USDA is providing up to $250 million in assistance to rice farmers based on 2022 planted and prevented planted acres.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, provided the authority and funding for USDA to make payments to rice producers based on data already on file with the USDA, including planted acres and acres prevented from being planted.
How to Apply
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) mailed pre-filled applications to producers using information on file with USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) or FSA, as reported by rice producers through their crop insurance agents or FSA county offices.
The deadline to return the completed FSA-174, Rice Production Program Application, was July 10, 2023. Applications are no longer being accepted.
Payment Limitation
The payment limitation for the program is set by statute and is higher if the farmer’s average adjusted gross farm income (income from activities related to farming, ranching or forestry) is more than 75% of their average adjusted gross income (AGI). Specifically, a person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross farm income of less than 75% of their average AGI cannot receive, directly or indirectly, more than $125,000 in payments. Farmers who derive 75% or more of their average AGI from farming qualify for a $250,000 payment limit. AGI is based on the three taxable years preceding the most immediately preceding complete tax year.
In advance of the initial payment, rice farmers were to visit their local county office to submit the appropriate form and certification (FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs) by Sept 8, 2023 if they were requesting the higher payment limit.
Program Payments
FSA will make an initial payment to eligible producers at a reduced payment rate of one cent per pound. To be eligible, a producer must have reported to FSA a share interest in eligible rice.
As directed by the omnibus legislation, FSA will calculate payments by multiplying the:
- Payment rate;
- Individual average actual production history (APH) as reported to RMA or the FSA-established yield; and
- Amount of certified rice acres determined by the number of planted acres and acres that were prevented from being planted.
If applicable, a prevented planted factor of 60% will be applied.
Second Payment
Rice producers having a previously approved Rice Production Program application and who received an initial program payment, will receive an additional payment of .28 cent per pound based on previously reported data.
As part of FSA’s efforts to streamline and simplify the delivery of additional RPP benefits, producers are not required to submit a new application for the additional Rice Production Program payment.