S 1998 — ARC-CO Improvement Act

Summary

ARC-CO Improvement Act This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make certain adjustments to county yields used to calculate actual crop revenue under the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Level program (ARC-CO) to reduce disparities between neighboring and nearby counties with similar soils and climate that cannot be explained by a localized weather event. (Under ARC-CO, farmers receive payments when the actual county crop revenue of a covered commodity is less than the ARC-CO guarantee for the covered commodity.) In the case of county coverage, USDA must: (1) prioritize the use of yields from sources that provide the greatest geographic coverage of county-level data from the same source; and (2) use the yield, benchmark revenue, and payment rate based on the county of the physical location of the farm. With respect to a farm that crosses county boundaries, USDA must: (1) split the base acres on a pro rata basis based on the relative quantity of cropland in each county, and (2) calculate any payments on the same pro rata basis.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html October 24, 2017

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to allow for adjustments to county yields to reduce disparities, requires balancing adjustments to ensure aggregate payments do not increase, and prioritizes geographic coverage in yield sources.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)

  (including any adjustments under paragraph (3))

  Allows the Secretary to include adjustments when determining actual crop revenues.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)

  (3) County yield disparities.-- (A) In general.--In the case of county coverage, the Secretary may adjust county yields under paragraph (1)(A) to reduce disparities between neighboring and nearby counties with similar soils and climate that cannot be explained by a localized weather event. (B) Aggregate estimated payment.--The Secretary shall ensure that all adjustments made under this paragraph are balanced so the aggregate amount of payments made under this section as a result of the adjustments for a crop year do not increase. (C) Options.-- (i) In general.--If the Secretary makes adjustments under this paragraph, the Secretary shall make the adjustments in accordance with clause (ii) or (iii). (ii) Variations within a state.-- (I) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall allow State committees of the Farm Service Agency to review and recommend adjustments to the initial yield estimates before the adjustments become final to reduce unexplained variation between neighboring or nearby counties with similar soils and climate. (II) Review and approval.--The Secretary shall review and approve or reject adjustments recommended under subclause (I) before the adjustments become final. (iii) Variations along state boundaries.-- (I) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall allow State committees of the Farm Service Agency or the national office of the Farm Service Agency, in consultation with affected State committees, to review and recommend adjustments to the initial yield estimates before the adjustments become final to reduce unexplained variation between counties in neighboring States. (II) Review and approval.--The Secretary shall review and approve or reject adjustments recommended under subclause (I) before the adjustments become final.

  Introduces a new section allowing the Secretary to adjust county yields to mitigate disparities and outlines the process for making such adjustments.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(g)

  in the case of county coverage, prioritize the use of yields from sources that provide the greatest geographic coverage of county-level data from the same source;

  Requires the Secretary to prioritize sources that provide comprehensive geographic coverage for yield data.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(g)

  in the case of county coverage-- (A) use the yield, benchmark revenue and payment rate based on the county of the physical location of the farm; and (B) in the case of a farm that crosses county boundaries-- (i) split the base acres on a pro rata basis based on the relative quantity of cropland in each county; and (ii) calculate any payments on that same pro rata basis.

  Establishes requirements for calculating yields and payments for farms that span multiple counties.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(g)

  and

  Adds a conjunction to connect additional duties for the Secretary.

• 7 U.S.C. 9017(g)(4)(B)

  . → ;

  Modifies the punctuation to connect the paragraph seamlessly with a new addition.

Action History

1. October 24, 2017

   Introduced in Senate

2. October 24, 2017

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors

• Heidi Heitkamp · Primary

Subjects