Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=pt7.10.1430&rgn=div5
Timestamp: 2020-05-27 12:52:15
Document Index: 410054628

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1400', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§718', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', 'art 12', '§1430', '§1430', 'art 1403', 'art 1404', 'art 11', 'art 707', '§718', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', 'art 1430', '§1400', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', '§1430', 'art 1403', 'art 707', 'art 12']

Title 7 → Subtitle B → Chapter XIV → Subchapter B → Part 1430
§1430.100 Purpose.
§1430.101 Administration.
§1430.102 Definitions.
§1430.103 Eligible dairy operations.
§1430.104 Time and method of registration and annual election.
§1430.105 Establishment and transfer of production history for a participating dairy operation.
§1430.106 Administrative fees.
§1430.107 Buy-up coverage.
§1430.108 Margin protection payments.
§1430.109 Effect of failure to pay administrative fees or premiums.
§1430.110 Calculation of average feed cost and actual dairy production margins.
§1430.111 Relation to RMA's LGM-Dairy Program.
§1430.112 Multi-year contract.
§1430.113 Contract modifications.
§1430.114 Reconstitutions.
§1430.115 Offsets and withholdings.
§1430.116 Assignments.
§1430.117 Appeals.
§1430.118 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
§1430.119 Estates, trusts, and minors.
§1430.120 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
§1430.121 Maintenance and inspection of records.
§1430.122 Refunds; joint and several liability.
§1430.123 Violations of highly erodible and wetland conservation provisions.
§1430.124 Violations regarding controlled substances.
§1430.200 Applicability.
§1430.201 Administration.
§1430.202 Definitions.
§1430.203 Eligibility.
§1430.204 Requesting benefits.
§1430.205 Selection of starting month.
§1430.206 [Reserved]
§1430.207 Dairy operation payment quantity.
§1430.208 Payment rate and dairy operation payment.
§1430.209 Proof of market loss production.
§1430.210 MILC agents.
§1430.211 Duration of contracts.
§1430.212 Contract modifications and statutory changes in program.
§1430.213 Reconstitutions.
§1430.214 Violations.
§1430.215 [Reserved]
§1430.216 Contracts not in conformity with regulations.
§1430.217 Offsets and withholdings.
§1430.218 Assignments.
§1430.219 Appeals.
§1430.220 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
§1430.221 Estates, trusts, and minors.
§1430.222 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
§1430.223 Maintenance and inspection of records.
§1430.224 Refunds; joint and several liability.
§1430.225 Violations of highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions.
§1430.226 Violations regarding controlled substances.
§1430.300 Administration, purpose, and funding.
§1430.301 Definitions.
§1430.302 Commencement and termination of DPDP purchases.
§1430.303 DPDP purchases.
§1430.304 Distribution of DPDP purchased products.
Subpart D—Dairy Margin Coverage Program
§1430.400 Purpose.
§1430.401 Administration.
§1430.402 Definitions.
§1430.403 Eligible dairy operations.
§1430.404 Time and method of registration and annual election.
§1430.405 Establishment and transfer of production history for a participating dairy operation.
§1430.406 Administrative fees.
§1430.407 Buy-up coverage.
§1430.408 MPP-Dairy premium repayments.
§1430.409 Dairy margin coverage payments.
§1430.410 Effect of failure to pay administrative fees or premiums.
§1430.411 Calculation of average feed cost and actual dairy production margins.
§1430.412 Relation to RMA's LGM-Dairy Program.
§1430.413 Multi-year contract for lock-in option.
§1430.414 Contract modifications.
§1430.415 Reconstitutions.
§1430.416 Offsets and withholdings.
§1430.417 Assignments.
§1430.418 Appeals.
§1430.419 Misrepresentation and scheme or device.
§1430.420 Estates, trusts, and minors.
§1430.421 Death, incompetency, or disappearance.
§1430.422 Maintenance and inspection of records.
§1430.423 Refunds; joint and several liability.
§1430.424 Violations of highly erodible and wetland conservation provisions.
§1430.425 Violations regarding controlled substances.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 9051-9060, and 15 U.S.C. 714B and 714c.
Source: 79 FR 51462, Aug. 29, 2014, unless otherwise noted.
Actual dairy production margin means the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost, as calculated under §1430.110. If the calculation would produce a negative number the margin will be considered to be zero.
Average feed cost means the national average cost of feed used by a dairy operation to produce a hundredweight of milk, as determined under §1430.110(b).
Dairy operation means a dairy operation as defined pursuant to the criteria and procedures under the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program or any dairy facility that was part of a single dairy operation that participated in the MILC Program as of February 7, 2014. Operations that are determined to be “new operations” under this subpart, will be subject to the “affiliation” test under §1430.103(e) if the operation elects to participate in MPP-Dairy separately. A single dairy operation operated by more than one dairy producer will be treated as a single dairy operation for purposes of participating in MPP-Dairy and can only submit one application. All dairy operations under this part shall commercially market milk produced from cows as a single unit located in the United States in which each dairy producer:
(b) A person or entity covered by §1400.401 of this chapter (hereafter “foreign person”) must meet the eligibility requirements contained in that section to receive payments under this part. A dairy operation with ineligible foreign persons as members will have any payment reduced by the proportional share of such members.
(d) As specified in §1430.104, each dairy operation is required to submit a separate registration to be eligible for MPP-Dairy coverage and payment. A producer who owns more than one eligible dairy operation may participate separately for each dairy operation; each eligible dairy operation must be registered separately, subject to the affiliation test for new operations.
(1) A new dairy operation that has been established after the most recent election period is required to submit a contract within the first 90 calendar days from the date on of which the dairy operation first commercially markets milk and may elect coverage that begins the next consecutive 2-month period following the submission date of the registration and coverage election; or
(2) A new dairy operation that does not meet the 90 day requirement of paragraph (b)(1) of this section cannot enroll until the next annual election period for coverage for the following calendar year.
(1) The applicable year of coverage for contracts arising from accepted registrations in the annual election period will be the following calendar year.
(e) A participating dairy operation must elect, during the applicable annual election period and by using the form prescribed by CCC, the coverage level threshold and coverage percentage for that participating dairy operation for the applicable calendar year.
(2) If the operation fails to file an update of its election during the annual election period, the coverage level will be reduced to the catastrophic level coverage, but such coverage will only be provided if the participating dairy operation pays the annual administrative fee for the relevant calendar year and submits the appropriate CCC forms.
(d) Once the production history of a participating dairy operation is established as specified in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, the production history will be adjusted upward by FSA only to reflect any increase in the national average milk production, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, except as provided by paragraph (g) of this section.
(2) Producers of a dairy operation may transfer ownership of a dairy operation with its associated production history, but if the producers start a new operation such new operation may only be eligible for new production history if the new operation is otherwise not affiliated with participants in MPP-Dairy as described in §1430.103(e); or
(f) If CCC waives the obligation, under MPP-Dairy of a participating dairy operation due to death or retirement of the producer or of the permanent dissolution of the dairy operation or under other circumstances as determined by the Deputy Administrator, FSA may reestablish the production history provided that the production history has not been transferred.
(g) The established production history of a participating dairy operation may be adjusted upward once during the term of the contract for an intergenerational transfer based on the purchase of additional cows by the new family member(s). The increase in the established production history of the participating dairy operation will be determined on the basis of the national rolling herd average data for the current year in effect at the time of the intergenerational transfer and the quantity of the production history increase will be limited to an amount not more than 4 million pounds. The additional quantity of production history will receive coverage at the same elected coverage threshold and coverage percentage in effect for the participating dairy operation at the time the production history increase takes effect. Intergenerational transfers will not be allowed if the participating dairy operation's current annual production and the increase in herd size by the new member(s) is less than the operation's established production history.
(1) The dairy operation must notify FSA, using the appropriate CCC form(s), of the intergenerational transfer within 60 days of the purchase of the cows, except that for purchases made for intergenerational transfers occurring between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2016, the dairy operation must notify FSA during the registration and annual coverage election period for coverage year 2017, established by the Deputy Administrator. The operation has the option of the additional production history taking effect beginning either with the consecutive 2-month period following notification, or the following January 1. If the additional production history takes effect between January 1 and August 31, the premium is due September 1, as specified in §1430.107(a)(2). If the additional production history takes effect between September 1 and December 31, the premium is due immediately.
(2) All of the items specified in this paragraph must be documented in the notification to FSA and self-certified by the current and new member(s) for the intergenerational transfer to be considered eligible for additional production history, except that intergenerational transfers that occurred in 2014 and 2015 that otherwise meet the requirements of this paragraph will be considered during the registration and annual coverage election period for coverage year 2017 established by the Deputy Administrator for the purposes of adding the new member(s) to the participating dairy operation. However, there will not be any retroactive payments based on a production history increase for the intergenerational transfer. All of the following information is subject to verification by CCC. Refusal to allow CCC or any other agency of USDA to verify any information provided will result in disapproval of the intergenerational transfer.
(i) Documentation that the new member(s) joining the operation have purchased the dairy cows being added to the dairy operation;
(ii) Certification that each new member will have a share of the profits or losses from the dairy operation commensurate with such person's contributions to the dairy operation;
(iii) Certification that each new member has a significant equity ownership in the participating dairy operation at levels determined by the Deputy Administrator and announced on the FSA Web site, www.fsa.usda.gov;
(iv) Certification that each new member is a lineal descendant or spouse thereof of a current member of the participating dairy operation;
(v) Agreement that each new member will contribute labor in the dairy operation at a minimum of 35 hours per week or have a plan for transition to full-time, subject to FSA county committee review and approval, if only working seasonally or part-time;
(vi) Certification that the dairy operation will be the principal source of non-investment earned income for each new member; and
(vii) Documentation of the participating dairy operation's current annual marketings as of the date of the intergenerational transfer.
(a) Dairy operations must pay an initial administrative fee to CCC in the amount of $100 at the time of initial registration to participate in MPP-Dairy. Each approved participating dairy operation must also pay a $100 administrative fee each year through 2018. Annual administrative fees are due and payable to CCC through the administrative county FSA office no later than the close of business on the last day of the annual election period established by the Deputy Administrator for each applicable calendar year of margin protection coverage under MPP-Dairy. The administrative fee paid is non-refundable.
(b) The required annual administrative fee is per dairy operation. Therefore, multiple dairy producers in a single participating dairy operation are required to pay only one annual administrative fee for the participating dairy operation. Conversely, in the case of a dairy producer that operates more than one dairy operation, each participating dairy operation is required to pay a separate administrative fee annually.
(c) Failure to pay the administrative fee timely will result in loss of margin protection coverage for the applicable calendar year. The payment will still be due, as provided in §1430.109. However, coverage for the applicable calendar year, at the catastrophic level only, may be reinstated if the administrative fee is paid late, effective the consecutive 2-month period following payment of the late-filed administrative fee plus applicable charges, if any, and submission to FSA of the appropriate CCC form.
[79 FR 51462, Aug. 29, 2014, as amended at 81 FR 21705, Apr. 13, 2016]
(a) For purposes of receiving buy-up MPP-Dairy coverage, a participating dairy operation may annually elect during an annual election period the following for the succeeding calendar year:
(1) A coverage level threshold for margins that, per cwt, is equal to one of the following: $4.50, $5, $5.50, $6, $6.50, $7, $7.50, or $8; and
(d) The premium per cwt of milk, based on the elected percentage of coverage of production history is specified in the following table.
Table to §1430.107(d)
premium per cwt (for the covered
history that is 4 million pounds or less)
premium per cwt (for the part of
history over
4 million pounds)
(2) The premium per cwt of milk specified in paragraph (d) of this section for the coverage level elected by the dairy operation.
(g) A participating dairy operation is required to pay the annual premium calculated as specified in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section for the applicable calendar year, according to either of the following options:
(2) In total no later than September 1 of the applicable calendar year of coverage, unless otherwise specified by the Deputy Administrator.
(h) If the total premium is not paid for an applicable calendar year of coverage as specified in paragraph (g) of this section, the participating dairy operation will only be covered at catastrophic level coverage beginning with the September-October consecutive 2-month period and for the remainder of the applicable coverage year.
(i) Annual premium balances due CCC from a participating dairy operation for a calendar year of coverage must be paid in full no later than September 1 of the applicable calendar year or within a grace period determined by the Deputy Administrator, if applicable.
(j) A participating dairy operation with an unpaid premium balance for a calendar year of coverage will lose eligibility for buy-up coverage for the subsequent coverage year if the premium is not paid in full by the close of the coverage election period, and will have its current buy-up level coverage reduced to the catastrophic level, as provided in §1430.109.
(l) MPP-Dairy administrative fees and premiums are required to be paid by a negotiable instrument satisfactory to FSA and made payable to CCC and either mailed to or provided in person to the administrative county office or other location designated by FSA.
(m) In the case of an intergenerational transfer, the additional premium, if any, is due September 1 if the notification of the transfer is made to FSA between January 1 and September 1 of the applicable calendar year, and immediately, if the notification is made between September 2 and December 31, unless otherwise specified by the Deputy Administrator.
(a) When do MPP-Dairy payments trigger? An MPP-Dairy payment will be made to a participating dairy operation for any consecutive 2-month period when the average actual dairy production margin for the consecutive 2-month period falls below the coverage level threshold in effect for the participating dairy operation. Payments may trigger at either the elected buy-up level if purchased by the dairy operation, or the catastrophic level.
(b) How will payments be calculated? Whether payments trigger at the catastrophic level or at the buy-up level, the payments will be calculated as explained in this paragraph. If the dairy operation only has catastrophic coverage or buy-up coverage at 90 percent, there will be a single calculation. If the dairy operation purchased buy-up coverage at less than 90 percent and the catastrophic level also triggers a payment, then there will be two calculations to determine the payment—first the calculation for the buy-up coverage percentage and then the calculation for the catastrophic level percentage, which is the balance of the established production history up to 90 percent; the result of these two calculations will be added together to determine the payment amount. Each calculation multiplies the payment rate times the coverage percentage times the production history divided by 6 as follows:
(1) Payment rate. The amount by which the coverage level exceeds the average actual dairy production margin for the 2-month period;
(2) Coverage percentage. The coverage percentage; and
(3) Production history. The production history of the dairy operation, divided by 6.
(c) Example of payment for buy-up coverage of less than 90 percent when catastrophic level also triggers a payment. If the dairy operation purchased buy-up level coverage at less than 90 percent of production history, then the dairy operation will receive a payment calculated at the buy-up level, plus the payment at the catastrophic level, if triggered, for the balance of 90 percent of its established production history. For example, if a producer purchased buy-up coverage at the 50 percent level, then that producer will also receive catastrophic level coverage for the next 40 percent for total coverage of 90 percent.
[81 FR 21706, Apr. 13, 2016]
(2) Upon such failure to pay when due after initial approved registration, loses coverage under MPP-Dairy until such administrative fee or premium is paid in full, and once paid, coverage will begin with the next consecutive 2-month period. Failure to pay the premium fee when due will reduce coverage to the catastrophic level for the September and October period and November and December period in that coverage year.
[79 FR 51462, Aug. 29, 2014, as amended at 81 FR 21706, Apr. 13, 2016]
(d) The national average feed cost data for corn, soybean meal, and alfalfa hay used in the calculation of the national average feed cost to determine the actual dairy production margin for the relevant period, will be the data reported in the publication the following month. (For example, preliminary May prices for corn and soybean meal were reported in the May Agricultural Prices publication but full month May prices will be available in the June publication, and those will be the prices used).
(a) A producer may participate in either MPP-Dairy through a dairy operation or the LGM-Dairy program operated by RMA, but not both.
(b) Producers in dairy operations participating in MPP-Dairy must certify at the time of registration and annually during each coverage election period that they will not have an LGM-Dairy policy in effect during the calendar year the dairy operation is requesting coverage.
(c) A participating dairy operation may be required to provide proof, to the satisfaction of FSA, of the cancellation or expiration of any previous LGM-Dairy policy.
(b) Failure to pay administrative fees and premiums will result in the loss or reduction of coverage, as applicable, and the participating dairy operation remains obligated to pay such administrative fees and premiums as specified in §1430.109.
(c) If a participating dairy operation goes out of business as described in §1430.107(k) before December 31, 2018, the contract will be terminated immediately, except with respect to payments accrued to the benefit of the participating dairy operation under this subpart before such termination.
(a) Producers in a participating dairy operation must notify FSA immediately of any changes that may affect their participation in MPP-Dairy under this subpart. Changes include, but are not limited to death of a producer on the contract, producer joining the operation, producer exiting the operation, relocation of the dairy operation, transfer of shares by sale or other transfer action, or dairy operation reconstitutions as provided in §1430.114.
(a) In addition to other penalties, sanctions or remedies as may apply, all or any part of a payment otherwise due a person or legal entity on all participating dairy operations in which the person or legal entity has an interest may be withheld or be required to be refunded if the person or legal entity fails to comply with the provisions of this subpart or adopts or participates in adopting a scheme or device designed to evade this subpart, or that has the effect of evading this part. Such acts may include, but are not limited to:
The provisions of §718.6 of this title apply to this part.
Source: 67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, unless otherwise noted.
(a) This subpart governs the Milk Income Loss Contract Program. This program provides financial assistance to dairy operations in connection with milk production that is sold in the commercial market.
(a) This program is administered under the general supervision of the Executive Vice President, CCC, or a designee, and shall be carried out by Farm Service Agency (FSA) State and county committees and employees.
(b) State and county committees, and their employees may not waive or modify any requirement of this subpart, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.
(c) The State committee shall take any action required when not taken by the county committee, require correction of actions not in compliance, or require the withholding of any action that is not in compliance with this subpart.
(d) The Executive Vice President, CCC, or a designee, may determine any question arising under the program or reverse or modify any decision of the State or county committee.
(e) The Deputy Administrator, Farm Programs, FSA, may waive or modify program requirements where failure to meet such requirements does not adversely affect the operation of the Milk Income Loss Contract Program.
(f) A representative of CCC may execute Milk Income Loss Contracts and related documents under the terms and conditions determined and announced by CCC. Any document not under such terms and conditions, including any purported execution before the date authorized by CCC, shall be null and void.
The definitions in this section shall be applicable for all purposes of administering the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program established by this subpart.
Class I Milk means milk, including milk components, classified as Class I milk under a Federal milk marketing order.
Contract application means a Milk Income Loss Contract as executed on a form prescribed by CCC.
Contract application period means the date established by the Deputy Administrator for producers to apply for program benefits.
County office means the FSA office responsible for administering FSA programs to farms located in a specific area in a state.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP), FSA or a designee.
Federal Milk Marketing Order means an order issued under section 8c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
Marketed commercially means sold to the market to which the dairy operation normally delivers whole milk and receives a monetary amount.
MILC means the Milk Income Loss Contract program or the form upon which CCC and the producer agree to the terms of the payment to be made under the MILC program.
Milk handler means the marketing agency to or through which the producer commercially markets whole milk.
Payment pounds means the pounds of milk production for which an operation is eligible to be paid under this subpart.
Producer means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, estate, trust association, cooperative, or other business enterprise or other legal entity who is, or whose members are, a citizen of, or legal resident alien in the United States, and who directly or indirectly, as determined by the Secretary, shares in the risk of producing milk, and makes contributions (including land, labor, management, equipment, or capital) to the dairy farming operation of the individual or entity that are at least commensurate with the share of the individual or entity of the proceeds of this operation.
Verifiable production records means evidence that is used to substantiate the amount of production marketed and that can be verified by CCC through an independent source.
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 19622, Apr. 17, 2006; 73 FR 73776, Dec. 4, 2008]
To be eligible to receive payments under this subpart, a dairy operation must:
(a) Have produced milk in the United States and commercially marketed the milk produced anytime during the period of October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2012;
(b) Enter into a MILC during the contract application period;
(c) Agree to all terms and conditions in the MILC and those that are otherwise contained in this subpart and comply with instructions issued by CCC;
(d) Provide proof of monthly milk production commercially marketed by all persons in the dairy operation during the contract period, to determine the total pounds of milk that will be converted to hundredweight (cwt.) used for payment;
(e) Submit timely production evidence according to §1430.209;
(f) Be actively engaged in the business of producing and marketing agricultural products anytime during the period of October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2012;
(1) Except for 2009, and subject to the start month provision of §1430.205, must have for any fiscal year or month for which payment is sought to be paid submitted the FY 2008 through 2012 contract before the end of that fiscal year or month or
(2) For FY 2008 payments, if payments are generated under this part for that fiscal year, must have submitted a contract for the FY 2008 through 2012 program by October 1, 2009 and for FY 2009 the contract must have been submitted by the month for which payment is first sought except to the extent that §1430.205 explicitly permits the operation to pick a start month in advance of the month in which the contract is submitted; and
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 19622, Apr. 17, 2006; 73 FR 73766, Dec. 4, 2008]
(a) A request for benefits or contract application, under this subpart must be submitted on a form as prescribed by the Agency. Contract applications shall be submitted to the FSA office serving the county where the dairy operation is located. Contract applications must be received by FSA by the close of business on the date established by the Deputy Administrator. Contract applications received after such date shall be disapproved.
(b) The dairy operation requesting MILC benefits must certify the accuracy and truthfulness of the information in their contract application. All information provided is subject to verification by CCC. Refusal to allow CCC or any other agency of the Department to verify any information provided will result in disapproval.
(c) Contract applications will be approved by execution by FSA and producer of a MILC. All persons who share in the risk of a dairy operation's total production must sign and certify the contract application.
(a) A dairy operation that enters into a MILC contract with CCC must designate the starting month for each fiscal year for the calculation of payments and pound limits for the operation. Once a start month is chosen for a fiscal year the corresponding month will be the start month for each subsequent fiscal year unless changed by an affirmative request in writing on a form approved by CCC. The production start month must be selected on or before the 14th of the month before the month for which payment is sought. If such date falls on a weekend, the start month selection must be made on the last business day preceding the weekend. A dairy operation cannot select as the start month for payment a month which:
(1) Payment quantity is reached in accordance with §1430.207; or
(i) The maximum payment quantity for the fiscal year or month is reached as determined in accordance with §1430.207 or
[71 FR 19622, Apr. 17, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 73766, Dec. 4, 2008]
(a) The applicant's payment quantity of milk will be determined by CCC, based on the quantity of milk that was produced and commercially marketed by each dairy operation per fiscal year.
(c) In accordance with these regulations, the Deputy Administrator will determine what is a separate and distinct operation. That decision will be final
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 73 FR 73767, Dec. 4, 2008]
(2) Multiplying the payment rate determined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section by the quantity of eligible production marketed by the operation during the applicable month as determined according to §1430.205 and other provisions of this subpart.
(e) Payments under this subpart may be made to a dairy operation only up to the maximum production limitations set in §1430.207(b) of eligible production per applicable fiscal year.
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 19623, Apr. 17, 2006; 72 FR 48231, Aug. 23, 2007; 73 FR 73767, Dec. 4, 2008]
(a) A dairy operation entering into a MILC must, based on instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator, provide adequate proof of the dairy operation's eligible production during the months of each fiscal year designated in the MILC. The dairy operation must also provide proof that the eligible production was commercially marketed during the months beginning October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2012. Evidence of milk production claimed for payment shall be provided to CCC with supporting documentation under paragraph (b) of this section. All information provided is subject to verification, spot check and audit by FSA. Further verification information may be obtained from the dairy operation's milk handler or marketing cooperative if deemed necessary by CCC to verify provided information. Refusal to allow a representative of CCC or any other agency of the Department of Agriculture to verify any information provided will result in a determination of ineligibility for benefits under this subpart.
(b) Eligible dairy operations marketing milk during the period specified in the MILC shall provide any available supporting documents from all producers in the dairy operation to assist CCC in verifying that the dairy operation produced and marketed milk commercially from the designated starting month and thereafter. Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to: milk marketing payment stubs, tank records, milk handler records, daily milk marketings, copies of any payments received as compensation from other sources, or any other documents available to confirm the production and production history of the dairy operation. Producers may also be required to allow CCC to examine the herd of cattle as production evidence. If supporting documentation requested is not presented to CCC or FSA, the request for MILC benefits will be disapproved.
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 19623, Apr. 17, 2006; 73 FR 73767, Dec. 4, 2008]
(a) MILC benefits may be disbursed by a dairy marketing cooperative that serves special groups or communities, such as an Amish or Mennonite community. Producers in such groups in a dairy operation may authorize an agent of a dairy cooperative or milk handler affiliated with such cooperative to obtain and disburse MILC benefits to the dairy operation.
(b) The authorized MILC agent must on behalf of the dairy operation do the following:
(1) Obtain an acceptable power of attorney or acceptable equivalent for the producers of the dairy operation that authorizes the agent to enter into an MILC contract;
(2) Enter into a written agreement with CCC for approval to act as a MILC agent on a form prescribed by CCC;
(3) Provide the dairy operation's monthly production evidence to the appropriate FSA office;
(4) Disburse payment to the dairy operation in the producer's monthly milk check or in an otherwise approved manner.
(a) Except as provided in §1430.205, or elsewhere in this subpart, a MILC entered into by producers in a dairy operation shall cover eligible production marketed by the producers in the dairy operation during the period beginning with the first day of the month the producers in the dairy operation enter into an MILC and ending on September 30, 2012.
(b) If a dairy goes out of business during the contract period, the MILC will be terminated immediately, except as applicable to earned payments.
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 19623, Apr. 17, 2006; 73 FR 73768, Dec. 4, 2008]
(a) Producers in a dairy operation must notify FSA immediately of any changes that may affect their MILC. Changes include, but are not limited to changes to the starting month to receive payment for the next fiscal year, death of producer on the contract, new member joining the operation, member exiting the operation, transfer of shares by sale or other transfer action, or farm reconstitutions undertaken in accordance with §1430.213.
(b) CCC may modify an MILC if such modifications are desirable to carry out purposes of the program or to facilitate the program's administration.
[67 FR 64476, Oct. 18, 2002, as amended at 73 FR 73768, Dec. 4, 2008]
(b) A dairy operation that FSA determines has reorganized solely to receive additional MILC payments will be in violation of its contract and dealt in accordance with §1430.214.
(c) If during the contract period a change in the dairy operation occurs, the modification to the MILC will not take effect until the first day of the fiscal year following the month FSA received notification of the changes. Changes include but are not limited to any producer affiliated with a dairy operation that has an approved MILC with CCC forming a new dairy operation that is not formed solely to receive additional MILC payments.
(d) Changes resulting in the following will take effect immediately upon notification to CCC, in accordance with §1430.212:
(1) Increases or reductions of shareholders or producers and their corresponding share amounts in the dairy operation; or
(2) Purchases of a new dairy operation by a producer or producers not affiliated with an existing dairy operation that has an approved MILC with CCC.
(a) If producers in a dairy operation violates the MILC or the requirements of this subpart, CCC may:
(1) Terminate the MILC for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs, and allow the producer to retain any payments received under the contract; or
(2) Allow the MILC to remain in effect and require the producer to repay a portion of the payments received commensurate with the violation's severity, as CCC determines.
(3) If the MILC is terminated under this section, the participant shall forfeit all rights to further MILC benefits and shall refund all or part of the payments received as CCC determines appropriate.
(4) A producer or operation with a violation, as determined by CCC, shall refund all MILC funds disbursed under of this part. The remedies provided in this subpart shall be in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies which may apply.
(b) A MILC is violated by the following actions:
(1) Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the MILC and addendum;
(2) Reconstitutions of the dairy operation for the sole purpose of receiving multiple program benefits;
(3) Failure to comply with highly erodible land conservation and wetland provisions of this 7 CFR part 12 or their successor regulations;
(4) Failure to meet the definition of a dairy operation according to §1430.202;
(5) Any action that tends to defeat the purpose of the program, as CCC determines.
(c) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) of the Farm Service Agency may terminate any MILC by mutual agreement upon request of the participant if DAFP determines that termination is in the best interest of the public.
(d) The DAFP may determine that failure of the dairy operation to perform the MILC does not warrant termination and may require the participant to refund part of the payments received or accept adjustments in the payment as the DAFP determines to be appropriate.
If it is discovered that an MILC contract does not comply with this subpart as the result of a misunderstanding by someone who has signed the contract, the contract may be modified by mutual agreement. If the parties to the MILC cannot reach agreement for such modification, it shall be terminated and all payments paid or payable under the contract shall be forfeited or refunded to CCC, except as may otherwise be allowed under §1430.214.
CCC may offset or withhold any amount due CCC under this subpart under the provisions of part 1403 of this chapter or any successor regulations.
Any producer may assign a payment to be made under this part in accordance with part 1404 of this chapter or successor regulations as designated by the Department.
Any producer who is dissatisfied with a determination made pursuant to this subpart may request reconsideration or appeal of such determination under part 11 or 780 of this title.
(a) A dairy operation shall be ineligible for the MILC program if FSA determines that it knowingly:
(1) Adopted a scheme or device that tends to defeat the purpose of this program;
(3) Misrepresented any fact affecting a determination under this program. CCC will take steps deemed necessary to protect the interests of the government.
(b) Any funds disbursed to a producer or operation engaged in a misrepresentation, scheme, or device, shall be refunded to CCC. The remedies provided in this subpart shall be in addition to other civil, criminal, or administrative remedies which may apply.
(a) Program documents executed by producers legally authorized to represent estates or trusts will be accepted only if such producers furnish evidence of the authority to execute such documents.
In the case of death, incompetency, disappearance or dissolution of a producer that is eligible to receive benefits under this part, such persons as are specified in part 707 of this title may receive such benefits, as determined appropriate by FSA.
(a) Producers approved for benefits under this program must maintain accurate records and accounts that will document that they meet all eligibility requirements specified herein, as may be requested by CCC or FSA. Such records and accounts must be retained for 3 years after the date of payment to the dairy operation under this program. Destruction of the records 3 years after the date of payment shall be the risk of the party undertaking the destruction.
(b) At all times during regular business hours, authorized representatives of CCC, the Department, or the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access to the premises of the dairy operation in order to inspect the herd of cattle, examine, and make copies of the books, records, and accounts, and other written data as specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Any funds disbursed pursuant to this part to any producers or operation who does not comply with the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section, or who otherwise receives a payment for which they are not eligible, shall be refunded with interest.
(a) In the event of an error on a MILC application, a failure to comply with any term, requirement, or condition for payment arising under the MILC application, or this subpart, all improper payments shall be refunded to CCC together with interest from the date payment was received through the date the refund is received by CCC.
(b) All producers signing a dairy operation's application for payment as having an interest in the operation shall be jointly and severally liable for any refund, including related charges, that is determined to be due for any reason under the terms and conditions of the contract application and addendum or this part for such operation.
The provisions of §718.11 of this title apply to this part.
Source: 79 FR 51468, Aug. 29, 2014, unless otherwise noted.
(b) DPDP is designed to address low dairy producer margins, through periodic purchases of dairy products, as specified in this subpart. Dairy products purchased for DPDP will be used to provide nutritional assistance to members of low-income groups.
(a) DPDP purchases commence only if approved by the FSA Administrator under the provisions of this subpart. The FSA Administrator will approve DPDP purchases only if the actual dairy production margin has been $4 or less per cwt for each of the preceding 2 months. The actual dairy production margin will be calculated as specified in §1430.110. The following chart shows an example of the timing for the determination of DPDP purchases.
DPDP Purchase Determination Example Based on Dairy Production Margins and 3-Month Maximum for Purchases1
Calculate margin for 2 consecutive months2
January and February March Dairy product purchases3 begin in April 1st month of purchases No purchases.
February and March April Dairy product purchases3 begin in May 2nd consecutive month of purchases No purchases.
March and April May Dairy product purchases3 begin in June 3rd consecutive month of purchases No purchases.
April and May June4 No purchases; terminated after 3 consecutive months 3-month maximum reached (1st month off) No purchases.
July and August September Dairy product purchases3 begin in October 1st month of purchases No purchases.
August and September October Dairy product purchases3 begin in November 2nd consecutive month of purchases No purchases.
September and October November Dairy product purchases3 begin in December 3rd consecutive month of purchases No purchases.
1This example assumes that purchases begin in January. In reality, DPDP can—depending on prices and margin triggers—begin on September 1, 2014, which is the start of MPP-Dairy.
2The full month data for a given month is available at the end of the following month. For example, January data are not available until the end of February.
2Purchases cannot begin unless domestic cheddar cheese or nonfat dry milk prices are at certain differentials relative to world prices.
3In the example, June is the 3rd month of consevutive purchases. June would not be calculated as a potential trigger month, but it is shown on the chart to clearly show the concept of 3 months on and 3 months off for purchases. If purchases are taking place during a month, that month cannot be used as a trigger month for a future purchase period.
(ii) The price in the United States for non-fat dry milk (NDM) was more than 5 percent above the world price of skim milk powder.
(a) DPDP purchases will be made only for those months that the FSA Administrator has determined meet all the requirements specified in §1430.302. The purchases are subject to DPDP requirements including price and quantity restrictions specified in this subpart.
Source: 84 FR 28176, June 18, 2019, unless otherwise noted.
The regulations in this subpart apply to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program that replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) in subpart A. The purpose of DMC is to provide eligible dairy producers risk protection against low margins resulting from a combination of low milk prices and high feed costs.
(a) The DMC Program is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) under the general supervision of the Executive Vice President, CCC, or a designee, and will be carried out by FSA State and county committees and employees.
(b) FSA State and county committees, and their employees may not waive or modify any requirement of this subpart, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section.
(e) The Deputy Administrator, Farm Programs, FSA, may waive or modify non-statutory program deadlines when failure to meet such deadline does not adversely affect the operation of the DMC Program.
(f) A representative of CCC may execute a contract for participation in the DMC Program and related documents under the terms and conditions determined and announced by the Deputy Administrator on behalf of CCC. Any document not under such terms and conditions, including any purported execution before the date authorized by CCC, will be null and void.
The definitions in this section apply for all purposes of administering the DMC Program.
Actual dairy production margin means the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost, as calculated under §1430.411. If the calculation would produce a negative number, the margin is considered to be zero.
AMS means the Agricultural Marketing Service of USDA.
Annual election period for DMC means the period, each calendar year, established by the Deputy Administrator, for a dairy operation to register to participate in DMC for the following coverage year, pay associated administrative fees, and make coverage elections for an applicable calendar year.
Average feed cost means the national average cost of feed used by a dairy operation to produce a hundredweight of milk, as determined under the provisions of this subpart.
Beginning farmer or rancher means an individual or entity who has both not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years; and materially and substantially participates in the operation of the farm or ranch. For legal entities to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher, all members must be related by blood or marriage; and all the members must be beginning farmers or ranchers.
Buy up coverage means dairy margin coverage for a margin protection level above $4 per hundredweight of milk.
Calendar year means the year beginning with January 1 and ending the following December 31.
Catastrophic level coverage means $4 per cwt margin protection coverage and a coverage percentage of 95 percent, with no premium assessed.
CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation of USDA.
Commercially marketed means selling whole milk to either the market to which the dairy operation normally delivers or other similar markets and receives monetary compensation.
Contract means the terms and conditions to participate in the DMC Program as executed on a form prescribed by CCC and required to be completed by the producers in the dairy operation and accepted by CCC, including any contract modifications made in an annual election period before coverage for the applicable calendar year commences.
Dairy margin coverage (or DMC) means the dairy margin coverage program for dairy producers established under this subpart.
Dairy margin coverage payment (DMC payment) means a payment made to a participating dairy operation under the DMC Program under the terms of this subpart.
Dairy operation means, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, and subject to conditions that the Deputy Administrator may impose to advance the achievement of the purposes of the DMC Program, any one or more dairy producers that produce and market milk commercially produced from cows as a single unit in which each dairy producer:
(1) Shares in the pooling of resources under a common ownership structure;
(2) Is at risk in the production of milk in the dairy operation;
(3) Contributes land, labor, management, equipment, or capital to the dairy operation that are at least commensurate to the producer's share in the operation; and
(4) Has production facilities located in the United States.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, or designee.
Farm Service Agency or FSA means the Farm Service Agency of USDA.
Handler or producer handler means the initial individual or entity making payment to a dairy operation for milk produced in the United States and marketed for commercial use.
Limited resource farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher that is a person with both:
(1) Direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than an amount determined by FSA in each of the previous 2 years; and
(2) A total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four or less than 50 percent of county median household income in each of the previous 2 years.
Milk Income Loss Contract Program or MILC means the program established under section 1506 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8773) and the regulations in part 1430, subpart B of this part.
New operation means a dairy operation that:
(1) Did not establish a production history under the MPP-Dairy;
(2) Has less than 12 full months in a calendar year of commercial milk marketings produced by the dairy operation; and
(3) Started commercially marketing milk within 60 days of submitting a contract application under DMC.
Open enrollment period for DMC means the period, each calendar year, established by the Deputy Administrator, for a participating dairy operation to either register to participate in the DMC Program, pay associated administrative fees, if applicable, and applicable premiums, or to make annual coverage elections for an applicable calendar year of participation.
Participating dairy operation means a dairy operation that signs up to participate in the DMC Program under this part.
Producer means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, estate, trust, association, cooperative, or other business enterprise or other legal entity who is, or whose members are, a citizen of, or legal resident alien in the United States, and who directly, or indirectly:
(1) Shares in the risk of producing milk, and
(2) Makes contributions including land, labor, management, equipment, or capital:
(i) To the dairy operation at least commensurate to the producer's share of the operation, or
(ii) To the dairy operation of the individual or entity, as determined by the Deputy Administrator.
Production history means the production history determined for a participating dairy operation under this subpart when the participating dairy operation first registers to participate in DMC or previously established under MPP-Dairy, as determined under the provisions of this subpart.
RMA means the Risk Management Agency of USDA.
Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subject to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Groups include: American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Asians or Asian Americans, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and women. For legal entities requesting to be considered Socially Disadvantaged, the majority interest must be held by socially disadvantaged individuals.
United States means, unless the context suggests otherwise, the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
Veteran farmer or rancher means a person who has served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components, and who has not operated a farm or ranch; has operated a farm or ranch but not for more than 10 years total, since becoming a veteran; or has obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period. A legal entity or joint operation will be considered a veteran farmer or rancher entity, if all members meet this definition.
(a) In order for a dairy operation to be eligible to register for DMC and receive payments, such dairy operation must:
(1) Produce milk from cows in the United States that is marketed commercially at the time of each annual election for an applicable coverage year in DMC, except that dairy operations that have stopped producing and marketing milk in any month before or during the annual coverage election period for 2019 are eligible for only those applicable months;
(2) Submit accurate and complete information as required by this subpart;
(4) Pay required administrative fees for participation in DMC as specified in this subpart and any premiums, if applicable, as specified in this subpart.
(b) A person or entity covered by §1400.401 of this chapter (hereafter “foreign person”) must meet the eligibility requirements in that section to receive payments under this subpart. A dairy operation with ineligible foreign persons as members will have any payment reduced by the proportional share of such members.
(d) A single dairy operation operated by more than one dairy producer will be treated as a single dairy operation for purposes of participating in DMC and can only submit one application. If a producer owns more than one eligible dairy operation in which each operation is separate and distinct from each other, such dairy producer may be eligible to participate separately for each dairy operation, however, each eligible dairy operation must be separately registered, as specified in §1430.404.
(e) The Deputy Administrator or designee will determine additional dairy operations that operate in a manner that are separate and distinct from each other according to paragraph (d) of this section and which may, as determined by the Deputy Administrator, be considered an operation even though they may not meet the conditions otherwise imposed in this definition. Also, the Deputy Administrator may require operations to be combined and considered one operation when there is close interest by family or otherwise between two operations, to avoid schemes or devices, or otherwise. Likewise, the Deputy Administrator may consider other factors as are deemed appropriate to adjust what is considered a dairy operation to conform with the DMC Program requirements in an equitable manner, including taking into account a dairy's status under MPP-Dairy and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program formerly operated under this part.
(a) A dairy operation may register to participate in DMC by establishing a production history according to §1430.405 on a form prescribed by CCC and also submitting a contract prescribed by CCC. Dairy operations may obtain a contract in person, by mail, or by facsimile from any county office. In addition, dairy operations may download a copy of the forms at http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov.
(b) A dairy operation must submit completed contracts and any other supporting documentation, during the annual election period established by the Deputy Administrator, to the administrative county FSA office serving the dairy operation. However, the production history must be established only once and approved by CCC before the contract is submitted and considered complete.
(1) A new dairy operation that has been established after the most recent election period is required to submit a contract within the first 60 calendar days from the date of which the dairy operation first commercially markets milk and may elect coverage that begins the month and day the dairy operation has commercial marketings.
(2) A new dairy operation that does not meet the 60-day requirement of paragraph (b)(1) of this section cannot enroll until the next annual election period for coverage for the following calendar year.
(c) Annual contracts with coverage elections are to be submitted in time to be received at FSA by the close of business on the last day of the annual election period, established by the Deputy Administrator.
(1) The applicable year of coverage for contracts received during an annual election period will be the following calendar year, except for 2019, where the election and coverage year will be the same, or unless otherwise specified by the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs. Coverage for dairy operations that register during the 2019 election period will be retroactive to January 1, 2019.
(2) Annual contracts with coverage elections submitted after the applicable allowed time for submission will not be considered.
(d) If the dairy producer operates more than one separate and distinct operation, the producer must register each operation for each operation to be eligible for coverage. If the producer moves the same herd of cattle between two facilities, then the two facilities will not be regarded as separate and distinct but as one operation unless the Deputy Administrator determines otherwise. A separate operation must distinctly, as a single unit, have their own cattle, facilities, milk marketings, tanks, feed, records, State level licenses, and permits. All new dairy operations that did not participate in MPP-Dairy must meet all the requirements of this paragraph. A participating dairy operation in business prior to January 1, 2019, that participated in MPP-Dairy will automatically be determined as a “dairy operation” for DMC Program purposes in the same manner as under MPP-Dairy. In disputes regarding separate dairy operations the Deputy Administrator will determine what is a separate and distinct operation and that decision will be final. A dairy operation operated by more than one dairy producer will be treated as a single dairy operation for purposes of participating in DMC and may only, submit one contract. Only participating dairy operations enrolling using contract forms approved by CCC will be covered by the DMC Program.
(e) A participating dairy operation must elect, during the applicable annual election period and by using the form prescribed by CCC, the coverage level threshold and coverage percentage for that participating dairy operation for the applicable calendar year:
(1) Once the registration for a calendar year of coverage is submitted and approved by CCC, coverage for subsequent years does not automatically carry forward. For each calendar year, a dairy operation that decides to participate in DMC must register for a calendar year of coverage according to this paragraph (e) during the applicable coverage election period, except as described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section;
(2) During the 2019 annual coverage election period only, participating dairy operations that make a one-time election of coverage level and percentage of coverage, according to §1430.407(j), will be locked in at the same coverage level and percentage of coverage for a 5-year period beginning January 1, 2019, and ending December 31, 2023. Dairy operations that elect the lock-in option are required to pay the annual administrative fee and submit an annual contract during the annual contract election period for each coverage year to certify that the dairy operation is still in the business of producing and commercially marketing milk. If the operation fails to pay the applicable administrative fees or certify the status of the dairy operation, the dairy operation will remain obligated for all applicable unpaid administrative and premium fees calculated for that 5-year period.
(3) All participating producers in the participating dairy operation must agree to the coverage level threshold and coverage percentage elected by the operation on the contract. Producers in the participating dairy operation that elect not to participate may not submit a separate contract for coverage. All producers that share in risk of the dairy operations production must be indicated on the contract with their corresponding share in the dairy operation, however, a signature from the non-participating member will not be required for CCC approval.
(f) By registering to participate or receive payment under DMC, all participating producers in the dairy operation must certify to the accuracy and truthfulness of the information in their applications and supporting documentation.
(1) All participating producers who share in the risk of a dairy operation's production must sign and certify all submissions made under DMC that relate to the level of coverage and marketed production for the dairy operation.
(2) All information provided is subject to verification by FSA. FSA may require a dairy operation to provide documentation that supports all verifiable records. Furnishing the information is voluntary; however, without such information DMC Program benefits will not be approved. Providing a false certification to the Federal Government may be punishable by imprisonment, fines, and other penalties or sanctions.
(g) At the time the completed contract is submitted to FSA for the first program year in which the operation is to participate in DMC, the dairy operation must also submit a separate form, as prescribed by CCC, to establish the production history for the dairy operation. An established production history and a completed contract are both required to have a complete submission that is subject to approval by FSA. Production histories established for dairy operations under MPP-Dairy will be used in the DMC Program. A new production history will only be established for new dairy operations that did not participate in MPP-Dairy.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, FSA will establish the production history for a dairy operation for DMC as the highest annual milk marketings of the participating dairy operation during any one of the 2011, 2012, or 2013 calendar years.
(1) Producers in the participating dairy operation are required to provide adequate proof of the dairy operation's quantity of milk commercially marketed, to establish the production history for the dairy operation.
(2) All information provided is subject to verification, spot check, and audit by FSA. If the dairy operation does not provide, to the satisfaction of FSA, documentation requested to substantiate the production history of the highest annual milk marketings for the participating dairy operation, then the registration will not be approved.
(b) A participating dairy operation that was not in operation prior to January 1, 2014, that has not established a production history will elect the highest annual milk marketings during any one calendar year while in operation to determine the production history of the participating dairy operation.
(c) A participating dairy operation with less than one year of production history will be considered a new dairy operation. To establish the production history for such a new dairy operation the new dairy operation is required to elect one of the following methods:
(d) If FSA determines that the new enterprise was formed for the purpose of circumventing DMC provisions, including, but not limited to, reconstituting a dairy operation to receive additional benefits, or establishing new production history, that enterprise will not be considered a new dairy operation for the purpose of establishing production history.
(e) Once the production history of a participating dairy operation is established under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, the production history will be adjusted by a one-time upward adjustment by FSA to reflect any increase in the national average milk production relative to calendar year 2017, as determined by the Deputy Administrator. Dairy operations participating in DMC, that had production history previously established under MPP-Dairy but elected not to participate in MPP-Dairy are not eligible for the production history adjustment. Dairy operations with approved contracts for 2018 coverage under MPP-Dairy will maintain that same production history, as in the DMC Program and are not eligible for the production history adjustment. New dairy operations that participate in DMC, that did not previously have their production history established nor participate in MPP-Dairy, will have the same adjustment factor of 1.0186 applied to their established production history for registration in the DMC Program as 2018 MPP-Dairy participants. There will be no further adjustments in subsequent years of participation made to the established production history under the DMC Program.
(f) The production history must be transferred from one dairy facility to another as follows:
(1) Producers of a dairy operation relocate the dairy operation to another location and the production history of the original operation must be transferred to the new location and subject to the same elected coverage levels for that year; or
(2) Producers of a dairy operation transfer ownership of a dairy operation with its associated production history through a succession-in-interest transfer when there is a spouse, child, heir, or common member that the dairy operation is being transferred to and there is no break in the continuity of the dairy operation. However, the successor operation must submit a separate registration according to §1430.404, to participate in DMC, but will be subject to the same elected coverage levels made by the predecessor for that coverage year or lock-in period, as applicable.
(g) If CCC waives the obligation, under DMC of a participating dairy operation due to death or retirement of the producer or of the permanent dissolution of the dairy operation or under other circumstances as determined by the Deputy Administrator, FSA may reestablish the production history.
(h) The established production history of a participating dairy operation may be adjusted upward once during the term of the contract for an intergenerational transfer based on the purchase of additional cows by the new family member(s). The increase in the established production history of the participating dairy operation will be determined on the basis of the national rolling herd average data for the current year in effect at the time of the intergenerational transfer and the quantity of the production history increase will be limited to an amount not more than 5 million pounds. The additional quantity of production history will receive coverage at the same elected coverage threshold and coverage percentage in effect for the participating dairy operation at the time the production history increase takes effect. Intergenerational transfers will not be allowed if the participating dairy operation's current annual production and the increase in herd size by the new member(s) is less than the operation's established production history.
(1) The dairy operation must notify FSA, using the appropriate CCC form(s), of the intergenerational transfer within 60 days of the purchase of the cows, except that for purchases made for intergenerational transfers occurring in 2019 before the 2019 annual coverage election period, the dairy operation must notify FSA during the registration and annual coverage election period for coverage year 2019, established by the Deputy Administrator. The operation has the option of the additional production history taking effect beginning with the month the producer first began to commercially produce and market milk as part of the dairy operation, or the following January 1. If the additional production history takes effect between January 1 and August 31, the premium is due September 1, as specified in §1430.407(h)(2). If the additional production history takes effect between September 1 and December 31, the premium is due immediately.
(2) All of the items specified in this paragraph must be documented in the notification to FSA and self-certified by the current and new member(s) for the intergenerational transfer to be considered eligible for additional production history. All of the following information is subject to verification by CCC. Refusal to allow CCC or any other agency of USDA to verify any information provided will result in disapproval of the intergenerational transfer.
(i) Documentation that the new member(s) joining the operation has purchased the dairy cows being added to the dairy operation;
(iii) Certification that each new member has a significant equity ownership in the participating dairy operation at levels determined by the Deputy Administrator and announced on the FSA website, www.fsa.usda.gov;
(iv) Certification that each new member is a lineal descendant or spouse of a current member of the participating dairy operation;
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, dairy operations must pay an administrative fee to CCC in the amount of $100 at the time of enrollment during the annual election period for each applicable coverage year the dairy operation decides to participate in DMC. Annual administrative fees are due and payable to CCC through the administrative county FSA office no later than the close of business on the last day of the annual election period established by the Deputy Administrator for each applicable calendar year of dairy margin coverage under DMC. The administrative fee paid is non-refundable.
(c) Dairy operations that lock-in coverage according to §1430.407(j), are required to pay the administrative fee each year through 2023, except as provided in paragraph (e) in this section.
(d) Failure to pay the administrative fee timely will result in loss of dairy margin coverage for the applicable calendar year.
(e) A limited resource, beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, as defined in §1430.402, will be exempt from paying the administrative fee in this section. The administrative fee waiver for the DMC Program for socially disadvantaged, beginning, and limited resource farmers and ranchers must be requested on a form specified by FSA and must accompany the contract application for coverage under this part in the administrative county FSA office.
(a) For purposes of receiving buy-up dairy margin coverage, a participating dairy operation may annually elect, except as provided by paragraph (i) of this section, during an annual election period the following for the succeeding calendar year:
(1) A coverage level threshold for margins that, per cwt, is equal to one of the following: $4.50, $5, $5.50, $6, $6.50, $7, $7.50, $8, $8.50. $9, or $9.50; and
(2) A percentage of coverage for the production history from 5 percent to 95 percent, in 5 percent increments.
(c) A participating dairy operation that elects margin protection coverage above $4 is required to pay an annual premium based on coverage level and covered production history in addition to the administrative fee. Tier 1 applies to covered production history up to and including 5 million pounds; Tier 2 applies to covered production history above 5 million pounds.
(d) A participating dairy operation may only select one coverage level threshold and only one percentage of coverage applicable to both Tier 1 and Tier 2. However, a participating dairy operation that elects a coverage level threshold of $8.50, $9, or $9.50, according to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, on the dairy operation's first 5 million pounds of production history under Tier 1, must choose a different coverage level threshold that is equal to $4, $4.50, $5, $5.50, $6, $6.50, $7, $7.50, $8 to apply to production history in excess of 5 million pounds included in the covered production under Tier 2 elected by the participating dairy operation.
(e) The premium per cwt of milk, based on the elected percentage of coverage of production history is specified in the following table:
Table 1 to §1430.407(e)
5 million pounds or less)
5 million pounds)
4.50 $0.0025 $0.0025
6.00 0.050 0.310
6.50 0.070 0.650
7.00 0.080 1.107
7.50 0.090 1.413
8.00 0.100 1.813
8.50 0.105 N/A
9.00 0.110 N/A
9.50 0.150 N/A
(f) The annual premium due for a participating dairy operation is calculated by multiplying:
(2) The premium per cwt of milk specified in paragraph (e) of this section for the coverage level elected in paragraph (d) of this section by the dairy operation.
(g) In the case of a new dairy operation that first registers to participate in DMC for a calendar year after the start of the calendar year, the participating dairy operation is required to pay a pro-rated premium for that calendar year based on the portion of the calendar year for which the participating dairy operation is eligible, and for which it purchases the coverage.
(h) A participating dairy operation is required to pay the annual premium in total as specified in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section for the applicable calendar year, at time of submission of coverage election to FSA; but no later than September 1 of the applicable calendar year of coverage, unless otherwise specified by the Deputy Administrator.
(i) If the total premium is not paid for an applicable calendar year of coverage as specified in paragraph (g) of this section, the participating dairy operation will lose coverage until such time as the premium has been fully paid.
(j) For each calendar year 2019 through 2023, a participating dairy operation that makes a one time election of a coverage level threshold and a percentage of coverage according to this section, for a 5-year period, will have their elected coverage level, as applicable to each tier, reduced by 25 percent. The option to lock in for the premium rate discount must be elected during the 2019 annual coverage election period announced by FSA. Except that, new dairy operations, not in existence during the 2019 annual election period, that elect to participate in DMC according to §1430.404(b), are eligible to receive the premium rate discount for locking coverage for the period beginning with the first available calendar year and ending in 2023, except that new dairy operations registering for DMC for the first time for coverage year 2023 and dairy operations that stop producing and marketing milk in 2019 that are registering for eligible months in 2019 are not eligible for the multi-year premium discount. All dairy operations that elect the lock-in option are subject to full participation in the DMC Program at the same elected premium coverage levels and calculated premium for the duration of DMC according to §1430.413.
(k) Annual premium balances due to CCC from a participating dairy operation for a calendar year of coverage must be paid in full no later than September 1 of the applicable calendar year or within a grace period determined by the Deputy Administrator, if applicable.
(l) The Deputy Administrator may waive the obligation to pay the premium, or refund the premium paid, of a participating dairy operation for a calendar year, for death, retirement, permanent dissolution of a participating dairy operation, or other circumstances determined by the Deputy Administrator. In these instances, the contract will be terminated immediately, except with respect to payments accrued to the benefit of the participating dairy operation under this subpart before such termination.
(m) DMC administrative fees and premiums are required to be paid by a negotiable instrument satisfactory to FSA and made payable to CCC and either mailed to or provided in person to the administrative county office or other location designated by FSA.
(a) A dairy operation that participated in MPP-Dairy during any of calendar years 2014 through 2017 may receive a repayment in an amount equal to the difference between the total amount of premiums paid by the dairy operation for each applicable calendar year of coverage and the total amount of payments made to the MPP-Dairy participating dairy operation for that applicable calendar year.
(b) FSA will determine the calculated repayment amounts for each year for each dairy operation that participated in MPP-Dairy during the years of 2014 through 2017.
(1) Coverage years in which the payments exceeded premiums paid for that coverage year will yield a $0 calculation for that calendar year.
(2) Dairy operations must provide adequate proof, to the satisfaction of FSA, for calculated repayment amounts in dispute.
(c) Qualifying dairy operations according to paragraph (a) of this section, must elect on a form prescribed by CCC, to receive the repayment in either an amount that is equal to the following:
(1) 75 percent of the calculated repayment as a credit that may be used by the dairy operation towards DMC premiums; or
(2) 50 percent of the calculated repayment as a direct cash repayment.
(d) Dairy operations may transfer their premium repayment election choice in paragraph (c) of this section to a dairy operation that succeeded to the dairy operation through a succession-in-interest transfer under MPP-Dairy. However, the dairy operation to which the election choice is being transferred to must be participating in the DMC Program if the credit option is elected according to paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Otherwise, their credit repayment election is not transferrable. Dairy operations that give up their right to elect a premium repayment option by designation of such on a form prescribed by CCC are not eligible to receive a cash or credit benefit, in full or partially, for premiums paid under MPP-Dairy.
(e) A dairy operation that elects the credit option can only use the credit in the DMC Program. If the entire credit is not used, for any reason, it cannot be applied as a credit to any other USDA program and will have zero cash value that cannot be redeemed for any purpose.
(f) A dairy operation that elects the cash repayment option will have the repayment issued only in the name of the dairy operation entity as it existed in MPP-Dairy.
(g) A dairy operation must choose their MPP-Dairy premium repayment option on a form prescribed by CCC during a period specified by FSA. Once the premium repayment choice of credit or cash is made by the dairy operation and approved by FSA, that choice cannot be changed.
(a) A DMC payment will be made to a participating dairy operation for any month when the average actual dairy production margin for that month falls below the coverage level threshold in effect for the participating dairy operation.
(b) Payments trigger at the catastrophic level or at the buy-up level; the payments will be calculated according to this paragraph. If the dairy operation only has catastrophic coverage or buy-up coverage at 95 percent, there will be a single calculation. If the dairy operation purchased buy-up coverage at less than 95 percent and the catastrophic level also triggers a payment, then there will be two calculations to determine the payment—first the calculation for the buy-up coverage percentage and then the calculation for the catastrophic level percentage, which is the balance of the established production history up to 95 percent; the result of these two calculations will be added together to determine the payment amount. Each calculation multiplies the payment rate times the coverage percentage times the production history divided by 12 as follows:
(1) Payment rate. The amount by which the coverage level exceeds the average actual dairy production margin for a month;
(3) Production history. The production history of the dairy operation, divided by 12.
(c) If the dairy operation purchased buy-up level coverage at less than 95 percent of production history, then the dairy operation will receive a payment calculated at the buy-up level, plus the payment at the catastrophic level, if triggered, for the balance of 95 percent of its established production history. For example, if a producer purchased buy-up coverage at the 50 percent level, then that producer will also receive catastrophic level coverage for the next 45 percent for total coverage of 95 percent.
(a) A participating dairy operation that fails to pay a required administrative fee or premium payment due upon application to DMC or for a calendar year of coverage:
(2) Upon such failure to pay when due, loses coverage under DMC until such administrative fee or premium is paid in full, and once paid, coverage will be reinstated beginning with the month coverage was lost.
(a) Payments are made to a participating dairy operation as specified in this subpart only when the calculated average actual dairy production margin for a month is below the coverage level in effect for the participating dairy operation. That margin will be calculated on a national basis and is the amount by which for the relevant month, the all milk price exceeds the average feed cost for dairy producers. The average actual dairy production margin calculation applies to all participating dairy operations. The calculations are not made on an operation by operation basis or on their marketings.
(3) For alfalfa hay, the average of the full month price received during the month by farmers in the United States for high-quality (premium and supreme) alfalfa hay and the alfalfa hay price (which was used to calculate the MPP hay price) for the same month as reported in the monthly Agricultural Prices report by USDA NASS will be used to calculate the hay price.
(d) The national average feed cost data for corn, soybean meal, and alfalfa hay used in the calculation of the national average feed cost to determine the actual dairy production margin for the relevant period, will be the data reported in the publication the following month. (For example, full month May prices will be available in the June publication, and those will be the prices used).
(e) The actual dairy production margin for each month, will be calculated by subtracting:
(1) The average feed cost for that month, determined under paragraph (b) of this section; from
(2) The all-milk price for that same month.
(a) Dairy producers that produced and commercially marketed milk in 2018 and participated in the LGM-Dairy Program operated by RMA in 2018 are eligible to receive retroactive 2018 coverage under MPP-Dairy for those months in operation. Approved participation for retroactive MPP-Dairy coverage is subject to verification of LGM-Dairy coverage in 2018 by RMA.
(b) Eligible dairy producers must apply for the retroactive 2018 MPP-Dairy coverage on a CCC-prescribed application form during a signup period announced by the Deputy Administrator.
(c) Eligible producers that received partial year benefits under MPP-Dairy are eligible for the full year, less any payments issued for a month that triggered a payment under MPP-Dairy in 2018.
(a) Participating dairy operations enrolled in DMC according to §1430.407(j) are registered through December 31, 2023. As such, a participating dairy operation is obligated to pay applicable administrative fees and applicable premiums each succeeding calendar year following the date the contract is first entered into through December 31, 2023. Likewise, any successor to the dairy operation with lock-in coverage will be bound to the same coverage elections made by the predecessor and applicable premiums for the duration of the lock-in period.
(b) A participating dairy operation under a lock-in option that fails to pay applicable administrative fees and premiums for each year of the lock-in will remain obligated to pay such applicable administrative fees and premiums as specified in §1430.410.
(c) If a participating dairy operation goes out of business as described in §1430.407(l) before December 31, 2023, the contract will be terminated immediately, except with respect to payments accrued to the benefit of the participating dairy operation under this subpart before such termination.
(a) Producers in a participating dairy operation must notify FSA immediately of any changes that may affect their participation in DMC. Changes include, but are not limited to, death of a producer who is on the contract, producer joining the operation, producer exiting the operation, relocation of the dairy operation, transfer of shares by sale or other transfer action, or dairy operation reconstitutions as provided in §1430.415.
(a) Any participating dairy operation that reorganizes or restructures after enrollment is subject to a review by FSA to determine if the operation was reorganized or restructured for the sole purpose of establishing an alternative production history for a participating dairy operation or was reorganized or restructured to otherwise circumvent any DMC Program provision under this subpart (including the tier system for premiums) or otherwise to prevent the accomplishment of the purpose of the DMC Program.
(b) A participating dairy operation that FSA determines has reorganized solely to establish a new production history or to circumvent the determination of applicable fees or premiums based on an established production history determined under this subpart will be considered to have failed to meet the DMC Program requirements and, in addition to other sanctions or penalties that may apply, will not be eligible for DMC payments.
FSA may offset or withhold any amount due to FSA or CCC under this subpart under the provisions of part 1403 of this chapter or any successor regulations, or any other authorities that may allow for collection action of that sort.
(1) Concealing information that affects a registration or coverage election;
(3) Creating a business arrangement using rental agreements or other arrangements to conceal the interest of a person or legal entity in a dairy operation for the purpose of obtaining DMC payments the individual or legal entity would otherwise not be eligible to receive. Indicators of such business arrangement include, but are not limited to the following:
(iii) The only source of capital for the dairy operation is the DMC payments; or
(iv) The represented dairy operation exists mainly for the receipt of DMC payments.
(b) If the Deputy Administrator determines that a person or legal entity has adopted a scheme or device to evade, or that has the purpose of evading, the provisions of this subpart, such person or legal entity will be ineligible to receive DMC payments in the year such scheme or device was adopted and the succeeding year.
(c) A person or legal entity that perpetuates a fraud, commits fraud, or participates in equally serious actions for the benefit of the person or legal entity, or the benefit of any other person or legal entity, in violation of the requirements of this subpart will be subject to a 5-year denial of all DMC Program benefits. Such other equally serious actions may include, but are not limited to:
(a) DMC Program documents executed by producers legally authorized to represent estates or trusts will be accepted only if such producers furnish evidence of the authority to execute such documents.
(2) Show that a guardian has been appointed to manage the minor's property and the applicable DMC Program documents are executed by the guardian; or
In the case of death, incompetency, disappearance, or dissolution of a producer that is eligible to receive benefits under this subpart, such persons as are specified in part 707 of this title may receive such benefits, as determined appropriate by FSA.
(a) Participating dairy operations are required to maintain accurate records and accounts that will document that they meet all eligibility requirements specified in this subpart, as may be requested by CCC or FSA. Such records and accounts are required to be retained for 3 years after the date of DMC payments to the participating dairy operation. Destruction of the records 3 years after the date of payment will be at the risk of the party undertaking the destruction.
(c) Any producer or dairy operation that does not comply with the provisions of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, or that otherwise receives a payment for which it is not eligible, is liable for that payment and is required to repay it to FSA, with interest to run from the date of disbursement.
(c) The provisions of this section will be applicable in addition to any liability that arises under a criminal or civil law, regulation, or other provision of law.
The provisions of 7 CFR part 12 apply to this part.
The provisions of 7 CFR 718.6 apply to this part.