2008 Farm BillCommodity Program Income Supports

Prepared byBruce L. Jones

Professor an Extension Farm Management SpecialistDept of Ag Econ

UW-Madison, UWEX-CES

January 2009

Crop Income SupportDirect PaymentsCounter-Cyclical PaymentsACRE PaymentsLoan Deficiency PaymentsSURE: Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments

Dairy Income SupportPrice SupportMilk Income Loss Contract

Direct payments

Direct payments available for producers with eligible historic acreage of wheat, corn, barley, grain sorghum, oats, upland cotton, rice, soybeans, other oilseeds, and peanuts.

Direct payments

To receive payments on covered commodities (wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, rice, upland cotton, soybeans, and other oilseeds), a producer with eligible historic acreage enters into an annual agreement.

Direct payments

An eligible farm's "payment amount" for a given commodity is product of:

payment rate specified for the commoditypayment acres (83.3% of the farm's base acreage for the covered commodity) andpayment yield for that commodity

Payment acres for direct payments were previously 85% of base acres.

Direct Payment rates specified in 2008 Farm Act:

Wheat $0.52/bu

Corn $0.28/bu

Grain Sorghum $0.35/bu

Barley $0.24/bu

Oats $0.024/bu

Soybeans $0.44/bu

Other oilseeds $0.80/cwt

Counter-Cyclical Payments (CCPs)

Available for producers with eligible historic acreage of covered commodities whenever effective price is less than the target price.

Counter-Cyclical Payments (CCPs)

Effective price equal to the sum of:

1. higher of national average farm price for the marketing year or national commodity program loan rate and

2. direct payment rate for the commodity

Target prices for CCPs

  CY 2008 CY 2009 CYs 2010-12 Wheat $3.92/bu $3.92/bu $4.17/buCorn $2.63/bu $2.63/bu $2.63/buGrain sorghum $2.57/bu $2.57/bu $2.63/buBarley $2.24/bu $2.24/bu $2.63/buOats $1.44/bu $1.44/bu $1.79/buSoybeans $5.80/bu $5.80/bu $6.00/buOther oilseeds $10.10/cwt $10.10/cwt $12.68/cwt

Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program

An optional revenue-based counter-cyclical program, Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program, is available beginning with 2009 crop year, as an alternative to receiving counter-cyclical payments.

Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program

Producers on a farm with covered commodities and/or peanuts can elect to participate in the ACRE program for all covered commodities and peanut acreage on the farm. Once they elect to participate in ACRE, producers on the farm must remain in the program for the duration of the 2008 Act.

For ACRE participants, direct payments are reduced by 20% and marketing assistance loan rates are reduced by 30% on enrolled farms

ACRE Program Guarantee

Participants are eligible for State-based revenue coverage equaling 90% of product of:

* 5-year ACRE benchmark State yield

* 2-year ACRE program guarantee price

ACRE benchmark state yield

Average yield per planted acre for commodity in the state in previous 5 years, dropping high and low yields. “Olympic Average”

Secretary can assign yields if yields are not available or are unrepresentative of average state yields.

ACRE program guarantee price

Commodity-specific 2-year national average market price received by producers.

ACRE national average market price

Greater of:–the national average commodity market price received by producers during the 12-month marketing year; or

–the reduced marketing assistance commodity loan rate.

ACRE actual state revenue: Actual state yield per planted acre x the 12-month ACRE national average market price.

ACRE actual state yield per planted acre:Crop year commodity production (quantity) produced in the state per planted

ACRE actual farm revenue: Actual commodity farm yield per planted acre x the ACRE national average market price.

ACRE benchmark farm revenue:(5-yr Olympic average farm crop yield per planted acre x ACRE program guarantee price) + crop insurance premiums per acre

Farm-specific productivity ratio:

5-year Olympic average farm crop yield per planted acre/ACRE benchmark state yield

Payment Acreage for ACRE

ACRE revenue payments are made on 83.3% of acreage planted or considered planted to covered commodities or peanuts in CY 2009-11 and 85% in CY 2012.

Total number of planted acres for which producers on a farm may receive ACRE payments may not exceed total base acreage for all covered commodities and peanuts on the farm.

ACRE Payments

ACRE payments can be triggered by a decrease in state yields or the national average market price.

Enrolled producers are eligible for ACRE payments if ACRE actual state revenue for the covered commodity in the state is less than ACRE program guarantee for crop year AND ACRE actual farm revenue is less than the ACRE benchmark farm revenue.

ACRE payments per commodity equal:

1) Lesser of: a) ACRE program guarantee – actual state revenue OR b) 25% of ACRE program guarantee

x

2) Planted crop acres: 83.3% in CY 2009-11 and 85% in CY 2012 of farm planted, or considered planted, crop acres not to exceed total base acres

x

3) Farm-specific productivity ratio

ACRE payments are made beginning October 1, or as soon as practicable after end of applicable marketing year.

US Corn US Soybeans US WheatMYA 2 Yr Avg MYA 2 Yr Avg MYA 2 Yr Avg

1998 1.94 4.93 2.651999 1.82 4.63 2.482000 1.85 1.88 4.54 4.78 2.62 2.572001 1.97 1.84 4.38 4.59 2.78 2.552002 2.32 1.91 5.53 4.46 3.56 2.702003 2.42 2.15 7.34 4.96 3.40 3.172004 2.06 2.37 5.74 6.44 3.40 3.482005 2.00 2.24 5.66 6.54 3.42 3.402006 3.04 2.03 6.43 5.70 4.26 3.412007 4.00 2.52 10.40 6.05 6.65 3.842008 3.52 8.42 5.46

WI Corn WI Soybeans WI WheatActual

(Harvested)5 Yr Olympic

AvgActual

(Harvested)5 Yr Olympic

AvgActual

(Harvested)5 Yr Olympic

Avg1998 134.40 118.17 47.00 39.50 53.80 49.931999 133.80 130.80 46.00 43.50 58.90 54.832000 136.90 123.97 40.00 44.33 61.00 54.732001 138.20 131.33 37.00 43.33 64.10 51.432002 129.30 134.17 44.00 43.33 60.00 58.672003 142.20 133.70 28.00 46.67 68.30 56.872004 160.40 130.23 34.50 41.00 55.60 62.802005 148.00 139.10 44.00 37.17 56.40 61.702006 149.10 142.80 44.00 38.50 76.20 57.532007 151.10 142.13 40.50 40.83 68.00 61.572008 153.90 147.47 36.00 37.50 64.50 64.23

WI Corn WI Soybeans WI WheatActual

(Planted)5 Year

OlympicAve

Actual(Planted)

5 YearOlympic

Ave

Actual(Planted)

5 YearOlympic

Ave

1998 109 95 45 39 52 471999 113 103 44 42 56 522000 104 103 39 43 59 522001 97 106 36 42 60 532002 107 106 43 42 55 562003 98 107 27 42 58 572004 98 103 33 39 52 582005 113 100 43 36 49 572006 110 101 44 38 70 552007 109 105 40 40 63 552008 108 106 33 39 62 58

Yield Price Other Revenue

STATE GUARANTEE

5 Yr Olympic Avg – State 166

Ave- 2 Yr 4.50

Guarantee (90% of 747)) 672

STATE ACTUAL

Actual 150

National MYA 4.00

Revenue – Actual 600

Yield Price Other Revenue

FARM BENCHMARK

5 Yr Olympic Avg – Farm 175

Ave- 2 Yr 4.50

Crop Insurance Premium 20

Farm Guarantee 807.5

FARM ACTUAL

Actual 160

National MYA 4.00

Revenue – Actual 640

Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) are available to minimize potential commodity-secured loan forfeitures and subsequent government accumulation of stocks

Nonrecourse commodity loans with marketing loan provisions are authorized for 2008-12 crops.

Commodity loans are for up to 9 months.

Producers have to comply with conservation and wetland requirements to be eligible for a loan.

Continues to allow repayment of loans at less than full principal plus interest when prices were below loan rates.

Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs)

To reduce administrative costs, loan deficiency payments are available when market prices were lower than commodity loan rates.

SURE: Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments

• New comprehensive disaster program for crop farmers

• Farms in declared disaster counties or adjacent counties, or suffer 50% crop loss due to weather to be eligible

• Whole farm revenue guarantee to supplement crop insurance guarantees

SURE Program

• Whole farm revenue guarantee: If actual revenue falls below guarantee—SURE pays up to 60% of the difference

• Includes revenue from all crops: anything mechanically harvested or grazed, in all counties & states, small acreage exclusion

• Actual revenue includes other USDA payments (e.g. ACRE) and crop insurance indemnities: not paid twice for a loss

SURE Guarantee

• Guarantee equals sum of all crop insurance guarantees increased by 15% to decrease farmer deductible– 75% coverage becomes 75% x 1.15 = 86.25%– Guarantee capped at 90% insurance guarantee– If mostly a cash grain farm: Use SURE and not 80% or 85%

CRC

• Some adjustments for low yield history– Based on APH yields, but sometimes use CCP yields,

replace yield “plugs” with higher yields

SURE Actual Revenue

• Actual yields x USDA marketing year average price (Sept-Aug)

• Crop insurance indemnities (including replant and prevented planting)

• 15% of DP’s, CCP’s, LDP’s, and ACRE

• Other disaster payments received

SURE Calculator

• This overview glosses over details• FSA has SURE calculator on web for farmers to use• www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/sure_calculator.xls

• www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/sure_calc_instructions_v1.pdf • Informational only—not binding, does not deal with

all possible scenarios (yet)• FSA still finalizing SURE details—be patient

SURE Requirements

• Risk Management Purchase Requirement• To eligible for SURE payments, you must

have all crops insured, including pasture– SURE supplements crop insurance and SURE

guarantee depends on insurance guarantees

• APH, CRC, GRP, GRIP, AGR-Lite(?)• CAT coverage acceptable or NAP policy

Commodity Program Limits

Eliminates payment limits on marketing loan benefits and loan deficiency payments.

For direct payments, limit is $40,000/person. Direct payments limit is reduced for participants in ACRE program.

For counter-cyclical payments, limit is $65,000/person. For ACRE participants, sum of counter-cyclical payments and ACRE payments is limited to $65,000 plus reduction in the direct payment limit.

To be to be eligible for payments:

1. individual or entity must have been actively engaged in farming

2. person must have made a significant contribution in the form of capital, equipment, land, personal labor or active personal management to the farming operation

3. contributions of the person must have been at risk

Plus

As long as 1 spouse is determined to be actively engaged, other spouse is also considered to be actively engaged and is eligible for payments.

Adjusted Gross Income Limitation

For direct payments, a person or legal entity with adjusted farm gross income of over $750,000, averaged over previous 3 years, is not eligible.

Adjusted Gross Income Limitation

For direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, average crop revenue election, marketing loan gains or loan deficiency payments, noninsured crop assistance, milk income loss contract program payments, or disaster assistance payments or benefits, a person or entity with average adjusted gross nonfarm income in excess of $500,000 is not eligible.

Dairy

Three major Federal dairy programs remain in place:

–Milk price support, –Federal milk marketing orders, and –Milk income loss contract payment.

Dairy price support was provided through purchase of products to support milk price at $9.90 per CWT.

Now Secretary must purchase specific products at specific prices:

* cheddar cheese in blocks at not less than $1.13/lb * cheddar cheese in barrels at not less than $1.10/lb * butter at not less than $1.05/lb * nonfat dry milk at not less than $0.80/lb

Prices Secretary pays for cheese, butter, or nonfat dry milk must be uniform for all U.S. regions.

Secretary may make purchase price adjustments in order to manage inventories held by CCC. Permissible quantities and duration of price adjustments are specified.

Commodities purchased by CCC can be sold back to industry at market prices prevailing for that commodity at the time of sale. The sell-back price may not be less than 110% of specified minimum purchase price for the commodity being sold back for unrestricted use.

Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Payments

Previous Farm Bill

Established a milk income loss contract (MILC) payments program. Producers entered into contracts ending on Sept 30, 2005. A qualifying dairy farm operator could receive a monthly direct payment when monthly Class I price in Boston (Federal Marketing Order 1) was less than $16.94/cwt.

2008 Farm Bill continues program through Sept 30, 2012.

Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Payments

–From Oct 1, 2007-Sept 30, 2008, 34% of difference between $16.94/cwt (as adjusted) and Class I price in the Boston milk marketing order for the applicable month

–From Oct 1, 2008-Aug 31, 2012, 45% of difference between $16.94/cwt (as adjusted) and Class I price in the Boston milk marketing order for the applicable month

–For period starting Sept 1, 2012 and thereafter, 34% of difference between $16.94/cwt (as adjusted) and Class I price in the Boston milk marketing order for the applicable month

The $16.94 price will be adjusted by percentage that National Average Dairy Feed Rations Cost exceeds $7.35/cwt for any month for period from Jan 1, 2008-Aug 31, 2012.

Target cost of feed rations increases to $9.50/cwt beginning Sept 1, 2012.

Specifies cap on milk marketed that is eligible for payments for 3 specific periods:

–For Oct 1, 2007-Sept 30, 2008, 2.4 million lbs for the fiscal year–For Oct 1, 2008-Aug 31, 2012, 2.985 million lbs for each fiscal year–Beginning Sept 1, 2012, 2.4 million lbs for each fiscal year