Department of Agriculture April 14, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency delivering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Utilities Programs, invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.

This rule implements specific requirements for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Tree Assistance Program (TAP), and general provisions for Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). Although there were similar disaster programs under the 2008 Farm Bill, the authority for those programs has expired. The 2014 Farm Bill reauthorizes these programs and they are similar to the 2008 programs, however, there are distinct changes in payment limits, eligible losses, and eligible causes of loss from prior programs. Eligible ELAP, LFP, LIP, and TAP losses must have occurred on or after October 1, 2011 to be eligible for payment. This rule specifies how ELAP, LFP, LIP, and TAP payments are calculated, what losses are eligible, and when producers may apply for payments. Additionally, this final rule implements changes required by the 2014 Farm Bill by amending the regulations that specify maximum income limits (payment eligibility) and maximum benefit amounts (payment limits) for participants in programs funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and some FSA programs. The intended effect of the eligibility requirements is to ensure that program payments and benefits are issued only to those persons and legal entities that meet the income eligibility requirements as specified in the 2014 Farm Bill, and that program participants do not receive any program payments above the maximum allowable payment amount. The payment limits and average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limits in this final rule apply to 2014 and subsequent crop, program, or fiscal year benefits, and to benefits for programs that were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill for retroactive 2012 or 2013 crop, program, or fiscal year benefits.