News
USDA changes eligibility guidelines for program subsidies
USDA is changing eligibility rules for some farm programs. The new rule says anyone applying for federal subsidies as a farm manager will have to follow guidelines that previously applied to general partners, and the farm managers must put in 500 hours of management annually or provide 25% of the farm’s total management.
The rule change also follows the Farm Bill language to include first cousins, nieces, and nephews as qualified family members, but those family members will also have to meet the farm management qualifications to be eligible for the subsidies.
The new rule allows the USDA Secretary to grant adjusted gross income waivers in cases involving environmentally sensitive land. It also further defines “livestock” as species eligible under the Livestock Indemnity Program.
The rule will be published in the Federal Register Monday, August 24th.
