II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3538 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 23 (legislative day, September 17), 2008 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Casey, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Craig, Mr. Brown, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Dole, and Mr. Baucus) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to suspend a prohibition on payments to certain farms with limited base acres for the 2008 and 2009 crop years, to extend the signup for direct payments and counter-cyclical payments for the 2008 crop year, and for other purposes.

1.

Treatment of farms with limited base acres

(a)

Suspension of prohibition

(1)

In general

Section 1101(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8711(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4)

Suspension of prohibition

Paragraphs (1) through (3) shall not apply during the 2008 and 2009 crop years. . (2)

Peanuts

Section 1302(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8752(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4)

Suspension of prohibition

Paragraphs (1) through (3) shall not apply during the 2008 and 2009 crop years. . (b)

Extension of 2008 signup for direct payments and counter-cyclical payments

(1)

In general

Section 1106 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8716) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Extension of 2008 signup

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall extend the 2008 crop year deadline for the signup for benefits under this subtitle by producers on a farm with base acres of 10 acres or less until December 31, 2008. (2)

Penalties

The Secretary shall ensure that no penalty with respect to benefits under this subtitle is assessed against producers on a farm described in paragraph (1) for failure to submit reports under this section or timely comply with other program requirements as a result of compliance with the extended signup deadline under that paragraph. . (2)

Peanuts

Section 1305 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8755) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Extension of 2008 signup

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall extend the 2008 crop year deadline for the signup for benefits under this subtitle by producers on a farm with base acres of 10 acres or less until December 31, 2008. (2)

Penalties

The Secretary shall ensure that no penalty with respect to benefits under this subtitle is assessed against producers on a farm described in paragraph (1) for failure to submit reports under this section or timely comply with other program requirements as a result of compliance with the extended signup deadline under that paragraph. .