Opinion ID: 493940
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Discretionary Disaster Payments

Text: 20 The Secretary argues that the applicability of the discretionary payments provision to prevented planting losses establishes that Congress did not intend for farmers to be eligible for mandatory disaster payments for the same losses. Our review of the statute convinces us, however, that the farmers' eligibility for discretionary disaster payments has no bearing upon their eligibility for mandatory disaster payments. First, the plain language of the statute provides that the farmers are eligible for discretionary payments over and above the mandatory disaster payments. The discretionary payments provision for both wheat and feed grain crops begins, Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph [the mandatory disaster payments provision], the Secretary may make disaster payments   . 7 U.S.C. Secs. 1444d(b)(2)(D), 1445b-1(b)(2)(D). Had Congress intended to disqualify those farmers eligible for mandatory disaster payments from receiving discretionary payments, it is unlikely it would have employed the term notwithstanding. 21 Second, the statute appears to permit the Secretary to make discretionary payments in addition to a primary source of aid such as mandatory disaster payments or crop insurance. Subsection (D)(i) of sections 1444d(b)(2) and 1445b-1(b)(2) authorizes such payments where a natural disaster has caused prevented planting losses or reduced yields amounting to an economic emergency. Subsection (D)(ii) authorizes such payments where no crop insurance covered the loss because of transitional problems attendant to the federal crop insurance program. Finally, subsection (D)(iii) authorizes discretionary payments in all cases of an economic emergency. Whether or not these instances cover prevented planting losses, it is apparent that the discretionary payments may be made in addition to sources of different primary assistance. Thus the farmers' eligibility for such discretionary disaster payments should not render them ineligible for mandatory disaster payments.