§9017 — Title 7 Agriculture | U.S. Code

Summary

Pays farmers on a farm that choose Agriculture Risk Coverage when their actual crop revenue is lower than a guaranteed amount. The actual revenue is based on yield times the higher of the national market price or the loan rate. County coverage uses the county average yield; individual coverage uses a producer’s share across their farms. The guarantee is a percentage of a benchmark revenue made from recent years’ yields and prices (five-year averages that drop the highest and lowest year). The guarantee is 86% for 2014–2024 crop years and 90% for 2025–2031. Small-year yields are floored: for 2014–2018 any year below 70% of the transitional yield is set to 70%, and for 2019–2031 any year below 80% is set to 80%. Prices in past years are floored to the reference price (2014–2018) or the effective reference price (2019–2031). A trend-adjusted yield factor is used but cannot exceed the factor used by federal crop insurance. The payment rate is the smaller of (guarantee minus actual revenue) or a cap (10% of the benchmark for 2014–2024, 12% for 2025–2031). The payment equals that rate times the payment acres (as set under section 9014). Payments begin October 1 after the marketing year, when required. The Department must publish rates and underlying county data soon after each marketing year (usually within 30 days) and check data for anomalies. It must calculate separate figures for irrigated and nonirrigated crops, assign average yields when farm data are too small, use Risk Management Agency data when available (for 2019–2031), and may split very large counties (over 1,400 square miles and over 190,000 base acres) once before 2019 into up to 25 administrative units that count as counties through 2031.

Title 7, §9017

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If all of the producers on a farm make the election under section 9015(a) of this title to obtain agriculture risk coverage, the Secretary shall make agriculture risk coverage payments (beginning with the 2019 crop year, based on the physical location of the farm) to producers on the farm if the Secretary determines that, for any of the 2014 through 2018 crop years or the 2019 through 2031 crop years, as applicable—

(1)the actual crop revenue determined under subsection (b) for the crop year; is less than

(2)the agriculture risk coverage guarantee determined under subsection (c) for the crop year.

(b)(1)In the case of county coverage, the amount of the actual crop revenue for a county for a crop year of a covered commodity shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying—

(A)the actual average county yield per planted acre for the covered commodity, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B)the higher of—

(i)the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year for the covered commodity, as determined by the Secretary; or

(ii)the national average loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for the covered commodity in effect for such crop year under subchapter II.

(2)In the case of individual coverage, the amount of the actual crop revenue for a producer on a farm for a crop year shall be based on the producer’s share of all covered commodities planted on all farms for which individual coverage has been selected and in which the producer has an interest, to be determined by the Secretary as follows:

(A)For each covered commodity, the product obtained by multiplying—

(i)the total production of the covered commodity on such farms, as determined by the Secretary; and

(ii)the higher of—

(I)the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year, as determined by the Secretary; or

(II)the national average loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for the covered commodity in effect for such crop year under subchapter II.

(B)The sum of the amounts determined under subparagraph (A) for all covered commodities on such farms.

(C)The quotient obtained by dividing the amount determined under subparagraph (B) by the total planted acres of all covered commodities on such farms.

(c)(1)The agriculture risk coverage guarantee for a crop year for a covered commodity shall equal 86 percent of the benchmark revenue for each of the 2014 through 2024 crop years and 90 percent of the benchmark revenue for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years.

(2)In the case of county coverage, the benchmark revenue shall be the product obtained by multiplying—

(A)subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the average historical county yield as determined by the Secretary for the most recent 5 crop years, excluding each of the crop years with the highest and lowest yields; and

(B)subject to paragraph (6), the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year for the most recent 5 crop years, excluding each of the crop years with the highest and lowest prices.

(3)In the case of individual coverage, the benchmark revenue for a producer on a farm for a crop year shall be based on the producer’s share of all covered commodities planted on all farms for which individual coverage has been selected and in which the producer has an interest, to be determined by the Secretary as follows:

(A)For each covered commodity for each of the most recent 5 crop years, the product obtained by multiplying—

(i)subject to paragraph (4), the yield per planted acre for the covered commodity on such farms, as determined by the Secretary; by

(ii)subject to paragraph (6), the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year.

(B)For each covered commodity, the average of the revenues determined under subparagraph (A) for the most recent 5 crop years, excluding each of the crop years with the highest and lowest revenues.

(C)For each of the 2014 through 2031 crop years, the sum of the amounts determined under subparagraph (B) for all covered commodities on such farms, but adjusted to reflect the ratio between the total number of acres planted on such farms to a covered commodity and the total acres of all covered commodities planted on such farms.

(4)(A)Effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop years, if the yield per planted acre for the covered commodity or historical county yield per planted acre for the covered commodity for any of the 5 most recent crop years, as determined by the Secretary, is less than 70 percent of the transitional yield, as determined by the Secretary, the amounts used for any of those years in paragraph (2)(A) or (3)(A)(i) shall be 70 percent of the transitional yield.

(B)Effective for the 2019 through 2031 crop years, if the yield per planted acre for the covered commodity or historical county yield per planted acre for the covered commodity for any of the 5 most recent crop years, as determined by the Secretary, is less than 80 percent of the transitional yield, as determined by the Secretary, the amounts used for any of those years in paragraph (2)(A) or (3)(A)(i) shall be 80 percent of the transitional yield.

(5)The Secretary shall calculate and use a trend-adjusted yield factor to adjust the yield determined under paragraph (2)(A) and subsection (b)(1)(A), taking into consideration, but not exceeding, the trend-adjusted yield factor that is used to increase yield history under the endorsement under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) for that crop and county.

(6)(A)For the 2014 through 2018 crop years, if the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year for any of the 5 most recent crop years is lower than the reference price for the covered commodity, the Secretary shall use the reference price for any of those years for the amounts in paragraph (2)(B) or (3)(A)(ii).

(B)For the 2019 through 2031 crop years, if the national average market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year for any of the 5 most recent crop years is lower than the effective reference price for the covered commodity, the Secretary shall use the effective reference price for any of those years for the amounts in paragraph (2)(B) or (3)(A)(ii).

(d)(1)The payment rate for a covered commodity, in the case of county coverage, or a farm, in the case of individual coverage, shall be equal to the lesser of—

(A)the amount that—

(i)the agriculture risk coverage guarantee for the crop year applicable under subsection (c); exceeds

(ii)the actual crop revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (b); or

(B)(i)for each of the 2014 through 2024 crop years, 10 percent of the benchmark revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (c); and

(ii)for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years, 12 percent of the benchmark revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (c).

(2)Not later than 30 days after the end of each applicable 12-month marketing year for each covered commodity, the Secretary shall publish the payment rate determined under paragraph (1) for each county.

(e)If agriculture risk coverage payments are required to be paid for any of the 2014 through 2031 crop years, the amount of the agriculture risk coverage payment for the crop year shall be determined by multiplying—

(1)the payment rate determined under subsection (d); and

(2)the payment acres determined under section 9014 of this title.

(f)If the Secretary determines that agriculture risk coverage payments are required to be provided for the covered commodity, payments shall be made beginning October 1, or as soon as practicable thereafter, after the end of the applicable marketing year for the covered commodity.

(g)In providing agriculture risk coverage, the Secretary shall—

(1)to the maximum extent practicable, use all available information and analysis, including data mining, to check for anomalies in the determination of agriculture risk coverage payments;

(2)calculate a separate actual crop revenue and agriculture risk coverage guarantee for irrigated and nonirrigated covered commodities;

(3)in the case of individual coverage, assign an average yield for a farm on the basis of the yield history of representative farms in the State, region, or crop reporting district, as determined by the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that the farm has planted acreage in a quantity that is insufficient to calculate a representative average yield for the farm;

(4)effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop years, in the case of county coverage, assign an actual or benchmark county yield for each planted acre for the crop year for the covered commodity on the basis of the yield history of representative farms in the State, region, or crop reporting district, as determined by the Secretary, if—

(A)the Secretary cannot establish the actual or benchmark county yield for each planted acre for a crop year for a covered commodity in the county in accordance with subsection (b)(1) or (c)(2); or

(B)the yield determined under subsection (b)(1) or (c)(2) is an unrepresentative average yield for the county, as determined by the Secretary; and

(5)effective for the 2019 through 2031 crop years, in the case of county coverage, assign an actual or benchmark county yield for each planted acre for the crop year for the covered commodity—

(A)for a county for which county data collected by the Risk Management Agency are sufficient for the Secretary to offer a county-wide insurance product, using the actual average county yield determined by the Risk Management Agency; or

(B)for a county not described in subparagraph (A), using—

(i)other sources of yield information, as determined by the Secretary; or

(ii)the yield history of representative farms in the State, region, or crop reporting district, as determined by the Secretary.

(h)(1)(A)For each crop year for a covered commodity, the Secretary shall publish information describing, for that crop year for the covered commodity in each county—

(i)the agriculture risk coverage guarantee for county coverage determined under subsection (c)(1);

(ii)the average historical county yield determined under subsection (c)(2)(A); and

(iii)the national average market price determined under subsection (c)(2)(B).

(B)(i)Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), not later than 30 days after the end of each applicable 12-month marketing year, the Secretary shall publish the information described in subparagraph (A).

(ii)In the case of a covered commodity, such as temperate japonica rice, for which the Secretary cannot determine the national average market price for the most recent 12-month marketing year by the date described in clause (i) due to insufficient reporting of timely pricing data by 1 or more nongovernmental entities, including a marketing cooperative for the covered commodity, as soon as practicable after the pricing data are made available, the Secretary shall publish information describing—

(I)the agriculture risk coverage guarantee under subparagraph (A)(i); and

(II)the national average market price under subparagraph (A)(iii).

(iii)Not later than 60 days after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall publish the information described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) for the 2018 crop year.

(2)As soon as practicable after each crop year, the Secretary shall determine and publish each actual average county yield for each covered commodity, as determined under subsection (b)(1)(A).

(3)For the 2018 crop year and each crop year thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly available information describing, for the most recent crop year—

(A)the sources of data used to calculate county yields under subsection (c)(2)(A) for each covered commodity—

(i)by county; and

(ii)nationally; and

(B)the number and outcome of occurrences in which the Farm Service Agency reviewed, changed, or determined not to change a source of data used to calculate county yields under subsection (c)(2)(A).

(i)(1)For purposes of agriculture risk coverage payments in the case of county coverage, a county may be divided into not greater than 2 administrative units in accordance with this subsection.

(2)A county that may be divided into administrative units under this subsection is a county that—

(A)is larger than 1,400 square miles; and

(B)contains more than 190,000 base acres.

(3)Before making any agriculture risk coverage payments for the 2019 crop year, the Farm Service Agency State committee, in consultation with the Farm Service Agency county or area committee of a county described in paragraph (2), may make a 1-time election to divide the county into administrative units under this subsection along a boundary that better reflects differences in weather patterns, soil types, or other factors.

(4)The Secretary shall—

(A)limit the number of counties that may be divided into administrative units under paragraph (3) to 25 counties; and

(B)give preference to the division of counties that have greater variation in climate, soils, and expected productivity between the proposed administrative units.

(5)For purposes of providing agriculture risk coverage payments in the case of county coverage, the Secretary shall consider an administrative unit elected under paragraph (3) to be a county for the 2019 through 2031 crop years.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Crop Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(5), is subtitle A of title V of act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, 52 Stat. 72, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 1501 et seq.) of chapter 36 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1501 of this title and Tables. Codification Provisions of law applicable to a covered commodity for the 2023 crop year pursuant to title I of Pub. L. 113–79 applicable to the 2024 crop year for that covered commodity, see section 102(c)(1) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of this title.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(1), substituted “2031” for “2023” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(2)(A), inserted “for each of the 2014 through 2024 crop years and 90 percent of the benchmark revenue for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years” before period at end. Subsec. (c)(3)(C). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(2)(B), substituted “2031” for “2023”. Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(2)(B), (C), substituted “2031” for “2023” in heading and text. Subsec. (c)(6)(B). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(2)(B), substituted “2031” for “2023”. Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(3), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “10 percent of the benchmark revenue for the crop year applicable under subsection (c).” Subsecs. (e), (g)(5), (i)(5). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10305(4), substituted “2031” for “2023”. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(1), in introductory provisions, inserted “(beginning with the 2019 crop year, based on the physical location of the farm)” after “payments” and “or the 2019 through 2023 crop years, as applicable” after “the 2014 through 2018 crop years”. Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(A)(i), substituted “paragraphs (4) and (5)” for “paragraph (4)”. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(A)(ii), substituted “paragraph (6)” for “paragraph (5)”. Subsec. (c)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(B)(i), substituted “paragraph (6)” for “paragraph (5)”. Subsec. (c)(3)(C). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(B)(ii), substituted “2023” for “2018”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(C), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted heading, substituted “Effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop years, if” for “If”, and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(E), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6). Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(2)(D), (F), redesignated par. (5) as (6), substituted “Low national average market price” for “Reference price” in par. heading, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted subpar. heading, substituted “For the 2014 through 2018 crop years, if the national average market price” for “If the national average market price”, and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(3), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted heading, redesignated former par. (1) and subpars. (A) and (B) thereof as subpar. (A) and cls. (i) and (ii) thereof, respectively, redesignated former par. (2) as subpar. (B), realigned margins, and added par. (2). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(4), substituted “2023” for “2018” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(5)(A), struck out “to the maximum extent practicable,” before “calculate”. Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(5)(C), inserted “effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop years,” before “in the case of” in introductory provisions and substituted “; and” for period at end. Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(5)(B), (D), added par. (5). Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1107(6), added subsecs. (h) and (i).

§9017 Agriculture risk coverage