[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26668-26676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12292]



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[[Page 26669]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

7 CFR Part 404

RIN 0563-AB13


Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (``FCIC'') hereby adds 
a new part 404 to chapter IV of title 7 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (``CFR''). The intended effect of this interim rule is to 
provide a noninsured crop disaster assistance program (``NAP'') to 
protect producers of crops for which insurance is not available. NAP 
provides a level of protection in most respects comparable to the 
catastrophic risk protection plan of insurance offered to producers on 
certain crops.

DATES: This rule is effective January 1, 1995. Written comments, data, 
and opinions on this rule will be accepted until close of business July 
17, 1995 and will be considered when the rule is to be made final.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, data, and opinion on this interim rule 
should be sent to Diana Moslak, Regulatory and Procedural Development 
Staff, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA, Washington, D.C. 
20250. Hand or messenger delivery may be made to Suite 500, 2101 L 
Street, N.W., Washington D.C. Written comments will be available for 
public inspection and copying in the Office of the Manager, 2101 L 
Street, N.W., 5th Floor, Washington, D.C., during regular business 
hours, Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and a copy of 
the Regulatory Impact Analysis to the Noninsured Crop Disaster 
Assistance Program, contact Diana Moslak, Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. 
Telephone (202) 254-8314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action has been reviewed under United 
States Department of Agriculture (``USDA'') procedures established by 
Executive Order 12866 and Departmental Regulation 1512-1. This action 
constitutes a review as to the need, currency, clarity, and 
effectiveness of these regulations under those procedures. The sunset 
review date established for these regulations is May 1, 2000.
    This rule has been determined to be ``significant'' for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866, and therefore, has been reviewed by 
the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'').
    A Regulatory Impact Analysis has been completed and is available to 
interested persons at the address listed above. In summary, the 
analysis finds that crop insurance reform is expected to result in net 
positive benefits to producers, taxpayers, and society. The impact on 
individual producers compared to payments under ad hoc disaster 
programs depends primarily on the farm's actual yield or yield assigned 
by the FCIC, market prices, and any adjustments for variable marketing 
or production costs. However, reform is expected to result in less 
volatility of producers' incomes and decrease the risk of no income due 
to adverse weather events. Rural communities and farmers will benefit 
from the advanced knowledge that payments will be made in times of 
catastrophic yield losses. The Government and taxpayers will benefit 
from a single disaster protection program and consequently reduced 
Federal outlays. Although producers will have an added burden to make 
application and report yields and acreage, the benefits in terms of 
greater risk protection and reduced potential for program fraud or 
abuse outweigh the costs.
    The provisions set forth in this interim rule will contain 
information collections that require clearance by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Due to the necessity of implementing the 
rule immediately, the agency has requested clearance of this 
information collection from OMB. The public reporting burden for the 
information collections that would be required for compliance with 
these regulations is estimated to average 42 minutes per response 
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Comments on the information 
collection may be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10202, NEOB, Washington, 
D.C. 20503. Attention: Desk Officer for USDA.
    It has been determined under section 6(a) of Executive Order 12612, 
Federalism, that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implication to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. The 
provisions contained in this rule will not have a substantial direct 
effect on states or their political subdivisions, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.
    This regulation will not have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Most producers will be able to certify to 
their historical production levels at the time of application based on 
existing records, or they may elect to base their initial coverage on 
transitional or assigned yields. The amount of data collected from 
applicants will only be that needed to establish an acceptable yield, 
and determine the number of acres planted, and eligibility of the 
producer, crop and acreage. The information required and time of 
collection is statutory. Therefore, this action is determined to be 
exempt from the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
Sec. 605) and no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was prepared.
    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.450.
    This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372 which require intergovernmental consultation with state and local 
officials. See the Notice related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 
published at 48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983.
    The Office of the General Counsel has determined that these 
regulations meet the applicable standards provided in subsections 2(a) 
and 2(b)(2) of Executive Order 12778. The provisions of this rule will 
preempt state and local laws to the extent such state and local laws 
are inconsistent herewith. Before any judicial action may be brought 
regarding the provisions of this regulation, the National Appeal 
Division administrative appeal procedures must be exhausted. The 
provisions of this rule are to be given retroactive effect to January 
1, 1995.
    This action is not expected to have any significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment, health, and safety. Therefore, 
neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact 
Statement is needed.
    This interim rule implements programs mandated by the amendments to 
the Federal Crop Insurance Act by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act 
of 1994. Those amendments required that the statutory changes be 
implemented for the 1995 crop year. Many of the final planting dates or 
risk periods for crops for which insurance is not available have passed 
or will soon pass. Planting decisions for 1995 crops have been or will 
shortly be made and it is necessary that producers, lenders, and 
suppliers know the parameters and requirements of the program. 
Disasters in 1995 subject [[Page 26670]] to the Act may have occurred. 
Therefore, it is impractical and contrary to the public interest to 
publish this rule for notice and comment prior to making the rule 
effective. However, comments are solicited for 60 days after the date 
of publication in the Federal Register and will be considered by FCIC 
before this rule is made final.
    On October 13, 1994, the amendments to the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act, made by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994, were 
effective. This regulation will provide the provisions to carry out the 
noninsured crop disaster assistance program requirements of the Reform 
Act. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program will replace the 
provisions of the Disaster Payment Program (7 CFR part 1477) and the 
provisions of the Tree Assistance Program (7 CFR part 1478). By 
separate rule, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency (``CFSA'') will 
amend these regulations to restrict the crop years of application to 
those prior to the crop year for which this rule will be effective and 
later remove those parts.

Background

    Upon publication of 7 CFR part 404, this regulation will provide 
noninsured crop disaster assistance through the USDA and will replace 
ad hoc disaster assistance. The provisions of the noninsured crop 
disaster assistance program are as follows:
    1. Section 404.9, paragraph (a)--Provides that producers who are 
eligible to receive NAP payments for crop years 1995 through 1998 will 
receive coverage against a covered loss greater than fifty percent 
(50%) of the approved yield for the eligible crop payable at sixty 
percent (60%) of the average market price for the crop.
    2. Section 404.9, paragraph (b)--Provides that producers who are 
eligible to receive NAP payments after crop year 1998 will receive 
coverage against a covered loss greater than fifty percent (50%) of the 
approved yield for the eligible crop payable at fifty-five percent 
(55%) of the average market price for the crop.
    3. Section 404.11, paragraph (a)--Specifies that eligible crops 
will be commercial crops or other agricultural commodities (except 
livestock), grown for food or fiber and will also include 
floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas tree crops, turfgrass sod, 
industrial crops, and aquacultural species.
    4. Section 404.13--Specifies the minimum ``area'' of 320,000 acres 
or a geographical area with a minimum average value of at least $80 
million for all crops produced annually.
    5. Section 404.13, paragraph (d)--Allows for an area determination 
to be ten or more producers of the crop in those eligible areas outside 
the United States.
    6. Section 404.15--Provides that yields will be established by the 
FCIC for the purposes of providing NAP payments. Yields may be 
established by using the actual production history of the producer over 
a prescribed period, or if there is inadequate documentation to 
calculate the actual production history, generally in accordance with 7 
CFR part 400, subpart G. The FCIC will ensure that the NAP payments 
accurately reflect significant yield variations due to different 
farming practices, such as between irrigated and non-irrigated acreage.
    7. Section 404.15, paragraph (h)--Specifies that producers with 
contracts for guaranteed payments for production will have their 
harvested production adjusted upward to reflect the amount of the 
contract payment.
    8. Section 404.15, paragraph (i)--A producer who produces a crop in 
a county where the acreage of the crop for the county has increased by 
more than 100 percent over any year in the preceding seven years may 
not use an assigned yield unless:
    (a) The planted acreage of the producer for the crop has been 
inspected prior to the loss by a third party acceptable to the FCIC; or
    (b) The CFSA County Executive Director and the CFSA State Executive 
Director recommend an exemption to FCIC for approval. FCIC will limit 
use of assigned yields to one loss year.
    9. Section 404.17--Provides for the filing of an annual acreage 
report by the producer for each eligible crop at the local office to be 
eligible for NAP payments. For each year, producers must report their 
current year's acreage and the previous year's crop production history.
    10. Section 404.19, paragraphs (a) and (b)--Specifies that to 
qualify for NAP payments, any loss or prevented planting of the 
eligible crop must be due to drought, flood, or other natural disaster, 
as determined by the Secretary. NAP payments will not cover losses due 
to neglect or malfeasance of the producer, or the failure of the 
producer to reseed or replant to the same crop in those areas and under 
such circumstances where it is customary to reseed or replant, or the 
failure of the producer to follow good farming practices.
    11. Section 404.19, paragraph (c)--Specifies that a producer of an 
eligible crop will not receive NAP payments for loss in production or 
prevented planting unless the projected average or actual yield for the 
crop in an area falls below 65 percent of the expected area yield 
established by FCIC. Once the area eligibility requirement has been 
satisfied, the total quantity of the eligible crop that the producer is 
able to harvest on the unit must be less than 50 percent of the 
approved yield. FCIC will make a payment for the difference between the 
determined yield and 50 percent of the producer's approved yield. Once 
the area eligibility requirement has been met, a producer of an 
eligible crop may receive NAP payments for prevented planting if the 
producer is prevented from planting more than 35 percent of the 
acreage. Intended acreage may be verified using records of historical 
acreage planted to the eligible crop.
    12. Section 404.21, paragraph (a)--Provides for notice of damage or 
loss at the local office within 15 calendar days after the occurrence 
of the prevented planting or damage to the crop to be eligible for NAP 
payments. With the exception for the 1995 crop year, in which case, the 
notice must be filed within the later of 45 days after this rule is 
published in the Federal Register or 15 days after the occurrence of 
the prevented planting or damage to the crop.
    13. Section 404.21, paragraph (b)--Requires the producer to make an 
application for payment at the local office before the deadline set by 
FCIC.
    14. Section 404.23--Specifies that if the producer is eligible to 
receive NAP payments and is also eligible to receive benefits for the 
same loss under other USDA programs, the producer must elect the 
program from which to receive benefits.
    15. Section 404.25--Specifies that the total amount of payments 
that a person may receive annually under this title will not exceed 
$100,000. A producer with qualifying gross revenues of $2 million or 
more may not receive NAP payments.
    16. Section 404.27--Specifies that if a producer conceals or 
misrepresents any material fact, commits fraud, or participates in a 
scheme or device, the producer will not be eligible to receive any 
payments applicable to that crop year and could be subject to penalties 
specified in the Act.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 404

    Agricultural commodities, Disaster assistance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

Interim Rule

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, a new part 404 is added to 
[[Page 26671]] chapter IV of title 7 of the CFR, to read as follows:

PART 404--NONINSURED CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM--REGULATIONS 
FOR THE 1995 AND SUCCEEDING CROP YEARS

Sec.
404.1  General statement.
404.3  Applicability.
404.5  Administration.
404.7  Definitions.
404.9  Coverage.
404.11  Eligibility.
404.13  Area.
404.15  Yield determinations.
404.17  Acreage report.
404.19  Loss requirements.
404.21  Application for payment and notice of loss.
404.23  Multiple benefits.
404.25  Payment and income limitations.
404.27  Misrepresentation, scheme and device, and fraud.
404.29  Refunds to the corporation.
404.31  Cumulative liability.
404.33  Appeals.
404.35  Exemption from levy.
404.37  Estates, trusts, and minors.
404.39  Death, incompetence, or disappearance.
404.41  OMB control numbers.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1506(l).


Sec. 404.1  General statement.

    The Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended by the Federal Crop 
Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (the ``Act''), requires the Federal Crop 
Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to implement a noninsured crop disaster 
assistance program (NAP) to provide eligible producers of eligible 
crops with protection somewhat comparable to the catastrophic risk 
protection plan of insurance. NAP is designed to help reduce production 
risks faced by producers of uninsurable crops. NAP will reduce 
financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause a loss of 
production or prevented planting of an eligible crop. Payment 
eligibility is based on an expected yield for the area and an approved 
yield for an individual producer unit based on actual production 
history or a transitional yield, if sufficient actual production 
records are not available. Production for both the applicable area 
expected yield and the individual producer approved yield for the unit 
must fall below specified percentages in order to be eligible for 
payments under this part.


Sec. 404.3  Applicability.

    The provisions contained in this part are applicable to each 
eligible producer and each eligible crop and acreage for which 
catastrophic risk protection coverage is not otherwise available.


Sec. 404.5  Administration.

    (a) The NAP program will be administered under the general 
supervision of the FCIC, and will be carried out through state and 
county committees and offices of the CFSA, or other local USDA offices 
if designated by FCIC.
    (b) The state CFSA committee will, in accordance with this part, 
recommend the geographical size and shape of the area where a natural 
disaster has occurred, and whether the area eligibility requirement has 
been satisfied. The recommendation of eligibility will be submitted to 
FCIC for review and approval or disapproval.
    (c) FCIC will determine all yields and prices under this part.
    (d) No delegation herein to a state or county CFSA committee will 
preclude the FCIC Manager from determining any question arising under 
NAP or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a state or 
county CFSA committee.


Sec. 404.7  Definitions.

    (a) Actual production history. Refer to 7 CFR part 400, subpart G, 
except that the terms of subpart G will read as follows when referring 
to NAP:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Insurance terms                         NAP terms             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agent..............................  Local office representative.       
Claim..............................  Application for payment.           
Claim for indemnity................  Application for payment.           
Indemnity payment..................  NAP payment.                       
Insurable acreage..................  Eligible acreage.                  
Insurable cause....................  Natural disaster.                  
Insurable crop.....................  Eligible crop.                     
Insurance company..................  Provider.                          
Insurance purposes.................  NAP purposes.                      
Insured............................  Eligible producer.                 
Insured producer...................  Eligible producer.                 
Uninsurable acreage................  Ineligible acreage.                
Uninsurable production.............  Ineligible production.             
Uninsured cause of loss appraisal..  Assigned production.               
Uninsured production...............  Ineligible production.             
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Actual yield. The yield per acre for a crop year calculated 
from production records or NAP payments in accordance with 7 CFR part 
400, subpart G.
    (c) Adjusted yield. The transitional yield reduced by the 
applicable percentage for lack of adequate records in accordance with 7 
CFR part 400, subpart G.
    (d) Approved yield. A yield calculated and approved by the 
verifier, used to determine any NAP payment in accordance with 7 CFR 
part 400, subpart G.
    (e) Aquacultural species. Any species of aquatic organism grown as 
food for human consumption or fish raised as feed for fish that are 
consumed by humans, and which is propagated and reared in an aquatic 
medium by a commercial operator on private property in water in a 
controlled environment.
    (f) Area. The geographic region recommended by the state CFSA 
committee, and approved by FCIC in accordance with Sec. 404.13 of this 
part, where a natural disaster has occurred which may qualify producers 
in the geographic area for NAP payments.
    (g) Assigned yield. A yield assigned for a crop year in the base 
period if the producer does not file an acceptable production report by 
the production reporting date in accordance with 7 CFR part 400, 
subpart G. Assigned yields are used in the same manner as actual yields 
when calculating APH. An assigned yield may not be used for a 
production report in a disaster year.
    (h) Average market price. The price or dollar equivalent on an 
appropriate basis; i.e., bushel, ton, etc., for an eligible crop 
established by FCIC for determining NAP payments. Such price will be on 
a harvested basis without the inclusion of transportation, storage, 
processing, packing, marketing or other post-harvest expenses and will 
be based, in part, on historical data.
    (i) CCC. The Commodity Credit Corporation.
    (j) CFSA. The Consolidated Farm Service Agency of the United States 
Department of Agriculture.
    (k) County expected yield. The eligible crop yield established by 
FCIC for the county. Such yield information may be obtained from the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), CSREES, credible 
nongovernmental studies, and yields in similar areas. For planted 
annual crops, such yield will be based on the acreage planted for 
harvest.
    (l) Crop year. The period of time within which the crop is normally 
grown and designated by the calendar year in which the crop is normally 
harvested in the area.
    (m) CSREES. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
    (n) Eligible crop. An agricultural commodity including all types 
and varieties or acreage of a commodity for which insurance is not 
available under any FCIC insurance program and which is commercially 
produced for food or fiber as specified in this part. Eligible crop 
shall also include floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas tree, 
turfgrass sod, industrial crops, and aquacultural species. In the case 
of a crop that historically has multiple plantings in the same crop 
year that are planted or are prevented from being 
[[Page 26672]] planted on the same or different acreage will be 
considered different crops for determining NAP payments. This does not 
apply to a replacement crop.
    (o) Expected area yield. The eligible crop yield established and 
approved by FCIC for the geographic area.
    (p) FCIC. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned 
Government Corporation within the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, 
United States Department of Agriculture.
    (q) Good farming practices. The cultural practices generally used 
in the area for the crop to make normal progress toward maturity and 
produce at least the individual unit approved yield. The practices are 
normally those recognized by CSREES as compatible with agronomic and 
weather conditions in the area.
    (r) Harvested. A single harvest crop is considered harvested when 
the producer has, by hand or mechanically, removed the crop from the 
field. A multiple harvest crop is considered harvested when the 
producer has, by hand or mechanically, removed at least one harvesting 
from the field. The crop is considered harvested once it is taken off 
the field and placed in a truck or other conveyance. (Exceptions: Hay 
is considered harvested when in the bale, whether removed from the 
field or not. Grazing is not considered harvesting except for seeded 
pasture.)
    (s) Livestock. Any farm or other animal excluding aquacultural 
species and, including but not limited to domestic avian, ruminant, 
equine, and swine species grown or maintained for any purpose.
    (t) Local office. The CFSA office or other USDA office designated 
by FCIC.
    (u) Master yields. Approved APH yields, for certain crops and 
counties as designated by the FCIC, used to determine any NAP payment 
in accordance with 7 CFR part 400, subpart G.
    (v) Natural disaster. Means damaging weather, including but not 
limited to drought, hail, flood, excessive moisture, freeze, tornado, 
hurricane, or excessive wind, or any combination thereof; or other 
adverse natural occurrence, including but not limited to earthquake, 
volcanic eruption, heat, locust infestation; or that directly causes, 
accelerates, or exacerbates the destruction or deterioration of an 
eligible crop.
    (w) Operator. The person who is in general control of the farming 
operation on the farm during the crop year.
    (x) Person. A person as defined in 7 CFR part 1497, subpart B.
    (y) Prevented planting. The inability to plant a crop with proper 
equipment during the planting period for the crop or commodity. A 
producer must have been unable to plant the eligible crop due to a 
natural disaster that prevented most producers in the surrounding area 
from planting such crop during the same planting period. The natural 
disaster that caused the prevented planting may occur prior to the 
planting period for the crop in the area, but must not occur earlier 
than the planting period for such crop the prior crop year.
    (z) Producer. A person who, as owner, landlord, tenant, or 
sharecropper, is entitled to share in the production from the eligible 
commodity or in the proceeds thereof.
    (aa) Production report. A written record showing the commodity's 
annual production and used to determine the producer's yield for NAP 
purposes. The report contains yield history by unit, if applicable, 
including planted acreage for annual crops, eligible acreage for 
perennial crops, and harvested and appraised production for the 
previous crop years. This report must be supported by verifiable 
written records, measurement of farm-stored production, or by other 
records of production approved by FCIC on an individual basis. 
Information contained in an application for payment is considered a 
production report for the unit for the crop year for which the 
application was filed.
    (bb) Qualifying gross revenues means:
    (1) With respect to a person who receives more than 50 percent of 
such person's gross income from farming, ranching, and forestry 
operations, the annual gross income for the calendar year from such 
operations; and
    (2) With respect to a person who receives 50 percent or less of 
such person's gross income from farming, ranching, and forestry 
operations, the person's total gross income from all sources.
    (cc) Reseeded or replanted crop. The same crop planted on the same 
acreage after the first planting of the crop has failed.
    (dd) Replacement crop. A different crop planted on the same acreage 
after the failure of the first crop, excluding reseeded or replanted 
crops.
    (ee) Seeded pasture. Acreage which is seeded on cropland, as 
defined in 7 CFR part 719, to an annual crop intended for use as 
grazing only by domestic animals.
    (ff) Share. The producer's percentage of interest in the eligible 
crop as an owner, operator, or tenant at the beginning of the crop 
year. For the purposes of determining eligibility for NAP payments, the 
producer's share will not exceed the producer's share at the earlier of 
the time of loss or the beginning of harvest. Acreage or interest 
attributed to a spouse, child, or member of the same household may be 
considered part of the producer's share unless considered a separate 
person.
    (gg) Transitional NAP yield (``T'' Yield). An estimated yield based 
on the county expected yield adjusted for individual producers as 
determined by FCIC. The T-yield will be used in the approved yield 
calculation process when less than four consecutive crop years of 
actual or assigned yields are available.
    (hh) Unit. For the noninsured crop disaster assistance program, all 
acreage of the eligible crop in the county on the date coverage begins 
for the crop year:
    (1) In which the person has one-hundred percent (100%) crop share; 
or
    (2) Which is owned by one person and operated by another person on 
a share basis.

(Example: If, in addition to the land the person owns, the person 
rents land from five landlords, three on a crop share basis and two 
on a cash basis, the person would be entitled to four units, one 
unit for each crop share lease and one unit which includes the two 
cash leases and the land owned by the person.) Land rented for cash, 
a fixed commodity payment, or any consideration other than a share 
in the crop on such land will be considered as owned by the lessee. 
No unit other than that stated herein will be permitted.


Sec. 404.9  Coverage.

    (a) Producers who are eligible to receive NAP payments for crop 
years 1995 through 1998 will receive coverage against loss in yield 
greater than fifty percent (50%) of the producer's approved yield for 
the eligible crop payable at sixty percent (60%) of the established 
average market price for the crop.
    (b) Producers who are eligible to receive NAP payments after crop 
year 1998 will receive coverage against loss in yield greater than 
fifty percent (50%) of the producer's approved yield for the eligible 
crop payable at fifty-five percent (55%) of the established average 
market price for the crop.
    (c) FCIC will adjust the NAP payment rate for crops that are 
produced with significant and variable expenses that are not incurred 
because the crop acreage was prevented from being planted or planted 
but not harvested.
    (d) NAP payments will be determined by unit based on the production 
of all acreage of that crop (planted and eligible prevented from being 
planted) in the unit. [[Page 26673]] 
    (e) Each producer's NAP payment will be based on the producer's 
share of the eligible crop.


Sec. 404.11  Eligibility.

    (a) Eligible crops under this part will be any commercial 
agricultural crop, commodity, or acreage of a commodity grown for food 
or fiber for which the catastrophic risk protection plan of insurance 
is not available in the area under 7 CFR part 402 unless excluded in 
paragraph (b) of this section. All types and varieties of a crop or 
commodity will be treated as a single eligible crop. NAP benefits will 
be made available for:
    (1) Any commercial crop grown for human consumption;
    (2) Any commercial crop planted and grown for livestock 
consumption, including but not limited to grain and forage crops and 
seeded pasture;
    (3) Any commercial crop grown for fiber, excluding trees grown for 
wood, paper, or pulp products;
    (4) Any commercially produced aquacultural species;
    (5) Floriculture;
    (6) Ornamental nursery crops;
    (7) Christmas trees;
    (8) Turfgrass sod; and
    (9) Industrial crops.
    (b) NAP payments will not be available for:
    (1) Losses of livestock or their by-products;
    (2) Any person who has qualifying gross revenues in excess of $2 
million;
    (3) Any acreage in any area for any crop for which the catastrophic 
risk protection plan of insurance under 7 CFR part 402 is available or 
would have been available had the crop been timely planted in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 402 unless the delay in planting was caused 
by a natural disaster;
    (4) Any person who has violated chapter XII and section 1764 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 by being convicted under Federal or state law 
of planting, cultivating, growing, producing, harvesting or storing a 
controlled substance in any crop year;
    (5) Producing an agricultural commodity in any crop year on a field 
on which highly erodible land is predominant, unless the person is 
exempt under the provisions of Sec. 12.5 of this title; or
    (6) Producing an agricultural commodity in any crop year on 
converted wetland, unless the person is exempt under the provisions of 
Sec. 12.5 of this title.
    (c) Any tenant, landlord, or producer on the unit separate from the 
person determined to be ineligible under this provision will remain 
eligible for NAP payments for their share of the crop unless such 
tenant, landlord, or producer on the unit is:
    (1) Also convicted of planting, cultivating, growing, producing, 
harvesting or storing a controlled substance;
    (2) Also in violation of chapter XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 and the regulations issued thereunder; or
    (3) Otherwise determined by FCIC to be ineligible for NAP payments.


Sec. 404.13  Area.

    For the purposes of this part, all acreage affected by a natural 
disaster, or any adjustment thereto, will be included in the area 
recommended by the state CFSA committee and submitted to FCIC for 
approval, regardless of whether the commodity produced on the affected 
acreage suffered a loss. The minimum area will be 320,000 acres or a 
geographical area with not less than an $80 million average value for 
all crops produced annually. The minimum area will be determined as 
follows:
    (a) The shape of the area will be contiguous and will correspond to 
the shape of the natural disaster to the maximum extent possible. If 
the acreage affected by the natural disaster is less than the number of 
acres needed to meet the area size requirement and does not meet the 
$80 million value requirement, the state CFSA committee will add acres 
equally from all surrounding cropland including undamaged acres until 
the minimum size is met.
    (b) If the acreage affected by the natural disaster is not 
contiguous:
    (1) The area will include all acreage that has been affected by the 
same natural disaster within the area.
    (2) The acreage included in the area will be contiguous taking into 
consideration geological breaks (identifiable variations in topography 
such as mountain ranges and rivers).
    (3) If the distance between affected acreages is so distant that it 
is not practical to include all of the acreage within the area, the 
acreage may be divided into separate areas.
    (c) The area may not be defined in any manner that arbitrarily 
includes or excludes producers or cropland.
    (d) In lieu of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, for eligible 
areas outside the United States, the area shall include ten or more 
producers of the crop.
    (e) If a part of a contiguous unit is affected by a disaster, the 
whole contiguous unit will need not be included in the determination of 
the area. However, the whole unit will be used to determine if the 
producer suffered a loss.


Sec. 404.15  Yield determinations.

    (a) FCIC will establish expected area yields for eligible crops for 
each county or area for which the NAP is available, using available 
information, which may include, but is not limited to, NASS data, 
CSREES records, credible nongovernment studies, yields in similar 
areas, and reported APH data.
    (b) FCIC may make county yield adjustments taking into 
consideration different yield variations due to different farming 
practices in the county such as irrigated and nonirrigated acreage.
    (c) In establishing expected area yields for eligible crops:
    (1) If the approved area corresponds to a single county, the 
expected area yield will be the yield established by FCIC for that 
county, including any adjustments permitted by this section;
    (2) If the approved area encompasses portions of or more than one 
county, the expected area yield will be the weighted average of the 
yields established by FCIC for those counties in the area, including 
any adjustments permitted by this section.
    (3) FCIC may adjust expected area yields if:
    (A) The cultural practices, including the age of the planting or 
plantings, are different from those used to establish the yield.
    (B) The expected area yield established on a state or county level 
is determined to be incorrect for the area.
    (d) FCIC will establish approved yields for purposes of providing 
assistance under this part. Approved yields for the eligible crop will 
be based on the producer's actual production history in accordance with 
the provisions of 7 CFR part 400, subpart G.
    (e) The approved yield established for the producer for the year in 
which the NAP payments are offered will be equal to the average of the 
consecutive crop year yields reported and certified of that producer 
for that eligible crop.
    (f) If a producer receives an assigned yield for a year of natural 
disaster, the producer will be ineligible to receive an assigned yield 
for any subsequent year disaster unless adequate production records for 
the eligible crop from the previous one or more years are provided to 
the local office. The producer shall receive a zero yield for those 
years the producer is ineligible to receive an assigned yield.
    (g) FCIC will select certain producers and require those selected 
to provide adequate records to support the information provided. 
Producers may also be required to support the yield certification at 
the time of loss adjustment or on post-audit. Each 
[[Page 26674]] certification must be supported by adequate records. 
Failure to produce adequate records may subject the producer to 
criminal and civil false claims actions under various Federal statutes 
as well as refund of any amount received. In addition, sanctions as set 
out at 7 CFR part 400, subpart R may be imposed for false 
certification. Adequate records may include:
    (1) Commercial receipts, settlement sheets, warehouse ledger 
sheets, or load summaries if the eligible crop was sold or otherwise 
disposed of through commercial channels; and
    (2) Such documentary evidence as is necessary in order to verify 
the information provided by the producer if the eligible crop has been 
sold, fed to livestock, or otherwise disposed of other than through 
commercial channels such as contemporaneous measurements, truck scale 
tickets, contemporaneous diaries, etc.
    (h) Any producer who has a contract to receive a guaranteed payment 
for production, as opposed to delivery, of an eligible crop will have 
the production adjusted upward by the amount of the production 
corresponding to the amount of the contract payment received.
    (i)(1) Producers will not be eligible to receive an assigned yield 
if the acreage of the crop in a county for the crop year has increased 
by more than 100 percent over any year in the preceding seven crop 
years, unless:
    (i) The producer provides adequate records of production costs, 
acres planted, and yield for the crop year for which benefits are being 
sought.
    (ii) If FCIC determines that the records provided under this 
paragraph are inadequate, FCIC may require proof that the eligible crop 
could have been marketed at a reasonable price had the crop been 
harvested.
    (2) The provisions of paragraph (i)(1) of this section will not 
apply if:
    (i) The crop has been inspected prior to the occurrence of a loss 
by a third party acceptable to FCIC; or
    (ii) The CFSA County Executive Director, with concurrence of the 
CFSA State Director, makes a recommendation for an exemption from the 
requirements and such recommendation is approved by FCIC.


Sec. 404.17  Acreage report.

    (a) Producers must file one or more acreage reports annually at the 
local office no later than the date specified by the Corporation for 
each crop the producer will want made eligible for the NAP program. The 
acreage report may be filed by the farm operator. Any producer will be 
bound by the acreage report filed by the farm operator unless the 
producer files a separate acreage report prior to the acreage reporting 
date.
    (b) That acreage report must include:
    (1) All acreage in the county of the eligible crop (for each 
planting in the event of multiple planting) in which the producer has a 
share;
    (2) The producer's share at the time of planting or the beginning 
of the crop year;
    (3) The CFSA farm serial numbers;
    (4) The crop and practice;
    (5) All persons sharing in the crop (the identity of any person 
having a substantial beneficial interest in the crop (refer to 7 CFR 
part 400, subpart Q) and the person's employer identification number or 
social security number);
    (6) The date the crop was planted;
    (7) Acreage prevented from being planted; and
    (8) Production from the previous crop year. (For example: The 
producer reported the crop acreage planted in 1995. The producer must 
then report the 1995 production for that acreage by the 1996 acreage 
reporting date for the crop.)
    (c) A person's failure to submit the required information by the 
designated acreage reporting dates shall result in the denial of NAP 
payments. If there is a change of ownership, operation, or share within 
the farming operation after the acreage reporting date, the local 
office must be notified not later than thirty calendar days after the 
change and proof of the change must be provided in order to maintain 
eligibility for payments under this part.


Sec. 404.19  Loss requirements.

    (a) To qualify for payment under this part, the loss or prevented 
planting of the eligible crop must be due to drought, flood, or other 
natural disaster as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) NAP assistance will not cover losses due to:
    (1) The neglect or malfeasance of the producer;
    (2) The failure of the producer to reseed or replant to the same 
crop in the county where it is customary to reseed or replant;
    (3) The failure of the producer to follow good farming practices 
for the commodity and practice;
    (4) Water contained or released by any governmental, public, or 
private dam or reservoir project;
    (5) Failure or breakdown of irrigation equipment or facilities; or
    (6) Except for tree crops and perennials, inadequate irrigation 
resources at the beginning of the crop year.
    (c) A producer of an eligible crop will not receive NAP payments 
unless the projected average or actual yield for the crop, or an 
equivalent measurement if yield information is not available, in the 
area falls below sixty-five percent (65%) of the expected area yield. 
Once this area eligibility requirement has been satisfied:
    (1) A reduced yield NAP payment will be made to a producer if the 
total quantity of the eligible crop that the producer is able to 
harvest on the unit is less than fifty percent (50%) of the individual 
unit approved yield for the crop, factored for the share of the 
producer for the crop. Production from the entire unit will be used to 
determine the individual loss. The quantity will not be reduced for any 
quality consideration unless a zero value is established.
    (2) A prevented planting NAP payment will be made if the producer 
is prevented from planting more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the 
total eligible acreage intended for planting to the eligible crop.
    (A) Eligible crop acreage will not exceed 100% of the simple 
average of the number of acres planted to the crop by the producer in 
the loss area during the years used to determine the approved yield, 
unless FCIC has previously agreed in writing to approve acreage 
exceeding this limit.
    (B) The percentage of the acreage that is prevented from being 
planted will be determined by dividing the producer's prevented planted 
acreage within the loss area by the producer's total acreage intended 
to be planted in the loss area. The acreage intended to be planted may 
be verified using records of historical acreage.
    (C) For the purposes of determining eligible acreage for prevented 
planting payment, all eligible acreage of the crop within the loss area 
will be reduced by the number of acres of the crop planted within the 
loss area. In the event one or more crops are eligible for a prevented 
planting payment in the same crop year, and there is acreage planted to 
another crop in excess of such crop eligible acreage, such excess 
acreage will be prorated to the crops eligible for prevented planting 
on the basis of such crop's eligible acreages.
    (D) NAP payments for prevented planting will not be available for:
    (i) tree crops and other perennials;
    (ii) land which planting history or conservation plans indicate 
would remain fallow for crop rotation purposes;
    (iii) land used for conservation purposes or intended to be or 
considered to have been left unplanted [[Page 26675]] under any program 
administered by USDA; or
    (iv) land planted with a replacement crop.


Sec. 404.21  Application for payment and notice of loss.

    (a) Any person with a share in the eligible crop who would be 
entitled to a NAP payment must make application and provide a notice of 
damage or loss within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of the 
prevented planting (the end of the planting period) or damage to the 
crop. For the 1995 crop year only, the notice must be filed within the 
later of 45 days after this rule is published in the Federal Register 
or 15 days after the occurrence of the prevented planting or damage to 
the crop. The notice must be filed at the local office serving the area 
where the producer's unit is located. The farm operator may provide the 
notice for all producers with an interest in the crop. All producers on 
a farm will be bound by the operator's filing or failure to file the 
application for payment unless the individual producers elect to timely 
file their notice.
    (b) Applications for NAP payments must be filed on our form by the 
applicant with the local office no later than the application deadline.
    (1) If the producer chooses not to harvest the crop, all eligible 
acres and crop units for which the producer intends to make an 
application for payment must be left intact until the units have been 
appraised or released by a FCIC loss adjuster.
    (2) If the producer harvests the crop, the producer must provide 
such documentary evidence of crop production as FCIC may require which 
may include leaving representative samples of the crop for inspection.
    (c) Failure to make timely application or to supply the required 
documentary evidence shall result in the denial of NAP payments.
    (d) Benefits under this part may be assigned by the eligible 
producer only on our form and such assignment is effective only when 
approved by FCIC. Failure of FCIC to make payment in accordance with 
such assignment will not give rise to any liability on the part of FCIC 
to the assignee.


Sec. 404.23  Multiple benefits.

    (a) If a producer is eligible to receive NAP payments under this 
part and benefits under any other program administered by the Secretary 
for the same crop loss, the producer must choose whether to receive the 
other program benefits or NAP payments. The producer is not eligible 
for both. Such election does not relieve the producer from the 
requirements of making a production and acreage report.
    (b) Applicable programs include, but are not limited to, the 
Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Program and any other program 
determined by FCIC to compensate the producer for the same crop loss.


Sec. 404.25  Payment and income limitations.

    NAP payments made to eligible producers are subject to the 
following provisions:
    (a) For the purpose of making such payments, the term ``producer'' 
will be considered to mean the term ``person'' as determined in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 1497, subpart B.
    (b) No person shall receive payments under this part in excess of 
$100,000.
    (c) A person who has qualifying gross revenues in excess of $2 
million for the previous calendar year shall not be eligible to receive 
NAP payments under this part.
    (d) Simple interest on payments to the producer which are delayed 
will be computed on the net payments ultimately found to be due, from 
and including the 61st day after the latter of the date the producer 
signs, dates, and submits a properly completed application for payment 
on the designated form, the date disputed applications are adjudicated, 
or the date the area trigger is established for NAP payments. Interest 
will be paid unless the reason for failure to timely pay is due to the 
producer's failure to provide information or other material necessary 
for the computation or payment. The interest rate will be that 
established by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 12 of the 
Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (41 U.S.C. 611), and published in the 
Federal Register semiannually on or about January 1 and July 1 of each 
year and may vary with each publication.


Sec. 404.27  Misrepresentation, scheme and device, and fraud.

    (a) If FCIC determines that any producer has erroneously 
represented any fact or has adopted, participated in, or benefited 
from, any scheme or device that has the effect of defeating, or is 
designed to defeat the purpose of this part, such producer will not be 
eligible to receive any payments applicable to the crop year for which 
the scheme or device was adopted.
    (b) If any misrepresentation, scheme or device, or practice has 
been employed for the purpose of causing FCIC to make a payment which 
FCIC otherwise would not make under this part:
    (1) FCIC will withhold all or part of the payment that would 
otherwise be due.
    (2) All amounts paid by FCIC to any such producer, applicable to 
the crop year in which the offense occurred, must be refunded to FCIC 
together with interest and other amounts as determined in accordance 
with this part.
    (3) FCIC may impose such other penalties as authorized by section 
506(n) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended or available under 
7 CFR part 400, subpart R.
    (c) Scheme and device may include, but is not limited to:
    (1) Concealing any information having a bearing on the application 
of the rules of this part;
    (2) Submitting false information to the FCIC or any county or state 
CFSA committee; or
    (3) Creating fictitious entities for the purpose of concealing the 
interest of a person in the farming operation.


Sec. 404.29  Refunds to the corporation.

    (a) In the event that there is a failure to comply with any term, 
requirement, or condition for payment made in accordance with this 
part, or the payment was established as a result of erroneous 
information provided by any person, or was erroneously computed, all 
such payments or overpayments will be refunded to FCIC on demand, 
together with interest.
    (b) Interest will accrue in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR 
1403.9.
    (c) Interest on any amount due the FCIC found to have been received 
by the producer as a result of fraud, misrepresentation, scheme or 
device, or presenting a false application for payment will start on the 
date the producer received the payment.
    (d) Recovery of delinquent debts and set off will be in accordance 
with 7 CFR part 1403.
    (e) If FCIC determines it is necessary to contract with a 
collection agency or to employ an attorney to assist in collection, the 
producer will pay all the expenses of collection.
    (f) All amounts paid will be applied first to the payment of 
expense of collection, second to the reduction of any penalties which 
may have been assessed, then to the reduction of accrued interest, then 
to the reduction of the principal balance.


Sec. 404.31  Cumulative liability.

    (a) The liability of any producer for any payment or refunds, which 
is determined in accordance with this part to be due to FCIC, will be 
in addition to any other liability of such producer 
[[Page 26676]] under any civil or criminal fraud statute or any other 
statute or provision of law including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 
286, 287, 371, 641, 1001; 1014, and 31 U.S.C. 3729.
    (b) All producers receiving payments under this part will be 
jointly and severally liable to repay any unearned NAP payments.


Sec. 404.33  Appeals.

    The appeal, reconsideration, or review of all determinations made 
under this part, except the designation of an area for which there is 
no appeal rights because it is determined a rule of general 
applicability, must be in accordance with part 780 of this title or the 
regulations promulgated by the National Appeals Division, whichever is 
applicable.


Sec. 404.35  Exemption from levy.

    Any payment that is due any person under this part will be made 
without regard to questions of title under state law and without regard 
to any attachment, levy, garnishment, or any other legal process 
against the crop, and the proceeds thereof, which may be asserted by 
any creditor, except statutory liens of the United States.


Sec. 404.37  Estates, trusts, and minors.

    (a) Program documents executed by persons legally authorized to 
represent estates or trusts will be accepted only if such person 
furnishes evidence of the authority to execute such documents.
    (b) A minor who is otherwise eligible will be eligible for NAP 
payments under this part only if such person meets one of the following 
requirements:
    (1) The minor establishes that the right of majority has been 
conferred on the minor by court proceedings or by statute;
    (2) A guardian has been appointed to manage the minor's property 
and the applicable program documents are executed by the guardian; or
    (3) A bond is furnished under which the surety guarantees any loss 
incurred for which the minor would be liable had the minor been an 
adult.


Sec. 404.39  Death, incompetence, or disappearance.

    In the case of death, incompetence or disappearance, of any person 
who is eligible to receive NAP payments in accordance with this part, 
such payments will be disbursed in accordance with part 707 of this 
title.


Sec. 404.41  OMB control numbers.

    The provisions set forth in this interim rule contain information 
collection that require clearance by the Office of Management and 
Budget (``OMB'') under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). Previous information collection requirements have been 
approved under OMB control numbers 0560-0004, 0563-0007, 0563-0016, and 
0563-0036. The new information collection requirements have been 
submitted to OMB for approval under OMB control number 0563-0016 and 
are not effective until approved by OMB.

    Done in Washington, DC, on May 15, 1995.
Kenneth D. Ackerman,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 95-12292 Filed 5-15-95; 4:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P