Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program and Average Crop Revenue Election Program, Disaster Assistance Programs, Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments Program, Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program, and Payment Limitation and Payment Eligibility; Clarifying Amendments, 19185-19193 [2010-8308]
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19185
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
Vol. 75, No. 71
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains regulatory documents having general
applicability and legal effect, most of which
are keyed to and codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations, which is published under
50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by
the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of
new books are listed in the first FEDERAL
REGISTER issue of each week.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Part 760
Commodity Credit Corporation
7 CFR Parts 1400, 1412, and 1421
RIN 0560–AH84
Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program
and Average Crop Revenue Election
Program, Disaster Assistance
Programs, Marketing Assistance
Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments
Program, Supplemental Revenue
Assistance Payments Program, and
Payment Limitation and Payment
Eligibility; Clarifying Amendments
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AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation
and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: CCC is amending the
regulations for the Direct and Countercyclical Payment Program (DCP) for the
2008 through 2012 crop years and
Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE)
Program for the 2009 through 2012 crop
years. The amendments clarify various
provisions in the regulations and extend
benefits to additional producers. This
rule extends the eligibility for farms of
less than 10 base acres from farms
wholly owned by socially
disadvantaged or limited resource
producers to farms that are at least half
owned by such producers. It removes a
provision terminating base acres on
Federally-owned land, which will
effectively extend DCP and ACRE
Program eligibility to producers who
lease or purchase such land. Clarifying
amendments specify the extended 2009
crop year enrollment and election
period, simplify acreage and production
reporting requirements, correct contract
termination provisions, and add 2009
through 2012 loan rates. This rule also
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makes several clarifying amendments to
the regulations for the Emergency
Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees,
and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
and the Livestock Forage Disaster
Program (LFP), the Supplemental
Revenue Assistance Payments Program
(SURE) and the Marketing Assistance
Loans (MAL) and Loan Deficiency
Payments (LDP) Programs. It clarifies
eligibility requirements for foreign
persons for CCC and FSA programs.
DATES: Effective Date: April 13, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Candace Thompson, Acting Director,
Production, Emergencies, and
Compliance Division, Farm Service
Agency (FSA), United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stop
0517, 1400 Independence Ave, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–0517; phone:
(202) 720–7641; e-mail:
Candy.Thompson@wdc.usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication
(braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)
should contact the USDA Target Center
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This rule provides clarifying
amendments to a number of regulations
that were published to implement
programs authorized by the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Pub. L. 110–246, the ‘‘2008 Farm Bill’’).
The regulations that are amended with
this rule specify provisions for the DCP,
ACRE, ELAP, LFP, MAL, SURE, and
LDP Programs.
Sections 1101 through 1109 of the
2008 Farm Bill specify the requirements
for DCP and ACRE Program. CCC
published regulations to implement the
DCP and ACRE Program in the Federal
Register on December 29, 2008 (73 FR
79284–79306). This rule amends the
regulations for DCP for the 2008 through
2012 crop years and for the ACRE
Program for the 2009 through 2012 crop
years. CCC is amending the regulations
to provide additional clarity and to
increase flexibility in the regulatory
requirements where the 2008 Farm Bill
permits and where CCC has determined
it is in the best interests of the programs
and participants. The amendments
include extending the enrollment period
for the 2009 crop year, simplifying
acreage and production reporting
requirements, removing a provision
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terminating base acres on Federally
owned land, and setting less restrictive
eligibility requirements for small farms
owned by socially disadvantaged or
limited resource producers. This rule
also makes minor technical
amendments and corrections, such as
including loan rates that are specified in
the 2008 Farm Bill, but were
inadvertently not included in the
regulations. The basic structure and
scope of DCP and the ACRE Program are
not changing with this rule.
Definitions; DCP and ACRE Program
This rule adds definitions to § 1412.3
that are needed to implement and
clarify the ACRE Program. These
definitions are already used in the forms
and contracts for the program, as well as
the instruction sheets and calculators on
FSA’s Web site. It is appropriate to put
these definitions in the regulations so
that producers have complete
information about how their benefit is
calculated. The definitions clarify how
prices, production, revenue, acreage and
expected yields will be determined for
the ACRE Program.
This rule defines how the State ACRE
guarantee is calculated for the purpose
of determining ACRE Program benefits:
It is 90 percent of the benchmark State
yield per acre times the ACRE guarantee
price. Although the term ‘‘ACRE
guarantee price’’ is included in the
contract appendix, prior to this
amendment, it did not appear in the
rule. Several other terms used in either
the appendix to the contract or in the
instructions for the ACRE calculator on
the FSA Web site were not previously
included in the rule. In order that the
regulations may be more
comprehensive, this rule adds the
following definitions that are used in
the forms, contracts, and online tools:
‘‘Actual farm yield and benchmark farm
yield,’’ ‘‘ACRE price,’’ ‘‘ACRE plug
yield,’’ ‘‘average yield per planted acre,’’
‘‘actual farm production,’’ and ‘‘actual
farm revenue.’’
In other cases, a definition is needed
to specify how a term used in other FSA
or CCC programs is used differently for
DCP and ACRE. For example, the
definition of ‘‘double cropping’’ in this
rule is slightly different from that used
for other FSA programs. The definition
in this rule clarifies what double crop
production will be recognized for ACRE
payment purposes. Other terms that
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may be used in other FSA or CCC
programs differently than for DCP and
ACRE, and are therefore added in this
rule, include ‘‘contract period,’’ ‘‘initial
crop,’’ ‘‘planted and considered
planted,’’ and ‘‘replacement crop.’’
This rule removes a provision in
§ 1412.45 that terminates base acres on
Federally owned land and prohibits the
establishment of base acres on such
land. It was determined that the
termination of base acres on Federal
land created an unintended adverse
effect on farmers and ranchers who
lease Federal farmland. This rule
amends the regulations accordingly to
reflect that determination. Not allowing
base acres in these instances would for
example, negatively impact family farms
that were seized by the Army Corps of
Engineers through eminent domain and
then leased back to the family after
flood control structures were installed.
As required by the 2008 Farm Bill, it
remains the case that the government
agencies are not, however, eligible for
farm payments.
This rule also amends provisions in
§§ 1412.41 and 1412.72 concerning the
enrollment period for the ACRE
program. The changes reflect
determinations made previously for the
2009 crop year that allowed additional
time for the start-up of the program.
In addition, Section 1101 of the 2008
Farm Bill specifically prohibits DCP and
ACRE program payments to producers
on farms that have 10 or less total base
acres of covered commodities or
peanuts, beginning with the 2009 crop
year, except for farms owned by socially
disadvantaged or limited resource
farmers. The current regulations specify
in § 1412.51 that a producer on a farm
with 10 or less base acres will not be
eligible to receive DCP or ACRE
program payments unless the farm is
wholly owned by a socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher or a
limited resource farmer or rancher. In
other FSA programs, a 50 percent
threshold has been used and FSA will
use that same threshold in § 1412.51.
The 2008 Farm Bill does not specify a
threshold and the new standard should
provide greater opportunities for
socially disadvantaged or limited
resource farmers to participate in DCP
and ACRE.
Section 1412.53 includes the 2008
loan rates for covered commodities and
peanuts and target prices for 2008
through 2012. That section is amended
in this rule to remove the loan rate for
extra long staple cotton, to incorporate
the loan rates for 2008 dry peas, lentils,
and large and small chick peas, and to
incorporate loan rates for covered
commodities and peanuts for the 2009
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through 2012 crop years. These are
technical corrections; extra long staple
cotton is not a covered commodity, and
the loan rates for 2009 to 2012 are
specified in the 2008 Farm Bill but were
inadvertently not included in the
regulations in the December 29, 2008,
final rule.
Section 1106 of the 2008 Farm Bill
specifies that no penalty will be
assessed against a producer unless it is
determined that a producer knowingly
and willingly falsified an acreage or
production report. Accordingly,
§ 1412.61 is amended to add a
paragraph that specifies if a violation
was not a knowing and willing
falsification, payments may still be
made, based on determined acreage and
production.
As a condition of payment eligibility,
§ 1412.66 requires the operator of a farm
to accurately report acreage. Section
1412.66 also provides that farms
enrolled in the Planting Transferability
Pilot Project as specified in § 1412.48
and farms enrolled in the ACRE
Program must submit an accurate report
of production accompanied by
documentation acceptable to CCC.
Section 1412.66 is being amended to no
longer require such extensive
documentation in all cases, but only
where CCC in its discretion requires
such documentation of that kind.
Producers will be able to certify
production without accompanying
documentation, unless CCC determines
such documentation is necessary. This
will lessen the burden on producers and
only require additional documentation
in cases where there is a particular need
for documentation or where a spot
check is being made. Producers are
required by § 1412.67 to submit a notice
of loss for both prevented planting and
low yield losses, unless the loss has
already been reported for the
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program (NAP). Section 1412.67 is being
amended to eliminate the notice of loss
requirement for low yield losses and to
require a notice of loss for prevented
planting only if a notice of such a loss
for NAP (also administered by FSA) has
not already been filed. The regulations
are also being amended to remove a
requirement that crop acreage that will
not be harvested must be left intact and
appraised. The removal of this
requirement will allow producers to
provide zero production reports without
an appraisal.
The amendments to §§ 1412.66 and
1412.67 will allow producers to certify
production for both harvested and
unharvested crop acreage without
having to submit documentation, unless
CCC, at its discretion, requests those
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records. Prior to this change, acceptable
production records (verifiable or
reliable) were always required with the
certification. These amendments are
intended to lessen the burden on
producers and on CCC. CCC has
insufficient resources to appraise each
case of lost or zero production.
Reporting and verifying loss information
that has already been reported for crop
insurance or NAP does not contribute to
program effectiveness or efficiency.
Section 1412.77, ‘‘Transfer of Land
and Succession-in-Interest,’’ specifies
the requirements for transfers of land
and successions-in-interest to ACRE
Program contracts. This section is being
amended to clarify that producers who
obtain a share in a crop of covered
commodities or peanuts through a
transfer of land or a succession-ininterest are not automatically eligible for
ACRE payment. To be eligible for the
ACRE Program, either as initial share
interests or as successors-in-interest,
producers must sign an ACRE Program
contract during the contract period. This
rule also amends § 1412.73, ‘‘Sharing of
ACRE Payments,’’ to clarify that each
producer on a farm must sign the ACRE
Program contract for the farm to receive
that producer’s share of any potential
payment. This rule does not change the
requirement that once a farm has been
enrolled in ACRE no one, even
independent successors, can participate
on that farm on a non-ACRE basis in
DCP. Under ACRE, however, a portion
of the direct DCP payments can be made
as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill and
in the regulations.
DCP and ACRE Program contracts are
annual contracts. However, § 1412.78
specifies incorrectly that in the event
that a contract is terminated for a
violation, the terminated acreage
remains ineligible for DCP and ACRE
Program participation from the time of
termination through the 2012 crop year.
That is not correct. The period of
ineligibility for violations of DCP or
ACRE Program provisions cannot
exceed the contract period. Accordingly,
§ 1412.78 is being corrected to specify
that terminated acreage will be
ineligible for DCP and ACRE Program
participation from the time of
termination until the end of the annual
contract period in which the violation
occurred. Once more, however, once a
farm has a valid ACRE election the farm
cannot participate on a non-ACRE basis
in the DCP. Terminating an annual DCP
or ACRE contract, for any reason, does
not impact the ACRE election under
§ 1412.72.
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Disaster Assistance, Market Assistance
Loans, and Loan Deficiency Payments
Programs Clarifying Amendments
Sections 12033 and 15101 of the 2008
Farm Bill specify the requirements for
LFP and ELAP. The final rules for LFP
and ELAP as authorized by the 2008
Farm Bill were published in the Federal
Register on September 11, 2009 (74 FR
46666–46683).
This rule also amends the regulations
in 7 CFR part 760, subpart D, for LFP
to clarify that eligible covered livestock
are livestock that would normally be
grazing in that county during the
grazing period, rather than grazing on
the exact day a drought began.
This rule makes clarifying
amendments to the ELAP regulations in
7 CFR part 760, subpart C, to specify
that producers are eligible for payments
based on fair market value of lost fish
or honeybees. These amendments are
needed to clarify that producers who
decide not to replace fish or honeybees
are eligible for payment based on the
fair market value of those losses, and do
not need to provide documentation as to
actual replacement cost. This change is
consistent with other types of livestock
loss payments as specified in other
regulations in part 760, which provide
payment based on fair market value,
rather than documented actual
replacement cost, and provide payment
regardless of whether or not the lost
livestock is replaced.
This rule also amends the ELAP
regulations specifying acceptable
documentation for the loss of honeybee
colonies due to colony collapse disorder
(CCD). The amendment allows
documentation by an independent third
party determined acceptable by FSA, or,
for losses in 2008 and 2009, selfcertification by the producer. The
previous requirement for certification by
a registered entomologist, Cooperative
Extension Specialist, or Land Grant
University is removed, because the
exact cause of CCD cannot be identified
and such experts may be unwilling or
unable to certify when honeybee colony
losses were specifically due to CCD.
Also, changes in the regulations reflect
that a payment may be made even if the
lost bees are not replaced.
This rule also makes technical
corrections to the regulations in 7 CFR
part 1421 for Marketing Assistance
Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments to
correct language in several provisions to
be consistent throughout the
regulations. The MAL and LDP final
rule as authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill
were published in the Federal Register
on April 7, 2009 (74 FR 15644–15657).
This rule removes a reference to
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‘‘individual’’ and replaces it with a
reference to ‘‘person,’’ to be consistent
with the rest of the part. Flaxseed was
referenced in two different paragraphs
about determination of eligible
commodity; the incorrect reference in
§ 1421.5 is removed with this rule.
Other minor technical corrections
include correcting typos and correcting
a reference to authorized warehouses.
Another technical change is an
amendment to language in
§ 1421.104(a)(1) to remove language
about mandatory lien searches. Such
searches are for the purpose of
protecting CCC’s interests only and need
not be addressed in the regulations at
all. Further, in the case of marketing
loans for commodities stored in a
commercial warehouse, CCC’s interest is
usually protected by possession of the
warehouse receipt. As amended the rule
specifies simply that CCC may conduct
lien searches and perfect a lien under
State Law as it deems warranted to
protect its own interests.
This rule also makes clarifying
amendments and technical corrections
to SURE. The final rule for SURE as
authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill was
published in the Federal Register on
December 28, 2009 (74 FR 68480–
68498) and implemented SURE in 7
CFR part 760, subpart G. Originally the
implementation plans for SURE was to
have a fully automated system; now the
system will be manual. As a result, we
have reconsidered the information
available and how best to administer
SURE. One of the key issues was
weighting the counter-cyclical yield for
comparison to the weighted adjusted
APH yield and weighted adjusted NAP
approved yield as applicable.
In § 760.638(c), we specify that the
‘‘counter-cyclical yield for a crop on a
farm will be weighted based on total
planted and prevented planted acres in
the county for the current crop year.’’ In
a fully automated system, we could
have set it to automatically pull the
information required for the calculation.
However, in a manual system, it would
be unnecessarily burdensome
administratively. Therefore, to ease the
administrative burden, we are revising
the regulation to not specify how the
counter-cyclical yield will be weighted
and in the short run this may simply be
based on the DCP base acres on the
farms involved in the SURE farm. Under
SURE, all of the producer’s normal
(from an FSA administrative standpoint)
‘‘farms’’ (each of which may have a
separate schedule of yields) are treated
as one SURE ‘‘farm’’—therefore requiring
weighting. The 2008 Farm Bill does not
specify precisely how these calculations
will be made. The rule change improves
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19187
FSA’s ability to make timely payments
to farmers in SURE, which is designed
to counterbalance current market trends.
In the SURE final rule, a flowchart
was published in the preamble showing
the SURE calculations. We realize that
in the rule portion we inadvertently left
out a factor in the calculation.
Therefore, we are correcting
§ 760.638(d)(2) to specify that in the
case of crops that were waived in for
NAP or RMA coverage the weighted
counter-cyclical yield will be calculated
as 65 percent of county expected yield
or counter-cyclical yield.
Eligibility of Foreign Persons Clarifying
Amendment
This rule clarifies provisions that
limit the eligibility of foreign persons
for FSA and CCC program payments in
7 CFR part 1400. The regulations
governing the eligibility of foreign
persons for payments are being
amended to conform with the specific
statutory provisions providing for that
limitation, as amended by the 2008
Farm Bill.
Notice and Comment
These regulations are exempt from the
notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
553), as specified in section 1601(c) of
the 2008 Farm Bill, which requires that
the regulations be promulgated and
administered without regard to the
notice and comment provisions of
section 553 of title 5 of the United States
Code or the Statement of Policy of the
Secretary of Agriculture effective July
24, 1971, (36 FR 13804) relating to
notices of proposed rulemaking and
public participation in rulemaking.
Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) has designated this rule as not
significant under Executive Order 12866
and, therefore, OMB has not reviewed
this final rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule is not subject to the
Regulatory Flexibility Act since CCC
and FSA are not required to publish a
notice of proposed rulemaking for this
rule.
Environmental Review
The environmental impacts of this
rule have been considered in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347), the
regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts
1500–1508), and FSA regulations for
compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part
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799). FSA has determined that
participation in acreage set-aside,
acreage allotment, and other similar
programs to those in 7 CFR 1412 will
not significantly affect the quality of the
human environment (7 CFR part
799.9(d)). Therefore no environmental
assessment or environmental impact
statement will be prepared.
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal
assistance program, as found in the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance,
to which this final rule applies are:
Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program,
10.055. ELAP, LFP, and SURE, 10.090.
Commodity Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments, 10.051.
Executive Order 12372
Paperwork Reduction Act
The regulations in this rule are
exempt from the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), as specified in section
1601(c)(2) of the 2008 Farm Bill, which
provides that these regulations be
promulgated and administered without
regard to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372, which requires
consultation with State and local
officials. See the notice related to 7 CFR
part 3015, subpart V, published in the
Federal Register on June 24, 1983 (48
FR 29115).
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under
Executive Order 12988. This rule
relaxes some previous requirements and
contains no provisions that are
retroactively more restrictive. It does not
preempt State or local laws, regulations,
or policies unless they present an
irreconcilable conflict with this rule.
Before any judicial action may be
brought regarding the provisions of this
rule the administrative appeal
provisions of 7 CFR parts 11 and 780
must be exhausted.
Executive Order 13132
The policies contained in this rule do
not have any substantial direct effect on
States, on the relationship between the
Federal Government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Nor does this rule
impose substantial direct compliance
costs on State and local governments.
Therefore, consultation with the States
is not required.
Executive Order 13175
The policies contained in this rule do
not impose substantial unreimbursed
direct compliance costs on Indian Tribal
governments or have Tribal implications
that preempt Tribal law.
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Unfunded Mandates
This rule contains no Federal
mandates under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA)
for State, local, and Tribal government
or the private sector. In addition, CCC
was not required to publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking for this rule.
Therefore, this rule is not subject to the
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of
UMRA.
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E-Government Act Compliance
CCC is committed to complying with
the E-Government Act, to promote the
use of the Internet and other
information technologies to provide
increased opportunities for citizen
access to Government information and
services, and for other purposes.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 760
Dairy products, Indemnity payments,
Pesticide and pests, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
7 CFR Part 1400
Agriculture, Loan programs—
agriculture, Conservation, Price support
programs.
7 CFR Part 1412
Cotton, Feed grains, Oilseeds,
Peanuts, Price support programs,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Rice, Soil conservation,
Wheat.
7 CFR Part 1421
Barley, Feed grains, Grains, Loan
programs—agriculture, Oats, Oilseeds,
Peanuts, Price support programs,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Soybeans, Surety bonds,
Warehouses, Wheat.
■ For the reasons discussed above, this
rule amends 7 CFR parts 760, 1400,
1412, and 1421 as follows:
PART 760—INDEMNITY PAYMENT
PROGRAMS
1. The authority citation for part 760
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4501, 7 U.S.C. 1531, 16
U.S.C. 3801, note, and 19 U.S.C. 2497; Title
III, Pub. L. 109–234, 120 Stat. 474; Title IX,
Pub. L. 110–28, 121 Stat. 211, and Sec. 748,
Pub. L. 111–80, 123 Stat. 2131.
■
2. Amend § 760.203 as follows:
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a. In paragraph (h), third sentence,
add the word ‘‘acceptable’’ before the
word ‘‘documentation’’ and
■ b. In paragraph (h), remove the last
sentence and add two sentences in its
place to read as set forth below.
■
§ 760.203 Eligible losses, adverse weather,
and other loss conditions.
*
*
*
*
*
(h)* * * 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.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Revise § 760.206, paragraph (d), to
read as follows:
§ 760.206
process.
Notice of loss and application
*
*
*
*
*
(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 selfcertification may be accepted by FSA
together with any additional
information demanded by FSA as
determined appropriate by the Deputy
Administrator.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Revise § 760.210, paragraphs (b)
and (c), to read as follows:
§ 760.210
Honeybee payment calculations.
*
*
*
*
*
(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
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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.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 5. Revise § 760.211, paragraph (b), to
read as follows:
PART 1400—PAYMENT LIMITATION
AND PAYMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR 2009
AND SUBSEQUENT CROP, PROGRAM,
OR FISCAL YEARS
8. The authority citation for part 1400
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1308, 1308–1, 1308–2,
1308–3, 1308–3a, 1308–4, and 1308–5.
9. Amend § 1400.401 by revising
paragraph (a) to read as follows:
■
§ 1400.401
Eligibility
(a) Subject to the conditions set out in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section,
any person who is not a citizen of the
United States or an alien lawfully
admitted into the United States for
permanent residence under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101–1778) will be ineligible to
receive any type of loans or payments
§ 760.211 Farm-raised fish payment
made available under Title I of the
calculations.
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
*
*
*
*
*
2008, the Agricultural Market Transition
(b) An eligible producer of farm-raised Act, the Commodity Credit Corporation
game or sport fish may receive
Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714–714o), or
payments for death losses of farm-raised subtitle D of Title XII of the Food
fish due to an eligible adverse weather
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831–
or eligible loss condition, as provided in 3836), or under any contract entered
§ 760.203(i), based on 60 percent of the
into under Title XII of that Act (16
average fair market value of the game
U.S.C. 3801–3845), with respect to any
fish or sport fish that died as a direct
commodity produced, or land set aside
result of an eligible adverse weather or
from production, on a farm that is
eligible loss condition, as computed
owned or operated by such person,
using nationwide prices unless some
unless such person is an individual who
other price data is approved for use by
is providing land, capital, and a
the Deputy Administrator.
substantial amount of personal labor in
the production of crops on such farm.
*
*
*
*
*
Likewise, and subject to the same
§ 760.304 [Amended]
conditions, such persons may be
ineligible for payments under any other
■ 6. Amend § 760.304 as follows:
program which by its own regulations
■ a. In paragraph (a)(2), remove the
specifically provides for such an
words ‘‘on the beginning date’’ and add,
in their place, the words ‘‘in the county’’. ineligibility and adopts these
regulations.
■ b. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), remove the
words ‘‘Of the qualifying drought
*
*
*
*
*
during’’ and add, in their place, the
PART 1412—DIRECT AND COUNTER–
word ‘‘During’’.
CYCLICAL PROGRAM AND AVERAGE
■ 7. Revise § 760.638, paragraphs (c)
CROP REVENUE ELECTION
and (d)(2), to read as follows:
PROGRAM FOR THE 2008 AND
§ 760.638 Determination of SURE yield.
SUBSEQUENT CROP YEARS
*
*
*
*
*
■ 10. The authority citation for part
(c) The counter-cyclical yield for a
1412 continues to read as follows:
crop on a SURE farm will be weighted
in such manner as FSA deems fit taking
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7911–7918, 7951–7956,
into account a desire for a consistent
8711–8719, 8751–8756, and 8781; and 15
system and FSA’s ability to make timely U.S.C. 714b and 714c.
yield determinations.
■ 11. Amend § 1412.3 by adding
(d)* * *
definitions, in alphabetical order, for
(2) The SURE yield will be the higher ‘‘ACRE guarantee price,’’ ‘‘ACRE plug
of the yield calculated using the method yield,’’ ‘‘ACRE price,’’ Actual farm
in paragraph (d)(1) of this section or 65
production,’’ ‘‘Actual farm revenue,’’
percent of the weighted counter-cyclical ‘‘Actual farm yield,’’ ‘‘Actual State
yield as determined in paragraph (c) of
yield,’’ ‘‘Actual State revenue,’’ ‘‘Actual
this section.
yield per planted acre,’’ ‘‘Benchmark
*
*
*
*
*
farm yield,’’ ‘‘Benchmark State yield,’’
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19189
‘‘Contract period,’’ ‘‘Double-cropping,’’
‘‘Farm ACRE guarantee,’’ ‘‘Initial crop,’’
‘‘Limited resource farmer,’’ ‘‘Medium
grain rice,’’ ‘‘Minimum and maximum
guarantee,’’ ‘‘National loan rate,’’ ‘‘Per
acre producer-paid crop insurance
premium,’’ ‘‘Planted acres for a State,’’
‘‘Planted and considered planted
(P&CP),’’ ‘‘Replacement crop,’’ ‘‘Reseeded
or replanted crop,’’ ‘‘Socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher,’’ and
‘‘State ACRE guarantee,’’ to read as
follows:
§ 1412.3
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
ACRE guarantee price means the
simple average, as determined by CCC,
of the national average market prices of
the covered commodity or peanuts for
the most recent two crop years
preceding the relevant current crop
year. For example, for the 2009 program
the relevant crop year is the 2009 crop
year. Therefore, for the 2009 program,
the ACRE guarantee price for the
covered commodity or peanuts is equal
to the simple average of the national
average market prices of the covered
commodity or peanuts for the 2007 and
2008 crops.
ACRE plug yield means the resulting
yield determined by taking the
applicable NASS county average yield
for the covered commodity or peanuts,
by practice if applicable, and
multiplying it by 95 percent. The ACRE
plug yield may be used by a farm in
establishing an initial benchmark farm
yield or reporting actual production in
accordance with instructions issued by
the Deputy Administrator. The ACRE
plug yield is also used on a farm for a
covered commodity or peanuts in a year
where there are no acres of the covered
commodity or peanuts planted. The
ACRE plug yield may be found on the
FSA Web site at: https://
www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp/ by clicking
‘‘ACRE County Yields.’’ ACRE plug
yields are used in benchmark farm
yields. If the National Agricultural
Statistical Service (NASS) data is not
available for a particular practice of a
covered commodity or peanuts from
which an ACRE plug yield can be
established, the Deputy Administrator
may establish an ACRE plug yield for
the practice of the covered commodity
or peanuts based a computation of
multiplying 95 percent times the yield
determined based on production data
available from FSA farm records in the
county, or in the event sufficient records
do not exist, another data source
determined appropriate by the Deputy
Administrator.
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ACRE price means the higher of the
following, as determined by CCC, for the
covered commodity or peanuts:
(1) The national average price
received by producers during the 12month marketing year (as defined in this
part) for the relevant current crop of the
covered commodity or peanuts (the
relevant current crop for a program year
is the corresponding crop for
commodity for that year—for example,
the current crop for the 2009 program is
the 2009 crop), or
(2) 70 percent of the marketing
assistance loan rate for the relevant
current crop of the commodity under 7
U.S.C. 8731–8757.
Actual farm production means all of
a farm’s harvested and appraised
production, including grazed acres, of a
covered commodity or peanuts.
Appraisals must be performed by
appraisers acceptable to FSA.
Appraisals performed according to the
Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program (NAP) or crop insurance
guidelines are generally deemed
acceptable to FSA for DCP and ACRE
Program purposes.
Actual farm revenue means the per
acre amount computed by multiplying
the actual farm yield, which is a per
acre amount, of a covered commodity or
peanuts times the ACRE price for the
relevant current crop year. The relevant
current crop year for these and other
purposes is the crop year that
corresponds to the calendar year in
which the relevant program year ends.
Therefore, for the 2009 contract or 2009
program, the relevant crop year would
be the 2009 crop (that is, the crop
considered to be the crop for the 2009
crop year).
Actual farm yield means for the
relevant current crop year, the per acre
amount determined by dividing the
actual farm production of a covered
commodity or peanuts by the farm’s
total planted and considered planted
acres of the covered commodity or
peanuts.
Actual State yield means the State’s
per acre amount for the relevant current
crop year for a commodity determined
by dividing the actual production in the
State of the covered commodity or
peanuts by the total planted acres of the
covered commodity or peanuts in the
State.
Actual State revenue means the per
acre amount for a covered commodity or
peanuts determined for the relevant
current crop year by multiplying the
actual State yield by the covered
commodity or peanuts times the ACRE
price.
Average yield per planted acre means
the actual farm production of a covered
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commodity or peanuts for a year
divided by the farm’s planted acres.
*
*
*
*
*
Benchmark farm yield means, except
as otherwise provided, a per acre yield
for a covered commodity or peanuts
computed using the Olympic average of
the average yield per planted acre for
the farm for the commodity for the 5
most recent crop years. The term
‘‘Olympic average’’ means that the
highest and lowest per acre yields for
the 5 years will be eliminated and the
remaining annual entries will be
averaged. CCC may make such
adjustments as it deems necessary to
create a fair yield for the farm so as to
ensure the integrity of the ACRE
Program. For purposes of determining a
benchmark farm yield, yields on planted
acres only will be considered except to
the extent that the farm does not have
a sufficient history to make a fair yield
determination in which case a yield
may be assigned by CCC.
Benchmark State yield means for a
covered commodity or peanuts a per
acre yield computed using the Olympic
average of the average yield per planted
acre for the State for the commodity for
the 5 most recent crop years. To the
extent practicable, it will be calculated
using data from NASS. The benchmark
State yield is used in determining the
State ACRE guarantee. CCC may make
such adjustments in these yields as it
deems necessary to provide for a fair
yield and to ensure the integrity of the
program.
*
*
*
*
*
Contract period means the
compliance period set out for the
contract for the particular program year.
The program year is designated in item
1 of the contract. Contracts for different
program years will be referenced by
their program year. Thus, for example,
a reference to the ‘‘2009 contract’’ means
the contract for the 2009 program year
and the relevant current crop for a
program year is the corresponding crop
for that commodity. Therefore, the
relevant current crop for the 2009
program is, with respect to a particular
commodity, the 2009 crop. References
to the ‘‘contract’’ period refer to the
compliance period for the particular
program year. The compliance periods
for the various program years are as
follows:
(1) For the 2009 contract (and
therefore for the 2009 program), the
period that begins on October 1, 2008
and ends on September 30, 2009;
(2) For the 2010 contract, the period
that begins on October 1, 2009 and ends
on September 30, 2010;
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(3) For the 2011 contract, the period
that begins on October 1, 2010 and ends
on September 30, 2011;
(4) For the 2012 contract, the period
that begins on October 1, 2011 and ends
on September 30, 2012.
*
*
*
*
*
Double-cropping means for covered
commodities and peanuts,
notwithstanding the meaning in
§ 1412.47(e) for fruits and vegetables,
the planting of a covered commodity or
peanuts for harvest in a crop year, in
cycle with another covered commodity
or peanuts on the same acres for harvest
in the same crop year in counties that
have been determined to be areas where
there is determined to be substantial,
successful and long-term double
cropping of the crop and where the
producer has followed customary
production techniques and planting
deadlines as determined by CCC (that is,
using techniques and deadlines used by
the majority of farmers in the region to
double crop the particular crops
involved). In a county determined
capable of supporting such doublecropping the covered commodities or
peanuts, as determined by CCC, both an
initial crop and a subsequent crop will
be considered planted or prevented
planted acres for the purpose of Subpart
G of this part. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of § 718.103, in those
instances where the subsequently
planted or approved prevented planted
covered commodity or peanuts cannot
be recognized as double-cropped
acreage under this definition, the
subsequently planted covered
commodity or peanuts will not be
considered planted or prevented
planted for any purpose.
*
*
*
*
*
Farm ACRE guarantee means, for a
crop year of a covered commodity or
peanuts, the per acre producer-paid
crop insurance premium (if any) added
to the result of multiplying the
benchmark farm yield, which is a per
acre amount, times the ACRE guarantee
price. The farm ACRE guarantee is used
in determining whether a farm is
eligible for ACRE payments for a
covered commodity or peanuts.
*
*
*
*
*
Initial crop means acreage of a
covered commodity or peanuts planted
or approved as prevented planted for
harvest as peanuts, grain, or lint. The
initial crop includes reseeded or
replanted crop acreage.
Limited resource farmer means, as
determined in accordance with
§ 1412.51, a farmer or rancher who
meets both of the following criteria:
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(1) The person did not have, counting
both direct and indirect interests, total
gross farm sales for all farms in which
that person has an interest of not more
than the triggering level in both of the
two calendar years that precede the
calendar year in which the contract year
begins. The triggering level is an
indexed number that was originally set
at $100,000. Beginning in October 2004,
that number has been adjusted for
inflation using the Prices Paid by the
Farmer Index compiled by NASS. The
triggering level for the DCP or ACRE
contract will be the indexed number
(see https://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/
tool.asp) as adjusted for the fiscal year
that begins on the first day of the
contract period.
(2) The person’s total household
income is at or below the national
poverty level for a family of 4 or less
than 50 percent of county median
household income in each of the two
most recent calendar years ending
before the end of the program year, as
CCC determines using U.S. Commerce
Department Data.
*
*
*
*
*
Medium grain rice means medium
and short grain rice.
Minimum and maximum guarantee
means, with respect to the State ACRE
guarantee for each of the 2010 through
2012 crop years, the adjusted amounts
that assure that the State ACRE
guarantee for a program year for a
covered commodity or peanuts will not
decrease or increase more than 10
percent from the announced State ACRE
guarantee for the preceding program
year.
National loan rate means the loan rate
established as specified in § 1421.9 of
this chapter.
*
*
*
*
*
Per acre producer-paid crop
insurance premium means the
insurance premiums paid by all
producers of a farm for insurance on a
covered commodity or peanuts,
provided that at least some of the
insured crop acreage is subject to a DCP
contract and ACRE contract, divided by
the total acres of the covered commodity
or peanuts covered by the insurance;
regardless of whether or not all of the
acres insured are included on the farm’s
reported acreage for other programs, or
are subject to a DCP contract and ACRE
contract. Fees for catastrophic risk
protection plan of insurance coverage or
noninsured crop disaster assistance
program coverage are not per acre
producer-paid crop insurance
premiums. Example: Producers A, B,
and C have an interest in barley on a
farm and the farm is enrolled in ACRE.
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Producers A and B paid crop insurance
premiums totaling $800 on 100 insured
barley acres. Regardless of how many
acres of barley are planted, the per acre
producer-paid crop insurance premium
for barley is equal to $8.
Planted acres for a State means for:
(1) Corn, sorghum, barley, oats, and
wheat, the sum of harvested acres in a
State, as reported by NASS and the sum
of failed acres in a State, as reported by
producers to FSA.
(2) All other crops, the sum of planted
acres in a State, as reported by NASS.
(3) Crops where NASS data is not
available, the planted acres as
determined by CCC using other sources.
Planted and considered planted
(P&CP) means, with respect to an
acreage amount, the sum of the planted
and prevented planted acres approved
by the FSA county committee on the
farm for a crop. For the purposes of this
part, P&CP is limited to initially planted
or prevented planted crop acreage,
except for crops planted in an approved
double-cropping sequence. Replacement
crop acreage is not included as P&CP.
*
*
*
*
*
Replacement crop means the planting
or approved prevented planting of any
crop for harvest following the failed
planting or prevented planted acreage of
a covered commodity or peanuts not in
a recognized double-cropping sequence
(as specified in this section).
Replacement crops that are covered
commodities or peanuts are not eligible
for planted and considered planted
credit under this part and cannot
generate payments under this part.
Reseeded or replanted crop means the
second planting of a covered commodity
or peanut crop on the same acreage after
the first planting of that same crop has
failed.
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 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:
(1) American Indians or Alaskan
Natives,
(2) Asians or Asian-Americans,
(3) Blacks or African-Americans,
(4) Hispanics or Hispanic-Americans,
and
(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific
Islanders.
State ACRE guarantee means the per
acre amount for the crop which is 90
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19191
percent of the benchmark State yield
times the ACRE guarantee price, subject
to the minimum and maximum
guarantee specified in these regulations.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 12. Amend § 1412.41 as follows:
■ a. Revise paragraph (a)(1) and (a)(2)(i)
to read as set forth below,
■ b. Amend paragraph (a)(3) by
removing the words ‘‘on or before June
1’’ and adding, in their place, the words
‘‘by the date specified in paragraph
(a)(2)(i) of this section’’, and
■ c. Amend paragraph (b), in the first
sentence, by removing the words ‘‘on or
before June 1 of the year of the contract’’
and adding, in their place, the words
‘‘by the enrollment date specified in
paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section’’.
§ 1412.41 Direct and counter-cyclical
program contract or ACRE program
contract.
(a) * * *
(1) With respect to fiscal year 2008
payments, CCC will, through the date
announced by CCC, entertain offers for
DCP contracts by eligible producers of
covered commodities and peanuts. With
respect to fiscal year 2009 payments,
CCC will entertain offers by eligible
producers for an annual DCP or ACRE
program contract through August 14,
2009. With respect to fiscal years 2010
through 2012 payments, CCC will
annually allow offers for a DCP or ACRE
program contract by eligible producers
on a farm having base acres with respect
to a covered commodity or peanuts,
through June 1 of each such fiscal year.
(2)(i) Eligible producers must execute
and submit a DCP or ACRE program
contract and furnish supportive and
necessary contractual documents to the
county FSA office where the records for
the program farm are administratively
maintained not later than August 14,
2009, for 2009 fiscal year contracts and
not later than June 1 of the applicable
year for 2010 through 2012 fiscal year
contracts.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 1412.45
[Amended]
13. Amend § 1412.45 by removing
paragraph (d).
■
§ 1412.51
[Amended]
14. Amend § 1412.51 as follows:
a. In paragraph (c), in the second
sentence, remove the words ‘‘whollyowned’’ and add, in their place, the
words ‘‘at least 50 percent owned’’ and
■ b. In paragraph (c), in the third
sentence, remove the words ‘‘each
individual or entity with an interest in
the entity must be a socially
disadvantaged or limited resource
farmer or rancher ’’ and add, in their
■
■
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place, the words ‘‘at least 50 percent of
the ownership interest in the entity
must be socially disadvantaged or
limited resource farmers or ranchers’’.
■ 15. Amend § 1412.53 as follows:
■ a. In paragraph (b)(1)(ii), remove the
words ‘‘2008 crop year’’ and add, in their
place, the words ‘‘2008 and 2009 crop
years,’’
■ b. Remove paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(G) and
redesignate paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(H)
through (b)(1)(ii)(K) as paragraphs
(b)(1)(ii)(G) through (b)(1)(ii)(J),
■ c. Redesignate paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(L)
as paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(O),
■ d. Add paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(K)
through (b)(1)(ii)(N) to read as set forth
below,
■ e. Add paragraph (b)(1)(iii) to read as
set forth below,
§ 1412.53 Counter-cyclical payment
provisions.
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) * * *
(K) Dry Peas—$5.40/cwt. (2009 crop
only).
(L) Lentils—$11.28/cwt. (2009 crop
only).
(M) Small Chickpeas—$7.43/cwt.
(2009 crop only).
(N) Large Chickpeas—$11.28/cwt.
(2009 crop only).
*
*
*
*
*
(iii) For the 2010 through 2012 crop
years the following rates:
(A) Wheat—$2.94/bu.
(B) Corn—$1.95/bu.
(C) Grain sorghum—$1.95/bu.
(D) Barley—$1.95/bu.
(E) Oats—$1.39/bu.
(F) Upland cotton—$0.52/lb.
(G) Long grain rice—$6.50/cwt.
(H) Medium grain rice—$6.50/cwt.
(I) Soybeans—$5.00/bu.
(J) Other oilseeds—$10.09/cwt.
(K) Dry Peas—$5.40/cwt.
(L) Lentils—$11.28/cwt.
(M) Small Chickpeas—$7.43/cwt.
(N) Large Chickpeas—$11.28/cwt.
(O) Peanuts—$355.00/ton.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 16. Amend § 1412.61 as follows:
■ a. In paragraph (a), in the first
sentence, remove the words ‘‘paragraph
(b)’’ and add, in their place, the words
‘‘paragraphs (b) and (c)’’ and
■ b. Add paragraph (c) to read as set
forth below.
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*
§ 1412.61
Contract violations.
*
*
*
*
(c) If there is a violation of § 1412.66
due to an inaccurate report of either
acreage or production and CCC
determines that the violation was not a
16:13 Apr 13, 2010
§ 1412.66
Jkt 220001
[Amended]
17. Amend § 1412.66 as follows:
a. In paragraph (b), first sentence,
remove the word ‘‘Producers’’ at the
beginning of the sentence and add, in its
place, the words ‘‘As a condition of
eligibility for payments under this part,
producers’’
■ b. In paragraph (b), second sentence,
remove the word ‘‘The’’ at the beginning
of the sentence and add, in its place, the
words ‘‘At the discretion of CCC, the’’.
■ 18. Amend § 1412.67 as follows:
■ a. Revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read
as set forth below,
■ b. In paragraph (c)(2), remove the
words ‘‘damage or loss’’ and add, in their
place, the words ‘‘prevented planting,’’
and
■ c. Remove paragraph (d).
■
■
§ 1412.67
Notices of loss.
(a) If a notice of loss for prevented
planting under a policy or plan of
insurance or pursuant to part 1437 of
this chapter has not already been filed,
at least one producer having a share of
a crop intended to be planted pursuant
to § 1412.48 or a having a share of a crop
of a covered commodity or peanuts on
a farm enrolled in the ACRE program
must provide a notice of loss for
prevented planting to CCC in the
administrative FSA office for the farm,
within 15 calendar days after the final
planting date.
(b) For a prevented planting notice
filed in accordance with this section,
the notice of loss must include:
(1) Total acreage intended to be
planted to the crop in the administrative
county;
(2) Total acreage planted by the
producer to the crop in the
administrative county;
(3) Whether a purchase, delivery, or
arrangement for purchase or delivery
was made for seed, chemicals, fertilizer,
etc.; and
(4) When land preparation measures,
for example, cultivation, were
completed, and what has been done or
will be done with the acreage, for
example, abandoned, replanted, etc.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 1412.72
*
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knowing and willing falsification or
misrepresentation by producers on the
contract under paragraph (a) of this
section, payments may be made to the
producers specified on the contract
based on determined acreage and
production.
[Amended]
19. Amend § 1412.72 as follows:
a. In paragraph (a), first sentence,
remove the date ‘‘June 1 of 2009’’ and
add, in its place, the date ‘‘August 14,
2009,’’
■
■
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b. In paragraph (d) introductory text,
remove the words ‘‘June 1 of’’ at the end,
■ c. In paragraph (d)(1), add the words
‘‘August 14,’’ at the beginning,
■ d. Redesignate paragraphs (d)(2)
through (d)(4) as paragraphs (d)(2)(i)
through (d)(2)(iii),
■ e. Add new introductory text to
paragraph (d)(2) to read as set forth
below, and
■ f. In paragraph (h), remove the words
‘‘June 1’’ both times they appear and
add, in their place, the words ‘‘August
14, 2009, for the 2009 election period
and June 1 in each of the 2010, 2011,
and 2012 fiscal years.’’
■
§ 1412.72 Availability and election of
alternative approach.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) * * *
(2) June 1 of:
*
*
*
*
*
■ 20. Amend § 1412.73 by adding
paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as follows:
§ 1412.73
Sharing of ACRE payments.
*
*
*
*
*
(c) Shares of ACRE payments will be
determined based on shares recorded on
the report of acreage filed in accordance
with § 1412.66. Each eligible producer
having a share of covered commodities
or peanuts planted or considered
planted on a farm enrolled under an
ACRE program contract must do both of
the following to be eligible for their
share of an ACRE payment:
(1) Unless otherwise already enrolled
on the ACRE program contract with a
share of base acres on the farm, sign the
ACRE program contract during the
contract period.
(2) Have the producer’s share
recorded on report of acreage filed in
accordance with part 718 of this title
and § 1412.66 of this part.
(d) In a case where a producer has
failed to sign an ACRE program contract
for the producer’s reported share of
covered commodities or peanuts
planted or considered planted on a farm
enrolled in accordance with this
subpart, that producer’s share will not
receive any consideration for payment
and will not generate any payment to
the producer or to any other producer
on the farm.
■ 21. Amend § 1412.77 as follows:
■ a. In paragraph (a), second sentence,
add the word ‘‘program’’ between the
words ‘‘ACRE’’ and ‘‘contract’’, and
■ b. Add paragraph (f) to read as set
forth below.
§ 1412.77 Transfer of land and successionin-interest.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Producers who have reported a
share interest on an acreage report of
E:\FR\FM\14APR1.SGM
14APR1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 14, 2010 / Rules and Regulations
covered commodities and peanuts
planted or prevented from being planted
on a farm are not automatically
considered successors. In accordance
with § 1412.73, such producers who
have not already signed the ACRE
program contract have until the end of
the contract period to sign the ACRE
program contract or that share will not
receive payment consideration.
§ 1412.78
[Amended]
22. In § 1412.78, paragraph (a)(2)(iii),
remove the date ‘‘2012’’ and add, in its
place, the words ‘‘the end of the contract
period’’.
■
PART 1421—GRAINS AND SIMILARLY
HANDLED COMMODITIES—
MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS
AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS
FOR 2008 THROUGH 2012
23. The authority citation for part
1421 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7231–7237 and 7931–
7936; 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c, and7 U.S.C.
8731–8736.
§ 1421.4
[Amended]
24. Amend § 1421.4 as follows:
a. In paragraph (a)(1), first sentence,
remove the words ‘‘an individual’’ and
add, in their place, the words ‘‘a person’’
and
■ b. In paragraph (e)(1)(ii), remove the
word ‘‘corporate’’ and add, in its place,
the word ‘‘cooperate’’.
■
■
§ 1421.5
[Amended]
25. Amend § 1421.5 as follows:
a. In paragraph (c)(4), first sentence,
remove the word ‘‘respect’’ and add, in
its place, the word ‘‘regard’’, and
■ b. In paragraph (c)(5), first sentence,
remove the word ‘‘flaxseed,’’.
■ 26, Amend 1421.104 as follows:
■ a. Revise paragraph (a)(1) to read as
set forth below and
■ b. In paragraph (a)(2) remove the
words ‘‘paragraph (a)(1) of this section’’
and add, in their place, the words ‘‘this
part’’.
■
■
§ 1421.104
making.
Marketing assistance loan
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with RULES
(a)(1) CCC may conduct such lien
searches, and may perfect its interest in
loan commodities under State law, as it
deems to be in its interest.
*
*
*
*
*
§ 1421.107
[Amended]
27. Amend § 1421.107 as follows:
a. In paragraph (g)(1), remove the
words ‘‘under the U.S. Warehouse Act’’,
and add, in their place, the words ‘‘by
an authorized warehouse as specified in
§ 1421.103(c)(1)’’, and
■
■
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 13, 2010
Jkt 220001
b. In paragraph (g)(2), remove the
reference to ‘‘paragraph (f)(1) of this
section’’ and add, in its place, a
reference to ‘‘paragraph (g)(1) of this
section.’’
■
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 7,
2010.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency,
and Executive Vice President, Commodity
Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010–8308 Filed 4–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2007–28377; Directorate
Identifier 2007–NM–063–AD; Amendment
39–16257; AD 2010–08–02]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Empresa
Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
(EMBRAER) Model ERJ 170 and ERJ
190 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This AD results
from mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI)
originated by an aviation authority of
another country to identify and correct
an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
Periodic operational check of the firewall
hydraulic shutoff valves [FWSOV], made
during routine maintenance, has revealed
that the failure rate of that component is
significantly higher than expected. Such a
dormant failure, when combined with further
possible failures, such as engine fire, may
lead to an unacceptable reduction of safety
margins.
The unsafe condition is failure of the
firewall hydraulic shutoff valve, which,
in combination with an engine fire,
could result in the spread of an engine
fire beyond the firewall. We are issuing
this AD to require actions to correct the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD becomes effective May
19, 2010.
The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
of certain publications listed in this AD
as of May 19, 2010.
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
19193
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD
docket on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov or in person at the
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M–30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kenny Kaulia, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM–116,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057–3356; telephone
(425) 227–2848; fax (425) 227–1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend
14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that
would apply to the specified products.
That supplemental NPRM was
published in the Federal Register on
June 26, 2008 (73 FR 36290). That
supplemental NPRM proposed to
correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products.
ˆ
Since that NPRM was issued, Agencia
Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC),
¸˜
which is the aviation authority for
Brazil, has issued Brazilian
Airworthiness Directives 2007–02–
01R2, and 2007–02–02R2, both effective
July 17, 2009. The revised MCAI
references suitable hydraulic shutoff
valves for replacement valves. (This
change is explained further in a
comment from EMBRAER, which is
discussed below.) The MCAI states:
Periodic operational check of the firewall
hydraulic shutoff valves [FWSOV], made
during routine maintenance, has revealed
that the failure rate of that component is
significantly higher than expected. Such a
dormant failure, when combined with further
possible failures, such as engine fire, may
lead to an unacceptable reduction of safety
margins.
The unsafe condition is failure of the
firewall hydraulic shutoff valve, which,
in combination with an engine fire,
could result in the spread of an engine
fire beyond the firewall. The MCAI
requires repetitive operational checks of
the firewall hydraulic shutoff valve, and
if necessary, replacement of the valve.
You may obtain further information by
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to
participate in developing this AD. We
considered the comments received.
Request To Revise Unsafe Condition
Statement
EMBRAER requests that we revise the
description of the unsafe condition.
E:\FR\FM\14APR1.SGM
14APR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19185-19193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8308]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each
week.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 14, 2010 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 19185]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
7 CFR Part 760
Commodity Credit Corporation
7 CFR Parts 1400, 1412, and 1421
RIN 0560-AH84
Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program and Average Crop Revenue
Election Program, Disaster Assistance Programs, Marketing Assistance
Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments Program, Supplemental Revenue
Assistance Payments Program, and Payment Limitation and Payment
Eligibility; Clarifying Amendments
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: CCC is amending the regulations for the Direct and Counter-
cyclical Payment Program (DCP) for the 2008 through 2012 crop years and
Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program for the 2009 through 2012
crop years. The amendments clarify various provisions in the
regulations and extend benefits to additional producers. This rule
extends the eligibility for farms of less than 10 base acres from farms
wholly owned by socially disadvantaged or limited resource producers to
farms that are at least half owned by such producers. It removes a
provision terminating base acres on Federally-owned land, which will
effectively extend DCP and ACRE Program eligibility to producers who
lease or purchase such land. Clarifying amendments specify the extended
2009 crop year enrollment and election period, simplify acreage and
production reporting requirements, correct contract termination
provisions, and add 2009 through 2012 loan rates. This rule also makes
several clarifying amendments to the regulations for the Emergency
Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program
(ELAP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the
Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE) and the
Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP)
Programs. It clarifies eligibility requirements for foreign persons for
CCC and FSA programs.
DATES: Effective Date: April 13, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Thompson, Acting Director,
Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division, Farm Service Agency
(FSA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stop 0517, 1400
Independence Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0517; phone: (202) 720-
7641; e-mail: Candy.Thompson@wdc.usda.gov. Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means for communication (braille, large print,
audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-
2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This rule provides clarifying amendments to a number of regulations
that were published to implement programs authorized by the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246, the ``2008 Farm
Bill''). The regulations that are amended with this rule specify
provisions for the DCP, ACRE, ELAP, LFP, MAL, SURE, and LDP Programs.
Sections 1101 through 1109 of the 2008 Farm Bill specify the
requirements for DCP and ACRE Program. CCC published regulations to
implement the DCP and ACRE Program in the Federal Register on December
29, 2008 (73 FR 79284-79306). This rule amends the regulations for DCP
for the 2008 through 2012 crop years and for the ACRE Program for the
2009 through 2012 crop years. CCC is amending the regulations to
provide additional clarity and to increase flexibility in the
regulatory requirements where the 2008 Farm Bill permits and where CCC
has determined it is in the best interests of the programs and
participants. The amendments include extending the enrollment period
for the 2009 crop year, simplifying acreage and production reporting
requirements, removing a provision terminating base acres on Federally
owned land, and setting less restrictive eligibility requirements for
small farms owned by socially disadvantaged or limited resource
producers. This rule also makes minor technical amendments and
corrections, such as including loan rates that are specified in the
2008 Farm Bill, but were inadvertently not included in the regulations.
The basic structure and scope of DCP and the ACRE Program are not
changing with this rule.
Definitions; DCP and ACRE Program
This rule adds definitions to Sec. 1412.3 that are needed to
implement and clarify the ACRE Program. These definitions are already
used in the forms and contracts for the program, as well as the
instruction sheets and calculators on FSA's Web site. It is appropriate
to put these definitions in the regulations so that producers have
complete information about how their benefit is calculated. The
definitions clarify how prices, production, revenue, acreage and
expected yields will be determined for the ACRE Program.
This rule defines how the State ACRE guarantee is calculated for
the purpose of determining ACRE Program benefits: It is 90 percent of
the benchmark State yield per acre times the ACRE guarantee price.
Although the term ``ACRE guarantee price'' is included in the contract
appendix, prior to this amendment, it did not appear in the rule.
Several other terms used in either the appendix to the contract or in
the instructions for the ACRE calculator on the FSA Web site were not
previously included in the rule. In order that the regulations may be
more comprehensive, this rule adds the following definitions that are
used in the forms, contracts, and online tools: ``Actual farm yield and
benchmark farm yield,'' ``ACRE price,'' ``ACRE plug yield,'' ``average
yield per planted acre,'' ``actual farm production,'' and ``actual farm
revenue.''
In other cases, a definition is needed to specify how a term used
in other FSA or CCC programs is used differently for DCP and ACRE. For
example, the definition of ``double cropping'' in this rule is slightly
different from that used for other FSA programs. The definition in this
rule clarifies what double crop production will be recognized for ACRE
payment purposes. Other terms that
[[Page 19186]]
may be used in other FSA or CCC programs differently than for DCP and
ACRE, and are therefore added in this rule, include ``contract
period,'' ``initial crop,'' ``planted and considered planted,'' and
``replacement crop.''
This rule removes a provision in Sec. 1412.45 that terminates base
acres on Federally owned land and prohibits the establishment of base
acres on such land. It was determined that the termination of base
acres on Federal land created an unintended adverse effect on farmers
and ranchers who lease Federal farmland. This rule amends the
regulations accordingly to reflect that determination. Not allowing
base acres in these instances would for example, negatively impact
family farms that were seized by the Army Corps of Engineers through
eminent domain and then leased back to the family after flood control
structures were installed. As required by the 2008 Farm Bill, it
remains the case that the government agencies are not, however,
eligible for farm payments.
This rule also amends provisions in Sec. Sec. 1412.41 and 1412.72
concerning the enrollment period for the ACRE program. The changes
reflect determinations made previously for the 2009 crop year that
allowed additional time for the start-up of the program.
In addition, Section 1101 of the 2008 Farm Bill specifically
prohibits DCP and ACRE program payments to producers on farms that have
10 or less total base acres of covered commodities or peanuts,
beginning with the 2009 crop year, except for farms owned by socially
disadvantaged or limited resource farmers. The current regulations
specify in Sec. 1412.51 that a producer on a farm with 10 or less base
acres will not be eligible to receive DCP or ACRE program payments
unless the farm is wholly owned by a socially disadvantaged farmer or
rancher or a limited resource farmer or rancher. In other FSA programs,
a 50 percent threshold has been used and FSA will use that same
threshold in Sec. 1412.51. The 2008 Farm Bill does not specify a
threshold and the new standard should provide greater opportunities for
socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmers to participate in
DCP and ACRE.
Section 1412.53 includes the 2008 loan rates for covered
commodities and peanuts and target prices for 2008 through 2012. That
section is amended in this rule to remove the loan rate for extra long
staple cotton, to incorporate the loan rates for 2008 dry peas,
lentils, and large and small chick peas, and to incorporate loan rates
for covered commodities and peanuts for the 2009 through 2012 crop
years. These are technical corrections; extra long staple cotton is not
a covered commodity, and the loan rates for 2009 to 2012 are specified
in the 2008 Farm Bill but were inadvertently not included in the
regulations in the December 29, 2008, final rule.
Section 1106 of the 2008 Farm Bill specifies that no penalty will
be assessed against a producer unless it is determined that a producer
knowingly and willingly falsified an acreage or production report.
Accordingly, Sec. 1412.61 is amended to add a paragraph that specifies
if a violation was not a knowing and willing falsification, payments
may still be made, based on determined acreage and production.
As a condition of payment eligibility, Sec. 1412.66 requires the
operator of a farm to accurately report acreage. Section 1412.66 also
provides that farms enrolled in the Planting Transferability Pilot
Project as specified in Sec. 1412.48 and farms enrolled in the ACRE
Program must submit an accurate report of production accompanied by
documentation acceptable to CCC. Section 1412.66 is being amended to no
longer require such extensive documentation in all cases, but only
where CCC in its discretion requires such documentation of that kind.
Producers will be able to certify production without accompanying
documentation, unless CCC determines such documentation is necessary.
This will lessen the burden on producers and only require additional
documentation in cases where there is a particular need for
documentation or where a spot check is being made. Producers are
required by Sec. 1412.67 to submit a notice of loss for both prevented
planting and low yield losses, unless the loss has already been
reported for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).
Section 1412.67 is being amended to eliminate the notice of loss
requirement for low yield losses and to require a notice of loss for
prevented planting only if a notice of such a loss for NAP (also
administered by FSA) has not already been filed. The regulations are
also being amended to remove a requirement that crop acreage that will
not be harvested must be left intact and appraised. The removal of this
requirement will allow producers to provide zero production reports
without an appraisal.
The amendments to Sec. Sec. 1412.66 and 1412.67 will allow
producers to certify production for both harvested and unharvested crop
acreage without having to submit documentation, unless CCC, at its
discretion, requests those records. Prior to this change, acceptable
production records (verifiable or reliable) were always required with
the certification. These amendments are intended to lessen the burden
on producers and on CCC. CCC has insufficient resources to appraise
each case of lost or zero production. Reporting and verifying loss
information that has already been reported for crop insurance or NAP
does not contribute to program effectiveness or efficiency.
Section 1412.77, ``Transfer of Land and Succession-in-Interest,''
specifies the requirements for transfers of land and successions-in-
interest to ACRE Program contracts. This section is being amended to
clarify that producers who obtain a share in a crop of covered
commodities or peanuts through a transfer of land or a succession-in-
interest are not automatically eligible for ACRE payment. To be
eligible for the ACRE Program, either as initial share interests or as
successors-in-interest, producers must sign an ACRE Program contract
during the contract period. This rule also amends Sec. 1412.73,
``Sharing of ACRE Payments,'' to clarify that each producer on a farm
must sign the ACRE Program contract for the farm to receive that
producer's share of any potential payment. This rule does not change
the requirement that once a farm has been enrolled in ACRE no one, even
independent successors, can participate on that farm on a non-ACRE
basis in DCP. Under ACRE, however, a portion of the direct DCP payments
can be made as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill and in the regulations.
DCP and ACRE Program contracts are annual contracts. However, Sec.
1412.78 specifies incorrectly that in the event that a contract is
terminated for a violation, the terminated acreage remains ineligible
for DCP and ACRE Program participation from the time of termination
through the 2012 crop year. That is not correct. The period of
ineligibility for violations of DCP or ACRE Program provisions cannot
exceed the contract period. Accordingly, Sec. 1412.78 is being
corrected to specify that terminated acreage will be ineligible for DCP
and ACRE Program participation from the time of termination until the
end of the annual contract period in which the violation occurred. Once
more, however, once a farm has a valid ACRE election the farm cannot
participate on a non-ACRE basis in the DCP. Terminating an annual DCP
or ACRE contract, for any reason, does not impact the ACRE election
under Sec. 1412.72.
[[Page 19187]]
Disaster Assistance, Market Assistance Loans, and Loan Deficiency
Payments Programs Clarifying Amendments
Sections 12033 and 15101 of the 2008 Farm Bill specify the
requirements for LFP and ELAP. The final rules for LFP and ELAP as
authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill were published in the Federal Register
on September 11, 2009 (74 FR 46666-46683).
This rule also amends the regulations in 7 CFR part 760, subpart D,
for LFP to clarify that eligible covered livestock are livestock that
would normally be grazing in that county during the grazing period,
rather than grazing on the exact day a drought began.
This rule makes clarifying amendments to the ELAP regulations in 7
CFR part 760, subpart C, to specify that producers are eligible for
payments based on fair market value of lost fish or honeybees. These
amendments are needed to clarify that producers who decide not to
replace fish or honeybees are eligible for payment based on the fair
market value of those losses, and do not need to provide documentation
as to actual replacement cost. This change is consistent with other
types of livestock loss payments as specified in other regulations in
part 760, which provide payment based on fair market value, rather than
documented actual replacement cost, and provide payment regardless of
whether or not the lost livestock is replaced.
This rule also amends the ELAP regulations specifying acceptable
documentation for the loss of honeybee colonies due to colony collapse
disorder (CCD). The amendment allows documentation by an independent
third party determined acceptable by FSA, or, for losses in 2008 and
2009, self-certification by the producer. The previous requirement for
certification by a registered entomologist, Cooperative Extension
Specialist, or Land Grant University is removed, because the exact
cause of CCD cannot be identified and such experts may be unwilling or
unable to certify when honeybee colony losses were specifically due to
CCD. Also, changes in the regulations reflect that a payment may be
made even if the lost bees are not replaced.
This rule also makes technical corrections to the regulations in 7
CFR part 1421 for Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments to correct language in several provisions to be consistent
throughout the regulations. The MAL and LDP final rule as authorized by
the 2008 Farm Bill were published in the Federal Register on April 7,
2009 (74 FR 15644-15657). This rule removes a reference to
``individual'' and replaces it with a reference to ``person,'' to be
consistent with the rest of the part. Flaxseed was referenced in two
different paragraphs about determination of eligible commodity; the
incorrect reference in Sec. 1421.5 is removed with this rule. Other
minor technical corrections include correcting typos and correcting a
reference to authorized warehouses. Another technical change is an
amendment to language in Sec. 1421.104(a)(1) to remove language about
mandatory lien searches. Such searches are for the purpose of
protecting CCC's interests only and need not be addressed in the
regulations at all. Further, in the case of marketing loans for
commodities stored in a commercial warehouse, CCC's interest is usually
protected by possession of the warehouse receipt. As amended the rule
specifies simply that CCC may conduct lien searches and perfect a lien
under State Law as it deems warranted to protect its own interests.
This rule also makes clarifying amendments and technical
corrections to SURE. The final rule for SURE as authorized by the 2008
Farm Bill was published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2009
(74 FR 68480-68498) and implemented SURE in 7 CFR part 760, subpart G.
Originally the implementation plans for SURE was to have a fully
automated system; now the system will be manual. As a result, we have
reconsidered the information available and how best to administer SURE.
One of the key issues was weighting the counter-cyclical yield for
comparison to the weighted adjusted APH yield and weighted adjusted NAP
approved yield as applicable.
In Sec. 760.638(c), we specify that the ``counter-cyclical yield
for a crop on a farm will be weighted based on total planted and
prevented planted acres in the county for the current crop year.'' In a
fully automated system, we could have set it to automatically pull the
information required for the calculation. However, in a manual system,
it would be unnecessarily burdensome administratively. Therefore, to
ease the administrative burden, we are revising the regulation to not
specify how the counter-cyclical yield will be weighted and in the
short run this may simply be based on the DCP base acres on the farms
involved in the SURE farm. Under SURE, all of the producer's normal
(from an FSA administrative standpoint) ``farms'' (each of which may
have a separate schedule of yields) are treated as one SURE ``farm''--
therefore requiring weighting. The 2008 Farm Bill does not specify
precisely how these calculations will be made. The rule change improves
FSA's ability to make timely payments to farmers in SURE, which is
designed to counterbalance current market trends.
In the SURE final rule, a flowchart was published in the preamble
showing the SURE calculations. We realize that in the rule portion we
inadvertently left out a factor in the calculation. Therefore, we are
correcting Sec. 760.638(d)(2) to specify that in the case of crops
that were waived in for NAP or RMA coverage the weighted counter-
cyclical yield will be calculated as 65 percent of county expected
yield or counter-cyclical yield.
Eligibility of Foreign Persons Clarifying Amendment
This rule clarifies provisions that limit the eligibility of
foreign persons for FSA and CCC program payments in 7 CFR part 1400.
The regulations governing the eligibility of foreign persons for
payments are being amended to conform with the specific statutory
provisions providing for that limitation, as amended by the 2008 Farm
Bill.
Notice and Comment
These regulations are exempt from the notice and comment
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), as
specified in section 1601(c) of the 2008 Farm Bill, which requires that
the regulations be promulgated and administered without regard to the
notice and comment provisions of section 553 of title 5 of the United
States Code or the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture
effective July 24, 1971, (36 FR 13804) relating to notices of proposed
rulemaking and public participation in rulemaking.
Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated this rule
as not significant under Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, OMB has
not reviewed this final rule.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act since
CCC and FSA are not required to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking
for this rule.
Environmental Review
The environmental impacts of this rule have been considered in a
manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and FSA regulations
for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part
[[Page 19188]]
799). FSA has determined that participation in acreage set-aside,
acreage allotment, and other similar programs to those in 7 CFR 1412
will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment (7
CFR part 799.9(d)). Therefore no environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement will be prepared.
Executive Order 12372
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, which
requires consultation with State and local officials. See the notice
related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, published in the Federal
Register on June 24, 1983 (48 FR 29115).
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988. This rule
relaxes some previous requirements and contains no provisions that are
retroactively more restrictive. It does not preempt State or local
laws, regulations, or policies unless they present an irreconcilable
conflict with this rule. Before any judicial action may be brought
regarding the provisions of this rule the administrative appeal
provisions of 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 must be exhausted.
Executive Order 13132
The policies contained in this rule do not have any substantial
direct effect on States, on the relationship between the Federal
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Nor does this
rule impose substantial direct compliance costs on State and local
governments. Therefore, consultation with the States is not required.
Executive Order 13175
The policies contained in this rule do not impose substantial
unreimbursed direct compliance costs on Indian Tribal governments or
have Tribal implications that preempt Tribal law.
Unfunded Mandates
This rule contains no Federal mandates under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(UMRA) for State, local, and Tribal government or the private sector.
In addition, CCC was not required to publish a notice of proposed
rulemaking for this rule. Therefore, this rule is not subject to the
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of UMRA.
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal assistance program, as found in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this final rule
applies are: Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program, 10.055. ELAP, LFP,
and SURE, 10.090. Commodity Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments, 10.051.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The regulations in this rule are exempt from the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), as specified in
section 1601(c)(2) of the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides that these
regulations be promulgated and administered without regard to the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
E-Government Act Compliance
CCC is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote
the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information
and services, and for other purposes.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 760
Dairy products, Indemnity payments, Pesticide and pests, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
7 CFR Part 1400
Agriculture, Loan programs--agriculture, Conservation, Price
support programs.
7 CFR Part 1412
Cotton, Feed grains, Oilseeds, Peanuts, Price support programs,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rice, Soil conservation,
Wheat.
7 CFR Part 1421
Barley, Feed grains, Grains, Loan programs--agriculture, Oats,
Oilseeds, Peanuts, Price support programs, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Soybeans, Surety bonds, Warehouses, Wheat.
0
For the reasons discussed above, this rule amends 7 CFR parts 760,
1400, 1412, and 1421 as follows:
PART 760--INDEMNITY PAYMENT PROGRAMS
0
1. The authority citation for part 760 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4501, 7 U.S.C. 1531, 16 U.S.C. 3801, note,
and 19 U.S.C. 2497; Title III, Pub. L. 109-234, 120 Stat. 474; Title
IX, Pub. L. 110-28, 121 Stat. 211, and Sec. 748, Pub. L. 111-80, 123
Stat. 2131.
0
2. Amend Sec. 760.203 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (h), third sentence, add the word ``acceptable'' before
the word ``documentation'' and
0
b. In paragraph (h), remove the last sentence and add two sentences in
its place to read as set forth below.
Sec. 760.203 Eligible losses, adverse weather, and other loss
conditions.
* * * * *
(h)* * * 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.
* * * * *
0
3. Revise Sec. 760.206, paragraph (d), to read as follows:
Sec. 760.206 Notice of loss and application process.
* * * * *
(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.
* * * * *
0
4. Revise Sec. 760.210, paragraphs (b) and (c), to read as follows:
Sec. 760.210 Honeybee payment calculations.
* * * * *
(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 Sec. 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
[[Page 19189]]
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 Sec. 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.
* * * * *
0
5. Revise Sec. 760.211, paragraph (b), to read as follows:
Sec. 760.211 Farm-raised fish payment calculations.
* * * * *
(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
Sec. 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.
* * * * *
Sec. 760.304 [Amended]
0
6. Amend Sec. 760.304 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a)(2), remove the words ``on the beginning date'' and
add, in their place, the words ``in the county''.
0
b. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), remove the words ``Of the qualifying drought
during'' and add, in their place, the word ``During''.
0
7. Revise Sec. 760.638, paragraphs (c) and (d)(2), to read as follows:
Sec. 760.638 Determination of SURE yield.
* * * * *
(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)* * *
(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.
* * * * *
PART 1400--PAYMENT LIMITATION AND PAYMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR 2009 AND
SUBSEQUENT CROP, PROGRAM, OR FISCAL YEARS
0
8. The authority citation for part 1400 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1308, 1308-1, 1308-2, 1308-3, 1308-3a, 1308-
4, and 1308-5.
0
9. Amend Sec. 1400.401 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 1400.401 Eligibility
(a) Subject to the conditions set out in paragraphs (b) and (c) of
this section, any person who is not a citizen of the United States or
an alien lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent
residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101-
1778) will be ineligible to receive any type of loans or payments made
available under Title I of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008, the Agricultural Market Transition Act, the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714-714o), or subtitle D of Title
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831-3836), or under
any contract entered into under Title XII of that Act (16 U.S.C. 3801-
3845), with respect to any commodity produced, or land set aside from
production, on a farm that is owned or operated by such person, unless
such person is an individual who is providing land, capital, and a
substantial amount of personal labor in the production of crops on such
farm. Likewise, and subject to the same conditions, such persons may be
ineligible for payments under any other program which by its own
regulations specifically provides for such an ineligibility and adopts
these regulations.
* * * * *
PART 1412--DIRECT AND COUNTER-CYCLICAL PROGRAM AND AVERAGE CROP
REVENUE ELECTION PROGRAM FOR THE 2008 AND SUBSEQUENT CROP YEARS
0
10. The authority citation for part 1412 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7911-7918, 7951-7956, 8711-8719, 8751-8756,
and 8781; and 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c.
0
11. Amend Sec. 1412.3 by adding definitions, in alphabetical order,
for ``ACRE guarantee price,'' ``ACRE plug yield,'' ``ACRE price,''
Actual farm production,'' ``Actual farm revenue,'' ``Actual farm
yield,'' ``Actual State yield,'' ``Actual State revenue,'' ``Actual
yield per planted acre,'' ``Benchmark farm yield,'' ``Benchmark State
yield,'' ``Contract period,'' ``Double-cropping,'' ``Farm ACRE
guarantee,'' ``Initial crop,'' ``Limited resource farmer,'' ``Medium
grain rice,'' ``Minimum and maximum guarantee,'' ``National loan
rate,'' ``Per acre producer-paid crop insurance premium,'' ``Planted
acres for a State,'' ``Planted and considered planted (P&CP),''
``Replacement crop,'' ``Reseeded or replanted crop,'' ``Socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher,'' and ``State ACRE guarantee,'' to
read as follows:
Sec. 1412.3 Definitions.
* * * * *
ACRE guarantee price means the simple average, as determined by
CCC, of the national average market prices of the covered commodity or
peanuts for the most recent two crop years preceding the relevant
current crop year. For example, for the 2009 program the relevant crop
year is the 2009 crop year. Therefore, for the 2009 program, the ACRE
guarantee price for the covered commodity or peanuts is equal to the
simple average of the national average market prices of the covered
commodity or peanuts for the 2007 and 2008 crops.
ACRE plug yield means the resulting yield determined by taking the
applicable NASS county average yield for the covered commodity or
peanuts, by practice if applicable, and multiplying it by 95 percent.
The ACRE plug yield may be used by a farm in establishing an initial
benchmark farm yield or reporting actual production in accordance with
instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator. The ACRE plug yield is
also used on a farm for a covered commodity or peanuts in a year where
there are no acres of the covered commodity or peanuts planted. The
ACRE plug yield may be found on the FSA Web site at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp/ by clicking ``ACRE County Yields.'' ACRE plug
yields are used in benchmark farm yields. If the National Agricultural
Statistical Service (NASS) data is not available for a particular
practice of a covered commodity or peanuts from which an ACRE plug
yield can be established, the Deputy Administrator may establish an
ACRE plug yield for the practice of the covered commodity or peanuts
based a computation of multiplying 95 percent times the yield
determined based on production data available from FSA farm records in
the county, or in the event sufficient records do not exist, another
data source determined appropriate by the Deputy Administrator.
[[Page 19190]]
ACRE price means the higher of the following, as determined by CCC,
for the covered commodity or peanuts:
(1) The national average price received by producers during the 12-
month marketing year (as defined in this part) for the relevant current
crop of the covered commodity or peanuts (the relevant current crop for
a program year is the corresponding crop for commodity for that year--
for example, the current crop for the 2009 program is the 2009 crop),
or
(2) 70 percent of the marketing assistance loan rate for the
relevant current crop of the commodity under 7 U.S.C. 8731-8757.
Actual farm production means all of a farm's harvested and
appraised production, including grazed acres, of a covered commodity or
peanuts. Appraisals must be performed by appraisers acceptable to FSA.
Appraisals performed according to the Non-Insured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance guidelines are generally
deemed acceptable to FSA for DCP and ACRE Program purposes.
Actual farm revenue means the per acre amount computed by
multiplying the actual farm yield, which is a per acre amount, of a
covered commodity or peanuts times the ACRE price for the relevant
current crop year. The relevant current crop year for these and other
purposes is the crop year that corresponds to the calendar year in
which the relevant program year ends. Therefore, for the 2009 contract
or 2009 program, the relevant crop year would be the 2009 crop (that
is, the crop considered to be the crop for the 2009 crop year).
Actual farm yield means for the relevant current crop year, the per
acre amount determined by dividing the actual farm production of a
covered commodity or peanuts by the farm's total planted and considered
planted acres of the covered commodity or peanuts.
Actual State yield means the State's per acre amount for the
relevant current crop year for a commodity determined by dividing the
actual production in the State of the covered commodity or peanuts by
the total planted acres of the covered commodity or peanuts in the
State.
Actual State revenue means the per acre amount for a covered
commodity or peanuts determined for the relevant current crop year by
multiplying the actual State yield by the covered commodity or peanuts
times the ACRE price.
Average yield per planted acre means the actual farm production of
a covered commodity or peanuts for a year divided by the farm's planted
acres.
* * * * *
Benchmark farm yield means, except as otherwise provided, a per
acre yield for a covered commodity or peanuts computed using the
Olympic average of the average yield per planted acre for the farm for
the commodity for the 5 most recent crop years. The term ``Olympic
average'' means that the highest and lowest per acre yields for the 5
years will be eliminated and the remaining annual entries will be
averaged. CCC may make such adjustments as it deems necessary to create
a fair yield for the farm so as to ensure the integrity of the ACRE
Program. For purposes of determining a benchmark farm yield, yields on
planted acres only will be considered except to the extent that the
farm does not have a sufficient history to make a fair yield
determination in which case a yield may be assigned by CCC.
Benchmark State yield means for a covered commodity or peanuts a
per acre yield computed using the Olympic average of the average yield
per planted acre for the State for the commodity for the 5 most recent
crop years. To the extent practicable, it will be calculated using data
from NASS. The benchmark State yield is used in determining the State
ACRE guarantee. CCC may make such adjustments in these yields as it
deems necessary to provide for a fair yield and to ensure the integrity
of the program.
* * * * *
Contract period means the compliance period set out for the
contract for the particular program year. The program year is
designated in item 1 of the contract. Contracts for different program
years will be referenced by their program year. Thus, for example, a
reference to the ``2009 contract'' means the contract for the 2009
program year and the relevant current crop for a program year is the
corresponding crop for that commodity. Therefore, the relevant current
crop for the 2009 program is, with respect to a particular commodity,
the 2009 crop. References to the ``contract'' period refer to the
compliance period for the particular program year. The compliance
periods for the various program years are as follows:
(1) For the 2009 contract (and therefore for the 2009 program), the
period that begins on October 1, 2008 and ends on September 30, 2009;
(2) For the 2010 contract, the period that begins on October 1,
2009 and ends on September 30, 2010;
(3) For the 2011 contract, the period that begins on October 1,
2010 and ends on September 30, 2011;
(4) For the 2012 contract, the period that begins on October 1,
2011 and ends on September 30, 2012.
* * * * *
Double-cropping means for covered commodities and peanuts,
notwithstanding the meaning in Sec. 1412.47(e) for fruits and
vegetables, the planting of a covered commodity or peanuts for harvest
in a crop year, in cycle with another covered commodity or peanuts on
the same acres for harvest in the same crop year in counties that have
been determined to be areas where there is determined to be
substantial, successful and long-term double cropping of the crop and
where the producer has followed customary production techniques and
planting deadlines as determined by CCC (that is, using techniques and
deadlines used by the majority of farmers in the region to double crop
the particular crops involved). In a county determined capable of
supporting such double-cropping the covered commodities or peanuts, as
determined by CCC, both an initial crop and a subsequent crop will be
considered planted or prevented planted acres for the purpose of
Subpart G of this part. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of Sec.
718.103, in those instances where the subsequently planted or approved
prevented planted covered commodity or peanuts cannot be recognized as
double-cropped acreage under this definition, the subsequently planted
covered commodity or peanuts will not be considered planted or
prevented planted for any purpose.
* * * * *
Farm ACRE guarantee means, for a crop year of a covered commodity
or peanuts, the per acre producer-paid crop insurance premium (if any)
added to the result of multiplying the benchmark farm yield, which is a
per acre amount, times the ACRE guarantee price. The farm ACRE
guarantee is used in determining whether a farm is eligible for ACRE
payments for a covered commodity or peanuts.
* * * * *
Initial crop means acreage of a covered commodity or peanuts
planted or approved as prevented planted for harvest as peanuts, grain,
or lint. The initial crop includes reseeded or replanted crop acreage.
Limited resource farmer means, as determined in accordance with
Sec. 1412.51, a farmer or rancher who meets both of the following
criteria:
[[Page 19191]]
(1) The person did not have, counting both direct and indirect
interests, total gross farm sales for all farms in which that person
has an interest of not more than the triggering level in both of the
two calendar years that precede the calendar year in which the contract
year begins. The triggering level is an indexed number that was
originally set at $100,000. Beginning in October 2004, that number has
been adjusted for inflation using the Prices Paid by the Farmer Index
compiled by NASS. The triggering level for the DCP or ACRE contract
will be the indexed number (see https://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/tool.asp) as adjusted for the fiscal year that begins on the first day
of the contract period.
(2) The person's total household income is at or below the national
poverty level for a family of 4 or less than 50 percent of county
median household income in each of the two most recent calendar years
ending before the end of the program year, as CCC determines using U.S.
Commerce Department Data.
* * * * *
Medium grain rice means medium and short grain rice.
Minimum and maximum guarantee means, with respect to the State ACRE
guarantee for each of the 2010 through 2012 crop years, the adjusted
amounts that assure that the State ACRE guarantee for a program year
for a covered commodity or peanuts will not decrease or increase more
than 10 percent from the announced State ACRE guarantee for the
preceding program year.
National loan rate means the loan rate established as specified in
Sec. 1421.9 of this chapter.
* * * * *
Per acre producer-paid crop insurance premium means the insurance
premiums paid by all producers of a farm for insurance on a covered
commodity or peanuts, provided that at least some of the insured crop
acreage is subject to a DCP contract and ACRE contract, divided by the
total acres of the covered commodity or peanuts covered by the
insurance; regardless of whether or not all of the acres insured are
included on the farm's reported acreage for other programs, or are
subject to a DCP contract and ACRE contract. Fees for catastrophic risk
protection plan of insurance coverage or noninsured crop disaster
assistance program coverage are not per acre producer-paid crop
insurance premiums. Example: Producers A, B, and C have an interest in
barley on a farm and the farm is enrolled in ACRE. Producers A and B
paid crop insurance premiums totaling $800 on 100 insured barley acres.
Regardless of how many acres of barley are planted, the per acre
producer-paid crop insurance premium for barley is equal to $8.
Planted acres for a State means for:
(1) Corn, sorghum, barley, oats, and wheat, the sum of harvested
acres in a State, as reported by NASS and the sum of failed acres in a
State, as reported by producers to FSA.
(2) All other crops, the sum of planted acres in a State, as
reported by NASS.
(3) Crops where NASS data is not available, the planted acres as
determined by CCC using other sources.
Planted and considered planted (P&CP) means, with respect to an
acreage amount, the sum of the planted and prevented planted acres
approved by the FSA county committee on the farm for a crop. For the
purposes of this part, P&CP is limited to initially planted or
prevented planted crop acreage, except for crops planted in an approved
double-cropping sequence. Replacement crop acreage is not included as
P&CP.
* * * * *
Replacement crop means the planting or approved prevented planting
of any crop for harvest following the failed planting or prevented
planted acreage of a covered commodity or peanuts not in a recognized
double-cropping sequence (as specified in this section). Replacement
crops that are covered commodities or peanuts are not eligible for
planted and considered planted credit under this part and cannot
generate payments under this part.
Reseeded or replanted crop means the second planting of a covered
commodity or peanut crop on the same acreage after the first planting
of that same crop has failed.
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 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:
(1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives,
(2) Asians or Asian-Americans,
(3) Blacks or African-Americans,
(4) Hispanics or Hispanic-Americans, and
(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.
State ACRE guarantee means the per acre amount for the crop which
is 90 percent of the benchmark State yield times the ACRE guarantee
price, subject to the minimum and maximum guarantee specified in these
regulations.
* * * * *
0
12. Amend Sec. 1412.41 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(1) and (a)(2)(i) to read as set forth below,
0
b. Amend paragraph (a)(3) by removing the words ``on or before June 1''
and adding, in their place, the words ``by the date specified in
paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section'', and
0
c. Amend paragraph (b), in the first sentence, by removing the words
``on or before June 1 of the year of the contract'' and adding, in
their place, the words ``by the enrollment date specified in paragraph
(a)(2)(i) of this section''.
Sec. 1412.41 Direct and counter-cyclical program contract or ACRE
program contract.
(a) * * *
(1) With respect to fiscal year 2008 payments, CCC will, through
the date announced by CCC, entertain offers for DCP contracts by
eligible producers of covered commodities and peanuts. With respect to
fiscal year 2009 payments, CCC will entertain offers by eligible
producers for an annual DCP or ACRE program contract through August 14,
2009. With respect to fiscal years 2010 through 2012 payments, CCC will
annually allow offers for a DCP or ACRE program contract by eligible
producers on a farm having base acres with respect to a covered
commodity or peanuts, through June 1 of each such fiscal year.
(2)(i) Eligible producers must execute and submit a DCP or ACRE
program contract and furnish supportive and necessary contractual
documents to the county FSA office where the records for the program
farm are administratively maintained not later than August 14, 2009,
for 2009 fiscal year contracts and not later than June 1 of the
applicable year for 2010 through 2012 fiscal year contracts.
* * * * *
Sec. 1412.45 [Amended]
0
13. Amend Sec. 1412.45 by removing paragraph (d).
Sec. 1412.51 [Amended]
0
14. Amend Sec. 1412.51 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (c), in the second sentence, remove the words ``wholly-
owned'' and add, in their place, the words ``at least 50 percent
owned'' and
0
b. In paragraph (c), in the third sentence, remove the words ``each
individual or entity with an interest in the entity must be a socially
disadvantaged or limited resource farmer or rancher '' and add, in
their
[[Page 19192]]
place, the words ``at least 50 percent of the ownership interest in the
entity must be socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmers or
ranchers''.
0
15. Amend Sec. 1412.53 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (b)(1)(ii), remove the words ``2008 crop year'' and
add, in their place, the words ``2008 and 2009 crop years,''
0
b. Remove paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(G) and redesignate paragraphs
(b)(1)(ii)(H) through (b)(1)(ii)(K) as paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(G) through
(b)(1)(ii)(J),
0
c. Redesignate paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(L) as paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(O),
0
d. Add paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(K) through (b)(1)(ii)(N) to read as set
forth below,
0
e. Add paragraph (b)(1)(iii) to read as set forth below,
Sec. 1412.53 Counter-cyclical payment provisions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) * * *
(K) Dry Peas--$5.40/cwt. (2009 crop only).
(L) Lentils--$11.28/cwt. (2009 crop only).
(M) Small Chickpeas--$7.43/cwt. (2009 crop only).
(N) Large Chickpeas--$11.28/cwt. (2009 crop only).
* * * * *
(iii) For the 2010 through 2012 crop years the following rates:
(A) Wheat--$2.94/bu.
(B) Corn--$1.95/bu.
(C) Grain sorghum--$1.95/bu.
(D) Barley--$1.95/bu.
(E) Oats--$1.39/bu.
(F) Upland cotton--$0.52/lb.
(G) Long grain rice--$6.50/cwt.
(H) Medium grain rice--$6.50/cwt.
(I) Soybeans--$5.00/bu.
(J) Other oilseeds--$10.09/cwt.
(K) Dry Peas--$5.40/cwt.
(L) Lentils--$11.28/cwt.
(M) Small Chickpeas--$7.43/cwt.
(N) Large Chickpeas--$11.28/cwt.
(O) Peanuts--$355.00/ton.
* * * * *
0
16. Amend Sec. 1412.61 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), in the first sentence, remove the words
``paragraph (b)'' and add, in their place, the words ``paragraphs (b)
and (c)'' and
0
b. Add paragraph (c) to read as set forth below.
Sec. 1412.61 Contract violations.
* * * * *
(c) If there is a violation of Sec. 1412.66 due to an inaccurate
report of either acreage or production and CCC determines that the
violation was not a knowing and willing falsification or
misrepresentation by producers on the contract under paragraph (a) of
this section, payments may be made to the producers specified on the
contract based on determined acreage and production.
Sec. 1412.66 [Amended]
0
17. Amend Sec. 1412.66 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (b), first sentence, remove the word ``Producers'' at
the beginning of the sentence and add, in its place, the words ``As a
condition of eligibility for payments under this part, producers''
0
b. In paragraph (b), second sentence, remove the word ``The'' at the
beginning of the sentence and add, in its place, the words ``At the
discretion of CCC, the''.
0
18. Amend Sec. 1412.67 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as set forth below,
0
b. In paragraph (c)(2), remove the words ``damage or loss'' and add, in
their place, the words ``prevented planting,'' and
0
c. Remove paragraph (d).
Sec. 1412.67 Notices of loss.
(a) If a notice of loss for prevented planting under a policy or
plan of insurance or pursuant to part 1437 of this chapter has not
already been filed, at least one producer having a share of a crop
intended to be planted pursuant to Sec. 1412.48 or a having a share of
a crop of a covered commodity or peanuts on a farm enrolled in the ACRE
program must provide a notice of loss for prevented planting to CCC in
the administrative FSA office for the farm, within 15 calendar days
after the final planting date.
(b) For a prevented planting notice filed in accordance with this
section, the notice of loss must include:
(1) Total acreage intended to be planted to the crop in the
administrative county;
(2) Total acreage planted by the producer to the crop in the
administrative county;
(3) Whether a purchase, delivery, or arrangement for purchase or
delivery was made for seed, chemicals, fertilizer, etc.; and
(4) When land preparation measures, for example, cultivation, were
completed, and what has been done or will be done with the acreage, for
example, abandoned, replanted, etc.
* * * * *
Sec. 1412.72 [Amended]
0
19. Amend Sec. 1412.72 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), first sentence, remove the date ``June 1 of 2009''
and add, in its place, the date ``August 14, 2009,''
0
b. In paragraph (d) introductory text, remove the words ``June 1 of''
at the end,
0
c. In paragraph (d)(1), add the words ``August 14,'' at the beginning,
0
d. Redesignate paragraphs (d)(2) through (d)(4) as paragraphs (d)(2)(i)
through (d)(2)(iii),
0
e. Add new introductory text to paragraph (d)(2) to read as set forth
below, and
0
f. In paragraph (h), remove the words ``June 1'' both times they appear
and add, in their place, the words ``August 14, 2009, for the 2009
election period and June 1 in each of the 2010, 2011, and 2012 fiscal
years.''
Sec. 1412.72 Availability and election of alternative approach.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(2) June 1 of:
* * * * *
0
20. Amend Sec. 1412.73 by adding paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as
follows:
Sec. 1412.73 Sharing of ACRE payments.
* * * * *
(c) Shares of ACRE payments will be determined based on shares
recorded on the report of acreage filed in accordance with Sec.
1412.66. Each eligible producer having a share of covered commodities
or peanuts planted or considered planted on a farm enrolled under an
ACRE program contract must do both of the following to be eligible for
their share of an ACRE payment:
(1) Unless otherwise already enrolled on the ACRE program contract
with a share of base acres on the farm, sign the ACRE program contract
during the contract period.
(2) Have the producer's share recorded on report of acreage filed
in accordance with part 718 of this title and Sec. 1412.66 of this
part.
(d) In a case where a producer has failed to sign an ACRE program
contract for the producer's reported share of covered commodities or
peanuts planted or considered planted on a farm enrolled in accordance
with this subpart, that producer's share will not receive any
consideration for payment and will not generate any payment to the
producer or to any other producer on the farm.
0
21. Amend Sec. 1412.77 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), second sentence, add the word ``program'' between
the words ``ACRE'' and ``contract'', and
0
b. Add paragraph (f) to read as set forth below.
Sec. 1412.77 Transfer of land and succession-in-interest.
* * * * *
(f) Producers who have reported a share interest on an acreage
report of
[[Page 19193]]
covered commodities and peanuts planted or prevented from being planted
on a farm are not automatically considered successors. In accordance
with Sec. 1412.73, such producers who have not already signed the ACRE
program contract have until the end of the contract period to sign the
ACRE program contract or that share will not receive payment
consideration.
Sec. 1412.78 [Amended]
0
22. In Sec. 1412.78, paragraph (a)(2)(iii), remove the date ``2012''
and add, in its place, the words ``the end of the contract period''.
PART 1421--GRAINS AND SIMILARLY HANDLED COMMODITIES--MARKETING
ASSISTANCE LOANS AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS FOR 2008 THROUGH 2012
0
23. The authority citation for part 1421 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7231-7237 and 7931-7936; 15 U.S.C. 714b and
714c, and7 U.S.C. 8731-8736.
Sec. 1421.4 [Amended]
0
24. Amend Sec. 1421.4 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a)(1), first sentence, remove the words ``an
individual'' and add, in their place, the words ``a person'' and
0
b. In paragraph (e)(1)(ii), remove the word ``corporate'' and add, in
its place, the word ``cooperate''.
Sec. 1421.5 [Amended]
0
25. Amend Sec. 1421.5 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (c)(4), first sentence, remove the word ``respect'' and
add, in its place, the word ``regard'', and
0
b. In paragraph (c)(5), first sentence, remove the word ``flaxseed,''.
0
26, Amend 1421.104 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(1) to read as set forth below and
0
b. In paragraph (a)(2) remove the words ``paragraph (a)(1) of this
section'' and add, in their place, the words ``this part''.
Sec. 1421.104 Marketing assistance loan making.
(a)(1) CCC may conduct such lien searches, and may perfect its
interest in loan commodities under State law, as it deems to be in its
interest.
* * * * *
Sec. 1421.107 [Amended]
0
27. Amend Sec. 1421.107 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (g)(1), remove the words ``under the U.S. Warehouse
Act'', and add, in their place, the words ``by an authorized warehouse
as specified in Sec. 1421.103(c)(1)'', and
0
b. In paragraph (g)(2), remove the reference to ``paragraph (f)(1) of
this section'' and add, in its place, a reference to ``paragraph (g)(1)
of this section.''
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2010.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency, and Executive Vice
President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010-8308 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P