§2266b Eligibility for Operators on Heirs Property Land to Obtain a Farm Number

Summary

The Secretary must give a farm number to any farm operator who proves they control land used as a farm. Acceptable proof includes, in States that adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (recommended in 2010), either a court order saying the land is heirs property or a recorder of deeds note that the recorded owner is dead and at least one heir has started retitling. Other proof can be a fully signed tenancy‑in‑common agreement approved by owners holding a majority of the shares that lets one owner manage the land for farming and is valid where the land is located, tax returns showing the operator farmed the property for the past 5 years, the operator’s self‑certification of control, or any other documents the Secretary names. A farm number has the meaning in 7 CFR 718.2 as of December 20, 2018, and a number given this way meets any farm‑number requirement to take part in the Secretary’s programs.