[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49459-49472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21257]



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 Rules and Regulations
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
 having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2018 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 49459]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Parts 1400 and 1416

RIN 0560-AH69


Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs, Payment 
Limitation and Payment Eligibility

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule implements changes to the Emergency Assistance for 
Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP); Livestock 
Indemnity Program (LIP); and Tree Assistance Program (TAP) as required 
by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA), including changes to the 
payment limitations, the funding limitation for ELAP, and losses for 
injured livestock sold at a reduced price under LIP. An application 
period for ELAP, LIP, TAP and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program 
(LFP) is included in this rule to allow additional time for producers 
to apply. Additionally, FSA implements changes to TAP for 2017 losses 
to pecan trees as specified in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2018. This rule also includes several clarifying amendments and 
corrections to the regulations for the programs.

DATES: 
    Effective date: October 2, 2018.
    Deadline for reopened 2017 and 2018 application period: December 1, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Berry; (202) 720-7641. Persons 
with disabilities who require alternative means for communication 
should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The disaster assistance programs, payment limits, and payment 
eligibility provisions in this rule are Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) programs and provisions; the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
administers the programs and provisions for CCC. Specific requirements 
for supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs will be 
implemented as authorized by BBA (Pub. L. 115-123), which amended the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill, Pub. L. 113-79), and the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which expanded 
TAP eligibility for producers with losses to pecan trees during the 
2017 calendar year. FSA is also making minor clarifying amendments and 
corrections to the regulations in 7 CFR part 1416.

Payment Limitation and Extension of Application Periods

    The payment limitations for supplemental disaster programs are 
being changed in Sec. Sec.  1400.1 and 1416.6, retroactive to the 2017 
program year. Under the previous payment limitation established by the 
2014 Farm Bill, the total amount of payments that a person or legal 
entity could receive under LIP, LFP, and ELAP combined, directly or 
indirectly, could not exceed $125,000 in any program year, and TAP had 
a separate payment limit of $125,000 per person or legal entity for any 
crop year. As authorized by BBA, and effective with the 2017 program 
year, the payment limits for LIP and TAP are being removed. Effective 
with the 2017 program year, for LFP and ELAP, the total amount of 
payments that a person or legal entity can receive, directly or 
indirectly, in any crop year cannot exceed $125,000 under the two 
programs combined.
    Producers may have chosen not to apply for losses under ELAP, LFP, 
LIP, and TAP for which the 2017 or 2018 deadlines have passed if they 
had reached the payment limitation under the previous rules. Therefore, 
the 2017 application periods for these four programs are being re-
opened until December 3, 2018, and the 2018 sign-up periods are 
extended for any 2018 applications that would have had a sign-up 
deadline earlier than December 3, 2018. Producers who previously 
submitted an application and received a decision that was 
administratively final are not eligible to reapply during the extended 
sign-up period, unless their application was denied only because their 
application or notice of loss, if required, was filed after the 
applicable deadline. Additionally, producers that previously applied 
for disaster assistance and earned payments up to the applicable 
payment limit under the prior payment limit for such disaster program 
or programs will automatically have their applications reprocessed to 
determine if they are now entitled to receive additional payments under 
the new payment limit, in which case the additional payment will 
automatically issue to such producer. Benefits for lower threshold 
mortality pecan tree losses for eligible orchardists and nursery tree 
growers under TAP, made available under the 2018 Consolidated 
Appropriations Act provisions are limited to losses on acres that were 
previously reported on the FSA-578, Report of Acreage. Nothing in this 
rule or the 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act opened an opportunity 
for persons and legal entities to now file 2017 pecan acreage reports. 
Persons or legal entities are not required to re-apply for assistance 
under the programs in order for new payment limitation provisions to 
take effect. FSA will apply the new payment limitation and payment 
eligibility provisions to all applications for each program year 
regardless of time of filing.

Supplemental Disaster General Provisions

    This rule removes duplicative provisions at Sec.  1416.6(d) that 
provided that producers who are eligible to receive benefits for the 
same loss under both 7 CFR part 1416 and any other program, including 
indemnities under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501-1524), 
could not receive benefits under both and had to elect whether to 
receive benefits under part 1416 or the other program. There is, 
however, a similar statutory provision that remains in effect under the 
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) that precludes a 
producer from receiving assistance under NAP and assistance for the 
same loss under any other program--including TAP, LIP, ELAP and LFP--
administered by the Secretary, subject to certain exceptions. In 
addition, the rule clarifies provisions at Sec.  1416.6(c) that allows 
the Deputy Secretary to take action to avoid the duplication of 
benefits between these programs and other programs to prevent

[[Page 49460]]

a person or legal entity from being paid the total value of their loss.
    The provisions related to direct attribution and adjust gross 
income limitations are removed from Sec.  1416.6(f) because those 
provisions are also included in 7 CFR part 1400, which applies to the 
programs in part 1416; therefore, repeating those provisions in Sec.  
1416.6 is unnecessary. Application of direct attribution and adjusted 
gross income limits provisions at 7 CFR 1400 are not affected by this 
rule.
    The provisions related to eligible producers in Sec.  1416.3; 
misrepresentation in Sec.  1416.7; offsets, assignments, and debt 
settlement in Sec.  1416.9; and miscellaneous provisions in Sec.  
1416.14 are clarified. These changes are only intended to make the 
regulation easier to understand and do not affect the administration of 
the programs. The provisions related to deceased individuals and 
dissolved entities in Sec.  1416.13 are removed, and the provisions in 
7 CFR part 707, Payments Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or 
Have Been Declared Incompetent, will apply to the programs in part 1416 
to be consistent with how such payments are treated under other FSA 
programs.

Specific Provisions for ELAP

    Effective with the 2017 program year, BBA removes the annual 
funding limitation for ELAP of $20 million per program year; this rule 
implements this change and removes provisions regarding availability of 
funds and application of a national payment factor in Sec.  1416.108. 
However, as all program payments are generally subject to availability 
of funds under Federal law, Sec.  1416.2 has been amended to specify 
the actions FSA will take in response to changes in availability or 
incidence.
    In Sec.  1416.102, the definitions of ``adult beefalo bull,'' 
``adult beefalo cow,'' ``adult buffalo or bison bull,'' ``adult buffalo 
or bison cow,'' ``blizzard,'' ``grazing animals,'' ``newborn 
livestock,'' ``non-adult beefalo,'' and ``non-adult buffalo or bison,'' 
are being added. This rule clarifies the definitions of ``commercial 
use,'' ``eligible adverse weather,'' ``livestock owner,'' ``non-adult 
beef cattle,'' and ``normal grazing period''. This rule removes the 
definitions of ``adult buffalo and beefalo bull,'' ``adult buffalo and 
beefalo cow'', and ``non-adult buffalo or beefalo'' because this rule 
is changing the categories and different terms are being used. This 
rule removes the definition of ``Deputy Administrator or DAFP'' because 
these definitions are now included at 7 CFR part 718, which applies to 
the programs in part 1416.
    In Sec.  1416.103, this rule clarifies that eligible losses must 
have been apparent during a program year to be an eligible loss in that 
year. In Sec.  1416.104(a)(1), FSA specifies that to be eligible for 
losses relating to livestock grazing and feed, transporting water, or 
gathering livestock to treat for cattle fever, the livestock must be 
grazing animals, which is consistent with the intent of the program. 
Poultry and swine are removed from the listing of livestock types 
eligible for grazing and feed losses and losses from transporting water 
in Sec.  1416.104(b) to be consistent with the amended requirement that 
eligible livestock be grazing animals. Poultry, and swine were added to 
the livestock types ineligible for those categories of assistance in 
Sec.  1416.104(c).
    The provisions related to eligible death losses are amended to 
correct livestock types for beefalo and bison in Sec.  1416.104(d) and 
Sec.  1416.104(b), add a separate livestock type for ``chickens, 
pullets, and Cornish hens (small size),'' and clarify two previously 
included poultry categories at Sec.  1416.104(d) and (e). The rule 
clarifies when eligible livestock must have died and adds a separate 
provision for newborn livestock, which must have died within 7 calendar 
days from the ending date of the eligible loss condition. It also 
clarifies the requirement that livestock be produced or maintained for 
commercial use or for a commercial operation for producing livestock 
products, consistent with similar changes in Sec.  1416.104(a)(1) and 
(c)(9).
    This rule also clarifies provisions regarding length of time of 
ownership in Sec.  1416.105 and updates applicable program years and 
the deadline in Sec. Sec.  1416.106 and 1416.107, including dates for 
the extension of the 2017 application period.

Specific Provisions for LFP

    This rule amends the definitions in Sec.  1416.202 for beefalo, 
buffalo, and bison to be consistent with changes made to ELAP and LIP 
provisions and makes technical corrections to the definition of 
``Federal Agency.'' This rule clarifies the LFP provisions related to 
contract growers by removing provisions from the definition of covered 
livestock and adding a separate definition of ``contract grower'' in 
Sec.  1416.202 and clarifying provisions in Sec.  1416.203(a). This 
rule clarifies the provisions related to grazing animals by adding a 
definition of ``grazing animals'' and amending the definition of 
``normal grazing period'' to clarify that it is the time period when 
grazing animals receive daily nutrients and satisfy net energy 
requirements without supplemental feed. In Sec.  1416.204, the section 
is amended to specify that covered livestock must be grazing animals 
and do not include poultry and swine, consistent with similar changes 
under ELAP. The requirement that eligible livestock must have been 
produced or maintained for commercial use or for producing livestock 
products in Sec.  1416.204 is clarified, and categories for beefalo, 
bison, and buffalo are amended to be consistent with the clarifications 
for ELAP and LIP.
    This rule updates the applicable program years and deadlines in 
Sec.  1416.206 and makes technical corrections in Sec.  1416.202 to the 
definition of ``Federal Agency.'' It also makes changes in Sec.  
1416.205, to specify that eligible grazing losses include losses 
occurring on land planted to annual planted ryegrass and annual planted 
crabgrass, and in Sec.  1416.207 to correct paragraph references and 
numbering.

Specific Provisions for LIP

    In addition to removing the payment limitation for LIP benefits, 
this rule adds provisions in Sec.  1416.301 to provide LIP benefits for 
the sale of animals at a reduced price if the sale occurred due to 
injury that was a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event or 
due to an attack by an animal reintroduced into the wild by the Federal 
Government or protected by Federal law, including wolves or avian 
predators, as authorized by the BBA. It also amends provisions 
throughout part 1416 to include conforming language regarding the sale 
of animals at a reduced price where applicable, and amends Sec.  
1416.306(e) to specify that payments for sales of injured animals at a 
reduced price will be calculated by multiplying the national payment 
rate for each livestock category by the number of eligible livestock 
sold at a reduced price, minus the amount the producer received for the 
livestock. If the reduced sale price of the livestock is greater than 
the national payment rate, the producer will not receive a payment for 
that livestock.
    The definitions in Sec.  1416.302 for beefalo, buffalo, and bison 
are amended to be consistent with changes made to ELAP and LFP. This 
rule clarifies the existing definitions of ``Commercial use,'' 
``Eligible adverse weather event,'' and ``Winter storm.'' To clarify 
existing regulations, this rule adds definitions of ``acceptable animal 
husbandry,'' ``blizzard,'' ``eligible attack,'' ``eligible disease,'' 
``eligible loss condition,'' ``livestock unit,'' and ``newborn 
livestock.'' This rule removes

[[Page 49461]]

definitions of ``CCC,'' ``Deputy Administrator,'' ``Secretary,'' 
``State committee, State office, county committee, or county office'' 
and ``United States'' because these definitions are included at 7 CFR 
part 718, which applies to the programs in part 1416.
    In Sec.  1416.303, the eligibility of livestock owners and contract 
growers is clarified. This rule adds the provision at Sec.  1416.303(c) 
to specify that a livestock owner's interest must be summarized by 
livestock unit for a county when determining payment eligibility. It 
amends Sec.  1416.304 to clarify that ostriches are included as 
eligible livestock. It amends the time period in Sec.  1416.304(c) 
during which an animal must have died due to an eligible adverse 
weather event or attack, from 60 days to 30 days, and within 7 days for 
newborn animals. The provisions in Sec.  1416.304 regarding commercial 
use and categories for beefalo, buffalo, bison, and poultry are 
clarified. This rules updates applicable program years and notice of 
loss and application requirements in Sec.  1416.305, including changes 
to extend the 2017 application period, to change the deadline for 
filing an application for payment and livestock inventory reports to 60 
calendar days after the end of the calendar year, and to allow a 
licensed veterinarian to provide a certification of livestock deaths 
due to disease in cases where reliable beginning inventory data is 
available and the veterinarian personally observed the animals, had 
knowledge of how the deaths due to disease were caused or exacerbated 
by an eligible adverse weather event and were not avoidable or 
preventable by using good animal husbandry and management practices.

Specific Provisions for TAP

    In additional to removing the TAP payment limitation of $125,000 
per year, BBA required increases in the number of acres for which a 
producer can receive payment from 500 to 1,000 acres per year, which is 
being implemented by this final rule in Sec.  1416.406(j). Growers who 
previously received TAP benefits for the 2017 or 2018 program years 
that were limited to only 500 acres may receive benefits on additional 
acres, up to 1,000 acres. If those growers already filed applications 
for their entire stand and received an administrative decision for that 
stand, there is no need to re-file those applications because the 
extent of eligibility decisions were all based on the entire stand. To 
the extent that payments were limited merely because the acreage 
limitation was reached, the previously limited payments will 
automatically issue without any action required by the participant.
    The provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 are 
being implemented to expand coverage under TAP by providing $15 million 
for 2017 pecan tree losses for growers who suffered a pecan stand 
mortality loss that exceeds 7.5 percent (rather than a mortality loss 
that exceeds 15 percent) due to an eligible natural disaster. The 
provisions only apply to producers with mortality losses that exceed 
7.5 percent. Pecan growers who had more than a 15 percent mortality 
loss are already eligible under regular 2017 TAP provisions and are not 
affected by this change. Accordingly, this rule only changes the 
eligibility provisions to allow pecan growers with lower stand 
mortality losses that exceed 7.5 percent to be eligible; it does not 
change the payment calculation for TAP benefits. If TAP applications 
for these losses exceed the available $15 million, FSA may factor 
payments. Pecan growers who suffered eligible 2017 losses can apply for 
these benefits through December 3, 2018.
    TAP provisions are revised to make technical corrections and 
clarifications in the rule. The 2014 Farm Bill established a qualifying 
loss threshold of greater than 15 percent mortality; a person or legal 
entity who is otherwise eligible for payment qualifies for TAP only if 
the tree, bush, or vine mortality of the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower, as a result of damaging weather or related condition, 
exceeds 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality). Growers may receive 
payment for damage losses in excess of 15 percent (adjusted for normal 
damage) only if they meet the qualifying loss threshold of 15 percent 
mortality. This rule amends Sec. Sec.  1416.403, 1416.404, and 1416.406 
to correct and clarify the qualifying mortality loss threshold. Growers 
who only sustain damage, and no mortality in excess of the requisite 15 
percent loss threshold for mortality, adjusted for normal mortality, 
are not eligible. In Sec.  1416.406(d)(3), this rule also clarifies 
that if someone other than the orchardist or nursery tree grower bore 
or incurred costs or expenses, or the orchardist or nursery tree grower 
was reimbursed for expenses under another program, those expenses are 
not eligible for cost share under TAP.
    In addition, the terms of ``individual stand'' and ``eligible 
stand'' have been changed to ``stand'' in Sec. Sec.  1416.403 and 
1416.406(h). This change was made for clarity and consistency to use 
the defined term ``stand'' because ``individual stand'' and ``eligible 
stand'' are not defined in the rule. The definitions in Sec. Sec.  
1416.402 of ``county committee,'' ``Deputy Administrator,'' and ``State 
committee'' are being removed because those definitions are included in 
7 CFR part 718, which applies to the programs in part 1416.

Notice and Comment

    In general, the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) 
requires that a notice of proposed rulemaking be published in the 
Federal Register and interested persons be given an opportunity to 
participate in the rulemaking through submission of written data, 
views, or arguments with or without opportunity for oral presentation, 
except when the rule involves a matter relating to public property, 
loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. The regulations to implement the 
provisions of Title I and the administration of Title I of the 2014 
Farm Bill are exempt from the notice and comment provisions of 5 U.S.C. 
553 and the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), as 
specified in section 1601(c)(2) of the 2014 Farm Bill.

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, 13771 and 13777

    Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and 
Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' 
direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select 
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive 
impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasized the importance 
of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of 
harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. Executive Order 13777, 
``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' established a federal 
policy to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the American 
people.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated this rule as 
not significant under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review,'' and therefore, OMB has not reviewed this rule.
    Executive Order 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs,'' requires that in order to manage the private costs 
required to comply with Federal regulations that for every new 
significant or economically significant regulation issued, the new 
costs must be offset by the elimination of at least two prior 
regulations. This rule does not rise to the level required

[[Page 49462]]

to comply with Executive Order 13771; however, the cost savings will be 
accounted for through the USDA regulatory reform initiative and will be 
banked to be used as needed for future offsetting costs.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 
(SBREFA), generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of any rule subject to the notice and comment 
rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
U.S.C. 553). This rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
since FSA is 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 799). This rule change is a 
technical amendment and is solely administrative in nature. 
Accordingly, this action is covered by the Categorical Exclusion, found 
at 7 CFR part 799.31(b)(3)(i), that applies to the issuance of minor 
technical corrections to regulations. No Extraordinary Circumstances 
(Sec.  799.33) exist. As such, the implementation of the technical 
corrections provided in this rule does not constitute a major Federal 
action that would significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment, individually or cumulatively. Therefore, FSA will not 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement 
for this regulatory action and this rule serves as documentation of the 
programmatic environmental compliance decision for this federal action.

Executive Order 12372

    Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' requires consultation with State and local officials. The 
objectives of the Executive Order are to foster an intergovernmental 
partnership and a strengthened Federalism, by relying on State and 
local processes for State and local government coordination and review 
of proposed Federal Financial assistance and direct Federal 
development. For reasons specified in the Notice to 7 CFR part 3015, 
subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), the programs and activities 
within this rule are excluded from the scope of Executive Order 12372 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform.'' This rule would not preempt State and or local laws, 
and regulations, or policies unless they present an irreconcilable 
conflict with this rule. Before any judicial action may be brought 
concerning the provisions of this rule, appeal provisions of 7 CFR 
parts 11 and 780 must be exhausted. This rule would not preempt a State 
or tribal government law, including any State or tribal government 
liability law.

Executive Order 13132

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 13132, 
``Federalism.'' 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

    This rule has been reviewed for compliance with Executive Order 
13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments.'' The Executive Order 13175 requires to consult and 
coordinate with tribes on a government-to-government basis on policies 
that have tribal implications, including regulations, legislative 
comments proposed legislation, and other policy statements or actions 
that have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
government and Indian tribes.
    FSA has assessed the impact of this rule on Indian tribes and 
determined that this rule does not, to our knowledge, have tribal 
implications that required tribal consultation under Executive Order 
13175. If a tribe requests consultation, FSA will work with USDA Office 
of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is provided.

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA, Pub. L. 
104-4) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their 
regulatory actions on State, local, or Tribal governments or the 
private sector. Agencies generally must prepare a written statement, 
including a cost benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with 
Federal mandates that may result in expenditures of $100 million or 
more in any 1 year for State, local, or Tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or to the private sector. UMRA generally requires agencies 
to consider alternatives and adopt the more cost effective or least 
burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule. This 
rule contains no Federal mandates as defined by Title II of UMRA for 
State, local, or Tribal governments or for the private sector. 
Therefore, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 
and 205 of UMRA.

SBREFA

    This rule is not a major rule under the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121, SBREFA). Therefore, 
FSA is not required to delay the effective date for 60 days from the 
date of publication to allow for Congressional review and this rule is 
effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, the rule is effective when published in the Federal 
Register, as discussed above.

Federal Assistance Programs

    The titles and numbers of the Federal assistance programs as found 
in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to which this rule 
applies are:

10.088--Livestock Indemnity Program
10.089--Livestock Forage Disaster Program
10.091--Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised 
Fish Program
10.092--Tree Assistance Program

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) of the 2014 Farm Bill, which provides that these 
regulations be promulgated and administered without regard to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

E-Government Act Compliance

    FSA 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.

[[Page 49463]]

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 1400

    Agriculture, Loan programs--agriculture, Conservation, Price 
support programs.

7 CFR Part 1416

    Dairy products, Indemnity payments, Pesticide and pests, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons discussed above, CCC amends 7 CFR parts 1400 and 
1416 as follows:

PART 1400--PAYMENT LIMITATION AND PAYMENT ELIGIBILITY

0
1. The authority citation for part 1400 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1308, 1308-1, 1308-2, 1308-3, 1308-3a, 1308-
4, and 1308-5; and Title I, Pub. L. 115-123.


0
2. In Sec.  1400.1, revise the table in paragraph (f) to read as 
follow:


Sec.  1400.1  Applicability.

    (f) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Limitation per
                                                             person or
                                                           legal entity,
                   Payment or benefit                        per crop,
                                                            program, or
                                                            fiscal year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Price Loss Coverage, Agricultural Risk Coverage,            $125,000
 Loan Deficiency Program, and Marketing Loan Gain
 payments (other than Peanuts)..........................
(2) Price Loss Coverage, Agricultural Risk Coverage,             125,000
 Loan Deficiency Program, and Marketing Loan Gain
 payments for Peanuts...................................
(3) Transition Assistance for Producers of Upland Cotton          40,000
 \1\....................................................
(4) CRP annual rental payments \2\......................          50,000
(5) NAP payments........................................         125,000
(6) TAP \3\.............................................         125,000
(7) LIP, LFP, and ELAP \4\..............................         125,000
(8) CSP \5\.............................................         200,000
(9) EQIP \6\............................................         450,000
(10) AMA program \7\....................................          50,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Transition Assistance for Producers of Upland Cotton is only
  available in the 2014 and 2015 program years.
\2\ CRP contracts approved prior to October 1, 2008 may exceed the
  limitation, subject to payment limitation rules in effect on the date
  of contract approval.
\3\ A separate limitation applies to TAP payments for 2011 through 2016
  program years. Lastly, there is no program payment limitation for
  either LIP or TAP in 2017 and subsequent program years.
\4\ Total payments received through LIP, LFP, and ELAP may not exceed
  $125,000 for each of the 2011 through 2016 program years. For the 2017
  and subsequent program years, LIP is no longer included in the
  combined program limitation.
\5\ The $200,000 limit is the total limit under all CSP contracts
  entered into subsequent to enactment of the 2014 Farm Bill during
  fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
\6\ The $450,000 limit is the total limit under all EQIP contracts
  entered into subsequent to enactment of the 2014 Farm Bill during
  fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
\7\ The $50,000 limit is the total limit that a participant may receive
  under the AMA program in any fiscal year.

PART 1416--EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

0
3. The authority citation for part 1416 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: Title I, Pub. L. 113-79, 128 Stat. 649; Title I, Pub. 
L. 115-123; Title VII, Pub. L. 115-141.

Subpart A--General Provisions for Supplemental Agricultural 
Disaster Assistance Programs

0
4. In Sec.  1416.2, add paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.2  Administration of ELAP, LFP, LIP, and TAP.

* * * * *
    (f) Payments issued under this part are subject to the availability 
of funds under Federal law. Within whatever funding limitation that may 
exist under law, the only funds that will be considered available to 
pay eligible losses will be that amount approved by the Secretary. If 
funds are limited, for a particular program year payments may be 
delayed until the time for applying for the payment for that program 
year has passed. In the event that, within the limits of the funding 
made available by the Secretary, approval of eligible applications 
would result in expenditures in excess of the amount available, FSA 
will prorate the available funds by a national factor to reduce the 
total expected payments to the amount made available by the Secretary. 
FSA will make payments based on the factor for the national rate 
determined by FSA. FSA will prorate the payments in such manner as it 
determines necessary and appropriate and reasonable. Applications for 
payment that are unpaid or prorated for a program year for any reason 
will not be carried forward for payment under other funds for later 
years or otherwise, but will be considered, as to any unpaid amount, 
void and nonpayable.


0
5. In Sec.  1416.3, revise paragraphs (a), (b) introductory text, and 
(b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.3  Eligible Producer.

    (a) Eligible producer means, in addition to other requirements as 
may apply, an individual or legal entity who is an owner, operator, 
landlord, tenant, or sharecropper, who shares in the risk of producing 
a crop or livestock and who is entitled to share in the crop or 
livestock available for marketing from the farm, or would have shared 
had the crop or livestock been produced, and who also meets the 
requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. The term eligible 
producer can include a livestock owner or contract grower who satisfies 
other requirements of this part.
    (b) An individual or legal entity seeking to be an eligible 
producer under this part must submit a farm operating plan in 
accordance with part 1400 of this chapter and be a:
* * * * *
    (4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational 
structure organized under State law.

0
6. Revise Sec.  1416.6 to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.6  Payment eligibility and limitation.

    (a) For 2017 and subsequent program years, a person or legal 
entity, excluding a joint venture or general partnership, as determined 
in part 1400 of this chapter,

[[Page 49464]]

must not receive ELAP and LFP payments combined, directly or 
indirectly, in excess of $125,000 per program year.
    (b) The Deputy Administrator may take such actions as needed to 
avoid a duplication of benefits under the programs provided for in this 
part, or duplication of benefits received in other programs, and may 
impose such cross-program payment limitations as may be consistent with 
the intent of this part in order to help prevent a person or legal 
entity being paid more than the total value of their loss.
    (c) For losses incurred beginning on October 1, 2011, and for the 
purposes of administering LIP, LFP, ELAP, and TAP, the average adjusted 
gross income (AGI) limitation provisions in part 1400 of this chapter 
relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding 
joint ventures and general partnerships, apply under this subpart and 
will apply to each applicant for ELAP, LFP, LIP, and TAP. Specifically, 
a person or legal entity with an average AGI that exceeds $900,000 will 
not be eligible to receive benefits under this part.
    (d) The direct attribution provisions in part 1400 of this chapter 
apply to ELAP, LFP, LIP, and TAP.

0
7. Revise Sec.  1416.7 to read as follows:

Sec.  1416.7  Misrepresentation.

    (a) A person or legal entity who is determined to have deliberately 
misrepresented any fact affecting a program determination made in 
accordance with this part, or any other part that is applicable to this 
part, to receive benefits for which that person or legal entity would 
not otherwise be entitled, is ineligible for program payments under 
this part and must refund all such payments received, plus interest as 
determined in accordance with part 1403 of this chapter. The person or 
legal entity is ineligible and will be denied program benefits under 
this part for the immediately subsequent period of at least 2 crop 
years, and up to 5 crop years. Interest will run from the date of the 
original disbursement by CCC.
    (b) For each year of ineligibility determined according to 
paragraph (a) of this section, a person or legal entity will refund to 
CCC all program payments, in accordance with Sec.  1416.11, received by 
such person or legal entity with respect to all applications under this 
part, as may be applicable, if the person or legal entity is determined 
to have knowingly misrepresented any fact affecting a program 
determination.


Sec.  1416.9  [Amended]

0
8. Amend Sec.  1416.9 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), remove the words ``to any participant'', and
0
b. In paragraph (b), remove the words ``Any participant entitled to any 
payment'' and add the words ``A participant'' in their place, and add 
the words ``under this part'' immediately before the words ``in 
accordance''.


0
9. Revise Sec.  1416.13 to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.13  Deceased individuals or dissolved entities.

    (a) The provisions of part 707 of this chapter apply to the 
programs of this part.
    (b) [Reserved].


Sec.  1416.14  [Amended]

0
10. In Sec.  1416.14, in paragraph (a), remove ``to receive benefits'' 
and add ``of payment eligibility'' in its place, and remove ``from 
receiving benefits'' and add the word ``from receiving payments'' in 
its place.

Subpart B--Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-
Raised Fish Program

0
11. Amend Sec.  1416.102 as follows:
0
a. Remove the definitions of ``Adult buffalo and beefalo bull'' and 
``Adult buffalo and beefalo cow'';
0
b. Add definitions for ``Adult beefalo bull'', ``Adult beefalo cow'', 
``Adult buffalo or bison bull'', ``Adult buffalo or bison cow'', and 
``Blizzard'' in alphabetical order;
0
c. In the definition of ``Commercial use'', remove ``by the eligible 
producer'';
0
d. Remove the definition of ``Deputy Administrator or DAFP'';
0
e. In the definition of ``eligible adverse weather'', remove '' extreme 
or'' and add ``extreme and'' in its place;
0
f. Add a definition for ``Grazing animals'' in alphabetical order;
0
g. Revise the definition of ``Livestock owner'';
0
h. Add a definition for ``Newborn livestock'' in alphabetical order;
0
i. In the definition of ``Non-adult beef cattle'', remove ``at the time 
they died'' and add ``on or before the beginning date of the eligible 
adverse weather or eligible loss condition that caused death'' in its 
place;
0
j. Remove the definition of ``Non-adult buffalo or beefalo'';
0
k. Add definitions for ``Non-adult beefalo'' and ``Non-adult buffalo or 
bison'' in alphabetical order;
0
l. In the definition of ``Non-adult dairy cattle'', remove ``at the 
time they died'' and add ``on or before the beginning date of the 
eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition that caused death'' 
in its place; and
0
m. Revise the definition of ``Normal grazing period''.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1416.102  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Adult beefalo bull means a male hybrid of beef and bison that was 
used for breeding purposes and was at least 2 years old before the 
beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition.
    Adult beefalo cow means a female hybrid of beef and bison that had 
delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the 
eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. A first-time bred 
beefalo heifer is also considered an adult beefalo cow if it was 
pregnant by the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or 
eligible loss condition.
    Adult buffalo or bison bull means a male animal of those breeds 
that was used for breeding purposes and was at least 2 years old before 
the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition.
    Adult buffalo or bison cow means a female animal of those breeds 
that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of 
the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition. A first-time 
bred buffalo or bison heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or 
bison cow if it was pregnant by the beginning date of the eligible 
adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
* * * * *
    Blizzard means, as defined by the National Weather Service, a storm 
which contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow with winds in 
excess of 35 miles per hour and visibility of less than one-fourth of a 
mile for an extended period of time.
* * * * *
    Grazing animals mean those species of livestock that, from a 
nutritional and physiological perspective, satisfy more than 50 percent 
of their net energy requirement through the consumption of growing 
forage grasses and legumes. Species of livestock for which more than 50 
percent of their net energy requirements are not recommended to be met 
from consumption of forage grasses and legumes, such as poultry and 
swine, are excluded regardless of whether those species are grazing or 
are present on grazing land or pastureland.
* * * * *
    Livestock owner means one having legal ownership of the livestock 
for which benefits are being requested on the day of the eligible 
adverse weather or eligible loss condition.
* * * * *

[[Page 49465]]

    Newborn livestock means livestock that are within 10 calendar days 
of the date of birth.
* * * * *
    Non-adult beefalo means a hybrid of beef and bison that does not 
meet the definition of adult beefalo cow or bull. Non-adult beefalo are 
further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds 
or 400 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the eligible 
adverse weather or eligible loss condition that caused death. For a 
loss other than death, means an animal of those breeds that is less 
than 2 years old that weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the 
beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition.
    Non-adult buffalo or bison means an animal of those breeds that 
does not meet the definition of adult buffalo or adult bison cow or 
bull. Non-adult buffalo or bison are further delineated by weight 
categories of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more on or 
before the beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible 
loss condition that caused death. For a loss other than death, means an 
animal of those breeds that is less than 2 years old that weighed 500 
pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the eligible adverse 
weather or eligible loss condition.
* * * * *
    Normal grazing period means, as determined by FSA, with respect to 
a specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county, the 
period during the calendar year when grazing animals receive daily 
nutrients and satisfy net energy requirements without supplemental 
feed.
* * * * *

0
12. In Sec.  1416.103, revise paragraphs (a) and (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1416.103  Eligible losses, adverse weather, and other loss 
conditions.

    (a) An eligible loss covered under this subpart is a loss that an 
eligible producer, livestock owner, or contract grower of livestock, or 
eligible producer of honeybees or farm-raised fish incurs due to an 
eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as determined by 
the Deputy Administrator.
* * * * *
    (c) To be an eligible loss in a program year, the loss must have 
been apparent to the person or legal entity providing the notice and to 
FSA in the program year for which payment is being requested.
* * * * *

0
13. In Sec.  1416.104, revise paragraphs (a) through (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1416.104  Eligible livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish.

    (a) To be considered eligible livestock for livestock grazing and 
feed, losses resulting from transporting water, and gathering livestock 
to treat for cattle tick fever, livestock must meet all the following 
conditions:
    (1) Be grazing animals such as alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy 
cattle, adult or non-adult beef cattle, adult or non-adult beefalo, 
adult or non-adult buffalo or bison, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, 
llamas, reindeer, or sheep;
    (2) Except for livestock losses resulting from gathering livestock 
to treat cattle tick fever, be livestock that would normally have been 
grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal 
grazing period for the specific type of grazing land or pastureland for 
the county where the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition occurred;
    (3) Be livestock that is owned, cash-leased, purchased, under 
contract for purchase, or been raised by a contract grower or an 
eligible livestock owner, for not less than 60 days before the 
beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition;
    (4) Be livestock produced or maintained for commercial use or be 
livestock that is produced or maintained for producing livestock 
products for commercial use, such as milk from dairy, as part of the 
contract grower's or livestock owner's farming operation on the 
beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition;
    (5) Be livestock that was not in a feedlot, on the beginning date 
of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss condition, as a part 
of the normal business operation of the producer, as determined by the 
Deputy Administrator.
    (b) The eligible livestock types for grazing and feed losses, 
losses resulting from transporting water, and gathering livestock to 
treat for cattle tick fever, are:
    (1) Adult beef cows or bulls,
    (2) Adult beefalo cows or bulls,
    (3) Adult buffalo or bison cows or bulls,
    (4) Adult dairy cows or bulls,
    (5) Alpacas,
    (6) Deer,
    (7) Elk,
    (8) Emus,
    (9) Equine,
    (10) Goats,
    (11) Llamas,
    (12) Non-adult beef cattle,
    (13) Non-adult beefalo,
    (14) Non-adult buffalo or bison,
    (15) Non-adult dairy cattle,
    (16) Reindeer, and
    (17) Sheep.
    (c) Ineligible livestock for grazing and feed losses, and losses 
resulting from transporting water, include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the 
beginning date of the eligible adverse weather or eligible loss 
condition, as a part of the normal business operation of the producer, 
as determined by FSA;
    (2) Animals that are not grazing animals;
    (3) Yaks;
    (4) Ostriches;
    (5) Poultry;
    (6) Swine;
    (7) All beef and dairy cattle, and buffalo or bison and beefalo 
that weighed less than 500 pounds on the beginning date of the eligible 
adverse weather or eligible loss condition;
    (8) Any wild free roaming livestock, including horses and deer; and
    (9) Livestock that are not produced for commercial use or those 
that are not produced or maintained in a commercial operation for 
livestock products, such as milk from dairy, including, but not limited 
to, livestock produced or maintained exclusively for recreational 
purposes, such as:
    (i) Roping,
    (ii) Hunting,
    (iii) Show,
    (iv) Pleasure,
    (v) Use as pets, or
    (vi) Consumption by owner.
    (d) For death losses, the livestock must meet all of the following 
conditions:
    (1) Be alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, 
beefalo, buffalo or bison, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, 
poultry, reindeer, sheep, or swine, and meet all the conditions in 
paragraph (f) of this section.
    (2) Be one of the following categories of animals for which 
calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately 
for each producer with respect to each category:
    (i) Adult beef bulls;
    (ii) Adult beef cows;
    (iii) Adult beefalo bulls;
    (iv) Adult beefalo cows;
    (v) Adult buffalo or bison bulls;
    (vi) Adult buffalo or bison cows;
    (vii) Adult dairy bulls;
    (viii) Adult dairy cows;
    (ix) Alpacas;
    (x) Chickens, broilers, pullets (regular size);
    (xi) Chickens, chicks;
    (xii) Chickens, layers;
    (xiii) Chickens, pullets or Cornish hens (small size);
    (xiv) Deer;

[[Page 49466]]

    (xv) Ducks;
    (xvi) Ducks, ducklings;
    (xvii) Elk;
    (xviii) Emus;
    (xix) Equine;
    (xx) Geese, goose;
    (xi) Geese, gosling;
    (xii) Goats, bucks;
    (xxiii) Goats, nannies;
    (xxiv) Goats, kids;
    (xxv) Llamas;
    (xxvi) Non-adult beef cattle;
    (xxvii) Non-adult beefalo;
    (xxviii) Non-adult buffalo or bison;
    (xxix) Non-adult dairy cattle;
    (xxx) Reindeer;
    (xxxi) Sheep, ewes;
    (xxxii) Sheep, lambs;
    (xxxiii) Sheep, rams;
    (xxxiv) Swine, feeder pigs under 50 pounds;
    (xxxv) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts 50 to 150 pounds;
    (xxxvi) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts over 150 pounds;
    (xxxvii) Turkeys, poults; and
    (xxxviii) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
    (e) Under ELAP, ``contract growers'' only includes producers of 
livestock, other than feedlots, whose income is dependent on the 
survival of the livestock and any of the following: Actual weight gain 
of the livestock, number of offspring produced from the livestock, or 
quantity of products (eggs, milk, etc.) produced from the livestock. 
For death losses for contract growers to be eligible, the livestock 
must meet all of the following conditions:
    (1) Be poultry or swine and meet all the conditions in paragraph 
(f) of this section.
    (2) Be one of the following categories of animals for which 
calculations of eligibility for payments will be calculated separately 
for each contract grower with respect to each category:
    (i) Chickens, broilers, pullets (regular size);
    (ii) Chickens, layers;
    (iii) Chickens, pullets or Cornish hens (small size);
    (iv) Geese, goose;
    (v) Swine, boars, sows;
    (vi) Swine, feeder pigs;
    (vii) Swine, lightweight barrows, gilts;
    (viii) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts; and
    (ix) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
    (f) For livestock death losses in the 2017 and subsequent program 
years, livestock must meet all of the following conditions:
    (1) They must have died:
    (i) On or after the beginning date of the eligible loss condition; 
and
    (ii) Within 30 calendar days from the ending date of the eligible 
loss condition, or for newborn livestock within 7 calendar days from 
the ending date of the eligible loss condition; and
    (iii) As a direct result of an eligible loss condition.
    (2) Been produced for commercial use or maintained in a commercial 
operation for producing livestock products, such as milk from dairy or 
eggs from poultry, on the day of the eligible adverse weather or 
eligible loss condition that caused the livestock to die; and
    (3) Before dying, not have been produced or maintained for reasons 
other than commercial use as part of a farming operation, such non-
eligible uses being understood to include, but not be limited to, any 
uses of wild free roaming animals or use of the animals for 
recreational purposes, such as pleasure, hunting, roping, pets, or for 
show.
* * * * *

Sec.  1416.105  [Amended]

0
14. In Sec.  1416.105, in paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(1), remove the 
words ``during the 60 days prior to'' and add the words ``for not less 
than 60 days before'' in their places.

Sec.  1416.106  [Amended]

0
15. Amend Sec.  1416.106 as follows:

0
a. In paragraph (b) introductory text, remove the first sentence, and 
remove ``2015'' and add ``2017'' in its place;
0
b. In paragraph (e), remove ``2015'' and add ``2017'' in its place;
0
c. Remove paragraph (f); and
0
d. Redesignate paragraph (g) as paragraph (f).


0
16. Revise Sec.  1416.107 to read as follows:

Sec.  1416.107  Notice of loss and application period.

    (a) Notices of loss and applications for payment that had been 
filed under the regulations in effect at the time of filing and which 
had been issued an administrative decision for either a 2017 or 2018 
program year loss are not eligible for consideration under paragraphs 
(b) and (c) of this section, unless the decision was based only on 
failure to submit the notice of loss or application for payment by the 
prior applicable deadline.
    (b) In addition to submitting an application for payment at the 
appropriate time, the participant that suffered eligible livestock, 
honeybee, or farm-raised fish losses that create or could create a 
claim for benefits must:
    (1) For losses in the 2017 and subsequent program years, provide a 
notice of loss to FSA by the later of 30 calendar days of when the loss 
of livestock is first apparent or December 3, 2018;
    (2) Submit the notice of loss required in paragraph (b) of this 
section to the administrative FSA county office, unless additional 
options are otherwise provided for by the Deputy Administrator.
    (c) In addition to the notices of loss required in paragraph (b) of 
this section, a participant must also submit a completed application 
for payment by the later of November 1 following the program year for 
which benefits are being requested or December 3, 2018.

Sec.  1416.108  [Removed and Reserved]

0
17. Remove and reserve Sec.  1416.108.

Subpart C--Livestock Forage Disaster Program

0
18. Amend Sec.  1416.202 as follows:

0
a. Remove the definitions of ``Adult buffalo and beefalo bull'' and 
``Adult buffalo and beefalo cow'';
0
b. Add definitions for ``Adult beefalo bull'', ``Adult beefalo cow'', 
``Adult buffalo or bison bull'', ``Adult buffalo or bison cow'', and 
``Contract grower'' in alphabetical order;
0
c. In the definition of ``Covered livestock'', remove the words and 
punctuation ``for ``contract growers'' '' from the third sentence and 
remove the last sentence;
0
d. In the definition of ``Federal Agency'', add a comma after ``U.S. 
Department of the Interior (DOI)'' and remove the acronym ``DOI'' 
before the words ``Bureau of Land Management'';
0
e. Add a definition for ``Grazing animals'' in alphabetical order;
0
f. Remove the definition of ``Non-adult buffalo or beefalo'';
0
g. Add definitions for ``Non-adult beefalo'' and ``Non-adult buffalo or 
bison'' in alphabetical order; and
0
h. Revise the definition of ``Normal grazing period''.
    The additions and revision read as follows:


Sec.  1416.202  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Adult beefalo bull means a male hybrid of beef and bison that was 
used for breeding purposes and was at least 2 years old before the 
beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire.
    Adult beefalo cow means a female hybrid of beef and bison that had 
delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of the 
qualifying drought or fire. A first-time bred beefalo heifer is also 
considered an adult beefalo cow if it was pregnant by the beginning 
date of the qualifying drought or fire.

[[Page 49467]]

    Adult buffalo or bison bull means a male animal of those breeds 
that was used for breeding purposes and was at least 2 years old before 
the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire.
    Adult buffalo or bison cow means a female animal of those breeds 
that had delivered one or more offspring before the beginning date of 
the qualifying drought or fire. A first-time bred buffalo or bison 
heifer is also considered an adult buffalo or bison cow if it was 
pregnant by the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire.
* * * * *
    Contract grower means a person or legal entity, other than a 
feedlot, that was engaged in a farming operation not as an owner of 
covered livestock but in a business whose income is dependent on the 
survival of the livestock and either the actual weight gain of the 
livestock or number of offspring produced from the livestock.
* * * * *
    Grazing animals mean those species of livestock that, from a 
nutritional and physiological perspective, satisfy more than 50 percent 
of their net energy requirement through the consumption of growing 
forage grasses and legumes. Species of livestock for which more than 50 
percent of their net energy requirements are not recommended to be met 
from consumption of forage grasses and legumes, such as poultry and 
swine, are excluded regardless of whether those species are present on 
grazing land or pastureland.
* * * * *
    Non-adult beefalo means a hybrid of beef and bison that weighed 500 
pounds or more on or before the beginning date of the qualifying 
drought or fire, but does not meet the definition of adult beefalo cow 
or bull.
    Non-adult buffalo or bison means an animal of those breeds that 
weighed 500 pounds or more on or before the beginning date of beginning 
date of the qualifying drought or fire, but does not meet the 
definition of adult buffalo or bison cow or bull.
* * * * *
    Normal grazing period means, as determined by FSA, with respect to 
a specific type of grazing land or pastureland in the county, the 
period during the calendar year when grazing animals receive daily 
nutrients and satisfy net energy requirements without supplemental 
feed.
* * * * *

0
19. In Sec.  1416.203, revise the section heading and paragraph (a) 
introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.203  Eligibility.

    (a) In addition to meeting all other requirements, to be eligible 
for benefits under this subpart, an individual or legal entity with an 
eligible producer interest in grazing land acreage who is either an 
owner or contract grower of grazing animals, must:
* * * * *

0
20. In Sec.  1416.204, revise paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(4), (b), and 
(c)(2) through (6) and add paragraphs (c)(7) through (9) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1416.204  Covered livestock.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Be grazing animals such as adult or non-adult beef cattle, 
adult or non-adult beefalo, adult or non-adult buffalo or bison, adult 
or non-adult dairy cattle, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, 
llamas, reindeer, or sheep;
* * * * *
    (4) Been livestock produced or maintained for commercial use or be 
livestock that is produced and maintained for producing livestock 
products for commercial use, such as milk from dairy, as part of the 
contract grower's or livestock owner's farming operation on the 
beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire;
* * * * *
    (b) The covered livestock categories are:
    (1) Adult beef cows or bulls,
    (2) Adult beefalo cows or bulls,
    (3) Adult buffalo or bison cows or bulls,
    (3) Adult dairy cows or bulls,
    (4) Alpacas,
    (5) Deer,
    (6) Elk,
    (7) Emu,
    (8) Equine,
    (9) Goats,
    (10) Llamas,
    (11) Non-adult beef cattle,
    (12) Non-adult beefalo,
    (13) Non-adult buffalo or bison,
    (14) Non-adult dairy cattle,
    (15) Reindeer, and
    (16) Sheep.
    (c) * * *
    (2) Animals that are not grazing animals;
    (3) Yaks;
    (4) Ostriches;
    (5) Poultry;
    (6) Swine;
    (7) All beef and dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo and bison that 
weighed less than 500 pounds on the beginning date of the qualifying 
drought or fire;
    (8) Any wild free roaming livestock, including horses and deer; and
    (9) Livestock produced or maintained for reasons other than 
commercial use as part of a farming operation, including, but not 
limited to, livestock produced or maintained for recreational purposes, 
such as:
    (i) Roping,
    (ii) Hunting,
    (iii) Show,
    (iv) Pleasure,
    (v) Use as pets, or
    (vi) Consumption by owner.


Sec.  1416.205  [Amended]

0
21. In the first Sec.  1416.205, entitled ``Eligible grazing losses,'' 
in paragraph (a)(2), remove ``sorghum or small grains,'' and add '' 
sorghum, small grains, annual planted ryegrass, or annual planted 
crabgrass,'' in their place.


Sec.  1416.205  [Redesignated as Sec.  1416.206]

0
22. Redesignate the second Sec.  1416.205, entitled ``Application for 
payment'' as Sec.  1416.206.

0
23. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  1416.206 as follows:
0
a. Redesignate paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as (b), (c), and (d), 
respectively;
0
b. Add new paragraph (a);
0
c. Revise newly redesignated paragraphs (b)(1) and (2);
0
d. In newly redesignated paragraph (c)(5)(ii)(B), add the word ``and'' 
at the end;
0
e. Remove newly redesignated paragraph (c)(5)(iii); and
0
f. Redesignate paragraph (c)(5)(iv) as (c)(5)(iii) and remove 
``calendar'' and add ``program'' in its place.
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1416.206  Application for payment.

    (a) A completed application for payment that had been filed under 
the regulations that were in effect at the actual time of the filing of 
that application and which had been issued an administrative decision 
for either a 2017 or 2018 program year loss is not eligible for 
consideration under paragraph (b) of this section, unless the decision 
was based only on failure to submit the application for payment by the 
prior applicable deadline.
    (b) * * *
    (1) For the 2017 program year, must submit a completed application 
for payment and required supporting documentation as specified in this 
part, including some supporting documentation such as an acreage report 
that may have been required at an earlier date as determined by FSA, to 
the administrative FSA county office by December 3, 2018; or
    (2) For the 2018 and subsequent program years, must submit a 
completed application for payment and required

[[Page 49468]]

supporting documentation, including some supporting documentation such 
as an acreage report that may have been required at an earlier date, to 
the administrative FSA county office no later than 30 calendar days 
after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.
* * * * *


Sec.  1416.207  [Amended]

0
24. Amend Sec.  1416.207 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), remove the reference to ``paragraphs (e) or (f)'' 
and add the reference to ``paragraphs (f) or (h)'' in its place;
0
b. In paragraph (f) introductory text, remove the reference to 
``paragraph (g)'' and add the reference to ``paragraph (h)'' in its 
place;
0
c. In paragraph (f)(1), remove the reference ``paragraph (h)'' and add 
the reference ``paragraph (i)'' in its place;
0
d. In paragraph (f)(2), remove the reference ``paragraph (j)'' and add 
the reference ``paragraph (l)'' in its place;
0
e. In paragraph (i)(2), remove ``referred to in paragraph (h) of this 
section as'' and add ``of'' in its place, and remove ``under paragraph 
(h)'' and add ``under paragraph (j)'' in its place;
0
f. In paragraph (i)(3), remove the reference ``paragraph (i)'' and add 
the reference ``paragraph (k)'' in its place;
0
g. In paragraph (l)(3), remove the reference ``paragraph (i)'' and add 
the reference ``paragraph (k)'' in its place;
0
h. In paragraph (m)(1) introductory text, remove the words and 
punctuation ``, subject to paragraph (l)(2) of this section''; and
0
i. In paragraph (m)(3), remove the reference ``Sec.  1416.208(i)'' and 
add ``paragraph (i) of this section'' in its place.

Subpart D--Livestock Indemnity Program

0
25. Revise Sec.  1416.301 to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.301  Applicability.

    (a) This subpart establishes the terms and conditions under which 
the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is administered under Title I of 
the 2014 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 113-79), as amended by the Bipartisan 
Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-123).
    (b) Eligible livestock owners and contract growers will be 
compensated in accordance with Sec.  1416.306 for eligible livestock 
deaths in excess of normal mortality, or livestock owners will be 
compensated for sales of injured livestock for a reduced price, if 
either the death or injury that results in sale at a reduced price 
occurred as a direct result of an eligible cause of loss. The eligible 
cause of loss is one, as determined by FSA, that directly results in 
the death of livestock or injury and sale of livestock at a reduced 
price, despite the livestock owner's or contract grower's performance 
of expected and normal preventative or corrective measures and 
acceptable animal husbandry practices.

0
26. Amend Sec.  1416.302 as follows:
0
a. Add a definition for ``Acceptable animal husbandry'' in alphabetical 
order,
0
b. In the definition of ``Adult beef bull'', remove the words ``before 
it died'';
0
c. In the definition of ``Adult beef cow'', remove the words ``before 
dying'' and in the last sentence, after the word ``died'', add the 
words ``or was sold at a reduced price'';
0
d. Remove the definitions of ``Adult buffalo and beefalo bull'' and 
``Adult buffalo and beefalo cow'';
0
e. Add definitions for ``Adult beefalo bull'', ``Adult beefalo cow''; 
``Adult buffalo or bison bull''; and ``Adult buffalo or bison cow'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
f. In the definition of ``Adult dairy bull'', remove the words ``before 
it died'';
0
g. In the definition of ``Adult dairy cow'', remove the words ``before 
dying'' and in the last sentence, after the word ``died'', add the 
words ``or was injured and sold at a reduced price'';
0
h. Add a definition for ``Blizzard'' in alphabetical order;
0
i. Remove the definition of ``CCC'';
0
j. In the definition of ``Commercial use'', remove the words ``by the 
eligible producer'';
0
k. Remove the definition of ``Deputy Administrator or DAFP'';
0
l. Revise the definition of ``Eligible adverse weather event'';
0
m. Add definitions for ``Eligible attack'', ``Eligible disease'', and 
``Eligible loss condition'' in alphabetical order;
0
n. In the definition of ``Livestock owner'', add the words ``or were 
sold at a reduced sale price'' at the end;
0
n. Add definitions for ``Livestock unit'' and ``Newborn livestock'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
o. In the definition of ``Non-adult beef cattle'', add the words ``or 
were sold at a reduced price'' at the end;
0
o. Remove the definition of ``Non-adult buffalo or beefalo'';
0
p. Add definitions for ``Non-adult beefalo'' and ``Non-adult buffalo or 
bison'' in alphabetical order;
0
q. In the definition of ``Non-adult dairy cattle'', add the words ``or 
were sold at a reduced price'' at the end;
0
r. Remove the definitions of ``Secretary'' and ``State committee, State 
office, county committee, or county office'';
0
s. Add a definition for ``State office or county office'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
t. Remove the definition of ``United States''; and
0
u. Revise the definition of ``Winter storm''.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1416.302  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Acceptable animal husbandry means animals raised and cared for to 
produce offspring, meat, fiber, milk, eggs, or other products. Includes 
day-to-day care and selective breeding and raising of livestock. The 
practices are those that are generally recognized by the commercial 
livestock industry.
* * * * *
    Adult beefalo bull means a male hybrid of beef and bison that was 
at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes.
    Adult beefalo cow means a female hybrid of beef and bison that had 
delivered one or more offspring before dying or being injured and sold 
at a reduced price. A first-time bred beefalo heifer is also considered 
an adult beefalo cow if it is pregnant at the time it died or was sold 
at a reduced price.
    Adult buffalo or bison bull means a male animal of those breeds 
that was at least 2 years old and used for breeding purposes.
    Adult buffalo or bison cow means a female animal of those breeds 
that had delivered one or more offspring before it died or was injured 
and sold at a reduced price. A first-time bred buffalo or bison heifer 
is also considered an adult buffalo or bison cow if it was pregnant at 
the time it died or was sold at a reduced price.
* * * * *
    Blizzard means, as defined by the National Weather Service, a storm 
which contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow with winds in 
excess of 35 miles per hour and visibility of less than one-fourth of a 
mile for an extended period of time.
* * * * *
    Eligible adverse weather event means extreme and abnormal damaging 
weather in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested 
that is not expected to occur during the loss period for which it 
occurred, which directly results in eligible livestock death losses in 
excess of normal mortality or injury and sale of livestock at a reduced 
price. Eligible adverse weather events include,

[[Page 49469]]

but are not limited to, as determined by the Deputy Administrator or 
designee, earthquake; hail; lightning; tornado; tropical storm; 
typhoon; vog if directly related to a volcanic eruption; winter storm 
if the winter storm meets the definition provided in this section; 
hurricanes; floods; blizzards; wildfires; extreme heat; extreme cold; 
and straight-line wind. Drought is not an eligible adverse weather 
event except when associated with anthrax, a condition that occurs 
because of drought and results in the death of eligible livestock.
    Eligible attack means an attack by animals reintroduced into the 
wild by the Federal government or protected by Federal law, including 
wolves and avian predators, that directly results in the death of 
eligible livestock in excess of normal mortality or injury and sale of 
eligible livestock at reduced price. Eligible livestock owners or 
contract growers are responsible for showing to FSA's satisfaction that 
eligible attacks are substantiated according to Sec.  1416.305 in order 
to be considered eligible for payment.
    Eligible disease means a disease that, as determined by the Deputy 
Administrator, is exacerbated by an eligible adverse weather event that 
directly results in the death of eligible livestock in excess of normal 
mortality, including, but not limited to anthrax, cyanobacteria, and 
larkspur poisoning. Eligible diseases are not an eligible cause of loss 
for benefits based on injury and sales of eligible livestock at reduced 
price.
    Eligible loss condition means any of the following that occur in 
the calendar year for which benefits are requested: Eligible adverse 
weather event, eligible attack, and eligible disease. Eligible disease 
is not an eligible loss condition for injured livestock.
* * * * *
    Livestock unit means all eligible livestock in the physical 
location county where the livestock losses occurred for the program 
year:
    (1) In which a person or legal entity has 100 percent share 
interest; or
    (2) Which is owned individually by more than one person or legal 
entity on a shared basis.
* * * * *
    Newborn livestock means livestock that are within 10 calendar days 
of date of birth.
* * * * *
    Non-adult beefalo means a hybrid of beef and bison that does not 
meet the definition of adult beefalo cow or bull. Non-adult beefalo are 
further delineated by weight categories of either less than 400 pounds 
or 400 pounds or more at the time they died or were sold at a reduced 
price.
    Non-adult buffalo or bison means an animal of those breeds that 
does not meet the definition of adult buffalo or bison cow or bull. 
Non-adult buffalo or bison are further delineated by weight categories 
of either less than 400 pounds or 400 pounds or more at the time they 
died or were sold at a reduced price.
* * * * *
    State office or county office means the respective FSA office.
* * * * *
    Winter storm means, for an eligible adverse weather event, an event 
that so severe as to directly cause injury to livestock and lasts in 
duration for at least 3 consecutive days and includes a combination of 
high winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall, and extremely cold 
temperatures. For a determination of winter storm, the wind, 
precipitation, and extremely cold temperatures must occur with the 3-
day period, with wind and extremely cold temperatures occurring in each 
of the 3 days.

0
27. In Sec.  1416.303, revise paragraphs (a)(1) and (b) and add 
paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.303  Eligible owners and contract growers.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Livestock owner for benefits with respect to the death of an 
animal or sale of an injured animal at a reduced price under this 
subpart, the applicant must have had legal ownership of the eligible 
livestock on the day the livestock died or was injured and sold at a 
reduced price and under conditions in which no contract grower could 
have been eligible for benefits with respect to the animal. Eligible 
types of animal categories for which losses can be calculated for an 
owner are specified in Sec.  1416.304(a).
* * * * *
    (b) A livestock owner or contract grower seeking payment must be an 
eligible producer as defined in subpart A of this part and other 
applicable USDA regulations.
    (c) All of an eligible livestock owner's or contract grower's 
interest in livestock in a physical location county must be taken into 
account and summarized by livestock unit when determining the extent of 
payment eligibility.
    (d) Livestock owners are eligible for benefits for injured animals 
sold at reduced price only when those animals are not in a contract 
grower's inventory for which a contract grower seeks benefits for death 
losses. Contract growers are not eligible for benefits for injured 
animals sold at a reduced price.

0
28. Revise Sec.  1416.304 to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.304  Eligible livestock.

    (a) To be considered eligible livestock for livestock owners, the 
kind of livestock must be alpacas, adult or non-adult dairy cattle, 
beef cattle, beefalo, bison, buffalo, elk, emus, equine, llamas, sheep, 
goats, swine, poultry, deer, ostriches, or reindeer and meet all the 
conditions in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) To be considered eligible livestock for contract growers, the 
kind of livestock must be poultry or swine and meet all the conditions 
in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (c) To be considered eligible livestock for the purpose of 
generating payments under this subpart, livestock must have:
    (1) Died as a direct result of an eligible loss condition:
    (i) With the eligible loss condition occurring in the program year 
for which benefits are sought;
    (ii) No later than 30 calendar days for livestock, or 7 calendar 
days for newborn livestock, from the ending date of the eligible 
adverse weather event or the date of the attack by animals reintroduced 
into the wild by the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, 
including wolves and avian predators; or
    (2) Been injured and sold at a reduced price as a direct result of 
an eligible adverse weather event or attack by animals reintroduced 
into the wild by the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, 
including wolves and avian predators:
    (i) On or after January 1, 2017;
    (ii) No later than 30 calendar days for livestock, or 7 calendar 
days for newborn livestock, from the ending date of the eligible 
adverse weather event or the date of the attack by animals reintroduced 
into the wild by the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, 
including wolves and avian predators;
    (3) Been maintained for commercial use for livestock sale or for 
the production of livestock products such as milk or eggs as part of a 
farming operation on the day they died or until the event that resulted 
in their sale at a reduced price; and
    (4) Not be produced or maintained for reasons other than commercial 
use for livestock sale or for the production of livestock products such 
as milk or eggs. Livestock excluded from being eligible include, but 
are not limited to, wild free roaming animals and animals maintained 
for recreational purposes, such as pleasure, hunting, roping, pets, or 
for show.

[[Page 49470]]

    (d) The following categories of animals owned by a livestock owner 
are eligible livestock and calculations of eligibility for payments 
will be calculated separately for each producer with respect to each 
category:
    (1) Adult beef bulls;
    (2) Adult beef cows;
    (3) Adult beefalo bulls;
    (4) Adult beefalo cows;
    (5) Adult buffalo or bison bulls;
    (6) Adult buffalo or bison cows;
    (7) Adult dairy bulls;
    (8) Adult dairy cows;
    (9) Alpacas;
    (10) Chickens, broilers, pullets (regular size);
    (11) Chickens, chicks;
    (12) Chickens, layers;
    (13) Chickens, pullets or Cornish hens (small size);
    (14) Deer;
    (15) Ducks;
    (16) Ducks, ducklings;
    (17) Elk;
    (18) Emus;
    (19) Equine;
    (20) Geese, goose;
    (21) Geese, gosling;
    (22) Goats, bucks;
    (23) Goats, nannies;
    (24) Goats, kids;
    (25) Llamas;
    (26) Non-adult beef cattle;
    (27) Non-adult beefalo;
    (28) Non-adult buffalo or bison;
    (29) Non-adult dairy cattle;
    (30) Reindeer;
    (31) Sheep, ewes;
    (32) Sheep, lambs;
    (33) Sheep, rams;
    (34) Swine, feeder pigs under 50 pounds;
    (35) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts 50 to 150 pounds;
    (36) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts over 150 pounds;
    (37) Turkeys, poults;
    (38) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters; and
    (39) Ostriches.
    (e) The following categories of animals are eligible livestock for 
contract growers and calculations of eligibility for payments will be 
calculated separately for each producer with respect to each category:
    (1) Chickens, broilers, pullets (regular size);
    (2) Chickens, layers;
    (3) Chickens, pullets or Cornish hens (small size);
    (4) Geese, goose;
    (5) Swine, boars, sows;
    (6) Swine, feeder pigs;
    (7) Swine, lightweight barrows, gilts;
    (8) Swine, sows, boars, barrows, gilts; and
    (9) Turkeys, toms, fryers, and roasters.
    (f) Ineligible livestock for the purpose of generating payments 
under this subpart include those livestock that died due to disease 
that is not an eligible disease; eligible livestock suffering injury 
due to disease or eligible disease which are sold for reduced price; 
and any eligible livestock that died or were injured by anything other 
than an eligible cause of loss.

0
29. Amend Sec.  1416.305 as follows:
0
a. Redesignate paragraphs (a) through (e), (f) and (g), and (h) as 
paragraphs (b) through (f), (h) and (i), and (k), respectively;
0
b. Add new paragraph (a);
0
c. Revise newly redesignated paragraphs (b) through (f);
0
d. Add new paragraph (g);
0
e. Revise newly redesignated paragraphs (h) introductory text and 
(i)(1) introductory text; and
0
f. Add paragraph (j).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1416.305  Application process.

    (a) Notices of loss and applications for payment that had been 
filed under the regulations in effect at the time of filing and which 
had been issued an administrative decision for either a 2017 or 2018 
program year loss are not eligible for consideration under paragraph 
(b) of this section, unless the administrative decision was based only 
on a failure to submit the notice of loss or application for payment by 
the prior applicable deadline. In that instance, the owner or contract 
grower must file a notice under paragraph (b) to receive a new 
decision.
    (b) A livestock owner or contract grower that suffered livestock 
losses must:
    (1) For 2017 and subsequent program years, provide a notice of 
loss, by livestock unit, to FSA by the later of 30 calendar days of 
when the loss of livestock is first apparent to the livestock owner or 
contract grower or December 3, 2018.
    (2) Submit the notice of loss required in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section to the FSA county office responsible for servicing the physical 
location county where the loss occurred.
    (c) In addition to the notice of loss required in paragraph (b) of 
this section, a participant must also submit a completed application 
for payment, by livestock unit:
    (1) For losses apparent in 2017, by December 3, 2018.
    (2) For losses apparent in 2018 and subsequent years, by no later 
than 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the 
eligible loss condition occurred.
    (d) A participant must provide other supporting documents required 
for determining eligibility as an applicant at the time the participant 
submits the completed application for payment. Supporting documents 
must include:
    (1) Evidence of loss,
    (2) Current physical location of livestock in inventory,
    (3) Physical location of claimed livestock at the time of death or 
injury,
    (4) Inventory numbers for the livestock unit and other inventory 
information necessary to establish actual mortality as required by FSA,
    (5) A farm operating plan, if a current farm operating plan is not 
already on file in the FSA county office,
    (6) Documentation of the adverse weather event from an official 
weather reporting data source that is determined by FSA to be reputable 
and available in the public domain such as, but not limited to, NOAA, 
from which State and County FSA Offices can validate the adverse 
weather event occurred,
    (7) Documentation to substantiate eligible attacks obtained from a 
source such as, but not limited to, the following:
    (i) APHIS,
    (ii) State level Department of Natural Resources, or
    (iii) Other sources or documentation, such as third parties, as 
determined by the Deputy Administrator, and
    (8) If livestock are injured and sold at a reduced price.
    (i) Documentation of injured livestock's gross price, and
    (ii) Documentation to substantiate injury of livestock due to an 
eligible adverse weather event or eligible attack.
    (9) The livestock producer may supplement additional documentation 
to support the eligible loss condition, as determined by the Deputy 
Administrator.
    (10) In addition, contract growers must provide a copy of the 
grower contract.
    (e) For death losses or losses resulting from injured livestock 
sold at a reduced price, the participant must provide adequate proof 
that the death or injury of the eligible livestock occurred as a direct 
result of an eligible loss condition, as opposed to any other possible 
or potential cause of loss. The quantity and kind of livestock that 
died as a direct result of the eligible loss condition may be 
documented by: Purchase records; veterinarian records; bank or other 
loan papers; rendering-plant truck receipts; Federal Emergency 
Management Agency records; National Guard records; written contracts; 
production records; Internal Revenue Service records; property tax 
records;

[[Page 49471]]

private insurance documents; and other similar verifiable documents as 
determined by FSA. The quantity and kind of livestock that died or has 
been injured and sold at a reduced price as a direct result of an 
eligible attack must be substantiated by documentation of confirmed 
kills observed by an acceptable source as specified in paragraphs 
(d)(7) and (g) of this section.
    (f) If adequate verifiable proof of death or injury documentation 
is not available, the participant may provide reliable records, in 
conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records, as 
proof of death or injury. Reliable records may include contemporaneous 
producer records, dairy herd improvement records, brand inspection 
records, vaccination records, dated pictures, and other similar 
reliable documents as determined by FSA.
    (g) For 2018 and subsequent calendar years, for livestock death 
losses due to disease, a licensed veterinarian's certification of 
livestock deaths may be accepted as verifiable proof of death, if 
reliable beginning inventory data is available, only if the 
veterinarian provides a written statement containing all of the 
following:
    (1) Veterinarian's personal observation of the animals and 
knowledge of how the deaths of the livestock were because of disease 
caused or exacerbated by an eligible adverse weather event;
    (2) Livestock deaths were not otherwise avoidable and preventable 
using good animal husbandry and management protocols and practices by 
the livestock producer; and
    (3) Other information required by FSA to determine the 
certification acceptable.
    (4) Information furnished by the participant and the veterinarian 
will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing 
the information is voluntary; however, without all required information 
program benefits will not be approved or provided.
    (h) Certification of livestock deaths or injuries by third parties 
may be accepted if verifiable beginning and ending inventory data is 
available only if proof of death records in conjunction with verifiable 
beginning and ending inventory records are not available and both of 
the following conditions are met:
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (1) For 2017 and subsequent calendar years, livestock inventory 
reports by livestock unit must be provided to the local county FSA 
office by the later of December 3, 2018 or 60 calendar days after the 
end of the calendar year of the eligible adverse weather event. The STC 
may approve a waiver of the reporting deadline if a participant has not 
previously received benefits under this method.
* * * * *
    (j) When an eligible owner claims eligible livestock were injured 
by an eligible loss condition and were sold for a reduced price, the 
owner must provide verifiable evidence of the gross sale price of the 
livestock. The injured livestock must be sold through an independent 
third party (sale barn, slaughter facility, or rendering facility). 
Only verifiable proof of sale with price is acceptable. The gross sale 
price of the livestock is the amount received for the injured livestock 
before any reductions, such as sale yard fees. The owner must provide 
verifiable evidence of livestock sold at a reduced price. Documents 
that may satisfy this requirement include but are not limited to, any 
or a combination of the following: Sales receipt from a livestock 
auction, sale barn, or other similar livestock sales facility; bona-
fide commercial sales receipts; private insurance documents; and 
processing plant receipts.
* * * * *

0
30. In Sec.  1416.306, revise paragraphs (a) and (c) and add paragraph 
(e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.306  Payment calculation.

    (a) Under this subpart, separate payment rates for eligible 
livestock owners and eligible livestock contract growers are specified 
in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, respectively. Payments for 
death losses are calculated by multiplying the national payment rate 
for each livestock category by the number of eligible livestock in 
excess of normal mortality in each category that died as a result of an 
eligible loss condition. Normal mortality for each livestock category 
will be determined by FSA on a State-by-State basis using local data 
sources including, but not limited to, State livestock organizations 
and the Cooperative Extension Service for the State. Adjustments will 
be applied as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
* * * * *
    (c) The LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock contract 
growers is based on 75 percent of the average income loss sustained by 
the contract grower with respect to the dead livestock. The rate that 
applies is based on the type, class, and weight of the animal at the 
time of the eligible loss condition and death.
* * * * *
    (e) Payments to livestock owners for losses due to sale of 
livestock at a reduced price because of injury from an eligible loss 
condition are calculated by multiplying the national payment rate for 
each livestock category by the number of eligible livestock sold at a 
reduced price as a result of an eligible loss condition, minus the 
gross amount the eligible livestock owner received for the livestock up 
to the applicable national payment rate. In the event livestock sells 
for a reduced price that is in excess of the national payment rate, the 
national payment rate will be subtracted resulting in no payment for 
that livestock.

Subpart E--Tree Assistance Program

0
31. Amend Sec.  1416.400 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (a), add the words and punctuation ``, as amended by 
the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-123), and the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141)'' at end of the 
paragraph; and
0
b. Add paragraph (c).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1416.400  Applicability.

* * * * *
    (c) Eligible pecan tree losses incurred in the 2017 calendar year 
not meeting the mortality loss threshold of paragraph (b) of this 
section with a tree mortality loss in excess of 7.5 percent (adjusted 
for normal mortality) will be compensated for eligible losses as 
specified in Sec.  1416.406, up to a maximum of $15,000,000.


Sec.  1416.402  [Amended]

0
32. Amend Sec.  1416.402 as follows:
0
a. Remove the definitions of ``County committee'' and ``Deputy 
Administrator or DAFP'';
0
b. In the definitions of ``normal damage'' and ``normal mortality'', 
remove the word ``individual''; and
0
c. Remove the definition of ``State committee''.

0
33. Revise Sec.  1416.403 to read as follows:


Sec.  1416.403  Eligible losses.

    (a) To qualify for any assistance under this subpart, except for 
assistance under Sec.  1416.400(c), the eligible orchardist or nursery 
tree grower must first have suffered more than a 15 percent tree, bush, 
or vine mortality loss on a stand (adjusted for normal mortality) as a 
result of natural disaster as determined by the Deputy Administrator. 
For assistance for losses to pecan trees

[[Page 49472]]

under Sec.  1416.400(c), the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower 
must first have suffered a mortality loss of more than 7.5 percent 
(adjusted for normal mortality) on a stand as a result of natural 
disaster as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
    (b) The qualifying loss of a stand of trees, bushes, or vines 
specified in paragraph (a) of this section will be determined based on:
    (1) Each eligible disaster event, except for losses due to plant 
disease;
    (2) For plant disease, the time period, as determined by the Deputy 
Administrator, for which the stand is infected.
    (c) Mortality or damage loss not eligible for inclusion as a 
qualifying loss under this section or for payment under Sec.  1416.406 
includes those losses where:
    (1) The loss or damage could have been prevented through reasonable 
and available measures; and
    (2) The trees, bushes, or vines, in the absence of a natural 
disaster, would normally have required rehabilitation or replanting 
within the 12-month period following the loss.
    (d) The damage or loss must be visible and obvious to the county 
committee representative. If the damage is no longer visible, the 
county committee may accept other evidence of the loss as it determines 
is reasonable.
    (e) The county committee may require information from a qualified 
expert, as determined by the county committee, to determine extent of 
loss in the case of plant disease or insect infestation.
    (f) The Deputy Administrator will determine the types of trees, 
bushes, and vines that are eligible.
    (g) A stand that did not suffer a qualifying mortality loss as 
specified in paragraph (a) of this section is not eligible for payment.


Sec.  1416.404  [Amended]

0
34. In Sec.  1416.404, in paragraph (a), remove ``To'' and add ``Once 
the requisite qualifying eligible mortality loss is determined 
according to Sec.  1416.403, to''.

0
35. Amend Sec.  1416.405 as follows:
0
a. Redesignate paragraphs (a) through (d) as paragraphs (b) and (e);
0
b. Add new paragraph (a); and
0
c. Revise newly redesignated paragraph (b).
    The addition and revision read as follows:


Sec.  1416.405  Application.

    (a) Applications for payment that had been filed under the 
regulations in effect at the time of filing and which were issued an 
administrative decision for either a 2017 or 2018 program year loss are 
not eligible for consideration under paragraph (b) of this section, 
unless the decision was based only on failure to submit the application 
for payment by the prior applicable deadline,
    (b) To apply for TAP, a producer that suffered eligible tree, bush, 
or vine losses that occurred during the 2017 and subsequent calendar 
years must provide an application for payment and supporting 
documentation to FSA by the later of December 3, 2018 or within 90 
calendar days of the disaster event or date when the loss of trees, 
bushes, or vines is apparent to the producer.
* * * * *

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36. Amend Sec.  1416.406 as follows:
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a. In paragraph (a) introductory text, remove ``Payment'' and add 
``Once the loss threshold in Sec.  1416.403(a) is satisfied, payment'' 
in its place;
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b. In paragraph (b), remove the words ``damage or'' in both places 
where they appear;
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c. Add paragraph (d)(3);
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d. In paragraph (h), remove ``eligible'' before the word ``stand''; and
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e. In paragraph (j), remove the number ``500'' and add the number 
``1,000'' in its place.
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1416.406  Payment Calculation.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Costs or expenses that the eligible orchardist or nursery tree 
grower did not actually bear or incur because someone or some other 
entity bore or incurred those costs or expenses, or the costs were 
reimbursed under another program. For example, if under any other 
program the expenses are paid for on behalf of the eligible orchardist 
or nursery tree grower, those expenses are not eligible for cost share 
under this subpart.
* * * * *

Richard Fordyce,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2018-21257 Filed 10-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P