§9081 — Title 7 Agriculture | U.S. Code

Summary

Provides money from the Commodity Credit Corporation to help farmers, ranchers, and other eligible producers who lose animals, grazing, trees, or farm-raised fish because of disasters. For fiscal year 2012 and each year after, the Secretary of Agriculture must pay producers who suffer livestock deaths or animals sold at lower prices because of attacks by federally protected or reintroduced wildlife (payments at 100% of market value), adverse weather or certain untreatable vector-borne disease (payments at 75% of market value), or unborn livestock losses on or after January 1, 2024 (an extra payment set by the Secretary not to exceed 85% of the lowest weight-class rate; unborn animals are counted using set multipliers: cattle/bison/horses ×1, sheep ×2, swine ×12, other species ×average offspring per gestation). The Secretary can adjust market values for regional price differences and must avoid double-paying the same loss. The law also pays for grazing losses from drought or fire, and emergency relief for livestock, honey bees, and freshwater farm-raised fish when other parts do not apply. Drought help pays monthly amounts based on feed costs (normally 60% of the lesser of the producer’s feed cost or the cost using normal grazing capacity; 80% of that rate if the producer sold animals due to drought in 1 or 2 previous years). Feed cost is figured as 30 days × feed-grain equivalent (an adult beef cow = 15.7 lb corn/day) × corn price per pound (the higher of the national 12- or 24-month average divided by 56). Drought payments depend on U.S. Drought Monitor ratings (D2, D3, D4) and weeks of severity, up to 5 monthly payments; fire payments on federally managed rangeland equal 50% of the monthly feed cost and are limited to 180 days per year. Emergency relief reimburses 90% of eligible costs, and fish producers harmed by predatory birds get at least $600 per acre (paid on 85% of acres in production). Tree and nursery losses from natural disaster that exceed normal mortality get 65% reimbursement for replanting or seedlings and for salvage costs, with a 1,000-acre cap per person or entity and a 75% reimbursement rate for beginning or veteran farmers. “Covered” and “eligible” producers include beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited-resource, or veteran farmers and certain citizens, resident aliens, tribes, partnerships, and farm entities; other limits and rules (including a $125,000 cap on payments under the grazing program per person per crop year) also apply.

Title 7, §9081

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section:

(1)The term “covered producer” means an eligible producer on a farm that is—

(A)as determined by the Secretary—

(i)a beginning farmer or rancher;

(ii)a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher; or

(iii)a limited resource farmer or rancher; or

(B)a veteran farmer or rancher, as defined in section 2279(a) of this title.

(2)(A)The term “eligible producer on a farm” means an individual or entity described in subparagraph (B) that, as determined by the Secretary, assumes the production and market risks associated with the agricultural production of crops or livestock.

(B)An individual or entity referred to in subparagraph (A) is—

(i)a citizen of the United States;

(ii)a resident alien;

(iii)an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25);

(iv)a partnership of citizens of the United States; or

(v)a corporation, limited liability corporation, or other farm organizational structure organized under State law.

(3)The term “farm-raised fish” means any aquatic species that is propagated and reared in a controlled environment.

(4)The term “livestock” includes—

(A)cattle (including dairy cattle);

(B)bison;

(C)poultry;

(D)sheep;

(E)swine;

(F)horses; and

(G)other livestock, as determined by the Secretary.

(5)The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b)(1)For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make livestock indemnity payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred livestock death losses in excess of the normal mortality, sold livestock for a reduced sale price, or both as determined by the Secretary, due to—

(A)attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government or protected by Federal law, including wolves and avian predators;

(B)adverse weather, as determined by the Secretary, during the calendar year, including losses due to hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, and extreme cold, on the condition that in the case of the death loss of unweaned livestock due to that adverse weather, the Secretary may disregard any management practice, vaccination protocol, or lack of vaccination by the eligible producer on a farm; or

(C)disease that, as determined by the Secretary—

(i)is caused or transmitted by a vector; and

(ii)is not susceptible to control by vaccination or acceptable management practices.

(2)(A)Indemnity payments to an eligible producer on a farm under paragraph (1)(A) shall be made at a rate of 100 percent of the market value of the affected livestock on the applicable date, as determined by the Secretary.

(B)Indemnity payments to an eligible producer on a farm under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be made at a rate of 75 percent of the market value of the affected livestock on the applicable date, as determined by the Secretary.

(C)In determining the market value described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary may consider the ability of eligible producers to document regional price premiums for affected livestock that exceed the national average market price for those livestock.

(D)In this paragraph, the term “applicable date” means, with respect to livestock, as applicable—

(i)the day before the date of death of the livestock; or

(ii)the day before the date of the event that caused the harm to the livestock that resulted in a reduced sale price.

(3)The Secretary shall ensure that payments made to an eligible producer under paragraph (1) are not made for the same livestock losses for which compensation is provided pursuant to section 8306(d) of this title.

(4)A payment made under paragraph (1) to an eligible producer on a farm that sold livestock for a reduced sale price shall—

(A)be made if the sale occurs within a reasonable period following the event, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B)be reduced by the amount that the producer received for the sale.

(5)(A)In the case of unborn livestock death losses incurred on or after January 1, 2024, the Secretary shall make an additional payment to eligible producers on farms that have incurred such losses in excess of the normal mortality due to a condition specified in paragraph (1).

(B)Additional payments under subparagraph (A) shall be made at a rate—

(i)determined by the Secretary; and

(ii)less than or equal to 85 percent of the payment rate established with respect to the lowest weight class of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency.

(C)The amount of a payment to an eligible producer that has incurred unborn livestock death losses shall be equal to the payment rate determined under subparagraph (B) multiplied, in the case of livestock described in—

(i)subparagraph (A), (B), or (F) of subsection (a)(4), by 1;

(ii)subparagraph (D) of such subsection, by 2;

(iii)subparagraph (E) of such subsection, by 12; and

(iv)subparagraph (G) of such subsection, by the average number of birthed animals (for one gestation cycle) for the species of each such livestock, as determined by the Secretary.

(D)In this paragraph, the term “unborn livestock death losses” means losses of any livestock described in subparagraph (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of subsection (a)(4) that was gestating on the date of the death of the livestock.

(c)(1)In this subsection:

(A)(i)Except as provided in clause (ii), the term “covered livestock” means livestock of an eligible livestock producer that, during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire condition, as determined by the Secretary, the eligible livestock producer—

(I)owned;

(II)leased;

(III)purchased;

(IV)entered into a contract to purchase;

(V)is a contract grower; or

(VI)sold or otherwise disposed of due to qualifying drought conditions during—

(aa)the current production year; or

(bb)subject to paragraph (3)(B)(ii), 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately preceding the current production year.

(ii)The term “covered livestock” does not include livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire condition, as a part of the normal business operation of the eligible livestock producer, as determined by the Secretary.

(B)The term “drought monitor” means a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought, as defined by the Secretary.

(C)(i)The term “eligible livestock producer” means an eligible producer on a farm that—

(I)is an owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of covered livestock that provides the pastureland or grazing land, including cash-leased pastureland or grazing land, for the livestock;

(II)provides the pastureland or grazing land for covered livestock, including cash-leased pastureland or grazing land that is physically located in a county affected by drought;

(III)certifies grazing loss; and

(IV)meets all other eligibility requirements established under this subsection.

(ii)The term “eligible livestock producer” does not include an owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of livestock that rents or leases pastureland or grazing land owned by another person on a rate-of-gain basis.

(D)The term “normal carrying capacity”, with respect to each type of grazing land or pastureland in a county, means the normal carrying capacity, as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i), that would be expected from the grazing land or pastureland for livestock during the normal grazing period, in the absence of a drought or fire that diminishes the production of the grazing land or pastureland.

(E)The term “normal grazing period”, with respect to a county, means the normal grazing period during the calendar year for the county, as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i).

(2)For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide compensation for losses to eligible livestock producers due to grazing losses for covered livestock due to—

(A)a drought condition, as described in paragraph (3); or

(B)fire, as described in paragraph (4).

(3)(A)(i)An eligible livestock producer may receive assistance under this subsection only for grazing losses for covered livestock that occur on land that—

(I)is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover; or

(II)is planted to a crop planted specifically for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock.

(ii)An eligible livestock producer may not receive assistance under this subsection for grazing losses that occur on land used for haying or grazing under the conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.).

(B)(i)Except as provided in clause (ii), the payment rate for assistance under this paragraph for 1 month shall, in the case of drought, be equal to 60 percent of the lesser of—

(I)the monthly feed cost for all covered livestock owned or leased by the eligible livestock producer, as determined under subparagraph (C); or

(II)the monthly feed cost calculated by using the normal carrying capacity of the eligible grazing land of the eligible livestock producer.

(ii)In the case of an eligible livestock producer that sold or otherwise disposed of covered livestock due to drought conditions in 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately preceding the current production year, as determined by the Secretary, the payment rate shall be 80 percent of the payment rate otherwise calculated in accordance with clause (i).

(C)(i)The monthly feed cost shall equal the product obtained by multiplying—

(I)30 days;

(II)a payment quantity that is equal to the feed grain equivalent, as determined under clause (ii); and

(III)a payment rate that is equal to the corn price per pound, as determined under clause (iii).

(ii)For purposes of clause (i)(II), the feed grain equivalent shall equal—

(I)in the case of an adult beef cow, 15.7 pounds of corn per day; or

(II)in the case of any other type of weight of livestock, an amount determined by the Secretary that represents the average number of pounds of corn per day necessary to feed the livestock.

(iii)For purposes of clause (i)(III), the corn price per pound shall equal the quotient obtained by dividing—

(I)the higher of—

(aa)the national average corn price per bushel for the 12-month period immediately preceding March 1 of the year for which the disaster assistance is calculated; or

(bb)the national average corn price per bushel for the 24-month period immediately preceding that March 1; by

(II)56.

(D)(i)(I)The Secretary shall determine the normal carrying capacity and normal grazing period for each type of grazing land or pastureland in the county served by the applicable committee.

(II)No change to the normal carrying capacity or normal grazing period established for a county under subclause (I) shall be made unless the change is requested by the appropriate State and county Farm Service Agency committees.

(ii)(I)An eligible livestock producer that owns or leases grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) intensity in any area of the county for not less than—

(aa)4 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the county, as determined by the Secretary, shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph in an amount equal to 1 monthly payment using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph (B); or

(bb)7 of the previous 8 consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period for the county, as determined by the Secretary, shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph in an amount equal to 2 monthly payments using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph (B).

(II)An eligible livestock producer that owns or leases grazing land or pastureland that is physically located in a county that is rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having at least a D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period for the county, as determined by the Secretary, shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph—

(aa)in an amount equal to 3 monthly payments using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph (B);

(bb)if the county is rated as having a D3 (extreme drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least 4 weeks during the normal grazing period for the county, or is rated as having a D4 (exceptional drought) intensity in any area of the county at any time during the normal grazing period, in an amount equal to 4 monthly payments using the monthly payment rate determined under subparagraph (B); or

(cc)if the county is rated as having a D4 (exceptional drought) intensity in any area of the county for at least 4 weeks during the normal grazing period, in an amount equal to 5 monthly payments using the monthly rate determined under subparagraph (B).

(4)(A)An eligible livestock producer may receive assistance under this paragraph only if—

(i)the grazing losses occur on rangeland that is managed by a Federal agency; and

(ii)the eligible livestock producer is prohibited by the Federal agency from grazing the normal permitted livestock on the managed rangeland due to a fire.

(B)The payment rate for assistance under this paragraph shall be equal to 50 percent of the monthly feed cost for the total number of livestock covered by the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer, as determined under paragraph (3)(C).

(C)(i)Subject to clause (ii), an eligible livestock producer shall be eligible to receive assistance under this paragraph for the period—

(I)beginning on the date on which the Federal agency excludes the eligible livestock producer from using the managed rangeland for grazing; and

(II)ending on the last day of the Federal lease of the eligible livestock producer.

(ii)An eligible livestock producer may only receive assistance under this paragraph for losses that occur on not more than 180 days per year.

(5)An eligible livestock producer may elect to receive assistance for grazing or pasture feed losses due to drought conditions under paragraph (3) or fire under paragraph (4), but not both for the same loss, as determined by the Secretary.

(d)(1)For fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary, that are not covered under subsection (b) or (c).

(2)Funds made available under this subsection shall be used to reduce losses caused by feed or water shortages, disease, or other factors as determined by the Secretary, including inspections of cattle tick fever.

(3)Any funds made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(4)In the case of a covered producer that is eligible to receive assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide reimbursement of 90 percent of the cost of losses described in paragraph (1) or (2).

(5)(A)In this paragraph, the term “farm-raised fish” means fish propagated and reared in a controlled fresh water environment.

(B)Eligible producers of farm-raised fish, including fish grown as food for human consumption, shall be eligible to receive payments under this subsection to aid in the reduction of losses due to piscivorous birds.

(C)(i)The payment rate for payments under subparagraph (B) shall be determined by the Secretary, taking into account—

(I)costs associated with the deterrence of piscivorous birds;

(II)the value of lost fish and revenue due to bird depredation; and

(III)costs associated with disease loss from bird depredation.

(ii)The payment rate for payments under subparagraph (B) shall be not less than $600 per acre of farm-raised fish.

(D)The amount of a payment under subparagraph (B) shall be the product obtained by multiplying—

(i)the applicable payment rate under subparagraph (C); and

(ii)85 percent of the total number of acres of farm-raised fish farms that the eligible producer has in production for the calendar year.

(e)(1)In this subsection:

(A)The term “eligible orchardist” means a person that produces annual crops from trees for commercial purposes.

(B)The term “natural disaster” means plant disease, insect infestation, drought, fire, freeze, flood, earthquake, lightning, or other occurrence, as determined by the Secretary.

(C)The term “nursery tree grower” means a person who produces nursery, ornamental, fruit, nut, or Christmas trees for commercial sale, as determined by the Secretary.

(D)The term “tree” includes a tree, bush, and vine.

(2)(A)Subject to subparagraph (B), for fiscal year 2012 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide assistance—

(i)under paragraph (3) to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers that planted trees for commercial purposes but lost the trees as a result of a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary; and

(ii)under paragraph (3)(B) to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers that have a production history for commercial purposes on planted or existing trees but lost the trees as a result of a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary.

(B)An eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower shall qualify for assistance under subparagraph (A) only if the tree mortality of the eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower, as a result of damaging weather or related condition, exceeds normal mortality.

(3)Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the assistance provided by the Secretary to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for losses described in paragraph (2) shall consist of—

(A)(i)reimbursement of 65 percent of the cost of replanting trees lost due to a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary, in excess of normal mortality; or

(ii)at the option of the Secretary, sufficient seedlings to reestablish a stand; and

(B)reimbursement of 65 percent of the cost of pruning, removal, and other costs incurred by an eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower to salvage existing trees or, in the case of tree mortality, to prepare the land to replant trees as a result of damage or tree mortality due to a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary, in excess of normal tree damage or mortality.

(4)(A)In this paragraph, the terms “legal entity” and “person” have the meaning given those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)).

(B)The total quantity of acres planted to trees or tree seedlings for which a person or legal entity shall be entitled to receive payments under this subsection may not exceed 1,000 acres.

(5)Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of a beginning farmer or rancher or a veteran farmer or rancher (as those terms are defined in subsection (a) of section 2279 of this title) that is eligible to receive assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide reimbursement of 75 percent of the costs under subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of paragraph (3).

(f)(1)In this subsection, the terms “legal entity” and “person” have the meaning given those terms in section 1001(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(a)).

(2)The total amount of disaster assistance payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (excluding a joint venture or general partnership) under subsection (c) may not exceed $125,000 for any crop year.

(3)Subsections (e) and (f) of section 1001 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) or any successor provisions relating to direct attribution shall apply with respect to assistance provided under this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A)(ii), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII is classified generally to subpart B (§ 3831 et seq.) of part I of subchapter IV of chapter 58 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(a)(1), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which related to rates for indemnity payments to an eligible producer. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(a)(2), added par. (5). Subsec. (c)(3)(D)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(b), substituted “county for not less than—” and item (aa) for “county for at least”, “(bb) 7 of the previous 8 consecutive” for “8 consecutive”, and “2 monthly payments” for “1 monthly payment” . Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(c)(1), added par. (5). Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(d)(1), substituted “normal mortality” for “15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality)”. Subsec. (e)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(d)(2)(A), substituted “normal mortality” for “15 percent mortality (adjusted for normal mortality)”. Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10401(d)(2)(B), substituted “65” for “50” and “normal tree damage or mortality” for “15 percent damage or mortality (adjusted for normal tree damage and mortality)”. 2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12306(h)(1)(B), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2). Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(iii) to (v). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(a), added cl. (iii) and redesignated former cls. (iii) and (iv) as (iv) and (v), respectively. Subsec. (a)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12306(h)(1)(A), redesignated pars. (1) to (4) as (2) to (5), respectively. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(a)(1), inserted “sold livestock for a reduced sale price, or both” after “normal mortality,” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(b)(1)(B), substituted “cold, on the condition that in the case of the death loss of unweaned livestock due to that adverse weather, the Secretary may disregard any management practice, vaccination protocol, or lack of vaccination by the eligible producer on a farm; or” for “cold.” Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(b)(1)(A), (C), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(a)(2), substituted “affected livestock, as determined by the Secretary, on, as applicable—” for “applicable livestock on the day before the date of death of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary.” and added subpars. (A) and (B). Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(b)(2), inserted heading. Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(a)(3), added par. (4). Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(b), struck out “not more than $20,000,000 of” before “the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(c)(1), inserted “, including inspections of cattle tick fever” before period at end. Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12306(h)(2), added par. (4). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(d)(1), substituted “paragraphs (4) and (5)” for “paragraph (4)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e)(4)(B), (C). Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(c), (d)(1), substituted “1,000 acres” for “500 acres” in subpar. (C), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text of subpar. (B) read as follows: “The total amount of payments received, directly or indirectly, by a person or legal entity (excluding a joint venture or general partnership) under this subsection may not exceed $125,000 for any crop year, or an equivalent value in tree seedlings.” Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(d)(2), added par. (5). Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1501(e), substituted “subsection (c)” for “this section (excluding payments received under subsections (b) and (e))”. Pub. L. 115–123, § 20101(d)(2), substituted “subsections (b) and (e)” for “subsection (e)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–334, title I, § 1501(c)(2), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4522, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to inspections of cattle tick fever conducted on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018].” Pub. L. 115–123, div. B, title I, § 20101(e), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 69, provided that: “section 1501 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081), as amended by this section, shall apply with respect to losses described in such section 1501 incurred on or after

January 1, 2017.” Emergency Assistance for Honeybees Pub. L. 119–21, title I, § 10401(c)(2),

July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 103, provided that: “In determining honeybee colony losses eligible for assistance under section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)), the Secretary shall utilize a normal mortality rate of 15 percent.”

§9081 Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance