Regulations last checked for updates: Jun 01, 2024

Title 7 - Agriculture last revised: Nov 16, 2024
§ 9.301 - Applicability and administration.

(a) This subpart specifies the eligibility requirements and payment calculations for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). FSA is administering PARP to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing support for eligible producers of agricultural commodities who suffered an eligible revenue loss in calendar year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To be eligible for PARP payments, participants must comply with all provisions under this subpart.

(b) PARP is administered under the general supervision and direction of the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA).

(c) The FSA State committee will take any action required by this subpart that an FSA county committee has not taken. The FSA State committee will also:

(1) Correct, or require an FSA county committee to correct, any action taken by such county FSA committee that is not in accordance with the regulations of this subpart; or

(2) Require an FSA county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this subpart.

(d) No provision or delegation to an FSA State or county committee will preclude the FSA Administrator, the Deputy Administrator, or a designee or other such person, from determining any question arising under the programs of this subpart, or from reversing or modifying any determination made by an FSA State or county committee.

(e) The Deputy Administrator has the authority to permit State and county committees to waive or modify deadlines (except deadlines specified in a law) and other requirements or program provisions not specified in law, in cases where lateness or failure to meet such other requirements or program provisions do not adversely affect operation of PARP.

§ 9.302 - Definitions.

The following definitions apply to this subpart. The definitions in part 1400 of this title apply, except where they conflict with the definitions in this section.

2017 WHIP means the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program under 7 CFR part 760, subpart O.

Agricultural commodity means a crop, aquaculture, livestock, livestock byproduct, or other animal or animal byproduct that is produced as part of a farming operation and is intended to be commercially marketed. It includes only commodities produced in the United States, or produced outside the United States by a producer located in the United States and marketed inside the United States. It excludes:

(1) Wild free-roaming animals;

(2) Horses and other animals used or intended to be used for racing or wagering;

(3) Aquatic species that do not meet the definition of aquaculture;

(4) Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant that does not meet the definition of hemp; and

(5) Timber.

Applicable pandemic assistance includes payments received directly by an applicant under the following programs:

(1) The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP);

(2) The Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP); and

(3) The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP).

Application means the PARP application form.

Aquaculture means any species of aquatic organisms grown as food for human or livestock consumption or for industrial or biomass uses, fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by humans, and ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic medium. Eligible aquacultural species must be raised by a commercial operator and in water in a controlled environment.

ARC and PLC means the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs under 7 CFR part 1412.

BCAP means the Biomass Crop Assistance Program under 7 CFR part 1450.

Beginning farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and who materially and substantially participates in the operation. For a legal entity to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher, at least 50 percent of the interest must be beginning farmers or ranchers.

Cattle feeder operation means an operation that intensely feeds cattle on behalf of another person or entity for finishing purposes and is compensated based on feed, yardage, or weight gain of the cattle.

CCC means the Commodity Credit Corporation.

CFAP means the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 1 and 2 under 7 CFR part 9, subparts A through C, excluding assistance for contract producers specified in § 9.203(l) through (o).

Contract producer means a producer who grows or produces an agricultural commodity under contract for or on behalf of another person or entity. The contract producer does not have ownership in the commodity and is not entitled to a share from sales proceeds of the commodity. The term “contract producer” does not include cattle feeder operations.

Controlled environment means an environment in which everything that can practicably be controlled by the producer with structures, facilities, and growing media (including but not limited to water, soil, or nutrients), is in fact controlled by the producer, as determined by industry standards.

County means the county or parish of a state. For Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, a county is an area designated by the State committee with the concurrence of the Deputy Administrator.

County committee means the FSA county committee.

Crop insurance means an insurance policy reinsured by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation under the provisions of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended, or a private plan of insurance.

Deputy Administrator means Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or their designee.

DMC means the Dairy Margin Coverage Program under 7 CFR part 1430, subpart D.

ELAP means the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program under 7 CFR part 1416, subpart B.

ERP means the Emergency Relief Program, which was administered in 2 phases:

(1) ERP Phase 1, administered according to the notice of funds availability published in the Federal Register on May 18, 2022 (87 FR 30164-30172) and the clarification to the notice of funds availability that was published on August 18, 2022 (87 FR 50828-50830); and

(2) ERP Phase 2, administered according to 7 CFR part 760, subpart S.

Farming operation means a business enterprise engaged in the production of agricultural products, commodities, or livestock, operated by a person, legal entity, or joint operation, and that is eligible to receive payments, directly or indirectly, under this subpart. A person or legal entity may have more than one farming operation if the person or legal entity is a member of one or more legal entity or joint operation.

Foreign entity means a corporation, trust, estate, or other similar organization that has more than 10 percent of its beneficial interest held by individuals who are not:

(1) Citizens of the United States; or

(2) Lawful aliens possessing a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card.

Foreign person means any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States or who is admitted into the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and possesses a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.

Hemp means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, that is grown under a license or other required authorization issued by the applicable governing authority that permits the production of the hemp.

IRS means the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.

LDP means the Loan Deficiency Payment programs in 7 CFR parts 1421, 1425, 1427, 1434, and 1435.

Legal entity means a corporation, joint stock company, association, limited partnership, irrevocable trust, estate, charitable organization, or other similar organization including any such organization participating in a business structure as a partner in a general partnership, a participant in a joint venture, a grantor of a revocable trust, or as a participant in a similar organization. A business operating as a sole proprietorship is considered a legal entity.

Limited resource farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:

(1) Who is a person whose:

(i) Direct or indirect gross farm sales did not exceed $180,300 in each calendar year for 2017 and 2018 (the relevant years for the 2020 program year); and

(ii) Total household income was at or below the national poverty level for a family of four in each of the same two previous years referenced in paragraph (1)(i) of this definition; 1 or

1 Limited resource farmer or rancher status can be determined using a website available through the Limited Resource Farmer and Rancher Online Self Determination Tool through Natural Resources Conservation Service at https://lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov.

(2) That is an entity and all members who hold an ownership interest in the entity meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.

LFP means the Livestock Forage Disaster Program under CFR part 1416, subpart C.

LIP means the Livestock Indemnity Program under 7 CFR part 1416, subpart D.

Minor child means a person who is under 18 years of age as of June 1, 2020.

MFP means the 2018 Market Facilitation Program under 7 CFR part 1409, subpart A, and the 2019 Market Facilitation Program under 7 CFR part 1409, subpart B.

Milk Loss Program means the Milk Loss Program under 7 CFR part 760, subpart Q.

MLG means a marketing loan gain under the Marketing Assistance Loan programs in 7 CFR parts 1421, 1425, 1427, 1434, and 1435.

MPP-Dairy means the Margin Protection Program for Dairy under 7 CFR part 1430, subpart A.

NAP means the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) and 7 CFR part 1437.

On-Farm Storage Loss Program means the On-Farm Storage Loss Program under 7 CFR part 760, subpart P.

Ownership interest means to have either legal ownership interest or beneficial ownership interest in a legal entity. For the purposes of administering PARP, a person or legal entity that owns a share or stock in a legal entity that is a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or similar type entity where members hold a legal ownership interest and shares in the profits or losses of such entity is considered to have an ownership interest in such legal entity. A person or legal entity that is a beneficiary of a trust or heir of an estate who benefits from the profits or losses of such entity is also considered to have a beneficial ownership interest in such legal entity.

Person means an individual, natural person and does not include a legal entity.

PLIP means the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program announced in the notice of funds availability published on July 19, 2021 (86 FR 37990-37994).

PMVAP means the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

Producer means a person or legal entity who was in the business of farming to produce an agricultural commodity in calendar year 2020, and who was entitled to a share in the agricultural commodity available for marketing or would have shared had the agricultural commodity been produced and marketed. For PARP, “producer” also includes cattle feeder operations.

Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. For entities, at least 50 percent of the ownership interest must be held by individuals who are members of such a group. Socially disadvantaged groups include the following and no others unless approved in writing by the Deputy Administrator:

(1) American Indians or Alaskan Natives;

(2) Asians or Asian-Americans;

(3) Blacks or African Americans;

(4) Hispanics or Hispanic Americans;

(5) Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders; and

(6) Women.

TAP means the Tree Assistance Program under 7 CFR part 1416, subpart E.

SMHPP means the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program announced in the notice of funds availability published on December 14, 2021 (86 FR 71003-71007).

STRP means the Seafood Trade Relief Program announced in the notice of funds availability published on September 14, 2020 (85 FR 56572-56575).

Underserved farmer or rancher means a beginning farmer or rancher, limited resource farmer or rancher, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or veteran farmer or rancher.

United States means all 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Veteran farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher:

(1) Who has served in the Armed Forces (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(10) 2 ) and:

2 The term “Armed Forces” means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components.

(i) Has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years; or

(ii) Has obtained status as a veteran (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2) 3 ) during the most recent 10-year period; or

3 The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

(2) That is an entity and at least 50 percent of the ownership interest is held by members who meet the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition.

WHIP+ means the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program Plus under 7 CFR part 760, subpart O.

§ 9.303 - Producer eligibility requirements.

(a) To be eligible for PARP, a producer must:

(1) Have been in the business of farming in the 2020 calendar year;

(2) Have had at least a 15 percent decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to the:

(i) Actual allowable gross revenue for the 2018 or 2019 calendar year, whichever is reflective of a typical year, as elected by the producer, if the producer had allowable gross revenue in the 2018 or 2019 calendar year; or

(ii) Producer's expected allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, if the producer had no allowable gross revenue for the 2018 and 2019 calendar years; and

(3) Meet all other requirements for eligibility under this subpart.

(b) To be eligible for a PARP payment, a producer must be a:

(1) Citizen of the United States;

(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means “lawful alien” as defined in part 1400 of this title;

(3) Partnership organized under State Law;

(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational structure organized under State law;

(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); or

(6) Foreign person or foreign entity who meets all requirements as described in 7 CFR part 1400.

§ 9.304 - Allowable gross revenue.

(a) For the purposes of this subpart, “allowable gross revenue” includes revenue from:

(1) Sales of agricultural commodities produced by the producer, including sales resulting from value added through post-production activities;

(2) Sales of agricultural commodities a producer purchased for resale that had a change in characteristic due to the time held (for example, a plant purchased at a size of 2 inches and sold as an 18-inch plant after 4 months), less the cost or other basis of such commodities;

(3) The taxable amount of cooperative distributions directly related to the sale of the agricultural commodities produced by the producer;

(4) Benefits under the following agricultural programs: ARC and PLC, BCAP, DMC, LDP, MFP, MLG, and MPP-Dairy;

(5) CCC loans, if treated as income and reported to IRS;

(6) Crop insurance proceeds;

(7) Federal disaster program payments under the following programs: 2017 WHIP, ELAP, LFP, LIP, NAP, Milk Loss Program, On-Farm Storage Loss Program, STRP, TAP, and WHIP+;

(8) Payments issued through grant agreements with FSA for losses of agricultural commodities;

(9) Grants from the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and State program funds providing direct payments for the loss of agricultural commodities or the loss of revenue from agricultural commodities;

(10) Revenue from raised breeding livestock;

(11) Revenue earned as a cattle feeder operation;

(12) Other revenue directly related to the production of agricultural commodities that IRS requires the producer to report as income and

(13) For 2020 allowable gross revenue, payments PMVAP regardless of the calendar year in which the payment was received.

(b) Allowable gross revenue does not include revenue from sources other than those listed in paragraph (a) of this section, including but not limited to, revenue from:

(1) Applicable pandemic assistance;

(2) Sales of commodities that are excluded from “agricultural commodities,”

(3) Resale items not held for characteristic change;

(4) Income from a pass-through entity such as an S Corp or limited liability company;

(5) Conservation program payments;

(6) Any pandemic assistance payments that were not intended to compensate for the loss of agricultural commodities or the loss of revenue from agricultural commodities due to the pandemic (for example, payments to provide assistance with the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, or medical costs);

(7) Custom hire income;

(8) Net gain from hedging or speculation;

(9) Wages, salaries, tips, and cash rent;

(10) Rental of equipment or supplies; and

(11) Acting as a contract producer of an agricultural commodity.

(c) If a producer did not have a full year of revenue for 2018 or 2019, or increased their production capacity in 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019, the producer may certify to an adjusted 2018 or 2019 allowable gross revenue on form FSA-1122A. Increases in production capacity do not include changes due to crop rotation from year to year, changes in farming practices such as converting from conventional tillage to no-till, or increasing the rate of fertilizers or chemicals. Documentation required to support such an adjustment must be provided within 30 calendar days of submitting their PARP application and demonstrate that the producer:

(1) Had the production capacity to support the expected full year revenue;

(2) Added production capacity to the farming operation;

(3) Increased the use of existing production capacity; or

(4) Made physical alterations to existing production capacity.

(d) If a producer did not have allowable gross revenue in 2018 and 2019, the producer must certify on form FSA-1122A as to what had been their reasonably expected 2020 allowable gross revenue prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Documentation required to support the producer's certification must be provided within 30 calendar days of submitting the producer's PARP application. Acceptable documentation must be generated in the ordinary course of business and dated prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Financial documents such as a business plan or cash flow statement that demonstrate an expected level of revenue;

(2) Sales contracts or purchase agreements; and

(3) Documentation supporting production capacity, use of existing production capacity, or physical alterations that demonstrate production capacity.

(e) A producer who does not provide acceptable documentation described in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section within 30 calendar days of submitting their application is not eligible for an adjustment to their 2019 allowable gross revenue or to have their payment calculated using an expected 2020 allowable gross revenue, as applicable.

(f) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(13) of this section, the allowable gross revenue for a specific calendar year will be based on the calendar year in which that revenue was received by the producer.

(g) Producers who file or would file a joint tax return will certify their allowable gross revenue based on what it would have been had they filed taxes separately for the applicable year.

§ 9.305 - Time and method of application.

(a) A completed PARP application under this subpart must be submitted to any FSA county office by the close of business on the date announced by the Deputy Administrator. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail, email, facsimile, or other methods announced by FSA.

(b) Failure of an individual, entity, or a member of an entity to submit the following payment limitation and payment eligibility forms within 60 days from the PARP application deadline, may result in no payment or a reduced payment:

(1) Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, for new customers or existing customers who need to update their customer profile;

(2) Form FSA-1122A, PARP Application, if applicable;

(3) Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, if applicable;

(4) Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities, if applicable;

(5) Form CCC-902 Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;

(6) Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information, for the 2020 program year for the person or legal entity, including the legal entity's members, partners, or shareholders, as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;

(7) Form FSA-1123, Certification of 2020 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), if applicable; and

(8) Form AD-1026, Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification, for the PARP applicant and applicable affiliates as provided in 7 CFR part 12.

(c) If requested by USDA, the producer must provide additional documentation that establishes the producer's eligibility for PARP. If supporting documentation is requested, the documentation must be submitted to USDA within 30 calendar days from the request or the application will be disapproved by USDA. FSA may request supporting documentation to verify information provided by the producer and their eligibility including, but not limited to, the producer's:

(1) Allowable gross revenue reported on the PARP application; and

(2) Ownership share in the agricultural commodities.

§ 9.306 - Payment calculation.

(a) If the producer's allowable gross revenue for 2020 decreased by at least 15 percent compared to the producer's allowable gross revenue for 2018 or 2019, as elected by the producer:

(1) FSA will calculate:

(i) The producer's 2018 or 2019 allowable gross revenue, as elected by the producer and as adjusted according to § 9.304(c), if applicable; minus

(ii) The producer's 2020 allowable gross revenue; multiplied by

(iii) A payment factor of:

(A) Ninety (90) percent for underserved farmers or ranchers, who have submitted form CCC-860 certifying they meet the definition for at least one of the applicable groups; or

(B) Eighty (80) percent for all other producers; and

(2) The producer's PARP payment will be equal to the result of the calculation in paragraph (a)(1) of this section minus the producer's applicable pandemic assistance, and 2020 program year ERP payments.

(b) If a producer did not have allowable gross revenue in 2018 and 2019 and the producer's allowable gross revenue for 2020 decreased by at least 15 percent compared to the producer's expected 2020 allowable gross revenue:

(1) FSA will calculate:

(i) The producer's expected 2020 allowable gross revenue, as specified in § 9.304(d), minus

(ii) The producer's actual 2020 allowable gross revenue;

(iii) Multiplied by a payment factor of:

(A) 90 percent for underserved farmers or ranchers who have submitted form CCC-860 certifying they meet the definition for at least one of the applicable groups; or

(B) 80 percent for all other producers; and

(2) The producer's PARP payment will be equal to the result of the calculation in paragraph (b)(1) of this section minus the producer's applicable pandemic assistance, and 2020 program year ERP payments.

(c) If a producer receives assistance through 2020 program year ERP or any program included under applicable pandemic assistance after their PARP payment is calculated, their PARP payment will be recalculated and the producer must refund any resulting overpayment.

(d) Payments calculated according to this section are subject to the availability of funds and may be factored if total calculated payments exceed the available funding.

§ 9.307 - Adjusted gross income limitation, payment limitation, and attribution.

(a) To be eligible to receive a PARP payment and facilitate administration of paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section, a person or legal entity must provide their name, address, valid taxpayer identification number, and ownership share to USDA. In addition, a legal entity must provide the name, address, valid taxpayer identification number, and ownership share of each person or legal entity, that holds or acquires a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal entity. PARP payments to a legal entity will be reduced in proportion to a member's ownership share when a valid taxpayer identification number for a person or legal entity that holds less than a 10 percent direct or indirect ownership interest, at or above the fourth level of ownership in the business structure, is not provided to USDA. Additionally, a legal entity will not be eligible to receive PARP payments when a valid taxpayer identification number for a person or legal entity that holds a direct or indirect ownership interest of 10 percent or greater, at or above the fourth level of ownership in the business structure, is not provided to USDA.

(b) The $900,000 average adjusted gross income limitation provisions in 7 CFR part 1400 relating to limits on income for persons or legal entities, including members of legal entities, joint ventures, and general partnerships applies to PARP. The average adjusted gross income will be calculated for a person or legal entity based on the 2016, 2017, and 2018 tax years. If the person's or legal entity's average adjusted gross income exceeds $900,000, the applicant is ineligible for PARP except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) A person or legal entity that does not meet the average adjusted gross income requirements described in paragraph (b) of this section, may otherwise meet the adjusted gross income requirements, provided the person's or legal entity's 2020 adjusted gross income, as defined under 26 U.S.C. 62 or comparable measure, is not more than $900,000. Except for general partnerships and joint ventures, a PARP applicant that is a person or legal entity, including members holding an ownership interest in the legal entity, is required to:

(1) Certify, on a form that is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator, that their 2020 adjusted gross income or comparable measure is not more than $900,000; and

(2) Submit a certification from a licensed CPA or attorney affirming the person's or legal entity's 2020 adjusted gross income is not more than $900,000.

(d) Members of general partnerships and joint ventures not meeting the income requirements described in paragraph (b) of this section may otherwise meet the income requirements, provided the member's 2020 adjusted gross income, as defined under 26 U.S.C. 62 or comparable measure, is not more than $900,000. The member is required to provide the information described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section.

(e) A person or legal entity other than a joint venture or general partnership cannot receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 under PARP. USDA may establish a lower maximum payment amount per person, legal entity, or member of a joint venture or general partnership after the application period has ended if calculated payment amounts exceed available funding. Payments made to a PARP applicant who is a joint operation, including a joint venture or a general partnership, may not exceed the amount determined by multiplying $125,000 (or the reduced maximum payment limitation, if applicable) by the number of persons or legal entities that comprise the first-level membership of the joint operation.

(f) A PARP payment made to a legal entity will be considered in combination with other PARP payments attributed to every person or legal entity with a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal entity. The maximum limitation described in paragraph (e) of this section for a legal entity is determined based on payments to the legal entity and members who are an individual person or a legal entity. If a member's combined PARP payments reach the maximum payment limitation when summed from all businesses in which the person or legal entity has an ownership interest, then subsequent payments to the legal entity will be reduced by the proportionate ownership interest of the member. A payment to a legal entity will be attributed to those members who have a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal entity, unless the payment of the legal entity has been reduced by the proportionate ownership interest of the member due to that member's ineligibility. Attribution of payments made to legal entities will be tracked through four levels of ownership in legal entities as follows:

(1) First level of ownership: Any payment made to a legal entity that is owned in whole or in part by a person will be attributed to the person in an amount that represents the direct ownership interest in the first-level or payment legal entity;

(2) Second level of ownership: Any payment made to a first-level legal entity that is owned in whole or in part by another legal entity (referred to as a second-level legal entity) will be attributed to the second-level legal entity in proportion to the ownership of the second-level legal entity in the first-level legal entity; if the second-level legal entity is owned in whole or in part by a person, the amount of the payment made to the first-level legal entity will be attributed to the person in the amount that represents the indirect ownership in the first-level legal entity by the person;

(3) Third and fourth levels of ownership: Except as provided in the second-level ownership in paragraph (f)(2) of this section and in the fourth level of ownership in paragraph (f)(4) of this section, any payments made to a legal entity at the third and fourth levels of ownership will be attributed in the same manner as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section; and

(4) Fourth-level of ownership: If the fourth level of ownership is that of a legal entity and not that of a person, a reduction in payment will be applied to the first-level or payment legal entity in the amount that represents the indirect ownership in the first level or payment legal entity by the fourth-level legal entity.

(g) Payments made to a PARP applicant that is an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in the section 4(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), are not subject to:

(1) AGI requirements described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section;

(2) Payment limitation described in paragraph (e) of this section; and

(3) Attribution of payments described in paragraph (f) of this section.

(h) Payments made directly or indirectly to a person who is a minor child will not be combined with the earnings of the minor child's parent or legal guardian.

§ 9.308 - Eligibility subject to verification.

(a) Producers who are approved for participation in PARP are required to retain documentation in support of their application for 3 years after the date of approval.

(b) Participants receiving PARP payments must permit authorized representatives of USDA or the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to enter the agricultural operation and to inspect, examine, and to allow representatives to make copies of books, records, or other items for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by the participant.

§ 9.309 - Miscellaneous provisions.

(a) If a PARP payment resulted from erroneous information provided by a producer, or any person acting on their behalf, the payment will be recalculated and the producer must refund any excess payment with interest calculated from the date of the disbursement of the payment.

(b) If FSA determines that the producer intentionally misrepresented information provided on their application, the application will be disapproved and the producer must refund the full payment to FSA with interest from the date of disbursement.

(c) Any required refunds must be resolved in accordance with part 3 of this title.

(d) The regulations in 7 CFR part 718, subpart D, and 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 apply to determinations made under this subpart.

(e) A producer, whether a person or legal entity that either fails to timely provide all required documentation or fails to satisfy any eligibility requirement for PARP, is not eligible to receive PARP payments, directly or indirectly. A PARP payment to an eligible legal entity applicant whose member(s) either fails to timely provide all required documentation or fails to satisfy any eligibility requirement for PARP will be reduced proportionate to that member's ownership interest in the legal entity.

(f) Any payment under this subpart will be made without regard to questions of title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien against the commodity or proceeds from the sale of the commodity. The regulations governing offsets in part 3 of this title do not apply to payments made under this subpart.

(g) For the purposes of the effect of a lien on eligibility for Federal programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), USDA waives the restriction on receipt of funds under PARP but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of the waiver, agree to apply the PARP payments to reduce the amount of the judgment lien.

(h) The provisions in 7 CFR 718.3, 718.4, 718.5, 718.6, 718.8, 718.9, 718.10, and 718.11 are applicable to multiple programs and apply to PARP.

(i) In addition to any other Federal laws that apply to PARP, the following laws apply: 15 U.S.C. 714; 18 U.S.C. 286,287,371,and.

§ 9.310 - Perjury.

In either applying for or participating in PARP, or both, the producer is subject to laws against perjury and any resulting penalties and prosecution, including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1621. If the producer willfully makes and represents as true any verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or verification that the producer knows or believes not to be true, in the course of either applying for or participating in PARP, or both, then the producer may be guilty of perjury and, except as otherwise provided by law, may be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, regardless of whether the producer makes such verbal or written declaration, certification, statement, or verification within or without the United States.

authority: 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c; Division B, Title I, Pub. L. 116-136, 134 Stat. 505; and Division N, Title VII, Subtitle B, Chapter 1, Pub. L. 116-260
source: 85 FR 30830, May 21, 2020, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 7 CFR 9.310