarantee will be issued at 95 percent when:
(i) The sole purpose of a guaranteed FO or OL is to refinance an Agency direct farm loan and when only a portion of the loan is used to refinance a direct Agency loan, a weighted percentage of a guarantee will be provided;
(ii) The purpose of a guaranteed FO is to participate in the down payment loan program;
(iii) A guaranteed OL is made to a farmer who is participating in the Agency’s down payment loan program. The guaranteed OL must be made during the period that a borrower has the down payment loan outstanding;
(iv) A guaranteed OL is made to a farmer whose farm land is subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe and whose loan is secured by one or more security instruments that are subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe;
(v) A guaranteed FO or OL is made to a qualified socially disadvantaged farmer; or
(vi) A guaranteed FO or OL is made to a qualified beginning farmer.
(2) For CLs, the guarantee will be issued at 80 percent; however, the guarantee will be issued at 90 percent if:
(i) The applicant is a qualified socially disadvantaged farmer; or
(ii) The applicant is a qualified beginning farmer.
(c) CLP and PLP guarantees. All guarantees issued to CLP or PLP lenders will not be less than 80 percent.
(d) Maximum loss. The maximum amount the Agency will pay the lender under the loan guarantee will be any loss sustained by such lender on the guaranteed portion including:
(1) The pro rata share of principal and interest indebtedness as evidenced by the note or by assumption agreement;
(2) Any loan subsidy due and owing;
(3) The pro rata share of principal and interest indebtedness on secured protective and emergency advances made in accordance with this subpart; and
(4) Principal and interest indebtedness on recapture debt pursuant to a shared appreciation agreement. Provided that the lender has paid the Agency its pro rata share of the recapture amount due.
§ 762.130 Loan approval and issuing the guarantee.
(a) Processing timeframes. (1) Standard eligible lenders. Complete applications from Standard Eligible Lenders will be approved or rejected, and the lender notified in writing, no later than 30 calendar days after receipt.
(2) CLP and PLP lenders.
(i) Complete applications from CLP or PLP lenders will be approved or rejected not later than 14 calendar days after receipt.
(ii) For PLP lenders, if the 14 day time frame is not met, the proposed guaranteed loan will automatically be approved, subject to funding, and receive an 80 or 95 percent guarantee for FO or OL loans, and 80 or 90 percent guarantee for CL, as appropriate.
(3) Complete applications. For purposes of determining the application processing timeframes, an application will be not be considered complete until all information required to make an approval decision, including the information for an environmental review, is received by the Agency.
(4) The Agency will confirm the date an application is received with a written notification to the lender.
(b) Funding preference. Loans are approved subject to the availability of funding. When it appears that there are not adequate funds to meet the needs of all approved applicants, applications that have been approved will be placed on a preference list according to the date of receipt of a complete application. If approved applications have been received on the same day, the following will be given priority:
(1) An application from a veteran
(2) An application from an Agency direct loan borrower
(3) An application from a applicant who:
(i) Has a dependent family,
(ii) Is an owner of livestock and farm implements necessary to successfully carry out farming operations, or
(iii) Is able to make down payments.
(4) Any other approved application.
(c) Conditional commitment. (1) The lender must meet all of the conditions specified in the conditional commitment to secure final Agency approval of the guarantee.
(2) The lender, after reviewing the conditions listed on the conditional commitment, will complete, execute, and return the form to the Agency. If the conditions are not acceptable to the lender, the Agency may agree to alternatives or inform the lender and the applicant of their appeal rights.
(d) Lender requirements prior to issuing the guarantee—(1) Lender certification. The lender will certify as to the following on the appropriate Agency form:
(i) No major changes have been made in the lender’s loan or line of credit conditions and requirements since submission of the application (except those approved in the interim by the Agency in writing);
(ii) Required hazard, flood, crop, worker’s compensation, and personal life insurance (when required) are in effect;
(iii) Truth in lending requirements have been met;
(iv) All equal employment and equal credit opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements have been or will be met at the appropriate time;
(v) The loan or line of credit has been properly closed, and the required security instruments have been obtained, or will be obtained, on any acquired property that cannot be covered initially under State law;
(vi) The borrower has marketable title to the collateral owned by the borrower, subject to the instrument securing the loan or line of credit to be guaranteed and subject to any other exceptions approved in writing by the Agency. When required, an assignment on all USDA crop and livestock program payments has been obtained;
(vii) When required, personal, joint operation, partnership, or corporate guarantees have been obtained;
(viii) Liens have been perfected and priorities are consistent with requirements of the conditional commitment;
(ix) Loan proceeds have been, or will be disbursed for purposes and in amounts consistent with the conditional commitment and as specified on the loan application. In line of credit cases, if any advances have occurred, advances have been disbursed for purposes and in amounts consistent with the conditional commitment and line of credit agreements;
(x) There has been no material adverse change in the borrower’s condition, financial or otherwise, since submission of the application; and
(xi) All other requirements specified in the conditional commitment have been met.
(2) Inspections. The lender must notify the Agency of any scheduled inspections during construction and after the guarantee has been issued. The Agency may attend these field inspections. Any inspections or review performed by the Agency, including those with the lender, are solely for the benefit of the Agency. Agency inspections do not relieve any other parties of their inspection responsibilities, nor can these parties rely on Agency inspections for any purpose.
(3) Execution of lender’s agreement. The lender must execute the Agency’s lender’s agreement and deliver it to the Agency.
(4) Closing report and guarantee fees. (i) The lender must complete an Agency closing report form and return it to the Agency along with any guarantee fees.
(ii) The guarantee fee is established by the Agency at the time the guarantee is obligated. The current fee schedule is available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov and any FSA office. Guaranteed fees may be adjusted annually based on factors that affect program costs. The nonrefundable fee is paid to the Agency by the lender. The fee may be passed on to the borrower and included in loan funds. The guarantee fee for the loan type will be calculated as follows:
(A) FO guarantee fee = Loan Amount × % guaranteed × (FO percentage established by FSA).
(B) OL guarantee fee = Loan Amount × % guaranteed × (OL percentage established by FSA).
(C) CL guarantee fee = Loan Amount × % guaranteed × (CL percentage established by FSA).
(iii) The following guaranteed loan transactions are not charged a fee:
(A) Loans involving interest assistance;
(B) Loans where a majority of the funds are used to refinance an Agency direct loan; and
(C) Loans to beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers involved in the direct Down payment Loan Program or beginning farmers participating in a qualified State Beginning Farmer Program.
(e) Promissory notes, line of credit agreements, mortgages, and security agreements. The lender will use its own promissory notes, line of credit agreements, real estate mortgages (including deeds of trust and similar instruments), and security agreements (including chattel mortgages), provided:
(1) The forms meet Agency requirements;
(2) Documents comply with State law and regulation;
(3) The principal and interest repayment schedules are stated clearly in the notes and are consistent with the conditional commitment;
(4) The note is executed by the individual liable for the loan. For entity applicants, the promissory note will be executed to evidence the liability of the entity, any embedded entities, and the individual liability of all entity members. Individual liability can be waived by the Agency for members holding less than 10 percent ownership in the entity if the collectability of the loan will not be impaired; and
(5) When the loan purpose is to refinance or restructure the lender’s own debt, the lender may continue to use the existing debt instrument and attach an allonge that modifies the terms of the original note.
(f) Replacement of loan guarantee, or assignment guarantee agreement. If the guarantee or assignment guarantee agreements are lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or defaced, except where the evidence of debt was or is a bearer instrument, the Agency will issue a replacement to the lender or holder upon receipt of acceptable documentation including a certificate of loss and an indemnity bond.
§§ 762.131-762.139 [Reserved]
§ 762.140 General servicing responsibilities.
(a) General. (1) Lenders are responsible for servicing the entire loan in a reasonable and prudent manner, protecting and accounting for the collateral, and remaining the mortgagee or secured party of record.
(2) The lender cannot enforce the guarantee to the extent that a loss results from a violation of usury laws or negligent servicing.
(b) Borrower supervision. The lender’s responsibilities regarding borrower supervision include, but are not limited to the following:
(1) Ensuring loan funds are not used for unauthorized purposes.
(2) Ensuring borrower compliance with the covenants and provisions contained in the promissory note, loan agreement, mortgage, security instruments, any other agreements, and this part. Any violations which indicate non-compliance on the part of the borrower must be reported, in writing, to both the Agency and the borrower.
(3) Ensuring the borrower is in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to the loan, the collateral, and the operations of the farm.
(4) Receiving all payments of principal and interest on the loan as they fall due and promptly disbursing to any holder its pro-rata share according to the amount of interest the holder has in the loan, less only the lender’s servicing fee.
(5) Performing an annual analysis of the borrower’s financial condition to determine the borrower’s progress for all term loans with aggregate balances greater than $100,000 and all line of credit loans. The annual analysis will include:
(i) For loans secured by real estate only, the analysis for standard eligible lenders must include an analysis of the borrower’s balance sheet. CLP lenders will determine the need for the annual analysis based on the financial strength of the borrower and document the file accordingly. PLP lenders will perform an annual analysis in accordance with the requirements established in the lender’s agreement.
(ii) For loans secured by chattels, all lenders will review the borrower’s progress regarding business goals, trends and changes in financial performance, and compare actual to planned income and expenses for the past year.
(iii) An account of the whereabouts or disposition of all collateral.
(iv) A discussion of any observations about the farm business with the borrower.
(v) For borrowers with an outstanding loan balance for existing term loans of $100,000 or less, the need for an annual analysis will be determined by the Agency for SEL, CLP, and MLP lenders. The annual analysis for PLP lenders will be in accordance with requirements in lender’s credit management system (CMS).
(c) Monitoring of development. The lender’s responsibilities regarding the construction, repairs, or other development include, but are not limited to:
(1) Determining that all construction is completed as proposed in the loan application;
(2) Making periodic inspections during construction to ensure that any development is properly completed within a reasonable period of time; and
(3) Verification that the security is free of any mechanic’s, materialmen’s, or other liens which would affect the lender’s lien or result in a different lien priority from that proposed in the request for guarantee.
(d) Loan installments. When a lender receives a payment from the sale of encumbered property, loan installments will be paid in the order of lien priority. When a payment is received from the sale of unencumbered property or other sources of income, loan installments will be paid in order of their due date. Agency approval is required for any other proposed payment plans.
§ 762.141 Reporting requirements.
Lenders are responsible for providing the local Agency credit officer with all of the following information on the loan and the borrower:
(a) When the guaranteed loan becomes 30 days past due, and following the lender’s meeting or attempts to meet with the borrower, all lenders will submit the appropriate Agency form showing guaranteed loan borrower default status. The form will be resubmitted every 60 days until the default is cured either through restructuring or liquidation.
(b) All lenders will submit the appropriate guaranteed loan status reports as of March 31 and September 30 of each year;
(c) CLP lenders also must provide the following:
(1) A written summary of the lender’s annual analysis of the borrower’s operation. This summary should describe the borrower’s progress and prospects for the upcoming operating cycle. This annual analysis may be waived or postponed if the borrower is financially strong. The summary will include a description of the reasons an analysis was not necessary.
(2) For lines of credit, an annual certification stating that a cash flow projecting at least a feasible plan has been developed, that the borrower is in compliance with the provisions of the line of credit agreement, and that the previous year income and loan funds and security proceeds have been accounted for.
(d) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the standard eligible lender also will provide:
(1) Borrower’s balance sheet, and income and expense statement for the previous year.
(2) For lines of credit, the cash flow for the borrower’s operation that projects a feasible plan or better for the upcoming operating cycle. The standard eligible lender must receive approval from the Agency before advancing future years’ funds.
(3) An annual farm visit report or collateral inspection.
(e) PLP lenders will submit additional reports as required in their lender’s agreement.
(f) A lender receiving a final loss payment must complete and return an annual report on its collection activities for each unsatisfied account for 3 years following payment of the final loss claim.
(a) General. The lender’s responsibilities regarding servicing collateral include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Obtain income and insurance assignments when required.
(2) Ensure the borrower has or obtains marketable title to the collateral.
(3) Inspect the collateral as often as deemed necessary to properly service the loan.
(4) Ensure the borrower does not convert loan security.
(5) Ensure the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of collateral are accounted for and applied in accordance with the lien priorities on which the guarantee is based or used for the purchase of replacement collateral.
(6) Ensure the loan and the collateral are protected in the event of foreclosure, bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, condemnation, or other litigation.
(7) Ensure taxes, assessments, or ground rents against or affecting the collateral are paid.
(8) Ensure adequate insurance is maintained.
(9) Ensure that insurance loss payments, condemnation awards, or similar proceeds are applied on debts in accordance with lien priorities on which the guarantee was based, or used to rebuild or acquire needed replacement collateral.
(b) Partial releases. (1) A lender may release guaranteed loan security without FSA concurrence as follows:
(i) When the security item is being sold for market value and the proceeds will be applied to the loan in accordance with lien priorities. In the case of term loans, proceeds will be applied as extra payments and not as a regular installment on the loan.
(ii) The security item will be used as a trade-in or source of down payment funds for a like item that will be taken as security.
(iii) The security item has no present or prospective value.
(2) A partial release of security may be approved in writing by the Agency upon the lender’s request when:
(i) Proceeds will be used to make improvements to real estate that increase the value of the security by an amount equal to or greater than the value of the security being released.
(ii) Security will be released outright with no consideration, but the total unpaid balance of the guaranteed loan is less than or equal to 75 percent of the value of the security for the loan after the release, excluding the value of growing crops or planned production, based on a current appraisal of the security.
(iii) Significant income generating property will not be released unless it is being replaced and business assets will not be released for use as a gift or any similar purpose.
(iv) Agency concurrence is provided in writing to the lender’s written request. Standard eligible lenders and CLP lenders will submit the following to the Agency:
(A) A current balance sheet on the borrower; and
(B) A current appraisal of the security. Based on the level of risk and estimated equity involved, the Agency will determine what security needs to be appraised. Any required security appraisals must meet the requirements of § 762.127; and
(C) A description of the purpose of the release; and
(D) Any other information requested by the Agency to evaluate the proposed servicing action.
(3) The lender will provide the Agency copies of any agreements executed to carry out the servicing action.
(4) PLP lenders will request servicing approval in accordance with their agreement with the Agency at the time of PLP status certification.
(c) Subordinations. (1) The Agency may subordinate its security interest on a direct loan when a guaranteed loan is being made if the requirements of the regulations governing Agency direct loan subordinations are met and only in the following circumstances:
(i) To permit a guaranteed lender to advance funds and perfect a security interest in crops, feeder livestock, livestock offspring, or livestock products;
(ii) When the lender requesting the guarantee needs the subordination of the Agency’s lien position to maintain its lien position when servicing or restructuring;
(iii) When the lender requesting the guarantee is refinancing the debt of another lender and the Agency’s position on real estate security will not be adversely affected; or
(iv) To permit a line of credit to be advanced for annual operating expenses.
(2) The Agency may subordinate its basic security in a direct loan to permit guaranteed line of credit only when both of the following additional conditions are met:
(i) The total unpaid balance of the direct loans is less than or equal to 75 percent of the value of all of the security for the direct loans, excluding the value of growing crops or planned production, at the time of the subordination. The direct loan security value will be determined by an appraisal. The lender requesting the subordination and guarantee is responsible for providing the appraisal and may charge the applicant a reasonable appraisal fee.
(ii) The applicant cannot obtain sufficient credit through a conventional guaranteed loan without a subordination.
(3) The lender may not subordinate its interest in property which secures a guaranteed loan except as follows:
(i) The lender may subordinate its security interest in crops, feeder livestock, livestock offspring, or livestock products when no funds have been advanced from the guaranteed loan for their production, so a lender can make a loan for annual production expenses; or
(ii) The lender may, with written Agency approval, subordinate its interest in basic security in cases where the subordination is required to allow another lender to refinance an existing prior lien, no additional debt is being incurred, and the lender’s security position will not be adversely affected by the subordination.
(iii) The Agency’s national office may provide an exception to the subordination prohibition if such action is in the Agency’s best interest. However, in no case can the loan made under the subordination include tax exempt financing.
(d) Transfer and assumption. Transfers and assumptions are subject to the following conditions:
(1) For standard eligible and CLP lenders, the servicing action must be approved by the Agency in writing.
(2) For standard eligible and CLP lenders, the transferee must apply for a loan in accordance with § 762.110, including a current appraisal, unless the lien position of the guaranteed loan will not change, and any other information requested by the Agency to evaluate the transfer and assumption.
(3) PLP lenders may process transfers and assumptions in accordance with their agreement with the Agency.
(4) Any required security appraisals must meet the requirements of § 762.127.
(5) The Agency will review, approve or reject the request in accordance with the time frames in § 762.130.
(6) The transferee must meet the eligibility requirements and loan limitations for the loan being transferred, all requirements relating to loan rates and terms, loan security, feasibility, and environmental and other laws applicable to a applicant under this part.
(7) The lender will use its own assumption agreements or conveyance instruments, providing they are legally sufficient to obligate the transferee for the total outstanding debt. The lender will provide the Agency copies of any agreements executed to carry out the servicing action.
(8) The Agency approves the transfer and assumption by executing a modification of the guarantee to designate the party that assumed the guaranteed debt, the amount of debt at the time of the assumption, including interest that is being capitalized, and any new loan terms, if applicable.
(9) The lender must give any holder notice of the transfer. If the rate and terms are changed, written concurrence from the holder is required.
(10) The Agency will agree to releasing the transferor or any guarantor from liability only if the requirements of § 762.146(c) are met.
§ 762.143 Servicing distressed accounts.
(a) A borrower is in default when 30 days past due on a payment or in violation of provisions of the loan documents.
(b) In the event of a borrower default, SEL and CLP lenders will:
(1) Report to the Agency in accordance with § 762.141.
(2) Determine whether it will repurchase the guaranteed portion from the holder in accordance with § 762.144, if the guaranteed portion of the loan was sold on the secondary market.
(3) Arrange a meeting with the borrower within 15 days of default (45 days after payment due date for monetary defaults) to identify the nature of the delinquency and develop a course of action that will eliminate the delinquency and correct the underlying problems. Non-monetary defaults will be handled in accordance with the lender’s note, loan agreements and any other applicable loan documents.
(i) The lender and borrower will prepare a current balance sheet and cash flow projection in preparation for the meeting. If the borrower refuses to cooperate, the lender will compile the best financial information available.
(ii) The lender or the borrower may request the attendance of an Agency official. If requested, the Agency official will assist in developing solutions to the borrower’s financial problems.
(iii) The lender will summarize the meeting and proposed solutions on the Agency form for guaranteed loan borrower default status completed after the meeting. The lender will indicate the results on this form for the lender’s consideration of the borrower for interest assistance in conjunction with rescheduling under § 762.145(b).
(iv) The lender must decide whether to restructure or liquidate the account within 90 days of default, unless the lender can document circumstances that justify an extension by the Agency.
(v) The lender may not initiate foreclosure action on the loan until 60 days after eligibility of the borrower to participate in the interest assistance programs has been determined by the Agency. If the lender or the borrower does not wish to consider servicing options under this section, this should be documented, and liquidation under § 762.149 should begin.
(vi) If a borrower is current on a loan, but will be unable to make a payment, a restructuring proposal may be submitted in accordance with § 762.145 prior to the payment coming due.
(c) PLP lenders will service defaulted loans according to their lender’s agreement.
§ 762.144 Repurchase of guaranteed portion from a secondary market holder.
(a) Request for repurchase. The holder may request the lender to repurchase the unpaid guaranteed portion of the loan when:
(1) The borrower has not made a payment of principal and interest due on the loan for at least 60 days; or
(2) The lender has failed to remit to the holder its pro-rata share of any payment made by the borrower within 30 days of receipt of a payment.
(b) Repurchase by the lender. (1) When a lender is requested to repurchase a loan from the holder, the lender must consider the request according to the servicing actions that are necessary on the loan. In order to facilitate servicing and simplified accounting of loan transactions, lenders are encouraged to repurchase the loan upon the holder’s request.
(2) The repurchase by the lender will be for an amount equal to the portion of the loan held by the holder plus accrued interest.
(3) The guarantee will not cover separate servicing fees that the lender accrues after the repurchase.
(c) Repurchase by the Agency. (1) If the lender does not repurchase the loan, the holder must inform the Agency in writing that demand was made on the lender and the lender refused. Following the lender’s refusal, the holder may continue as holder of the guaranteed portion of the loan or request that the Agency purchase the guaranteed portion. Within 30 days after written demand to the Agency from the holder with required attachments, the Agency will forward to the holder payment of the unpaid principal balance, with accrued interest to the date of repurchase. If the holder does not desire repurchase or purchase of a defaulted loan, the lender must forward the holder its pro-rata share of payments, liquidation proceeds and Agency loss payments.
(2) With its demand on the Agency, the holder must include:
(i) A copy of the written demand made upon the lender.
(ii) Originals of the guarantee and note properly endorsed to the Agency, or the original of the assignment of guarantee.
(iii) A copy of any written response to the demand of the holder by the lender.
(iv) An account to which the Agency can forward the purchase amount via electronic funds transfer.
(3) The amount due the holder from the Agency includes unpaid principal, unpaid interest to the date of demand, and interest which has accrued from the date of demand to the proposed payment date.
(i) Upon request by the Agency, the lender must furnish upon Agency request a current statement, certified by a bank officer, of the unpaid principal and interest owed by the borrower and the amount due the holder.
(ii) Any discrepancy between the amount claimed by the holder and the information submitted by the lender must be resolved by the lender and the holder before payment will be approved by the Agency. The Agency will not participate in resolution of any such discrepancy. When there is a discrepancy, the 30 day Agency payment requirement to the holder will be suspended until the discrepancy is resolved.
(iii) In the case of a request for Agency purchase, the Agency will only pay interest that accrues for up to 90 days from the date of the demand letter to the lender requesting the repurchase. However, if the holder requested repurchase from the Agency within 60 days of the request to the lender and for any reason not attributable to the holder and the lender, the Agency cannot make payment within 30 days of the holder’s demand to the Agency, the holder will be entitled to interest to the date of payment.
(4) At the time of purchase by the Agency, the original assignment of guarantee will be assigned by the holder to the Agency without recourse, including all rights, title, and interest in the loan.
(5) Purchase by the Agency does not change, alter, or modify any of the lender’s obligations to the Agency specified in the lender’s agreement or guarantee; nor does the purchase waive any of the Agency’s rights against the lender.
(6) The Agency succeeds to all rights of the holder under the Guarantee including the right of set-off against the lender.
(7) Within 180 days of the Agency’s purchase, the lender will reimburse the Agency the amount of repurchase, with accrued interest, through one of the following ways:
(i) By liquidating the loan security and paying the Agency its pro-rata share of liquidation proceeds; or
(ii) Paying the Agency the full amount the Agency paid to the holder plus any accrued interest.
(8) The lender will be liable for the purchase amount and any expenses incurred by the Agency to maintain the loan in its portfolio or liquidate the security. While the Agency holds the guaranteed portion of the loan, the lender will transmit to the Agency any payment received from the borrower, including the pro-rata share of liquidation or other proceeds.
(9) If the borrower files for reorganization under the provisions of the bankruptcy code or pays the account current while the purchase by the Government is being processed, the Agency may hold the loan as long it determines this action to be in the Agency’s interest. If the lender is not proceeding expeditiously to collect the loan or reimbursement is not waived under this paragraph, the Agency will demand payment by the lender and collect the purchase amount through administrative offset of any claims due the lender.
(10) The Agency may sell a purchased guaranteed loan on a non-recourse basis if it determines that selling the portion of the loan that it holds is in the Government’s best interest. A non-recourse purchase from the Agency requires a written request to the Agency from the party that wishes to purchase it, and written concurrence from the lender;
(d) Repurchase for servicing. (1) If, due to loan default or imminent loan restructuring, the lender determines that repurchase is necessary to adequately service the loan, the lender may repurchase the guaranteed portion of the loan from the holder, with the written approval of the Agency.
(2) The lender will not repurchase from the holder for arbitrage purposes. With its request for Agency concurrence, the lender will notify the Agency of its plans to resell the guaranteed portion following servicing.
(3) The holder will sell the guaranteed portion of the loan to the lender for an amount agreed to between the lender and holder.
§ 762.145 Restructuring guaranteed loans.
(a) General. (1) To restructure guaranteed loans standard eligible lenders must:
(i) Obtain prior written approval of the Agency for all restructuring actions; and,
(ii) Provide the items in paragraph (b) and (e) of this section to the Agency for approval.
(2) If the standard eligible lender’s proposal for servicing is not agreed to by the Agency, the Agency approval official will notify the lender in writing within 14 days of the lender’s request.
(3) To restructure guaranteed loans CLP lenders must:
(i) Obtain prior written approval of the Agency only for debt write down under this section.
(ii) Submit all calculations required in paragraph (e) of this section for debt writedown.
(iii) For restructuring other than write down, provide FSA with a certification that each requirement of this section has been met, a narrative outlining the circumstances surrounding the need for restructuring, and copies of any applicable calculations.
(4) PLP lenders will restructure loans in accordance with their lender’s agreement.
(5) All lenders will submit copies of any restructured notes or lines of credit to the Agency.
(b) Requirements. For any restructuring action, the following conditions apply:
(1) The borrower meets the eligibility criteria of § 762.120, except the provisions regarding prior debt forgiveness and delinquency on a federal debt do not apply.
(2) The borrower’s ability to make the amended payment is documented by the following:
(i) A feasible plan.
(ii) Current financial statements from all liable parties.
(iii) Verification of nonfarm income.
(iv) Verification of all debts of exceeding an amount determined by the Agency.
(v) Applicable credit reports.
(vi) Financial history (and production history for standard eligible lenders) for the past 3 years to support the cash flow projections.
(3) A final loss claim may be reduced, adjusted, or rejected as a result of negligent servicing after the concurrence with a restructuring action under this section.
(4) Loans secured by real estate and/or equipment can be restructured using a balloon payment, equal installments, or unequal installments. Under no circumstances may livestock or crops alone be used as security for a loan to be rescheduled using a balloon payment. If a balloon payment is used, the projected value of the real estate and/or equipment security must indicate that the loan will be fully secured when the balloon payment becomes due. The projected value will be derived from a current appraisal adjusted for depreciation of depreciable property, such as buildings and other improvements, that occurs until the balloon payment is due. For equipment security, a current appraisal is required. The lender is required to project the security value of the equipment at the time the balloon payment is due based on the remaining life of the equipment, or the depreciation schedule on the borrower’s Federal income tax return. Loans restructured with a balloon payment that are secured by real estate will have a minimum term of 5 years, and other loans will have a minimum term of 3 years before the scheduled balloon payment. If statutory limits on terms of loans prevent the minimum terms, balloon payments may not be used. If the loan is rescheduled with unequal installments, a feasible plan, as defined in § 762.2(b), must be projected for when installments are scheduled to increase.
(5) If a borrower is current on a loan, but will be unable to make a payment, a restructuring proposal may be submitted prior to the payment coming due.
(6) The lender may capitalize the outstanding interest when restructuring the loan as follows:
(i) As a result of the capitalization of interest, a rescheduled promissory note may increase the amount of principal the borrower is required to pay. However, in no case will such principal amount exceed the statutory loan limits contained in § 761.8 of this chapter.
(ii) When accrued interest causes the loan amount to exceed the statutory loan limits, rescheduling may be approved without capitalization of the amount that exceeds the limit. Noncapitalized interest may be scheduled for repayment over the term of the rescheduled note.
(iii) Only interest that has accrued at the rate indicated on the borrower’s original promissory notes may be capitalized. Late payment fees or default interest penalties that have accrued due to the borrower’s failure to make payments as agreed are not covered under the guarantee and may not be capitalized.
(iv) The Agency will execute a modification of guarantee form to identify the new loan principal and the guaranteed portion if greater than the original loan amounts, and to waive the restriction on capitalization of interest, if applicable, to the existing guarantee documents. The modification form will be attached to the original guarantee as an addendum.
(v) Approved capitalized interest will be treated as part of the principal and interest that accrues thereon, in the event that a loss should occur.
(7) The lender’s security position will not be adversely affected because of the restructuring. New security instruments may be taken if needed, but a loan does not have to be fully secured in order to be restructured, unless it is restructured with a balloon payment. When a loan is restructured using a balloon payment the lender must take a lien on all assets and project the loan to be fully secured at the time the balloon payment becomes due, in accordance with paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(8) Any holder agrees to any changes in the original loan terms. If the holder does not agree, the lender must repurchase the loan from the holder for any loan restructuring to occur.
(9) After a guaranteed loan is restructured, the lender must provide the Agency with a copy of the restructured promissory note.
(10) For CL, the lender must ensure that the borrower is maintaining the practice for which the CL was made.
(c) Rescheduling. The following conditions apply when a guaranteed loan is rescheduled or reamortized:
(1) Payments will be rescheduled within the following terms:
(i) FO and existing SW may be amortized over the remaining term of the note or rescheduled with an uneven payment schedule. The maturity date cannot exceed 40 years from the date of the original note.
(ii) OL notes must be rescheduled over a period not to exceed 15 years from the date of the rescheduling. An OL line of credit may be rescheduled over a period not to exceed 7 years from the date of the rescheduling or 10 years from the date of the original note, whichever is less. Advances cannot be made against a line of credit loan that has had any portion of the loan rescheduled.
(iii) CL will be amortized over the remaining term or rescheduled with an uneven payment schedule. The maturity date cannot exceed 30 years from the date of the original note.
(2) The interest rate for a rescheduled loan is the negotiated rate agreed upon by the lender and the borrower at the time of the action, subject to the loan limitations for each type of loan.
(3) A new note is not necessary when rescheduling occurs. However, if a new note is not taken, the existing note or line of credit agreement must be modified by attaching an allonge or other legally effective amendment, evidencing the revised repayment schedule and any interest rate change. If a new note is taken, the new note must reference the old note and state that the indebtedness evidenced by the old note or line of credit agreement is not satisfied. The original note or line of credit agreement must be retained.
(d) Deferrals. The following conditions apply to deferrals:
(1) Payments may be deferred up to 5 years, but the loan may not be extended beyond the final due date of the note.
(2) The principal portion of the payment may be deferred either in whole or in part.
(3) Interest may be deferred only in part. Payment of a reasonable portion of accruing interest as indicated by the borrower’s cash flow projections is required for multi-year deferrals.
(4) There must be a reasonable prospect that the borrower will be able to resume full payments at the end of the deferral period.
(e) Debt writedown. The following conditions apply to debt writedown:
(1) A lender may only write down a delinquent guaranteed loan or line of credit in an amount sufficient to permit the borrower to develop a feasible plan as defined in § 762.102(b).
(2) The lender will request other creditors to negotiate their debts before a writedown is considered.
(3) The borrower cannot develop a feasible plan after consideration is given to rescheduling and deferral under this section.
(4) The present value of the loan to be written down, based on the interest rate of the rescheduled loan, will be equal to or exceed the net recovery value of the loan collateral.
(5) The loan will be restructured with regular payments at terms no shorter than 5 years for a line of credit and OL term note; and no shorter than 20 years for FO and CL, unless required to be shorter by paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section.
(6) No further advances may be made on a line of credit that is written down.
(7) Loans may not be written down with interest assistance. If a borrower’s loan presently on interest assistance requires a writedown, the writedown will be considered without interest assistance.
(8) The writedown is based on writing down the shorter-term loans first.
(9) When a lender requests approval of a writedown for a borrower with multiple loans, the security for all of the loans will be cross-collateralized and continue to serve as security for the loan that is written down. If a borrower has multiple loans and one loan is written off entirely through debt writedown, the security for that loan will not be released and will remain as security for the other written down debt. Additional security instruments will be taken if required to cross-collateralize security and maintain lien priority.
(10) The writedown will be evidenced by an allonge or amendment to the existing note or line of credit reflecting the writedown.
(11) The borrower executes an Agency shared appreciation agreement for loans which are written down and secured by real estate.
(i) The lender will attach the original agreement to the restructured loan document.
(ii) The lender will provide the Agency a copy of the executed agreement, and
(iii) Security instruments must ensure future collection of any appreciation under the agreement.
(12) The lender will prepare and submit the following to the Agency:
(i) A current appraisal of all security in accordance with § 762.127.
(ii) A completed report of loss on the appropriate Agency form for the proposed writedown loss claim.
(iii) Detailed writedown calculations as follows:
(A) Calculate the present value.
(B) Determine the net recovery value.
(C) If the net recovery value exceeds the present value, writedown is unavailable; liquidation becomes the next servicing consideration. If the present value equals or exceeds the net recovery value, the debt may be written down to the present value.
(iv) The lender will make any adjustment in the calculations as requested by the Agency.
§ 762.146 Other servicing procedures.
(a) Additional loans and advances. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the PLP lender may make additional loans or advances in accordance with the lender’s agreement with the Agency.
(2) SEL and CLP lenders must not make additional loans or advances without prior written approval of the Agency, except as provided in the borrower’s loan or line of credit agreement.
(3) In cases of a guaranteed line of credit, lenders may make an emergency advance when a line of credit has reached its ceiling. The emergency advance will be made as an advance under the line and not as a separate note. The lender’s loan documents must contain sufficient language to provide that any emergency advance will constitute a debt of the borrower to the lender and be secured by the security instrument. The following conditions apply:
(i) The loan funds to be advanced are for authorized operating loan purposes;
(ii) The financial benefit to the lender and the Government from the advance will exceed the amount of the advance; and
(iii) The loss of crops or livestock is imminent unless the advance is made.
(4) Protective advance requirements are found in § 762.149.
(b) Release of liability upon withdrawal. An individual who is obligated on a guaranteed loan may be released from liability by a lender, with the written consent of the Agency, provided the following conditions have been met:
(1) The individual to be released has withdrawn from the farming operation;
(2) A divorce decree or final property settlement does not hold the withdrawing party responsible for the loan payments;
(3) The withdrawing party’s interest in the security is conveyed to the individual or entity with whom the loan will be continued;
(4) The ratio of the amount of debt to the value of the remaining security is less than or equal to .75, or the withdrawing party has no income or assets from which collection can be made; and
(5) Withdrawal of the individual does not result in legal dissolution of the entity to which the loans are made. Individually liable members of a general or limited partnership may not be released from liability.
(6) The remaining liable party projects a feasible plan (see § 761.2(b) of this chapter).
(c) Release of liability after liquidation. After a final loss claim has been paid on the borrower’s account, the lender may release the borrower or guarantor from liability if;
(1) The Agency agrees to the release in writing;
(2) The lender documents its consideration of the following factors concerning the borrower or guarantors:
(i) The likelihood that the borrower or guarantor will have a sufficient level of income in the reasonably near future to contribute to a meaningful reduction of the debt;
(ii) The prospect that the borrower or guarantor will inherit assets in the near term that may be attached by the Agency for payment of a significant portion of the debt;
(iii) Whether collateral has been properly accounted for, and whether liability should be retained in order to take action against the borrower or a third party for conversion of security;
(iv) The availability of other income or assets which are not security;
(v) The possibility that assets have been concealed or improperly transferred;
(vi) The effect of other guarantors on the loan; and
(vii) Cash consideration or other collateral in exchange for the release of liability.
(3) The lender will use its own release of liability documents.
(d) Interest rate changes. (1) The lender may change the interest rate on a performing (nondelinquent) loan only with the borrower’s consent.
(2) If the loan has been sold on the secondary market, the lender must repurchase the loan or obtain the holder’s written consent.
(3) To change a fixed rate of interest to a variable rate of interest or vice versa, the lender and the borrower must execute a legally effective allonge or amendment to the existing note.
(4) If a new note is taken, it will be attached to and refer to the original note.
(5) The lender will inform the Agency of the rate change.
(e) Consolidation. Two or more Agency guaranteed loans may be consolidated, subject to the following conditions:
(1) The borrower must project a feasible plan after the consolidation. See § 761.2(b) of this chapter for definition of feasible plan.
(2) Only OL may be consolidated.
(3) Existing lines of credit may only be consolidated with a new line of credit if the final maturity date and conditions for advances of the new line of credit are made the same as the existing line of credit.
(4) Guaranteed OL may not be consolidated with a line of credit, even if the line of credit has been rescheduled.
(5) Guaranteed loans made prior to October 1, 1991, cannot be consolidated with those loans made on or after October 1, 1991.
(6) OL secured by real estate or with an outstanding interest assistance agreement or shared appreciation agreement cannot be consolidated.
(7) A new note or line of credit agreement will be taken. The new note or line of credit agreement must describe the note or line of credit agreement being consolidated and must state that the indebtedness evidenced by the note or line of credit agreement is not satisfied. The original note or line of credit agreement must be retained.
(8) The interest rate for a consolidated OL loan is the negotiated rate agreed upon by the lender and the borrower at the time of the action, subject to the loan limitations for each type of loan.
(9) The Agency approves the consolidation by executing a modification of guarantee. The modification will indicate the consolidated loan amount, new terms, and percentage of guarantee, and will be attached to the originals of the guarantees being consolidated. If loans with a different guarantee percentage are consolidated, the new guarantee will be at the lowest percentage of guarantee being consolidated
(10) Any holders must consent to the consolidation, or the guaranteed portion must be repurchased by the lender.
(a) Lender responsibilities. The lender is responsible for:
(1) Monitoring the borrower’s compliance with the shared appreciation agreement;
(2) Notifying the borrower of the amount of recapture due; and,
(3) Beginning October 1, 1999, a notice of the agreement’s provisions not later than 12 months before the end of the agreement; and
(4) Reimbursing the Agency for its pro-rata share of recapture due.
(b) Recapture. (1) Recapture of any appreciation of real estate security will take place at the end of the term of the agreement, or sooner if the following occurs:
(i) On the conveyance of the real estate security (or a portion thereof) by the borrower.
(A) If only a portion of the real estate is conveyed, recapture will only be triggered against the portion conveyed. Partial releases will be handled in accordance with § 762.142(b).
(B) Transfer of title to the spouse of the borrower on the death of such borrower will not be treated as a conveyance under the agreement.
(ii) On repayment of the loan; or
(iii) If the borrower ceases farming.
(2) Calculating recapture.
(i) The amount of recapture will be based on the difference between the value of the security at the time recapture is triggered and the value of the security at the time of writedown, as shown on the shared appreciation agreement.
(ii) Security values will be determined through appraisals obtained by the lender and meeting the requirements of § 762.127.
(iii) All appraisal fees will be paid by the lender.
(iv) The amount of recapture will not exceed the amount of writedown shown on the shared appreciation agreement.
(v) If recapture is triggered within 4 years of the date of the shared appreciation agreement, the lender shall recapture 75 percent of any positive appreciation in the market value of the property securing the loan or line of credit agreement.
(vi) If recapture is triggered after 4 years from the date of the shared appreciation agreement, the lender shall recapture 50 percent of any positive appreciation in the market value of the property securing the loan or line of credit agreement.
(3) Servicing recapture debt.
(i) If recapture is triggered under the shared appreciation agreement and the borrower is unable to pay the recapture in a lump sum, the lender may:
(A) Reschedule the recapture debt with the consent of the Agency, provided the lender can document the borrower’s ability to make amortized payments on the recapture debt, plus pay all other obligations. In such case, the recapture debt will not be covered by the guarantee;
(B) Pay the Agency its pro rata share of the recapture due. In such case, the recapture debt of the borrower will be covered by the guarantee; or
(C) Service the account in accordance with § 762.149.
(ii) If recapture is triggered, and the borrower is able but unwilling to pay the recapture in a lump sum, the lender will service the account in accordance with § 762.149.
(4) Paying the Agency. Any shared appreciation recaptured by the lender will be shared on a pro-rata basis between the lender and the Agency.
§ 762.148 Bankruptcy.
(a) Lender responsibilities. The lender must protect the guaranteed loan debt and all collateral securing the loan in bankruptcy proceedings. The lender’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
(1) Filing a proof of claim where required and all the necessary papers and pleadings;
(2) Attending, and where necessary, participating in meetings of the creditors and court proceedings;
(3) Protecting the collateral securing the guaranteed loan and resisting any adverse changes that may be made to the collateral;
(4) Seeking a dismissal of the bankruptcy proceeding when the operation as proposed by the borrower to the bankruptcy court is not feasible;
(5) When permitted by the bankruptcy code, requesting a modification of any plan of reorganization if it appears additional recoveries are likely.
(6) Monitor confirmed plans under chapters 11, 12 and 13 of the bankruptcy code to determine borrower compliance. If the borrower fails to comply, the lender will seek a dismissal of the reorganization plan; and
(7) Keeping the Agency regularly informed in writing on all aspects of the proceedings.
(i) The lender will submit a default status report when the borrower defaults and every 60 days until the default is resolved or a final loss claim is paid.
(ii) The default status report will be used to inform the Agency of the bankruptcy filing, the reorganization plan confirmation date and effective date, when the reorganization plan is complete, and when the borrower is not in compliance with the reorganization plan.
(b) Bankruptcy expenses. (1) Reorganization.
(i) Expenses, such as legal fees and the cost of appraisals incurred by the lender as a direct result of the borrower’s chapter 11, 12, or 13 reorganization, are covered under the guarantee, provided they are reasonable, customary, and provide a demonstrated economic benefit to the lender and the Agency.
(ii) Lender’s in-house expenses, which are those expenses which would normally be incurred for administration of the loan, including in-house lawyers, are not covered by the guarantee.
(2) Liquidation expenses in bankruptcy.
(i) Reasonable and customary liquidation expenses may be deducted from the proceeds of the collateral in liquidation bankruptcy cases.
(ii) In-house expenses are not considered customary liquidation expenses, may not be deducted from collateral proceeds, and are not covered by the guarantee.
(c) Estimated loss claims in reorganization—(1) At confirmation. The lender may submit an estimated loss claim upon confirmation of the reorganization plan in accordance with the following:
(i) The estimated loss payment will cover the guaranteed percentage of the principal and accrued interest written off, plus any allowable costs incurred as of the effective date of the plan.
(ii) The lender will submit supporting documentation for the loss claim, and any additional information requested by the Agency, including justification for the legal fees included on the claim.
(iii) The estimated loss payment may be revised as consistent with a court-approved reorganization plan.
(iv) Protective advances made and approved in accordance with § 762.149 may be included in an estimated loss claim associated with a reorganization, if:
(A) They were incurred in connection with the initiation of liquidation action prior to bankruptcy filing; or
(B) The advance is required to provide repairs, insurance, etc. to protect the collateral as a result of delays in the case, or failure of the borrower to maintain the security.
(2) Interest only losses. The lender may submit an estimated loss claim for interest only after confirmation of the reorganization plan in accordance with the following:
(i) The loss claims may cover interest losses sustained as a result of a court-ordered, permanent interest rate reduction.
(ii) The loss claims will be processed annually on the anniversary date of the effective date of the reorganization plan.
(iii) If the borrower performs under the terms of the reorganization plan, annual interest reduction loss claims will be submitted on or near the same date, beyond the period of the reorganization plan.
(3) Actual loss.
(i) Once the reorganization plan is complete, the lender will provide the Agency with documentation of the actual loss sustained.
(ii) If the actual loss sustained is greater than the prior estimated loss payment, the lender may submit a revised estimated loss claim to obtain payment of the additional amount owed by the Agency under the guarantee.
(iii) If the actual loss is less than the prior estimated loss, the lender will reimburse the Agency for the overpayment plus interest at the note rate from the date of the payment of the estimated loss.
(4) Payment to holder. In reorganization bankruptcy, if a holder makes demand upon the Agency, the Agency will pay the holder interest to the plan’s effective date. Accruing interest thereafter will be based upon the provisions of the reorganization plan.
(d) Liquidation under the bankruptcy code. (1) Upon receipt of notification that a borrower has filed for protection under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, or a liquidation plan under chapter 11, the lender must proceed according to the liquidation procedures of this part.
(2) If the property is abandoned by the trustee, the lender will conduct the liquidation according to § 762.149.
(3) Proceeds received from partial sale of collateral during bankruptcy may be used by the lender to pay reasonable costs, such as freight, labor and sales commissions, associated with the partial sale. Reasonable use of proceeds for this purpose must be documented with the final loss claim in accordance with § 762.149(i)(4).
§ 762.149 Liquidation.
(a) Mediation. When it has been determined that default cannot be cured through any of the servicing options available, or if the lender does not wish to utilize any of the authorities provided in this part, the lender must:
(1) Participate in mediation according to the rules and regulations of any State which has a mandatory farmer-creditor mediation program;
(2) Consider private mediation services in those States which do not have a mandatory farmer-creditor mediation program; and
(3) Not agree to any proposals to rewrite the terms of a guaranteed loan which do not comply with this part. Any agreements reached as a result of mediation involving defaults and or loan restructuring must have written concurrence from the Agency before they are implemented.
(b) Liquidation plan. If a default cannot be cured after considering servicing options and mediation, the lender will proceed with liquidation of the collateral in accordance with the following:
(1) Within 150 days after the payment due date, all lenders will prepare a liquidation plan. Standard eligible and CLP lenders will submit a written liquidation plan to the Agency which includes:
(i) Current balance sheets from all liable parties or, if the parties are not cooperative, the best information available, or in liquidation bankruptcies, a copy of the bankruptcy schedules or discharge notice;
(ii) A proposed method of maximizing the collection of debt which includes specific plans to collect any remaining loan balances on the guaranteed loan after loan collateral has been liquidated, including possibilities for judgment;
(A) If the borrower has converted loan security, the lender will determine whether litigation is cost effective. The lender must address, in the liquidation plan, whether civil or criminal action will be pursued. If the lender does not pursue the recovery, the reason must be documented when an estimated loss claim is submitted.
(B) Any proposal to release the borrower from liability will be addressed in the liquidation plan in accordance with § 762.146(c)(2);
(iii) An independent appraisal report on all collateral securing the loan that meets the requirements of § 762.127 and a calculation of the net recovery value of the security as defined in ;§ 761.2(b) of this chapter. The appraisal requirement may be waived by the Agency in the following cases:
(A) The bankruptcy trustee is handling the liquidation and the lender has submitted the trustee’s determination of value;
(B) The lender’s proposed method of liquidation rarely results in receipt of less than market value for livestock and used equipment; or
(C) A purchase offer has already been received for more than the debt;
(iv) An estimate of time necessary to complete the liquidation;
(v) An estimated loss claim must be filed no later than 150 days past the payment due date unless the account has been completely liquidated and then a final loss claim must be filed.
(vi) An estimate of reasonable liquidation expenses; and
(vii) An estimate of any protective advances.
(2) PLP lenders will submit a liquidation plan as required by their lender’s agreement.
(c) Agency approval of the liquidation plan. (1) CLP lender’s or standard eligible lender’s liquidation plan, and any revisions of the plan, must be approved by the Agency.
(2) If, within 20 calendar days of the Agency’s receipt of the liquidation plan, the Agency fails to approve it or fails to request that the lender make revisions, the lender may assume the plan is approved. The lender may then proceed to begin liquidation actions at its discretion as long as it has been at least 60 days since the borrower’s eligibility for interest assistance was considered.
(3) At its option, the Agency may liquidate the guaranteed loan as follows:
(i) Upon Agency request, the lender will transfer to the Agency all rights and interests necessary to allow the Agency to liquidate the loan. The Agency will not pay the lender for any loss until after the collateral is liquidated and the final loss is determined; and
(ii) If the Agency conducts the liquidation, interest accrual will cease on the date the Agency notifies the lender in writing that it assumes responsibility for the liquidation.
(d) Estimated loss claims. An estimated loss claim must be submitted by all lenders no later than 150 days after the payment due date unless the account has been completely liquidated and then a final loss claim must be filed. The estimated loss will be based on the following:
(1) The Agency will pay the lender the guaranteed percentage of the total outstanding debt, less the net recovery value of the remaining security, less any unaccounted for security; and
(2) The lender will discontinue interest accrual on the defaulted loan at the time the estimated loss claim is paid by the Agency. The Agency will not pay interest beyond 210 days from the payment due date. If the lender estimates that there will be no loss after considering the costs of liquidation, an estimated loss of zero will be submitted and interest accrual will cease upon the approval of the estimated loss and never later than 210 days from the payment due date. The following exceptions apply:
(i) In the case of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, in cases where the lender filed an estimated loss claim, the Agency will pay the lender interest that accrues during and up to 45 days after the discharge on the portion of the chattel only secured debt that was estimated to be secured, but upon final liquidation was found to be unsecured, and up to 90 days after the date of discharge on the portion of real estate secured debt that was estimated to be secured, but was found to be unsecured upon final disposition.
(ii) The Agency will pay the lender interest that accrues during and up to 90 days after the time period the lender is unable to dispose of acquired property due to state imposed redemption rights on any unsecured portion of the loan during the redemption period, if an estimated loss claim was paid by the Agency during the liquidation action.
(3) Packager fees and outside consultant fees for servicing of guaranteed loans are not covered by the guarantee, and will not be paid in an estimated loss claim.
(e) Protective advances. (1) Prior written authorization from the Agency is required for all protective advances in excess of $5,000 for CLP lenders and $3,000 for standard eligible lenders. The dollar amount of protective advances allowed for PLP lenders will be specified when PLP status is awarded by the Agency or as contained in the lender’s agreement.
(2) The lender may claim recovery for the guaranteed portion of any loss of monies advanced as protective advances as allowed in this part, plus interest that accrues on the protective advances.
(3) Payment for protective advances is made by the Agency when the final loss claim is approved, except in bankruptcy actions.
(4) Protective advances are used only when the borrower is in liquidation, liquidation is imminent, or when the lender has taken title to real property in a liquidation action.
(5) Legal fees are not a protective advance.
(6) Protective advances may only be made when the lender can demonstrate the advance is in the best interest of the lender and the Agency.
(7) Protective advances must constitute a debt of the borrower to the lender and be secured by the security instrument.
(8) Protective advances must not be made in lieu of additional loans.
(f) Unapproved loans or advances. The amount of any payments made by the borrower on unapproved loans or advances outside of the guarantee will be deducted from any loss claim submitted by the lender on the guaranteed loan, if that loan or advance was paid prior to, and to the detriment of, the guaranteed loan.
(g) Acceleration. (1) If the borrower is not in bankruptcy, the lender shall send the borrower notice that the loan is in default and the entire debt has been determined due and payable immediately after other servicing options have been exhausted.
(2) The loan cannot be accelerated until after the borrower has been considered for interest assistance and the conclusion of mandatory mediation in accordance with § 762.149.
(3) The lender will submit a copy of the acceleration notice or other document to the Agency.
(h) Foreclosure. (1) The lender is responsible for determining the necessary parties to any foreclosure action, or who should be named on a deed of conveyance taken in lieu of foreclosure.
(2) When the property is liquidated, the lender will apply the net proceeds to the guaranteed loan debt.
(3) When it is necessary to enter a bid at a foreclosure sale, the lender may bid the amount that it determines is reasonable to protect its and the Agency’s interest. At a minimum, the lender will bid the lesser of the net recovery value or the unpaid guaranteed loan balance.
(i) Final loss claims. (1) Lenders must submit a final loss claim when the security has been liquidated and all proceeds have been received and applied to the account. All proceeds must be applied to principal first and then toward accrued interest if the interest is still accruing. The application of the loss claim payment to the account does not automatically release the borrower of liability for any portion of the borrower’s debt to the lender. The lender will continue to be responsible for collecting the full amount of the debt and sharing these future recoveries with the Agency in accordance with paragraph (j) of this section.
(2) If a lender acquires title to property either through voluntary conveyance or foreclosure proceeding, the lender will submit a final loss claim after disposing of the property. The lender may pay reasonable maintenance expenses to protect the value of the property while it is owned by the lender. These may be paid as protective advances or deducted as liquidation expenses from the sales proceeds when the lender disposes of the property. The lender must obtain Agency written concurrence before incurring maintenance expenses which exceed the amounts allowed in § 762.149(e)(1). Packager fees and outside consultant fees for servicing of guaranteed loans are not covered by the guarantee, and will not be paid in a final loss claim.
(3) The lender will make its records available to the Agency for the Agency’s audit of the propriety of any loss payment.
(4) All lenders will submit the following documents with a final loss claim:
(i) An accounting of the use of loan funds;
(ii) An accounting of the disposition of loan security and its proceeds;
(iii) A copy of the loan ledger indicating loan advances, interest rate changes, protective advances, and application of payments, rental proceeds, and security proceeds, including a running outstanding balance total; and
(iv) Documentation, as requested by the Agency, concerning the lender’s compliance with the requirements of this part.
(5) The Agency will notify the lender of any discrepancies in the final loss claim or, approve or reject the claim within 40 days. Failure to do so will result in additional interest being paid to the lender for the number of days over 40 taken to process the claim.
(6) The Agency will reduce a final loss claim based on its calculation of the dollar amount of loss caused by the lender’s negligent servicing of the account. Loss claims may be reduced or rejected as a result of the following:
(i) A loss claim may be reduced by the amount caused by the lender’s failure to secure property after a default, and will be reduced by the amount of interest that accrues when the lender fails to contact the borrower or takes no action to cure the default, once it occurs. Losses incurred as a result of interest accrual during excessive delays in collection, as determined by the Agency, will not be paid.
(ii) Unauthorized release of security proceeds, failure to verify ownership or possession of security to be purchased, or failure to inspect collateral as often required so as to ensure its maintenance.
(7) Losses will not be reduced for the following:
(i) Servicing deficiencies that did not contribute materially to the dollar amount of the loss.
(ii) Unaccounted security, as long as the lender’s efforts to locate and recover the missing collateral was equal to that which would have been expended in the case of an unguaranteed loan in the lender’s portfolio.
(8) Default interest, late charges, and loan servicing fees are not payable under the loss claim.
(9) The final loss will be the remaining outstanding balance after application of the estimated loss payment and the application of proceeds from the liquidation of the security.
(10) If the final loss is less than the estimated loss, the lender will reimburse the Agency for the overpayment, plus interest at the note rate from the date of the estimated loss payment.
(11) The lender will return the original guarantee marked paid after receipt of a final loss claim.
(j) Future Recovery. The lender will remit any recoveries made on the account after the Agency’s payment of a final loss claim to the Agency in proportion to the percentage of guarantee, in accordance with the lender’s agreement, until the account is paid in full or otherwise satisfied.
(k) Overpayments. The lender will repay any final loss overpayment determined by the Agency upon request.
(l) Electronic funds transfer. The lender will designate one or more financial institutions to which any Agency payments will be made via electronic funds transfer.
(m) Establishment of Federal debt. Any amounts paid by the Agency on account of liabilities of the guaranteed loan borrower will constitute a Federal debt owing to the Agency by the guaranteed loan borrower. In such case, the Agency may use all remedies available to it, including offset under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, to collect the debt from the borrower. Interest charges will be established at the note rate of the guaranteed loan on the date the final loss claim is paid.
§ 762.150 Interest assistance program.
(a) Requests for interest assistance. In addition to the loan application items required by § 762.110, to apply for interest assistance the lender’s cash flow budget for the guaranteed applicant must reflect the need for interest assistance and the ability to cash flow with the subsidy. Interest assistance is available only on new guaranteed Operating Loans (OL).
(b) Eligibility requirements. The lender must document that the following conditions have been met for the applicant to be eligible for interest assistance:
(1) A feasible plan cannot be achieved without interest assistance, but can be achieved with interest assistance.
(2) If significant changes in the borrower’s cash flow budget are anticipated after the initial 12 months, then the typical cash flow budget must demonstrate that the borrower will still have a feasible plan following the anticipated changes, with or without interest assistance.
(3) The typical cash flow budget must demonstrate that the borrower will have a feasible plan throughout the term of the loan.
(4) The borrower, including members of an entity borrower, does not own any significant assets that do not contribute directly to essential family living or farm operations. The lender must determine the market value of any such non-essential assets and prepare a cash flow budget and interest assistance calculations based on the assumption that these assets will be sold and the market value proceeds used for debt reduction. If a feasible plan can then be achieved, the borrower is not eligible for interest assistance.
(5) A borrower may only receive interest assistance if their total debts (including personal debts) prior to the new loan exceed 50 percent of their total assets (including personal assets). An entity’s debt to asset ratio will be based upon a financial statement that consolidates business and personal debts and assets of the entity and its members. Beginning farmers § 761.2(b) of this chapter, as defined in § 762.102, are excluded from this requirement.
(c) Maximum assistance. The maximum total guaranteed OL debt on which a borrower can receive interest assistance is $400,000, regardless of the number of guaranteed loans outstanding. This is a lifetime limit.
(d) Maximum time for which interest assistance is available. (1) A borrower may only receive interest assistance for one 5-year period. The term of the interest assistance agreement executed under this section shall not exceed 5 consecutive years from the date of the initial agreement signed by the applicant, including any entity members, or the outstanding term of the loan, whichever is less. This is a lifetime limit.
(2) Beginning farmers § 761.2(b) of this chapter, as defined in § 762.102, however, may be considered for two 5-year periods. The applicant must meet the definition of a beginning farmer and meet the other eligibility requirements outlined in paragraph (b) of this section at the onset of each 5-year period. A needs test will be completed in the fifth year of IA eligibility for beginning farmers, to determine continued eligibility for a second 5-year period.
(3) Notwithstanding the limitation of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, a new interest assistance agreement may be approved for eligible borrowers to provide interest assistance through June 8, 2009, provided the total period does not exceed 10 years from the effective date of the original interest assistance agreement.
(e) Multiple loans. In the case of a borrower with multiple guaranteed loans with one lender, interest assistance can be applied to each loan, only to one loan or any distribution the lender selects, as necessary to achieve a feasible plan, subject to paragraph (c) of this section.
(f) Terms. The typical term of scheduled loan repayment will not be reduced solely for the purpose of maximizing eligibility for interest assistance. A loan must be scheduled over the maximum term typically used by lenders for similar type loans within the limits in § 762.124. An OL for the purpose of providing annual operating and family living expenses will be scheduled for repayment when the income is scheduled to be received from the sale of the crops, livestock, and/or livestock products which will serve as security for the loan. An OL for purposes other than annual operating and family living expenses (i.e. purchase of equipment or livestock, or refinancing existing debt) will be scheduled over 7 years from the effective date of the proposed interest assistance agreement, or the life of the security, whichever is less.
(g) Rate of interest. The lender interest rate will be set according to § 762.124(a).
(h) Agreement. The lender and borrower must execute an interest assistance agreement as prescribed by the Agency.
(i) Interest assistance claims and payments. To receive an interest assistance payment, the lender must prepare and submit a claim on the appropriate Agency form. The following conditions apply:
(1) Interest assistance payments will be four (4) percent of the average daily principal loan balance prorated over the number of days the loan has been outstanding during the payment period. For loans with a note rate less than four (4) percent, interest assistance payments will be the weighted average interest rate multiplied by the average daily principal balance.
(2) The lender may select at the time of loan closing the date that they wish to receive an interest assistance payment. That date will be included in the interest assistance agreement.
(i) The initial and final claims submitted under an agreement may be for a period less than 12 months. All other claims will be submitted for a 12-month period, unless there is a lender substitution during the 12-month period in accordance with this section.
(ii) In the event of liquidation, the final interest assistance claim will be submitted with the estimated loss claim or the final loss claim if an estimated loss claim was not submitted. Interest will not be paid beyond the interest accrual cutoff dates established in the loss claims according to § 762.149(d)(2).
(3) A claim should be filed within 60 days of its due date. Claims not filed within 1 year from the due date will not be paid, and the amount due the lender will be permanently forfeited.
(4) All claims will be supported by detailed calculations of average daily principal balance during the claim period.
(5) Requests for continuation of interest assistance for agreements dated prior to June 8, 2007 will be supported by the lender’s analysis of the applicant’s farming operation and need for continued interest assistance as set out in their Interest Assistance Agreements. The following information will be submitted to the Agency:
(i) A summary of the operation’s actual financial performance in the previous year, including a detailed income and expense statement.
(ii) A narrative description of the causes of any major differences between the previous year’s projections and actual performance, including a detailed income and expense statement.
(iii) A current balance sheet.
(iv) A cash-flow budget for the period being planned. A monthly cash-flow budget is required for all lines of credit and operating loans made for annual operating purposes. All other loans may include either an annual or monthly cash-flow budget.
(v) A copy of the interest assistance needs analysis portion of the application form which has been completed based on the planned period’s cash-flow budget.
(6) Interest Assistance Agreements dated June 8, 2007 or later do not require a request for continuation of interest assistance. The lender will only be required to submit an Agency IA payment form and the average daily principal balance for the claim period, with supporting documentation.
(7) Lenders may not charge or cause a borrower with an interest assistance agreement to be charged a fee for preparation and submission of the items required for an annual interest assistance claim.
(j) Transfer, consolidation, and writedown. Loans covered by interest assistance agreements cannot be consolidated. Such loans can be transferred only when the transferee was liable for the debt on the effective date of the interest assistance agreement. Loans covered by interest assistance can be transferred to an entity if the entity is eligible in accordance with §§ 762.120 and 762.150(b) and at least one entity member was liable for the debt on the effective date of the interest assistance agreement. Interest assistance will be discontinued as of the date of any writedown on a loan covered by an interest assistance agreement.
(k) Rescheduling and deferral. When a borrower defaults on a loan with interest assistance or the loan otherwise requires rescheduling or deferral, the interest assistance agreement will remain in effect for that loan at its existing terms. The lender may reschedule the loan in accordance with § 762.145. For Interest Assistance Agreements dated June 8, 2007 or later increases in the restructured loan amount above the amount originally obligated do not require additional funding; however, interest assistance is not available on that portion of the loan as interest assistance is limited to the original loan amount.
(l) Bankruptcy. In cases where the interest on a loan covered by an interest assistance agreement is reduced by court order in a reorganization plan under the bankruptcy code, interest assistance will be terminated effective on the date of the court order. Guaranteed loans which have had their interest reduced by bankruptcy court order are not eligible for interest assistance.
(m) Termination of interest assistance payments. Interest assistance payments will cease upon termination of the loan guarantee, upon reaching the expiration date contained in the agreement, or upon cancellation by the Agency under the terms of the interest assistance agreement. In addition, for loan guarantees sold into the secondary market, Agency purchase of the guaranteed portion of a loan will terminate the interest assistance.
(n) Excessive interest assistance. Upon written notice to the lender, borrower, and any holder, the Agency may amend or cancel the interest assistance agreement and collect from the lender any amount of interest assistance granted which resulted from incomplete or inaccurate information, an error in computation, or any other reason which resulted in payment that the lender was not entitled to receive.
(o) Condition for cancellation. The Interest Assistance Agreement is incontestable except for fraud or misrepresentation, of which the lender or borrower have actual knowledge at the time the interest assistance agreement is executed, or which the lender or borrower participates in or condones.
(p) Substitution. If there is a substitution of lender, the original lender will prepare and submit to the Agency a claim for its final interest assistance payment calculated through the effective date of the substitution. This final claim will be submitted for processing at the time of the substitution.
(1) Interest assistance will continue automatically with the new lender.
(2) The new lender must follow paragraph (i) of this section to receive their initial and subsequent interest assistance payments.
(q) Exception Authority. The Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs has the authority to grant an exception to any requirement involving interest assistance if it is in the best interest of the Government and is not inconsistent with other applicable law.
§§ 762.151-762.158 [Reserved]
§ 762.159 Pledging of guarantee.
A lender may pledge all or part of the guaranteed or unguaranteed portion of the loan as security to a Federal Home Loan Bank, a Federal Reserve Bank, a Farm Credit System Bank, or any other funding source determined acceptable by the Agency.
§ 762.160 Assignment of guarantee.
(a) The following general requirements apply to assigning guaranteed loans:
(1) Subject to Agency concurrence, the lender may assign all or part of the guaranteed portion of the loan to one or more holders at or after loan closing, if the loan is not in default. However, a line of credit cannot be assigned. The lender must always retain the unguaranteed portion in their portfolio, regardless of how the loan is funded.
(2) The Agency may refuse to execute the Assignment of Guarantee and prohibit the assignment in case of the following:
(i) The Agency purchased and is holder of a loan that was assigned by the lender that is requesting the assignment.
(ii) The lender has not complied with the reimbursement requirements of § 762.144(c)(7), except when the 180 day reimbursement or liquidation requirement has been waived by the Agency.
(3) The lender will provide the Agency with copies of all appropriate forms used in the assignment.
(4) The guaranteed portion of the loan may not be assigned by the lender until the loan has been fully disbursed to the borrower.
(5) The lender is not permitted to assign any amount of the guaranteed or unguaranteed portion of the loan to the applicant or borrower, or members of their immediate families, their officers, directors, stockholders, other owners, or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate.
(6) Upon the lender’s assignment of the guaranteed portion of the loan, the lender will remain bound to all obligations indicated in the Guarantee, Lender’s Agreement, the Agency program regulations, and to future program regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the Lenders Agreement. The lender retains all rights under the security instruments for the protection of the lender and the United States.
(b) The following will occur upon the lender’s assignment of the guaranteed portion of the loan:
(1) The holder will succeed to all rights of the Guarantee pertaining to the portion of the loan assigned.
(2) The lender will send the holder the borrower’s executed note attached to the Guarantee.
(3) The holder, upon written notice to the lender and the Agency, may assign the unpaid guaranteed portion of the loan. The holder must assign the guaranteed portion back to the original lender if requested for servicing or liquidation of the account.
(4) The Guarantee or Assignment of Guarantee in the holder’s possession does not cover:
(i) Interest accruing 90 days after the holder has demanded repurchase by the lender, except as provided in the Assignment of Guarantee and § 762.144(c)(3)(iii).
(ii) Interest accruing 90 days after the lender or the Agency has requested the holder to surrender evidence of debt repurchase, if the holder has not previously demanded repurchase.
(c) Negotiations concerning premiums, fees, and additional payments for loans are to take place between the holder and the lender. The Agency will participate in such negotiations only as a provider of information.
PART 763—LAND CONTRACT GUARANTEE PROGRAM
§ 763.1 Introduction.
(a) Purpose. The Land Contract Guaranteed Program provides certain financial guarantees to the seller of a farm through a land contract sale to a beginning farmer or a socially disadvantaged farmer.
(b) Types of guarantee. The seller may request either of the following:
(1) The prompt payment guarantee plan. The Agency will guarantee an amount not to exceed three amortized annual installments plus an amount equal to the total cost of any related real estate taxes and insurance incurred during the period covered by the annual installment; or
(2) The standard guarantee plan. The Agency will guarantee an amount equal to 90 percent of the outstanding principal under the land contract.
(c) Guarantee period. The guarantee period is 10 years for either plan regardless of the term of the land contract.
§ 763.2 Abbreviations and definitions.
Abbreviations and definitions for terms used in this part are in § 761.2 of this chapter.
§ 763.3 Full faith and credit.
(a) The land contract guarantee constitutes an obligation supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. The Agency may contest the guarantee only in cases of fraud or misrepresentation by the seller, in which:
(1) The seller had actual knowledge of the fraud or misrepresentation at the time it because the seller, or
(2) The seller participated in or condoned the fraud or misrepresentation.
(b) Loss claims also may be reduced or denied to the extent that any negligence contributed to the loss under § 763.22.
§ 763.4 Authorized land contract purpose.
The Agency will only guarantee the Contract installments, real estate taxes and insurance; or outstanding principal balance for an eligible seller of a family farm, through a land contract sale to an eligible beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer.
§ 763.5 Eligibility.
(a) Seller eligibility requirements. The private seller, and each entity member in the case of an entity seller, must:
(1) Possess the legal capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement;
(2) Not have provided false or misleading documents or statements during past or present dealings with the Agency;
(3) Not be ineligible due to disqualification resulting from Federal Crop Insurance violation, according to 7 CFR part 718; and
(4) Not be suspended or debarred under 2 CFR parts 180 and 417.
(b) Buyer eligibility requirements. The buyer must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Land Contract Guarantee Program:
(1) Is a beginning farmer or socially disadvantaged farmer engaged primarily in farming in the United States after the guarantee is issued.
(2) Is the owner and operator of a family farm after the Contract is completed. Ownership of the family farm operation or the farm real estate may be held either directly in the individual’s name or indirectly through interest in a legal entity. In the case of an entity buyer:
(i) Each entity member’s ownership interest may not exceed the amount specified in the family farm definition in § 761.2 of this chapter.
(ii) If the applicant has one or more embedded entities, at least 75 percent of the individual ownership interests of each embedded entity must be owned by members actively involved in managing or operating the family farm.
(iii) An ownership entity must be authorized to own a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located. An operating entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located.
(iv) If the entity members holding a majority interest are related by blood or marriage, at least one member of the entity must:
(A) Operate the family farm and
(B) Own the farm after the contract is completed;
(v) If the entity members holding a majority interest are not related by blood or marriage, the entity members holding a majority interest must:
(A) Operate the family farm; and
(B) Own the farm, or the entity itself must own the farm after the contract is completed;
(vi) If the entity is an operator-only entity, the individuals that own the farm (real estate) must own at least 50 percent of the family farm (operating entity).
(vii) All ownership may be held either directly in the individual’s name or indirectly through interest in a legal entity.
(3) Must have participated in the business operations of a farm or ranch for at least 3 years out of the last 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted. Of those 3 years, 1 year can be substituted with the following experience:
(i) Postsecondary education in agriculture business, horticulture, animal science, agronomy, or other agricultural related fields,
(ii) Significant business management experience, or
(iii) Leadership or management experience while serving in any branch of the military.
(4) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not have caused the Agency a loss by receiving debt forgiveness on all or a portion of any direct or guaranteed loan made under the authority of the Act by debt write-down or write-off; compromise, adjustment, reduction, or charge off under the provisions of section 331 of the Act; discharge in bankruptcy; or through payment of a guaranteed loss claim on more than three occasions on or prior to April 4, 1996 or any occasion after April 4, 1996. If the debt forgiveness is resolved by repayment of the Agency’s loss, the Agency may still consider the debt forgiveness in determining the applicant’s creditworthiness.
(5) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be delinquent on any Federal debt, other than a debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, when the guarantee is issued.
(6) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, may have no outstanding unpaid judgment awarded to the United States in any court. Such judgments do not include those filed as a result of action in the United States Tax Courts.
(7) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must be a citizen of the United States, United States non-citizen national, or a qualified alien under applicable Federal immigration laws. United States non-citizen nationals and qualified aliens must provide the appropriate documentation as to their immigration status as required by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(8) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must possess the legal capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement.
(9) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not have provided false or misleading documents or statements during past or present dealings with the Agency.
(10) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be ineligible as a result of a conviction for controlled substances according to 7 CFR part 718.
(11) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must have an acceptable credit history demonstrated by satisfactory debt repayment.
(i) A history of failures to repay past debts as they came due when the ability to repay was within their control will demonstrate unacceptable credit history.
(ii) Unacceptable credit history will not include:
(A) Isolated instances of late payments which do not represent a pattern and were clearly beyond their control; or
(B) Lack of credit history.
(12) The buyer is unable to enter into a contract unless the seller obtains an Agency guarantee to finance the purchase of the farm at reasonable rates and terms.
(13) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be ineligible due to disqualification resulting from Federal Crop Insurance violation, according to 7 CFR part 718.
(14) The buyer, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be suspended or debarred under 2 CFR parts 180 and 417.
§ 763.6 Limitations.
(a) To qualify for a guarantee, the purchase price of the farm to be acquired through the land contract sale cannot exceed the lesser of:
(1) $500,000 or
(2) The current market value of the property.
(b) A guarantee will not be issued if the appraised value of the farm is greater than $500,000.
(c) Existing land contracts are not eligible for the Land Contract Guarantee Program.
(d) Guarantees may not be used to establish or support a non-eligible enterprise.
§ 763.7 Application requirements.
(a) Seller application requirements. A seller who contacts the Agency with interest in a guarantee under the Land Contract Guarantee Program will be sent the land contract letter of interest outlining specific program details. To formally request a guarantee on the proposed land contract, the seller, and each entity member in the case of an entity, must:
(1) Complete, sign, date, and return the land contract letter of interest to the Agency, and
(2) Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the chosen servicing or escrow agent.
(b) Buyer application requirements. A complete application from the buyer will include:
(1) The completed Agency application form;
(2) A current financial statement (not older than 90 days);
(3) If the buyer is an entity:
(i) A complete list of entity members showing the address, citizenship, principal occupation, and the number of shares and percentage of ownership or stock held in the entity by each member, or the percentage of interest in the entity held by each member;
(ii) A current financial statement for each member of the entity;
(iii) A current financial statement for the entity itself;
(iv) A copy of the entity’s charter or any entity agreement, any articles of incorporation and bylaws, any certificate or evidence of current registration (in good standing), and a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or entity members authorizing specified officers of the entity to apply for and obtain the land contract guarantee and execute required debt, security, and other instruments and agreements; and
(v) In the form of a married couple applying as a joint operation, items in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (b)(3)(iv) of this section will not be required. The Agency may request copies of the marriage license, prenuptial agreement, or similar documents as needed to verify loan eligibility and security. The information specified in paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this section are only required to the extent needed to show the individual and joint finances of the husband and wife without duplication;
(4) A brief written description of the buyer’s proposed operation;
(5) A farm operating plan;
(6) A brief written description of the buyer’s farm training and experience;
(7) Three years of income tax and other financial records acceptable to the Agency, unless the buyer has been farming less than 3 years;
(8) Three years of farm production records, unless the buyer has been farming less than 3 years;
(9) Verification of income and off-farm employment if relied upon for debt repayment;
(10) Verification of all debts;
(11) Payment of the credit report fee;
(12) Documentation of compliance with the environmental regulations in part 799 of this chapter;
(13) A copy of the proposed land contract; and
(14) Any additional information deemed necessary by the Agency to effectively evaluate the applicant’s eligibility and farm operating plan.
§ 763.8 Incomplete applications.
(a) Within 10 days of receipt of an incomplete application, the Agency will provide the seller and buyer written notice of any additional information that must be provided. The seller or buyer, as applicable, must provide the additional information within 20 calendar days of the date of the notice.
(b) If the additional information is not received, the Agency will provide written notice that the application will be withdrawn if the information is not received within 10 calendar days of the date of the second notice.
§ 763.9 Processing complete applications.
Applications will be approved or rejected and all parties notified in writing no later than 30 calendar days after application is considered complete.
§ 763.10 Feasibility.
(a) The buyer’s proposed operation as described in a form acceptable to the Agency must represent the operating cycle for the farm operation and must project a feasible plan as defined in § 761.2(b) of this chapter.
(b) The projected income, expenses, and production estimates:
(1) Must be based on the buyer’s last 3 years actual records of production and financial management unless the buyer has been farming less than 3 years;
(2) For those farming less than 3 years, a combination of any actual history and other reliable sources of information may be used. Sources must be documented and acceptable to the Agency; and
(3) May deviate from historical performance if deviations are the direct result of specific changes in the operation, reasonable, justified, documented, and acceptable to the Agency.
(c) Price forecasts used in the plan must be reasonable, documented, and acceptable to the Agency.
(d) The Agency will analyze the buyer’s business ventures other than the farm operation to determine their soundness and contribution to the operation.
(e) When a feasible plan depends on income from sources other than from owned land, the income must be dependable and likely to continue.
(f) When the buyer’s farm operating plan is developed in conjunction with a proposed or existing Agency direct loan, the two farm operating plans must be consistent.
§ 763.11 Maximum loss amount, guarantee period, and conditions.
(a) Maximum loss amount. The maximum loss amount due to nonpayment by the buyer covered by the guarantee is based on the type of guarantee initially selected by the seller as follows:
(1) The prompt payment guarantee will cover:
(i) Three amortized annual installments; or
(ii) An amount equal to three annual installments (including an amount equal to the total cost of any tax and insurance incurred during the period covered by the annual installments).
(2) The standard guarantee will cover an amount equal to 90 percent of the outstanding principal balance.
(b) Guarantee period. The period of the guarantee will be 10 years from the effective date of the guarantee unless terminated earlier under § 763.23.
(c) Conditions. The seller will select an escrow agent to service a Land Contract Agreement if selecting the prompt payment guarantee plan, and a servicing agent to service a Land Contract Agreement if selecting the standard guarantee plan.
(1) An escrow agent must provide the Agency evidence of being a bonded title insurance company, attorney, financial institution or fiscally responsible institution.
(2) A servicing agent must provide the Agency evidence of being a bonded commercial lending institution or similar entity, registered and authorized to provide escrow and collection services in the State in which the real estate is located.
§ 763.12 Down payment, rates, terms, and installments.
(a) Down payment. The buyer must provide a minimum down payment of five percent of the purchase price of the farm.
(b) Interest rate. The interest rate charged by the seller must be fixed at a rate not to exceed the Agency’s direct FO loan interest rate in effect at the time the guarantee is issued, plus three percentage points. The seller and buyer may renegotiate the interest rate for the remaining term of the contract following expiration of the guarantee.
(c) Land contract terms. The contract payments must be amortized for a minimum of 20 years and payments on the contract must be of equal amounts during the term of the guarantee.
(d) Balloon installments. Balloon payments are prohibited during the 10-year term of the guarantee.
§ 763.13 Fees.
(a) Payment of fees. The seller and buyer will be responsible for payment of any expenses or fees necessary to process the Land Contract Agreement required by the State or County to ensure that proper title is vested in the seller including, but not limited to, attorney fees, recording costs, and notary fees.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 763.14 Appraisals.
(a) Standard guarantee plan. For the standard guarantee plan, the value of real estate to be purchased will be established by an appraisal obtained at Agency expense and completed as specified in § 761.7 of this chapter. An appraisal is required prior to, or as a condition of, approval of the guarantee.
(b) Prompt payment guarantee plan. The Agency may, at its option and expense, obtain an appraisal to determine value of real estate to be purchased under the Prompt Payment Guarantee plan.
§ 763.15 Taxes and insurance.
(a) The seller will ensure that taxes and insurance on the real estate are paid timely and will provide the evidence of payment to the escrow or servicing agent.
(b) The seller will maintain flood insurance, if available, if buildings are located in a special 100-year floodplain as defined by FEMA flood hazard area maps.
(c) The seller will report any insurance claim and use of proceeds to the escrow or servicing agent.
§ 763.16 Environmental regulation compliance.
(a) Environmental compliance requirements. The environmental requirements contained in part 799 of this chapter must be met prior to approval of guarantee request.
(b) Determination. The Agency determination of whether an environmental problem exists will be based on:
(1) The information supplied with the application;
(2) Environmental resources available to the Agency including, but not limited to, documents, third parties, and government agencies;
(3) Other information supplied by the buyer or seller upon Agency request; and
(4) A visit to the farm.
§ 763.17 Approving application and executing guarantee.
(a) Approval is subject to the availability of funds, meeting the requirements in this part, and the participation of an approved escrow or servicing agent, as applicable.
(b) Upon approval of the guarantee, all parties (buyer, seller, escrow or servicing agent, and Agency official) will execute the Agency’s guarantee agreement.
(c) The “Land Contract Agreement for Prompt Payment Guarantee” or the “Land Contract Agreement for Standard Guarantee” will describe the conditions of the guarantee, outline the covenants and any agreements of the buyer, seller, escrow or servicing agent, and the Agency, and outline the process for payment of loss claims.
§ 763.18 General servicing responsibilities.
(a) For the prompt payment guarantee plan, the seller must use a third party escrow agent approved by the Agency. The escrow agent will:
(1) Provide the Agency a copy of the recorded Land Contract;
(2) Handle transactions relating to the Land Contract between the buyer and seller;
(3) Receive Land Contract installment payments from the buyer and send them to the seller;
(4) Provide evidence to the Agency that property taxes are paid and insurance is kept current on the security property;
(5) Send a notice of payment due to the buyer at least 30 days prior to the installment due date;
(6) Notify the Agency and the seller if the buyer defaults;
(7) Service delinquent accounts as specified in § 763.20(a);
(8) Make demand on the Agency to pay missed payments;
(9) Send the seller any missed payment amount paid by the Agency under the guarantee;
(10) Notify the Agency on March 31 and September 30 of each year of the outstanding balance on the Land Contract and the status of payment; and
(11) Perform other duties as required by State law and as agreed to by the buyer and the seller;
(b) For the standard guarantee plan, the seller must use a third party servicing agent approved by the Agency. The servicing agent will:
(1) Provide the Agency a copy of the recorded Land Contract;
(2) Handle transactions relating to the Land Contract between the buyer and seller;
(3) Receive Land Contract installment payments from the buyer and send them to the seller;
(4) Provide evidence to the Agency that property taxes are paid and insurance is kept current on the security property;
(5) Perform a physical inspection of the farm each year during the term of the guarantee, and provide an annual inspection report to the Agency;
(6) Obtain from the buyer a current balance sheet, income statement, cash flow budget, and any additional information needed, perform, and provide the Agency an analysis of the buyer’s financial condition on an annual basis;
(7) Notify the Agency on March 31 and September 30 of each year of the outstanding balance on the Land Contract and the status of payment;
(8) Send a notice of payment due to the buyer at least 30 days prior to the installment due date;
(9) Notify the Agency and the seller if the buyer defaults;
(10) Service delinquent accounts as specified in § 763.20(b); and
(11) Perform other duties as required by State law and as agreed to by the buyer and the seller.
§ 763.19 Contract modification.
(a) The seller and buyer may modify the land contract to lower the interest rate and corresponding amortized payment amount without Agency approval.
(b) With prior written approval from the Agency, the seller and buyer may modify the land contract provided that, in addition to a feasible plan for the upcoming operating cycle, a feasible plan can be reasonably projected throughout the remaining term of the guarantee. Such modifications may include but are not limited to:
(1) Deferral of installments,
(2) Leasing or subleasing, and
(3) Partial releases. All proceeds from a partial release or royalties from mineral extraction must be applied to a prior lien, if one exists, and in addition, the same amount must be credited to the principal balance of the land contract.
(4) Transfer and assumption. If the guarantee is to remain in effect, any transfer of the property and assumption of the guaranteed debt must be made to an eligible buyer for the Land Contract Guarantee Program as specified in § 763.5(b), and must be approved by the Agency in writing. If an eligible buyer for transfer and assumption cannot be found, the Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs may make an exception to this requirement when in the Government’s best financial interests.
(5) Assignment. The seller may not assign the contract to another party without written consent of the Agency.
(c) Any contract modifications other than those listed above must be approved by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs, and will only be approved if such action is determined permissible by law and in the Government’s best financial interests.
§ 763.20 Delinquent servicing and collecting on guarantee.
(a) Prompt payment guarantee plan. If the buyer fails to pay an annual amortized installment or a portion of an installment on the contract or taxes or insurance when due, the escrow agent:
(1) Must make a written demand on the buyer for payment of the defaulted amount within 30 days of the missed payment, taxes, or insurance and send a copy of the demand letter to the Agency and to the seller; and
(2) Must make demand on the Agency within 90 days from the original payment, taxes, or insurance due date, for the missed payment in the event the buyer has not made the payment.
(b) Standard guarantee plan. If the buyer fails to pay an annual amortized installment or a portion of an installment on the contract, then the seller has the option of either liquidating the real estate, or having the amount of the loss established by the Agency by an appraisal of the real estate. For either option, the servicing agent:
(1) Must make a written demand on the buyer for payment of the defaulted amount within 30 days of the missed payment, and send a copy of the demand letter to the Agency and to the seller; and
(2) Must immediately inform the Agency which option the seller has chosen for establishing the amount of the loss, in the event the buyer does not make the payment within 60 days of the demand letter.
(i) Liquidation method. If the seller chooses the liquidation method, the servicing agent will:
(A) Submit a liquidation plan to the Agency within 120 days from the missed payment for approval prior to any liquidation action. The Agency may require and pay for an appraisal prior to approval of the liquidation plan.
(B) Complete liquidation within 12 months of the missed installment unless prevented by bankruptcy, redemption rights, or other legal action.
(C) Credit an amount equal to the sale price received in a liquidation of the security property, with no deduction for expenses, to the principal balance of the land contract.
(D) File a loss claim immediately after liquidation, which must include a complete loan ledger.
(E) Base the loss claim amount on the appraisal method if the property is reacquired by the seller, through liquidation.
(ii) Appraisal method. If the seller chooses to have the loss amount established by appraisal rather than liquidation, the Agency will complete an appraisal on the real estate, and the loss claim amount will be based on the difference between the appraised value at the time the loss is calculated and the unpaid principal balance of the land contract at that time.
(A) The only administrative appeal allowed under § 761.6 of this chapter related to the resulting appraisal amount will be a determination of whether the appraisal is Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant.
(B) The seller will give the Agency a lien on the security property in the amount of the loss claim payment. If the property sells within 5 years from the date of the loss payment for an amount greater than the appraised value used to establish the loss claim amount, the seller must repay the difference, up to the amount of the loss claim. For purposes of determining the amount to be repaid (recapture), the market value of the property may be reduced by the value of certain capital improvements, as specified in § 766.202(a)(1)-(3) of this chapter, made by the seller to the property in the time period from the loss claim to final disposition. If the property is not sold within 5 years from the date of the loss payment, the Agency will release the lien and the seller will have no further obligation to the Agency.
§ 763.21 Establishment of Federal debt and Agency recovery of loss claim payments.
(a) Any amount paid by FSA as a result of an approved loss claim is immediately due and payable by the buyer after FSA notifies the buyer that a loss claim has been paid to the seller. If the debt is not restructured into a repayment plan or the obligation otherwise cured, FSA may use all remedies available, including offset as authorized by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, to collect the debt.
(1) Interest on the debt will be at the FLP non-program real property loan rate in effect at the time of the first Agency payment of a loss claim.
(2) The debt may be scheduled for repayment consistent with the buyer’s repayment ability, not to exceed 7 years. Before any payment plan can be approved, the buyer must provide the Agency with the best lien obtainable on all of the buyer’s assets. This includes the buyer’s ownership interest in the real estate under contract for guarantees using the prompt payment guarantee plan. When the buyer is an entity, the best lien obtainable will be taken on all of the entity’s assets, and all assets owned by individual members of the entity, including their ownership interest in the real estate under contract.
(b) Annually, buyers with an Agency approved repayment plan under this section will supply the Agency a current balance sheet, income statement, cash flow budget, complete copy of Federal income tax returns, and any additional information needed to analyze the buyer’s financial condition.
(c) If a buyer fails to make required payments to the Agency as specified in the approved repayment plan, the debt will be treated as a non-program loan debt, and servicing will proceed as specified in § 766.351(c) of this chapter.
§ 763.22 Negligence and negligent servicing.
(a) The Agency may deny a loss claim in whole or in part due to negligence that contributed to the loss claim. This could include, but is not limited to:
(1) The escrow and servicing agent failing to seek payment of a missed installment from the buyer within the prescribed timeframe or otherwise does not enforce the terms of the land contract;
(2) Losing the collateral to a third party, such as a taxing authority, prior lien holder, etc;
(3) Not performing the duties and responsibilities required of the escrow or servicing agent;
(4) The seller’s failure to disclose environmental issues; or
(5) Any other action in violation of the land contract or guarantee agreement that does not terminate the guarantee.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 763.23 Terminating the guarantee.
(a) The guarantee and the Agency’s obligations will terminate at the earliest of the following circumstances:
(1) Full payment of the land contract;
(2) Agency payment to the seller of 3 annual installments plus property taxes and insurance, if applicable, under the prompt payment guarantee plan, if not repaid in full by the buyer. An Agency approved repayment plan will not constitute payment in full until such time as the entire amount due for the Agency approved repayment plan is paid in full;
(3) Payment of a loss claim through the standard guarantee plan;
(4) Sale of real estate without guarantee being properly assigned;
(5) The seller terminates the land contract for reasons other than monetary default; or
(6) If for any reason the land contract becomes null and void.
(b) If none of the events in paragraph (a) of this section occur, the guarantee will automatically expire, without notice, 10 years from the effective date of the guarantee.
PART 764—DIRECT LOAN MAKING
Subpart A—Overview
§ 764.1 Introduction.
(a) Purpose. This part describes the Agency’s policies for making direct FLP loans.
(b) Types of loans. The Agency makes the following types of loans:
(1) FO, including ML and Downpayment loans;
(2) OL, including ML and Youth loans;
(3) EM; and
(4) CL.
§ 764.2 Abbreviations and definitions.
Abbreviations and definitions for terms used in this part are provided in § 761.2 of this chapter.
§§ 764.3-764.50 [Reserved]
Subpart B—Loan Application Process
§ 764.51 Loan application.
(a) A loan application must be submitted in the name of the actual operator of the farm. Two or more applicants applying jointly will be considered an entity applicant. The Agency will consider tax filing status and other business dealings as indicators of the operator of the farm.
(b) A complete loan application, except as provided in paragraphs (c) through (f) of this section, will include:
(1) The completed Agency application form;
(2) If the applicant is an entity:
(i) A complete list of entity members showing the address, citizenship, principal occupation, and the number of shares and percentage of ownership or stock held in the entity by each member, or the percentage of interest in the entity held by each member;
(ii) A current financial statement from each member of the entity;
(iii) A current financial statement from the entity itself;
(iv) A copy of the entity’s charter or any entity agreement, any articles of incorporation and bylaws, any certificate or evidence of current registration (good standing), and a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or entity members authorizing specified officers of the entity to apply for and obtain the desired loan and execute required debt, security and other loan instruments and agreements;
(v) In the form of married couples applying as a joint operation, items (i) and (iv) will not be required. The Agency may request copies of the marriage license, prenuptial agreement or similar documents as needed to verify loan eligibility and security. Items (ii) and (iii) are only required to the extent needed to show the individual and joint finances of the husband and wife without duplication.
(3) A written description of the applicant’s farm training and experience, including each entity member who will be involved in managing or operating the farm. Farm experience of the applicant, without regard to any lapse of time between the farm experience and the new application, may be included in the applicant’s written description. If farm experience occurred more than 5 years prior to the date of the new application, the applicant must demonstrate sufficient on-the-job training or education within the last 5 years to demonstrate managerial ability;
(4) The last 3 years of farm financial records, including tax returns, unless the applicant has been farming less than three years;
(5) The last 3 years of farm production records, unless the applicant has been farming less than 3 years;
(6) Except for CL, documentation that the applicant and each member of an entity applicant cannot obtain sufficient credit elsewhere on reasonable rates and terms, including a loan guaranteed by the Agency;
(7) Documentation of compliance with the Agency’s environmental regulations contained in part 799 of this chapter;
(8) Verification of all non-farm income;
(9) A current financial statement and the operation’s farm operating plan, including the projected cash flow budget reflecting production, income, expenses, and loan repayment plan;
(10) A legal description of the farm property owned or to be acquired and, if applicable, any leases, contracts, options, and other agreements with regard to the property;
(11) Payment to the Agency for ordering a credit report on the applicant;
(12) Verification of all debts;
(13) Any additional information deemed necessary by the Agency to effectively evaluate the applicant’s eligibility and farm operating plan;
(14) For EM loans, a statement of loss or damage on the appropriate Agency form;
(15) For CL only, a conservation plan or Forest Stewardship Management Plan as defined in § 761.2 of this chapter; and
(16) For CL only, and if the applicant wishes to request consideration for priority funding, plans to transition to organic or sustainable agriculture when the funds requested will be used to facilitate the transition.
(c) For an ML for OL purposes request, all of the following criteria must be met:
(1) The loan requested for OL purposes is:
(i) To pay annual or term operating expenses, and
(ii) $50,000 or less and the applicant’s total outstanding Agency OL debt at the time of loan closing will be $50,000 or less,
(2) The applicant must submit the following:
(i) Items (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), (9), and (11) of paragraph (b) of this section;
(ii) Financial and production records for the most recent production cycle, if available, and practicable to project the cash flow of the operating cycle, and
(iv) Verification of all non-farm income relied upon for repayment; and
(3) The Agency may require an ML applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section upon request when specifically needed to make a determination on the loan application.
(d) For an ML request for FO purposes, all of the following criteria must be met:
(1) The loan requested is:
(i) To pay for any authorized purpose under the FO Program, which are specified in § 764.151; and
(ii) $50,000 or less and the applicant’s total outstanding Agency FO debt at the time of loan closing will be $50,000 or less,
(2) The applicant must submit the following:
(i) Items specified in paragraphs (b)(1), (2), (3), (6), (7), (9), (10), and (11) of this section;
(ii) Financial and production records for the most recent production cycle, if available and practicable to project the cash flow of the operating cycle; and
(iv) Verification of all non-farm income relied upon for repayment; and
(v) Verification of applicant’s farm experience;
(3) The Agency may require an ML applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section upon request when necessary to make a determination on the loan application.
(e) For a CL Program streamlined application, the applicant must meet all of the following:
(1) Be current on all payments to all creditors including the Agency (if currently an Agency borrower).
(2) Have not received primary loan servicing on any FLP debt within the past 5 years.
(3) Have a debt to asset ratio that is 40 percent or less.
(4) Have a balance sheet that indicates a net worth of 3 times the requested loan amount or greater.
(5) Have a FICO credit score from the Agency obtained credit report of at least 700. For entity applicants, the FICO credit score of the majority of the individual members of the entity must be at least 700.
(6) Submit the following items:
(i) Items specified in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(7), (b)(11), (b)(15), and (b)(16) of this section,
(ii) A current financial statement less than 90 days old, and
(iii) Upon Agency request, other information specified in paragraph (b) of this section necessary to make a determination on the loan application.
(f) For a youth loan request:
(1) The applicant must submit items (1), (7), and (9) of paragraph (b) of this section.
(2) Applicants 18 years or older, must also provide items (11) and (12) of paragraph (b) of this section.
(3) The Agency may require a youth loan applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section as needed to make a determination on the loan application.
(g) The applicant need not submit any information under this section that already exists in the applicant’s Agency file and is still current.
§ 764.52 Processing an incomplete application.
(a) Within 7 calendar days of receipt of an incomplete application, the Agency will provide the applicant written notice of any additional information which must be provided. The applicant must provide the additional information within 15 calendar days of the date of this notice.
(b) If the additional information is not received, the Agency will provide written notice that the application will be withdrawn if the information is not received within 15 calendar days of the date of this second notice.
§ 764.53 Processing the complete application.
Upon receiving a complete loan application, the Agency will:
(a) Consider the loan application in the order received, based on the date the application was determined to be complete.
(b) Provide written notice to the applicant that the application is complete.
(c) Within 60 calendar days after receiving a complete loan application, the Agency will complete the processing of the loan request and notify the applicant of the decision reached, and the reason for any disapproval.
(d) Except for CL requests, if based on the Agency’s review of the application, it appears the applicant’s credit needs could be met through the guaranteed loan program, the Agency will assist the applicant in securing guaranteed loan assistance under the market placement program as specified in § 762.110(h) of this chapter.
(e) In the absence of funds for a direct loan, the Agency will keep an approved loan application on file until funding is available. At least annually, the Agency will contact the applicant to determine if the Agency should retain the application or if the applicant wants the application withdrawn.
(f) If funding becomes available, the Agency will resume processing of approved loans in accordance with this part.
§ 764.54 Preferences when there is limited funding.
(a) First priority. When there is a shortage of loan funds, approved applications will be funded in the order of the date the application was received, whether or not complete.
(b) Secondary priorities. If two or more applications were received on the same date, the Agency will give preference to:
(1) First, an applicant who is a veteran of any war;
(2) Second, an applicant who is not a veteran, but:
(i) Has a dependent family;
(ii) Is able to make a down payment; or
(iii) Owns livestock and farm implements necessary to farm successfully.
(3) Third, to other eligible applicants.
§§ 764.55-764.100 [Reserved]
Subpart C—Requirements for All Direct Program Loans
§ 764.101 General eligibility requirements.
The following requirements must be met unless otherwise provided in the eligibility requirements for the particular type of loan.
(a) Controlled substances. The applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not be ineligible for loans as a result of a conviction for controlled substances according to 7 CFR part 718 of this chapter.
(b) Legal capacity. The applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must possess the legal capacity to incur the obligation of the loan. A Youth loan applicant will incur full personal liability upon execution of the promissory note without regard to the applicant’s minority status.
(c) Citizenship. The applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must be a citizen of the United States, United States non-citizen national, or a qualified alien under applicable Federal immigration laws.
(d) Credit history. The applicant must have acceptable credit history demonstrated by debt repayment.
(1) As part of the credit history, the Agency will determine whether the applicant will carry out the terms and conditions of the loan and deal with the Agency in good faith. In making this determination, the Agency may examine whether the applicant has properly fulfilled its obligations to other parties, including other agencies of the Federal Government.
(2) When the applicant caused the Agency a loss by receiving debt forgiveness, the applicant may be ineligible for assistance in accordance with eligibility requirements for the specific loan type. If the debt forgiveness is cured by repayment of the Agency’s loss, the Agency may still consider the debt forgiveness in determining the applicant’s credit worthiness.
(3) A history of failures to repay past debts as they came due when the ability to repay was within the applicant’s control will demonstrate unacceptable credit history. The following circumstances, for example, do not automatically indicate an unacceptable credit history:
(i) Foreclosures, judgments, delinquent payments of the applicant which occurred more than 36 months before the application, if no recent similar situations have occurred, or Agency delinquencies that have been resolved through loan servicing programs available under 7 CFR part 766.
(ii) Isolated incidents of delinquent payments which do not represent a general pattern of unsatisfactory or slow payment.
(iii) “No history” of credit transactions by the applicant.
(iv) Recent foreclosure, judgment, bankruptcy, or delinquent payment when the applicant can satisfactorily demonstrate that the adverse action or delinquency was caused by circumstances that were of a temporary nature and beyond the applicant’s control; or the result of a refusal to make full payment because of defective goods or services or other justifiable dispute relating to the purchase or contract for goods or services.
(e) Availability of credit elsewhere. Except for CL, the applicant, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to finance actual needs at reasonable rates and terms. The Agency will evaluate the ability to obtain credit based on factors including, but not limited to:
(1) Loan amounts, rates, and terms available in the marketplace; and
(2) Property interests, income, and significant non-essential assets.
(f) Not in delinquent status on Federal debt. As provided in 31 CFR part 285, except for EM loan applicants, the applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not be in delinquent status on any Federal debt, other than a debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 at the time of loan closing. All delinquent debts, however, will be considered in determining credit history and ability to repay under this part.
(g) Outstanding judgments. The applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, must have no outstanding unpaid judgments obtained by the United States in any court. Such judgments do not include those filed as a result of action in the United States Tax Courts.
(h) Federal crop insurance violation. The applicant, and all entity members in the case of an entity, must not be ineligible due to disqualification resulting from Federal crop insurance violation according to 7 CFR part 718.
(i) Managerial ability. The applicant must have sufficient managerial ability to assure reasonable prospects of loan repayment, as determined by the Agency. The applicant must demonstrate this managerial ability by:
(1) Education. For example, the applicant obtained a 4-year college degree in agricultural business, horticulture, animal science, agronomy, or other agricultural-related field.
(2) On-the-job training. For example, the applicant is currently working on a farm as part of an apprenticeship program.
(3) Farming experience. For example, the applicant has been an owner, manager, or operator of a farm business for at least one entire production cycle or for MLs, made for OL purposes, the applicant may have obtained and successfully repaid one FSA Youth-OL. Farm experience of the applicant, without regard to any lapse of time between the farm experience and the new application, will be taken into consideration in determining loan eligibility. If farm experience occurred more than 5 years prior to the date of the new application, the applicant must demonstrate sufficient on-the-job training or education within the last 5 years to demonstrate managerial ability.
(4) Alternatives for MLs made for OL purposes. Applicants for MLs made for OL purposes, also may demonstrate managerial ability by one of the following:
(i) Certification of a past participation with an agriculture-related organization, such as, but not limited to, 4-H Club, FFA, beginning farmer and rancher development programs, or Community Based Organizations, that demonstrates experience in a related agricultural enterprise; or
(ii) A written description of a self-directed apprenticeship combined with either prior sufficient experience working on a farm or significant small business management experience. As a condition of receiving the loan, the self-directed apprenticeship requires that the applicant seek, receive, and apply guidance from a qualified person during the first cycle of production and marketing typical for the applicant’s specific operation. The individual providing the guidance must be knowledgeable in production, management, and marketing practices that are pertinent to the applicant’s operation, and agree to form a developmental partnership with the applicant to share knowledge, skills, information, and perspective of agriculture to foster the applicant’s development of technical skills and management ability.
(j) Borrower training. The applicant must agree to meet the training requirements in subpart K of this part.
(k) Operator of a family farm. Except for CL:
(1) The applicant must be the operator of a family farm after the loan is closed.
(2) For an entity applicant, if the entity members holding a majority interest are:
(i) Related by blood or marriage, at least one member must be the operator of a family farm;
(ii) Not related by blood or marriage, the entity members holding at least 50 percent interest must be operators of a family farm.
(3) Except for EM loans, the collective interests of the members may be larger than a family farm only if:
(i) Each member’s ownership interest is not larger than a family farm;
(ii) All of the members of the entity are related by blood or marriage; and
(iii) All of the members are or will become operators of the family farm; and
(4) If the entity applicant has an operator and ownership interest for farm ownership loans and emergency loans for farm ownership loan purposes, in any other farming operation, that farming operation must not exceed the requirements of a family farm.
(l) Entity composition. If the applicant has one or more embedded entities, at least 75 percent of the individual ownnership interests of each embedded entity must be owned by members actively involved in managing or operating the family farm.
§ 764.102 General limitations.
(a) Limitations specific to each loan program are contained in subparts D through I of this part.
(b) The total principal balance owed to the Agency at any one time by the applicant, or any one who will sign the promissory note, cannot exceed the limits established in § 761.8 of this chapter.
(c) The funds from the FLP loan must be used for farming operations located in the United States.
(d) The Agency will not make a loan if the proceeds will be used:
(1) For any purpose that contributes to excessive erosion of highly erodible land, or to the conversion of wetlands;
(2) To drain, dredge, fill, level, or otherwise manipulate a wetland; or
(3) To engage in any activity that results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or reach of water, except in the case of activity related to the maintenance of previously converted wetlands as defined in the Food Security Act of 1985.
(e) Any construction financed by the Agency must comply with the standards established in § 761.10 of this chapter.
(f) Loan funds will not be used to establish or support a non-eligible enterprise, even if the non-eligible enterprise contributes to the farm. Notwithstanding this limitation, an EM loan may cover qualified equine losses as specified in subpart I of this part.
§ 764.103 General security requirements.
(a) Security requirements specific to each loan program are outlined in subparts D through I of this part.
(b) All loans must be secured by assets having a security value of at least 100 percent of the loan amount, except for EM loans as provided in subpart I of this part. If the applicant’s assets do not provide adequate security, the Agency may accept:
(1) A pledge of security from a third party; or
(2) Interests in property not owned by the applicant (such as leases that provide a mortgageable value, water rights, easements, mineral rights, and royalties).
(c) An additional amount of security up to 150 percent of the loan amount will be taken when available, except for downpayment loans, MLs made for purposes other than annual operating, and youth loans.
(d) The Agency will choose the best security available when there are several alternatives that meet the Agency’s security requirements.
(e) The Agency will take a lien on all assets that are not essential to the farming operation and are not being converted to cash to reduce the loan amount when each such asset, or aggregate value of like assets (such as stocks), has a value in excess of $15,000. The value of this security is not included in the Agency’s additional security requirement stated in paragraph (c) of this section. This requirement does not apply to downpayment loans, CL, ML, or youth loans.
§ 764.104 General real estate security requirements.
(a) Agency lien position requirements. If real estate is pledged as security for a loan, the Agency must obtain a first lien, if available. When a first lien is not available, the Agency may take a junior lien under the following conditions:
(1) The prior lien does not contain any provisions that may jeopardize the Agency’s interest or the applicant’s ability to repay the FLP loan;
(2) Prior lienholders agree to notify the Agency prior to foreclosure;
(3) The applicant must agree not to increase an existing prior lien without the written consent of the Agency; and
(4) Equity in the collateral exists.
(b) Real estate held under a purchase contract. If the real estate offered as security is held under a recorded purchase contract:
(1) The applicant must provide a security interest in the real estate;
(2) The applicant and the purchase contract holder must agree in writing that any insurance proceeds received for real estate losses will be used only for one or more of the following purposes:
(i) To replace or repair the damaged real estate improvements which are essential to the farming operation;
(ii) To make other essential real estate improvements; or
(iii) To pay any prior real estate lien, including the purchase contract.
(3) The purchase contract must provide the applicant with possession, control and beneficial use of the property, and entitle the applicant to marketable title upon fulfillment of the contract terms.
(4) The purchase contract must not:
(i) Be subject to summary cancellation upon default;
(ii) Contain provisions which jeopardize the Agency’s security position or the applicant’s ability to repay the loan.
(5) The purchase contract holder must agree in writing to:
(i) Not sell or voluntarily transfer their interest without prior written consent of the Agency;
(ii) Not encumber or cause any liens to be levied against the property;
(iii) Not take any action to accelerate, forfeit, or foreclose the applicant’s interest in the security property until a specified period of time after notifying the Agency of the intent to do so;
(iv) Consent to the Agency making the loan and taking a security interest in the applicant’s interest under the purchase contract as security for the FLP loan;
(v) Not take any action to foreclose or forfeit the interest of the applicant under the purchase contract because the Agency has acquired the applicant’s interest by foreclosure or voluntary conveyance, or because the Agency has subsequently sold or assigned the applicant’s interest to a third party who will assume the applicant’s obligations under the purchase contract;
(vi) Notify the Agency in writing of any breach by the applicant; and
(vii) Give the Agency the option to rectify the conditions that amount to a breach within 30 days after the date the Agency receives written notice of the breach.
(6) If the Agency acquires the applicant’s interest under the purchase contract by foreclosure or voluntary conveyance, the Agency will not be deemed to have assumed any of the applicant’s obligations under the contract, provided that if the Agency fails to perform the applicant’s obligations while it holds the applicant’s interest is grounds for terminating the purchase contract.
(c) Tribal lands held in trust or restricted. The Agency may take a lien on Indian Trust lands as security provided the applicant requests the Bureau of Indian Affairs to furnish Title Status Reports to the agency and the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides the reports and approves the lien.
(d) Security for more than one loan. The same real estate may be pledged as security for more than one direct or guaranteed loan.
(e) Loans secured by leaseholds. A loan may be secured by a mortgage on a leasehold, if the leasehold has negotiable value and can be mortgaged.
§ 764.105 General chattel security requirements.
The same chattel may be pledged as security for more than one direct or guaranteed loan.
§ 764.106 Exceptions to security requirements.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Agency will not take a security interest:
(a) When adequate security is otherwise available and the lien will prevent the applicant from obtaining credit from other sources;
(b) When the property could have significant environmental problems or costs as described in part 799 of this chapter;
(c) When the Agency cannot obtain a valid lien;
(d) When the property is the applicant’s personal residence and appurtenances and:
(1) They are located on a separate parcel; and
(2) The real estate that serves as security for the FLP loan plus crops and chattels are greater than or equal to 150 percent of the unpaid balance due on the loan;
(e) When the property is subsistence livestock, cash, working capital accounts the applicant uses for the farming operation, retirement accounts, personal vehicles necessary for family living, household contents, or small equipment such as hand tools and lawn mowers; or
(f) On marginal land and timber that secures an outstanding ST loan.
§ 764.107 General appraisal requirements.
(a) Establishing value for real estate. The value of real estate will be established by an appraisal completed in accordance with § 761.7 of this chapter, except that for MLs made for FO purposes, the appraisal requirement may be satisfied by an evaluation by an authorized agency official that establishes the value of the real estate.
(b) Establishing value for chattels. The value of chattels will be established as follows:
(1) Annual production. The security value of annual livestock and crop production is presumed to be 100 percent of the amount loaned for annual operating and family living expenses, as outlined in the approved farm operating plan.
(2) Livestock and equipment. The value of livestock and equipment will be established by an appraisal completed in accordance with § 761.7 of this chapter.
§ 764.108 General insurance requirements.
The applicant must obtain and maintain insurance, equal to the lesser of the value of the security at the time of loan closing or the principal of all FLP and non-FLP loans secured by the property, subject to the following:
(a) All security, except growing crops, must be covered by hazard insurance if it is readily available (sold by insurance agents in the applicant’s normal trade area) and insurance premiums do not exceed the benefit. The Agency must be listed as loss payee for the insurance indemnity payment or as a beneficiary in the mortgagee loss payable clause.
(b) Real estate security located in flood or mudslide prone areas must be covered by flood or mudslide insurance. The Agency must be listed as a beneficiary in the mortgagee loss payable clause.
(c) Growing crops used to provide adequate security must be covered by crop insurance if such insurance is available. The Agency must be listed as loss payee for the insurance indemnity payment.
(d) Prior to closing the loan, the applicant must have obtained at least the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance coverage for each crop which is a basic part of the applicant’s total operation, if such insurance is available, unless the applicant executes a written waiver of any emergency crop loss assistance with respect to such crop. The applicant must execute an assignment of indemnity in favor of the Agency for this coverage.
§§ 764.109-764.150 [Reserved]
Subpart D—Farm Ownership Loan Program
§ 764.151 Farm Ownership loan uses.
FO loan funds may only be used to:
(a) Acquire or enlarge a farm or make a down payment on a farm;
(b) Make capital improvements to a farm owned by the applicant, for construction, purchase or improvement of farm dwellings, service buildings or other facilities and improvements essential to the farming operation. In the case of leased property, the applicant must have a lease to ensure use of the improvement over its useful life or to ensure that the applicant receives compensation for any remaining economic life upon termination of the lease;
(c) Promote soil and water conservation and protection;
(d) Pay loan closing costs;
(e) Refinance a bridge loan if the following conditions are met:
(1) The applicant obtained the loan to be refinanced to purchase a farm after a direct FO was approved;
(2) Direct FO funds were not available to fund the loan at the time of approval;
(3) The loan to be refinanced is temporary financing; and
(4) The loan was made by a commercial or cooperative lender.
§ 764.152 General eligibility requirements.
The applicant:
(a) Must comply with the general eligibility requirements established at § 764.101;
(b) And anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not have received debt forgiveness from the Agency on any direct or guaranteed loan;
(c) Must be the owner-operator of the farm financed with Agency funds after the loan is closed. Ownership of the family farm operation and farm real estate may be held either directly in the individual’s name or indirectly through interest in a legal entity. In the case of an entity:
(1) The entity is controlled by farmers engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States, after the loan is made;
(2) An ownership entity must be authorized to own a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located. An operating entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the state or states in which the farm is located.
(3) If the entity members holding majority interest are:
(i) Related by blood or marriage, at least one member of the entity must operate the family farm and at least one member of the entity or the entity must own the farm; or,
(ii) Not related by blood or marriage, the entity members holding at least 50 percent interest must operate the family farm and the entity members holding at least 50 percent interest or the entity must own the farm.
(4) If the entity is an operator only entity, the individuals that own the farm (real estate) must own at least 50 percent of the family farm (operating entity).
(d) And in the case of an entity, one or more members constituting a majority interest, must have participated in the business operations of a farm for at least 3 years out of the 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted.
(1) The following experiences can substitute for up to 2 of the 3 years:
(i) Not less than 16 credit hours of post-secondary education in an agriculture-related field;
(ii) Successful completion of a farm management curriculum offered by a cooperative extension service, community college, adult vocational agriculture program, non-profit organization, or land-grant college or university;
(iii) One (1)-year experience as a farm laborer with substantial management responsibility;
(iv) Successful completion of an internship, mentorship, or apprenticeship in day-to-day farm management;
(v) Significant business management experience;
(vi) Honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States;
(vii) Successful repayment of an FSA financed youth loan; or
(viii) Established relationship with a counselor in the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program who has experience in farming or ranching, or with Agency-approved local individuals or organizations that are committed to providing mentorship in farming or ranching; or
(2) The 3-year requirement in this paragraph (d) will be waived if the applicant meets the requirements of both paragraphs (d)(1)(iii) and (viii) of this section.
(e) For an ML made for FO purposes, if an ML applicant has successfully repaid an FSA financed youth loan, the term of that loan may be used toward the 3 years of management experience required for a FO direct loan.
(f) And anyone who will sign the promissory note, must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:
(1) Meet the definition of a beginning farmer;
(2) Have not had a direct FO loan outstanding for more than a total of 10 years prior to the date the new FO loan is closed;
(3) Have never received a direct FO loan.
§ 764.153 Limitations.
The applicant must:
(a) Comply with the general limitations established at § 764.102;
(b) Have dwellings and other buildings necessary for the planned operation of the farm available for use after the loan is made.
§ 764.154 Rates and terms.
(a) Rates. (1) The interest rate is the Agency’s Direct Farm Ownership rate, available in each Agency office.
(2) The limited resource Farm Ownership interest rate is available to applicants who are unable to develop a feasible plan at regular interest rates.
(3) If the FO loan is part of a joint financing arrangement and the amount of the Agency’s loan does not exceed 50 percent of the total amount financed, the interest rate charged will be the greater of the following:
(i) The Agency’s Direct Farm Ownership rate, available in each Agency office, minus 2 percent; or
(ii) 2.5 percent.
(4) The interest rate charged will be the lower of the rate in effect at the time of loan approval or loan closing.
(b) Terms. Except for MLs made for FO purposes, the Agency schedules repayment of an FO loan based on the applicant’s ability to repay and the useful life of the security. In no event will the term be more than 40 years from the date of the note.
(1) For MLs made for FO purposes the Agency schedules repayment of an FO based on the applicant’s ability to repay and the useful life of the security. In no event will the term be more than 25 years from the date of the note.
(2) [Reserved]
§ 764.155 Security requirements.
An FO loan must be secured:
(a) In accordance with §§ 764.103 through 764.106;
(b) At a minimum, by the real estate being purchased or improved.
(1) An ML made for FO purposes, may be secured only by the real estate being purchased or improved, as long as its value is at least 100 percent of the loan amount.
(2) [Reserved]
§§ 764.156-764.200 [Reserved]
Subpart E—Downpayment Loan Program
§ 764.201 Down payment loan uses.
Down payment loan funds may be used to partially finance the purchase of a family farm by an eligible beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged farmer, or veteran farmer farmer.
§ 764.202 Eligibility requirements.
The applicant must:
(a) Comply with the general eligibility requirements established at § 764.101 and the FO eligibility requirements of § 764.152; and
(b) Be a beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged farmer, or veteran farmer.
§ 764.203 Limitations.
(a) The applicant must:
(1) Comply with the general limitations established at § 764.102; and
(2) Provide a minimum down payment of 5 percent of the purchase price of the farm.
(b) Down payment loans will not exceed 45 percent of the lesser of:
(1) The purchase price,
(2) The appraised value of the farm to be acquired, or
(3) $667,000; subject to the direct FO dollar limit specified in 7 CFR 761.8(a)(1)(i).
(c) Down payment loans made as an ML for FO purposes may not exceed $50,000.
(d) Financing provided by the Agency and all other creditors must not exceed 95 percent of the purchase price. Financing provided by eligible lenders may be guaranteed by the Agency under part 762 of this chapter.
§ 764.204 Rates and terms.
(a) Rates. The interest rate for Down payment loans will be the regular direct FO rate minus 4 percent, but in no case less than 1.5 percent.
(b) Terms. (1) The Agency schedules repayment of Down payment loans in equal, annual installments over a term not to exceed 20 years.
(2) The non-Agency financing must have an amortization period of at least 30 years and cannot have a balloon payment due within the first 20 years of the loan.
§ 764.205 Security requirements.
A Down payment loan must:
(a) Be secured in accordance with §§ 764.103 through 764.106;
(b) Be secured by a lien on the property being acquired with the loan funds and junior only to the party financing the balance of the purchase price.
§§ 764.206-764.230 [Reserved]
Subpart F—Conservation Loan Program
§ 764.231 Conservation loan uses.
(a) CL funds may be used for any conservation activities included in a conservation or Forestry Service Stewardship Management Plan, including but not limited to:
(1) The installation of conservation structures to address soil, water, and related resources;
(2) The establishment of forest cover for sustained yield timber management, erosion control, or shelter belt purposes;
(3) The installation of water conservation measures;
(4) The installation of waste management systems;
(5) The establishment or improvement of permanent pasture; and
(6) Other purposes including the adoption of any other emerging or existing conservation practices, techniques, or technologies.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 764.232 Eligibility requirements.
(a) The applicant:
(1) Must comply with general eligibility requirements specified in § 764.101 except paragraphs (e) and (k) of that section;
(2) And anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not have received debt forgiveness from the Agency on any direct or guaranteed loan; and
(3) Must be the owner-operator or tenant-operator of a farm and be engaged in agricultural production after the time of loan is closed. In the case of an entity:
(i) The entity is controlled by farmers engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States;
(ii) The entity must be authorized to operate a farm in the State in which the farm is located.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 764.233 Limitations.
(a) The applicant must comply with the general limitations specified in § 764.102 except § 764.102(f), which does not apply to applicants for the CL Program.
(b) The applicant must agree to repay any duplicative financial benefits or assistance to CL.
§ 764.234 Rates and terms.
(a) Rates. The interest rate:
(1) Will be the Agency’s Direct Farm Ownership rate, available in each Agency office.
(2) Charged will be the lower rate in effect either at the time of loan approval or loan closing.
(b) Terms. The following terms apply to CLs:
(1) The Agency schedules repayment of a CL based on the useful life of the security.
(2) The maximum term for loans secured by chattels only will not exceed 7 years from the date of the note.
(3) In no event will the term of the loan exceed 20 years from the date of the note.
§ 764.235 Security requirements.
(a) The loan must be secured in accordance with requirements established in §§ 764.103 through 764.106.
(b) Loans to purchase chattels will be secured by a first lien on chattels purchased with loan funds. Real estate may be taken as additional security if needed.
(c) Loans of $25,000 of less for real estate purposes will be secured in the following order of priority:
(1) By a lien on chattels determined acceptable by the Agency, and then
(2) By a lien on real estate, if available and necessary. When real estate is taken as security a certification of ownership in real estate is required. Certification of ownership may be in the form of an affidavit that is signed by the applicant, names all of the record owners of the real estate in question and lists the balances due on all known debts against the real estate. Whenever the Agency is uncertain of the record owner or debts against the real estate security, a tile search is required.
(d) Loans greater than $25,000 for real estate purposes will be secured in the following order of priority:
(1) By a lien on real estate, if available, and then
(2) By a lien on chattels, if needed and determined acceptable by the Agency.
(e) For loans greater than $25,000 title clearance is required when real estate is taken as security.
§§ 764.236-764.250 [Reserved]
Subpart G—Operating Loan Program
§ 764.251 Operating loan uses.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), OL and ML used for OL purposes loan funds may only be used for:
(1) Costs associated with reorganizing a farm to improve its profitability;
(2) Purchase of livestock, including poultry, farm equipment or fixtures, quotas and bases, and cooperative stock for credit, production, processing or marketing purposes;
(3) Farm operating expenses, including, but not limited to, feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm supplies, repairs and improvements which are to be expensed, cash rent and family living expenses;
(4) Scheduled principal and interest payments on term debt provided the debt is for authorized FO or OL purposes;
(5) Other farm needs;
(6) Costs associated with land and water development, use, or conservation;
(7) Loan closing costs;
(8) Costs associated with Federal or State-approved standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655 and 667) if the applicant can show that compliance or non-compliance with the standards will cause substantial economic injury;
(9) Borrower training costs required or recommended by the Agency;
(10) Refinancing farm-related debts other than real estate to improve the farm’s profitability provided the applicant has refinanced direct or guaranteed OL loans four times or fewer and one of the following conditions is met:
(i) A designated or declared disaster caused the need for refinancing; or
(ii) The debts to be refinanced are owed to a creditor other than the USDA;
(11) Costs for minor real estate repairs or improvements, provided the loan can be repaid within 7 years.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 764.252 Eligibility requirements.
(a) The applicant must comply with the general eligibility requirements established in § 764.101.
(b) The applicant and anyone who will sign the promissory note, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, must not have received debt forgiveness from the Agency on any direct or guaranteed loan.
(c) The applicant and anyone who will sign the promissory note, may receive direct OL loans to pay annual farm operating and family living expenses, provided that the applicant meets all other applicable requirements under this part, if the applicant:
(1) Received a write-down under section 353 of the Act;
(2) Is current on payments under a confirmed reorganization plan under Chapter 11, 12, or 13 of Title 11 of the United States Code; or
(3) Received debt forgiveness on not more than one occasion after April 4, 1996, resulting directly and primarily from a Presidentially-designated emergency for the county or contiguous county in which the applicant operates. Only applicants who were current on all existing direct and guaranteed FLP loans prior to the beginning date of the incidence period of a Presidentially-designated emergency and received debt forgiveness on that debt within 3 years after the designation of such emergency meet this exception.
(d) In the case of an entity applicant, the entity must be:
(1) Controlled by farmers engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States; and
(2) Authorized to operate the farm in the State in which the farm is located.
(e) The applicant and anyone who will sign the promissory note, may close an OL in no more than 7 calendar years, either as an individual or as a member of an entity, except as provided in paragraphs (e)(1) through (4) of this section. The years may be consecutive or nonconsecutive, and there is no limit on the number of OLs closed in a year. Microloans made to a beginning farmer or a veteran farmer are not counted toward this limitation. Youth loans are not counted toward this limitation. The following exceptions apply:
(1) This limitation does not apply if the applicant and anyone who will sign the promissory note is a beginning farmer.
(2) This limitation does not apply if the applicant’s land is subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, the loan is secured by one or more security instruments subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and commercial credit is generally not available to such farm operations.
(3) If the applicant, and anyone who will sign the promissory note, has closed direct OL loans in 4 or more previous calendar years as of April 4, 1996, the applicant is eligible to close OL loans in any 3 additional years after that date.
(4) On a case-by-case basis, may be granted a one-time waiver of OL term limits for a period of 2 years, not subject to administrative appeal, if the applicant:
(i) Has a financially viable operation;
(ii) And in the case of an entity, the members holding the majority interest, applied for commercial credit from at least two lenders and were unable to obtain a commercial loan, including an Agency-guaranteed loan; and
(iii) Has successfully completed, or will complete within one year, borrower training. Previous waivers to the borrower training requirements are not applicable under this paragraph.
§ 764.253 Limitations.
The applicant must comply with the general limitations established at § 764.102.
§ 764.254 Rates and terms.
(a) Rates. (1) The interest rate is the Agency’s Direct Operating Loan rate, available in each Agency office.
(2) The limited resource Operating Loan interest rate is available to applicants who are unable to develop a feasible plan at regular interest rates.
(3) The interest rate charged will be the lower rate in effect at the time of loan approval or loan closing.
(4) The Agency’s Direct ML OL interest rate on an ML to a beginning farmer or veteran farmer is available in each Agency office. ML borrowers in these groups have the option of choosing the ML OL interest rate or the Direct OL interest rate in effect at the time of approval, or if lower, the rate in effect at the time of closing.
(b) Terms. (1) The Agency schedules repayment of annual OL loans made for family living and farm operating expenses when planned income is projected to be available.
(i) The term of the loan may not exceed 24 months from the date of the note.
(ii) The term of the loan may exceed 24 months in unusual situations such as establishing a new enterprise, developing a farm, purchasing feed while crops are being established, marketing plans, or recovery from a disaster or economic reverse. In no event will the term of the loan exceed 7 years from the date of the note. Crops and livestock produced for sale will not be considered adequate security for such loans.
(2) The Agency schedules the repayment of all other OL loans based on the applicant’s ability to repay and the useful life of the security. In no event will the term of the loan exceed 7 years from the date of the note. Repayment schedules may include equal, unequal, or balloon installments if needed to establish a new enterprise, develop a farm, or recover from a disaster or economic reversal. Loans with balloon installments:
(i) Must have adequate security at the time the balloon installment comes due. Crops, livestock other than breeding stock, or livestock products produced are not adequate collateral for such loans;
(ii) Are only authorized when the applicant can project the ability to refinance the remaining debt at the time the balloon payment comes due based on the expected financial condition of the operation, the depreciated value of the collateral, and the principal balance on the loan;
(iii) Are not authorized when loan funds are used for real estate repairs or improvements.
§ 764.255 Security requirements.
An OL loan must be secured:
(a) In accordance with §§ 764.103 through 764.106.
(b) Except for MLs, by a:
(1) First lien on all property or products acquired or produced with loan funds;
(2) Lien of equal or higher position of that held by the creditor being refinanced with loan funds.
(c) For MLs used for OL purposes:
(1) For annual operating purposes, loans must be secured by a first lien on farm property or products having a security value of at least 100 percent of the loan amount, and up to 150 percent, when available.
(2) For loans made for purposes other than annual operating purposes, loans must be secured by a first lien on farm property or products purchased with loan funds and having a security value of at least 100 percent of the loan amount.
(3) A lien on real estate is not required unless the value of the farm products, farm property, and other assets available to secure the loan is not at least equal to 100 percent of the loan amount.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this section, FSA will not require a lien on a personal residence.
§§ 764.256-764.300 [Reserved]
Subpart H—Youth Loan Program
§ 764.301 Youth loan uses.
Youth loan funds may only be used to finance a modest, income-producing, agriculture-related, educational project while participating in 4-H, FFA, or a similar organization.
§ 764.302 Eligibility requirements.
The applicant:
(a) Must comply with the general eligibility requirements established at § 764.101(a) through (g);
(b) And anyone who will sign the promissory note, must not have received debt forgiveness from the Agency on any direct or guaranteed loan;
(c) Must be at least 10 but not yet 21 years of age at the time the loan is closed;
(d) Must be recommended and continuously supervised by a project advisor, such as a 4-H Club advisor, a vocational teacher, a county extension agent, or other agriculture-related organizational sponsor; and
(e) Must obtain a written recommendation and consent from a parent or guardian if the applicant has not reached the age of majority under state law.
§ 764.303 Limitations.
(a) The applicant must comply with the general limitations established at § 764.102.
(b) The total principal balance owed by the applicant to the Agency on all Youth loans at any one time cannot exceed $5,000.
§ 764.304 Rates and terms.
(a) Rates. (1) The interest rate is the Agency’s Direct Operating Loan rate, available in each Agency office.
(2) The limited resource Operating Loan interest rate is not available for Youth loans.
(3) The interest rate charged will be the lower rate in effect at the time of loan approval or loan closing.
(b) Terms. Youth loan terms are the same as for an OL established at § 764.254(b).
§ 764.305 Security requirements.
A first lien will be obtained on property or products acquired or produced with loan funds.
§§ 764.306-764.350 [Reserved]
Subpart I—Emergency Loan Program
§ 764.351 Emergency loan uses.
(a) Physical losses—(1) Real estate losses. EM loan funds for real estate physical losses may only be used to repair or replace essential property damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster as follows:
(i) For any FO purpose, as specified in § 764.151, except subparagraph (e) of that section;
(ii) To establish a new site for farm dwelling and service buildings outside of a flood or mudslide area; and
(iii) To replace land from the farm that was sold or conveyed, if such land is necessary for the farming operation to be effective.
(2) Chattel losses. EM loan funds for chattel physical losses may only be used to repair or replace essential property damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster as follows:
(i) Purchase livestock, farm equipment, quotas and bases, and cooperative stock for credit, production, processing, or marketing purposes;
(ii) Pay customary costs associated with obtaining and closing a loan that an applicant cannot pay from other sources (e.g., fees for legal, architectural, and other technical services, but not fees for agricultural management consultation, or preparation of Agency forms);
(iii) Repair or replace household contents damaged in the disaster;
(iv) Pay the costs to restore perennials, which produce an agricultural commodity, to the stage of development the damaged perennials had obtained prior to the disaster;
(v) Pay essential family living and farm operating expenses, in the case of an operation that has suffered livestock losses not from breeding stock, or losses to stored crops held for sale; and
(vi) Refinance farm-related debts other than real estate to improve farm profitability, if the applicant has refinanced direct or guaranteed loans four times or fewer and one of the following conditions is met:
(A) A designated or declared disaster caused the need for refinancing; or
(B) The debts to be refinanced are owed to a creditor other than the USDA.
(b) Production losses. EM loan funds for production losses to agricultural commodities (except the losses associated with the loss of livestock) may be used to:
(1) Pay costs associated with reorganizing the farm to improve its profitability except that such costs must not include the payment of bankruptcy expenses;
(2) Pay annual operating expenses, which include, but are not limited to, feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm supplies, and cash rent;
(3) Pay costs associated with Federal or State-approved standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655 and 667) if the applicant can show that compliance or non-compliance with the standards will cause substantial economic injury;
(4) Pay borrower training costs required or recommended by the Agency;
(5) Pay essential family living expenses;
(6) Refinance farm-related debts other than real estate to improve farm profitability, if the applicant has refinanced direct or guaranteed loans four times or fewer and one of the following conditions is met:
(i) A designated or declared disaster caused the need for refinancing; or
(ii) The debts to be refinanced are owed to a creditor other than the USDA; and
(7) Replace lost working capital.
§ 764.352 Eligibility requirements.
The applicant:
(a) Must comply with the general eligibility requirements established at § 764.101.
(b) Must be an established farmer.
(c) Must be the owner-operator or tenant-operator as follows:
(1) For a loan made under § 764.351(a)(1), must have been:
(i) The owner-operator of the farm at the time of the disaster; or
(ii) The tenant-operator of the farm at the time of the disaster whose lease on the affected real estate exceeds the term of the loan. The operator will provide prior notification to the Agency if the lease is proposed to terminate during the term of the loan. The lessor will provide the Agency a mortgage on the real estate as security for the loan;
(2) For a loan made under § 764.351(a) (2) or (b), must have been the operator of the farm at the time of the disaster; and
(3) In the case of an entity, the entity must be:
(i) Engaged primarily and directly in farming in the United States; and
(ii) Authorized to operate and own the farm, if the funds are used for farm ownership loan purposes, in the State in which the farm is located.
(d) Must demonstrate the intent to continue the farming operation after the designated or declared disaster.
(e) And all entity members must be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms. To establish this, the applicant must obtain written declinations of credit, specifying the reasons for declination, from legally organized commercial lending institutions within reasonable proximity of the applicant as follows:
(1) In the case of a loan in excess of $300,000, two written declinations of credit are required;
(2) In the case of a loan of $300,000 or less, one written declination of credit is required; and
(3) In the case of a loan of $100,000 or less, the Agency may waive the requirement for obtaining a written declination of credit, if the Agency determines that it would pose an undue burden on the applicant, the applicant certifies that they cannot get credit elsewhere, and based on the applicant’s circumstances credit is not likely to be available.
(4) Notwithstanding the applicant’s submission of the required written declinations of credit, the Agency may contact other commercial lending institutions within reasonable proximity of the applicant and make an independent determination of the applicant’s ability to obtain credit elsewhere.
(f) And all entity members in the case of an entity, must not have received debt forgiveness from the Agency on more than one occasion on or before April 4, 1996, or any time after April 4, 1996. A write down associated with a restructuring action under Section 353 of the Act is not considered debt forgiveness for EM Loan purposes.
(g) Must submit an application to be received by the Agency no later than 8 months after