On Thursday, January 7, 2010 USDA published in the Federal Register the final rule for payment eligibility and payment limitation requirements for participants in CCC-funded programs. The rule applies to 2010 and subsequent crop, program, or fiscal year payments for participants in CCC-funded programs. This rule amends (effective January 7, 2010) previous payment eligibility and payment limitation requirements published as an earlier interim rule on December 29, 2008.

USDA received over 5,060 comments during the public comment period on the previous interim rule. In response to comments received, USDA made several changes to the interim rule. The most significant changes are the exception for contributions of members of legal entities if at least 50 percent of the interest is held by members that are providing active personal labor or active personal management, and the total direct payments received both directly and indirectly by all members does not exceed the amount of 1 limitation; and the use of June 1 for the determination of a minor child for application of the minor child rules.  See 'Rules and Regulations.pdf' below.

Also distributed by USDA to the State and County Offices are the Notices providing information and instructions implementing various provisions in the final rule. Notice PL-202 relates to AGI Compliance Activities for 2009 and 2010 Payment Eligibility and Notice PL-203 relates to requirements for Payment Eligibility. These Notices, provided below, are useful in understanding the complicated payment eligibility and payment limitation provision of current CCC-funded commodity programs.  See 'Notice PL_202.pdf' and 'Notice_PL_203.pdf' below.

Analysis of the effects of the final rule is ongoing as more information is obtained and rice producers read through these regulations and Notices.

2010 CCC Payment Eligibility Rule.pdf	[ ]	226 Kb
Notice PL-202.pdf	[ ]	600 Kb
Notice PL-203.pdf	[ ]	245 Kb