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Glossary Entries beginning with A

Glossary of Agricultural Production, Programs and Policy

4th Edition

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A

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A
The predicted average annual soil loss in tons per acre. See Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).
See Also: 
acre.  Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE).  soil.  

A Time to Act
See National Commission on Small Farms.
See Also: 
National Commission on Small Farms.  

A Time to Choose
See Structure of agriculture.
See Also: 
Structure of agriculture.  

A-Index
The principal measure of international cotton prices. It is an average of the five lowest quotes of cotton for delivery to Northern European ports. See Adjusted world price (cotton).
See Also: 
Adjusted world price (cotton).  cotton.  delivery.  

AEolian soil
Soil formed from materials transported and deposited by wind, e.g., loess, sand dunes, and wind-deposited volcanic ash.
See Also: 
loess.  Soil.  

AFO/CAFO Strategy
See Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations.
See Also: 
Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations.  

AGRICOLA
A database established by the National Agricultural Library that provides access to U.S. agricultural and life science information and includes more than 3.3 million citations to journal articles, monographs, theses, patents, software, audio-visual materials, and technical reports related to agriculture. AGRICOLA serves as the document locator and bibliographic control system for the NAL collection.
See Also: 
National Agricultural Library.  

Abandon (insurance)
Unreasonable failure to continue activities necessary to produce agricultural commodities or allowable income, performing activities so insignificant as to provide no benefit to the agricultural commodities produced on the farm, or failure to harvest or market in a timely manner.
See Also: 
farm.  market.  

Abandon(ed); abandonment
For wetland purposes, prior converted wetlands not planted to an agricultural commodity for more than five consecutive years and on which wetland characteristics have returned; or farmed wetlands not planted to an agricultural commodity for more than five consecutive years. Such land is subject to swampbuster and Section 404 regulation.
See Also: 
agricultural commodity.  Section 404.  swampbuster.  wetland.  

Abattoir
Slaughterhouse.

Abiotic
The non-living portion of the environment. Also inorganic.
See Also: 
inorganic.  

Abnormal farm(s)
This includes institutional farms, experimental and research farms, and Indian reservations.
See Also: 
farms.  institutional.  

Absolute advantage
The advantage a country is said to possess when it can produce a commodity at a lower cost per unit than any other country. See Comparative advantage.
See Also: 
commodity.  Comparative advantage.  

Accelerated Pseudorabies Eradication Program (APEP)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service program providing for the voluntary depopulation of pseudorabies-infected herds and the payment of indemnities for herd restocking. Launched in 1999, the accelerated program was intended to help improve depressed hog market prices through the eradication of a significant number of the nearly two million infected hogs.
See Also: 
depopulation.  program.  pseudorabies.  

Accelerated aging test
A seed germination test that estimates the germination potential of seed in warehouse storage. The seeds are exposed to high temperatures and high relative humidity for short periods of time which may cause seed deterioration. Seeds are suspended over water in a chamber for three to four days, depending on the seed variety, then tested in a standard warm germination test.
See Also: 
seed germination test.  storage.  warehouse.  warm germination test.  

Accelerated erosion
Soil loss above natural levels resulting directly from human activities. Due to the slow rate of soil formation, accelerated erosion can lead to a permanent reduction in plant productivity.
See Also: 
accelerated erosion.  plant.  soil.  

Acceleration of loan repayment
The requirement by the Farm Service Agency of payment of the total outstanding debt without the possibility of making partial payments. Delinquent accounts are accelerated only after the borrower is found ineligible for any primary servicing options, or declines to participate in these options.
See Also: 
Farm Service Agency.  primary servicing.  

Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
The level of food additives that virtually all individuals can consume on a daily basis and even exceed on occasion without experiencing adverse effects. The ADI is based on the level at which there is no observable toxic effect, as determined in toxicological studies using animal models. An additional safety margin is built into the human ADI by dividing the no-observed-adverse-effect level by a safety factor of 100 or greater.
See Also: 
food additives.  

Access to broadband telecommunication services in rural areas
See Rural broadband access.
See Also: 
Rural broadband access.  

Accession
(1) A plant variety or strain registered at a national research center and worth conserving. (2) In trade negotiations, the agreement to the terms and conditions of membership in an established multilateral agreement, including incorporating institutional and regulatory requirements, eliminating inconsistent policies and measures, and making other specific commitments.
See Also: 
multilateral agreement.  plant.  variety.  

Accrual (basis) method (accounting)
An accounting method in which all items of income from farming operations are included in gross income when earned, even though payment may be received in another tax year. Expenses are deductible in the tax year the producer becomes liable for them, whether or not they are paid in that year. See Cash (basis) method (accounting).
See Also: 
Cash (basis) method (accounting).  producer.  

Accrual net income
See Net income.
See Also: 
Net income.  

Acid casein
Acid casein is produced by the addition of acid to milk. Acid casein has 10 percent to 12 percent moisture and is approximately 90 percent to 95 percent protein, all in the form of casein. This product is insoluble in water. Acid casein is the major casein product of world markets. It is used as an additive for glazing high-quality paper and in the production of paints and cosmetics. Lactic acid casein is favored for food uses by New Zealand and Australia.
See Also: 
Acid.  Acid casein.  casein.  protein.  

Acid(s); acidic; acidity
(1) The measure of a solution on a pH scale that is less than 7.0. (2) Soil with a pH of less than 7.0.
See Also: 
pH.  scale.  Soil.  

Acidification
A technology used by processors to preserve foods by adding acids and rendering food safe from harmful bacteria. Foods are acidified either by adding acid to foods as a chemical or through fermentation.
See Also: 
acid.  fermentation.  

Acre(s); acreage
An acre includes 43,560 square feet or 4,840 square yards (slightly less than a football field in size); or 0.4047 hectares. To convert acres to hectares, multiple acres by 0.4047. One square mile equals 640 acres.
See Also: 
acre.  Hectares.  

Acre-foot
The volume of irrigation water that would cover one acre to a depth of one foot.
See Also: 
acre.  irrigation.  

Acreage allotment(s)
An individual farm's share of the total national acreage that the USDA determines is needed to produce sufficient supplies of a particular crop. The farm's allotted share is based on its production history. Acreage allotments apply only to crops under conditions specified by law. Under the tobacco program, fire-cured, sun-cured tobacco, and dark air-cured tobacco acreage allotments are used in conjunction with marketing quotas; burley tobacco has marketing quotas, but no allotments since 1971. Acreage allotments for peanuts were suspended for the 1996 through 2002 crop years by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 155) and repealed with passage of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. See Sugar (marketing) allotment(s).
See Also: 
acreage.  air-cured tobacco.  burley tobacco.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  fire-cured.  Sugar (marketing) allotment(s).  sun-cured tobacco.  

Acreage base
For purposes of determining the sugarcane allotment under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 1401), the acreage base for any farm shall be the number of acresthat is equal to the average of the acreage planted and considered planted for harvest for sugar or seed on the farm in the two highest of the 1999, 2000, and 2001 crop years. Acreage planted to sugarcane that producers on a farm were unable to harvest to sugarcane for sugar or seed because of drought, flood, other natural disaster, or other condition beyond the control of the producers may be considered as harvested for the production of sugar or seed. See Base acres (acreage), and Crop acreage base (CAB).
See Also: 
acreage.  allotment.  base.  Base acres (acreage).  considered planted.  Crop acreage base (CAB).  farm.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  

Acreage conservation reserve (ACR)
Producers participating in the annual acreage reduction program (ARP) devoted the ARP percentage times the crop acreage base into the acreage conservation reserve, or reduced acres. This land was put into an approved conserving use that protected it from weeds, and from wind and water erosion. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 171) eliminated the acreage reduction program authority. AlsoReduced acres. See Acreage reduction program(s) (ARP).
See Also: 
acreage conservation reserve.  acreage reduction program.  Acreage reduction program(s) (ARP).  conserving use.  crop acreage base.  erosion.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  reduced acres.  

Acreage diversion program(s)
See Diverted acres; diversion.
See Also: 
Diverted acres; diversion.  

Acreage estimate
Statistics released periodically that estimate the amount of acreage allotted in a given marketing year towards a farmed commodity.
See Also: 
acreage.  commodity.  marketing year.  

Acreage limitation program
See Acreage reduction program(s) (ARP).
See Also: 
Acreage reduction program(s) (ARP).  

Acreage reduction program(s) (ARP)
A voluntary land retirement program in which a producer reduced the amount of base acres planted to a commodity (50 percent to be put into a conserving use) by an amount specified by law. The producer was typically not paid for the land retirement which was in exchange for being eligible for price-supports and target prices for that commodity. Also known as the acreage limitation program, it was first authorized in the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 171) eliminated the acreage reduction program authority. See Acreage conservation reserve (ACR).
See Also: 
acreage.  Acreage conservation reserve (ACR).  acreage limitation program.  Agriculture and Food Act of 1981.  authorized.  base acres.  commodity.  conserving use.  eligible.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  producer.  program.  

Acreage report(s)
(1) Under federal crop insurance regulations, reporting of both acreage planted and prevented from planting acreage, information on which premiumsare based. (2) Reports on all croplandon a farm required under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Secs. 1105(c) and 1305(c)) as a condition of receipt of direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, marketing assistance loans, or loan deficiency payments for covered commodities and peanuts. (3) Crop Production - Acreage: Supplement. See Actual production history (APH).
See Also: 
acreage.  Actual production history (APH).  cropland.  farm.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  federal crop insurance.  

Act of April 14, 1971 (P.L. 92-10)
Signed into law April 14, 1971. The Act provided for poundage quotas for burley tobacco in place of farm acreage allotments.
See Also: 
burley tobacco.  farm.  poundage.  

Action level(s)
The regulatory level recommended by theEnvironmental Protection Agencyfor enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration and USDA when pesticide residuesoccur in food or feed commodities for reasons other than the direct application of the pesticide. As opposed to tolerances that are established for pesticide residues occurring as a direct result of proper usage, action levels are set for inadvertent pesticide residues resulting from previous legal use or accidental contamination.
See Also: 
Environmental Protection Agency.  Food and Drug Administration.  pesticide.  

Action threshold
The number of pest insects in a field that will require control treatment.
See Also: 
pest.  

Active burley and flue-cured tobacco producer
Any person who shared in the risk of producing a crop of burley tobacco or flue-cured tobacco in at least one of the three years preceding the current year, or any person who intends to become a burley tobacco or flue-cured tobacco producer in the current year by sharing in the risk of producing the crop and who provides a certification of such intentions to the USDA.
See Also: 
burley tobacco.  flue-cured tobacco.  

Active ingredient(s)
In pesticides, the effective component that destroys or controls target pests.
See Also: 
pesticides.  pests.  

Active personal labor (7 U.S.C. §§ 1308-1)
For payment limitationpurposes, the contribution of labor that is actually performed by the individual in question. It must be 50 percent of the total hours that would be required to conduct a farming operation comparable in size to this individual's or entity's commensurate share of the farming operation, or 1,000 hours per program year. See Significant contribution.
See Also: 
payment limitation.  program year.  Significant contribution.  

Active personal management (7 U.S.C. §§ 1308-1)
For payment limitationpurposes, the personal general supervision of the activities or labor involved in the farming operation, performed either on or off the farm, that is reasonably related or necessary to the farming operation. See Significant contribution.
See Also: 
farm.  payment limitation.  Significant contribution.  

Actively engaged in farming (7 U.S.C. §§ 1308-1)
Subject to exceptions, a person is actively engaged in farming if (a) the person directly provides to the farming operation a significant contribution of land, equipment, capital, or a combination thereof, and active personal labor or active personal management, or combination thereof; (b) these and certain other contributions are commensurate with the person's share of the farming operation's profits and losses; and (c) these contributions are at risk.
See Also: 
active personal labor.  active personal management.  actively engaged in farming.  person.  significant contribution.  

Actual Production History (yield) insurance (APH)
Also known as multiperil crop insurance. Crop insurance protection against lost production due to hazards such as hail, fire, drought, tornado, lightning, wind, flood, insects, plant disease, wildlife, and earthquakes, but not due to neglect, poor farming practices, theft, or low prices. The yield guarantee equals the APH yield times a producer-chosen yield election. Yield elections range from 50 to 85 percent of the APH yield.Premiums are subsidized by the USDA and coverage is provided for both (a) production and (b) quality and grade losses. The Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 raised premium subsidies to increase participation levels and encourage the use of higher coverage levels. See Additional coverage, Catastrophic coverage (CAT), Crop revenue coverage (CRC), Federal Crop Insurance program, and Premium(s).
See Also: 
Additional coverage.  Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.  Catastrophic coverage (CAT).  Crop revenue coverage (CRC).  Federal Crop Insurance program.  grade.  plant.  Premium(s).  producer.  yield guarantee.  

Actual county yield
The per acre yield from a county as reported by the National Agricultural Statistical Service.
See Also: 
acre.  

Actual loan repayment rate
Except in the case of upland cotton, the lesser of the applicableloan rate plus accrued interest, or the applicable alternative loan rateBthe applicableloan rate after all relevant adjustments for premiums, discounts, and location have been made.
See Also: 
loan rate.  upland cotton.  

Actual production
The number of acres of cotton, wheat, corn, rice, peanuts, and other commodities on a farm multiplied by the actual average yield.
See Also: 
cotton.  farm.  

Actual production history (APH)
For Federal Crop Insurance program purposes, under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 196), a four- to ten-year APH was established to determine yield coverage. APH levels are similar to proven yield(s). Under provisions of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000, if in one or more crop years used to establish the APH the recorded production amount was less than 60 percent of the applicable transitional (county) yield, the producer could replace his APH for that year with an amount equal to 60 percent of the transitional yield. A producer's APH was prohibited from falling more than 10 percent in any one year, nor could it fall any lower than 80 percent of the transitional yield for certain major row crops. Also a producer's APH could not rise more than 20 percent from one year to the next. See Federal Crop Insurance program, and Proven yield(s).
See Also: 
Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  Federal Crop Insurance program.  producer.  proven yield(s).  row crops.  transitional.  yield.  

Actual production history (APH) yield
For crop insurance purposes, the yield used to determine the production guarantee. The APH yield is based on up to ten years of actual yields and/or assigned yields with a minimum of four years required.
See Also: 
crop insurance.  production guarantee.  

Actual production history floor
The actual production history (APH) floor is equal to 70 percent of the transitional yield for producers with only a one-year record. For producers with two to four years of yield records, their APH floor is equal to 75 percent of thetransitional yield. Producers with five or more years of yield records have an 80 percent of transitional yield floor.
See Also: 
APH.  

Actual yield(s)
(1) The USDA has the discretion to allow for the establishment of a farmprogram payment yield based on an average of the actual yield per harvested acre for the program crop in question for each of the last five years, throwing out the high and low years as well as any year in which a crop was not grown. (2) The real or actual per acre production yield for a farm during a particular growing season, usually determined at harvest. Warehouse receipts and bin measurements are commonly used to document actual yield. See Farm program payment yield(s).
See Also: 
acre.  actual yield.  farm.  Farm program payment yield(s).  growing season.  program crop.  

Actuals
See Cash commodity(ies).
See Also: 
Cash commodity(ies).  

Actuarial soundness; actuarially sound
When insurance indemnities paid, on average, are equal to total premiums collected.
See Also: 
indemnities.  premiums.  

Ad hoc disaster assistance (program(s)
Special-purpose natural disaster relief legislation designed to address specific problems after the fact. Typically, disaster relief funds were made available from the savings in other agricultural programs brought about by the natural disaster. Ad hoc disaster assistance programs were supposedly eliminated with the passage of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994.
See Also: 
Ad hoc disaster assistance.  agricultural programs.  Federal Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994.  

Ad referendum
An agreement or concession that is agreed upon during negotiations pending final approval by a higher governmental authority.
See Also: 
concession.  

Ad valorem
Any charge, tax, or duty that is applied as a percentage of value.
See Also: 
duty.  

Additional (AMTA) payment(s)
See Marketing loss (assistance) payment(s).
See Also: 
Marketing loss (assistance) payment(s).  

Additional acreage
Farms not enrolled in production flexibility contracts during the one-time sign-up in 1996 are ineligible for program participation, unless the eligible land was under a Conservation Reserve Program contract. Additional land that is under an expiring CRP contract may be added to an existing production flexibility contractor enrolled as a new contract from October 1 through April 3 in the year following the fiscal year in which the contract expires.
See Also: 
contract.  eligible.  Farms.  fiscal year.  production flexibility contract.  program.  

Additional coverage
(1) A plan of crop insurance providing a level of coverage equal to or greater than 65 percent of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified at 100 percent of the projected market price, or a comparable insurance plan as determined by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. (2) Crop insuranceavailable to producers who wish to insure crops above the catastrophic coverage level. Producers can elect to be paid up to 100 percent of the expected market price for all expected production that equals the guarantee production level minus actual production. Premiums depend on the amount of additional coverage chosen, the crop being covered, and the county in which the crop is located, although the premium subsidy was increased with passage of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. A fee of $30 will be charged per county per crop for additional coverage with no maximum limit.Also Buy-up (crop) insurance (coverage).See Limited coverage.
See Also: 
actual production.  additional coverage.  Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.  Buy-up (crop) insurance (coverage).  catastrophic coverage.  Crop insurance.  expected production.  Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.  insurance.  Limited coverage.  market price.  

Additional crop
In crop insurance, the crop planted second on the same acreage in the same crop year.SeeDouble-crop(ping)(ped), and Double insurance.
See Also: 
acreage.  crop insurance.  crop year.  Double insurance.  Double-crop(ping)(ped).  

Additionals (peanuts) loan rate
Under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, the loan rate for additional peanuts was set at a level that ensured that the Commodity Credit Corporationdid not incur losses from their sale or disposal. The USDA had to take into account demand for peanut oil and meal, expected prices of other vegetable oils and protein meals, and export demand for peanuts. Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Secs. 1301-1310), the peanut program was converted to a system of direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, and nonrecourse loans with marketing loan provisions that are more similar to the programs for covered commodities. Provision for the additionals loan rate was eliminated. SeePeanut (price-support) program,and Quota (peanuts) loan rate.
See Also: 
additionals.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  export.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  loan rate.  marketing loan.  Peanut (price-support) program.  protein.  Quota (peanuts) loan rate.  

Additionals; additional peanuts
Under the former peanuts program, lower-priced peanuts grown in excess of the poundage quota level during any marketing year. Additionals could not be used on the farm for seed or other purposes and must have been contracted for export, crushed for oil or meal, or placed under loan. Additional peanuts were not to be available for domestic edible use, with the possible exception being those additional peanuts under the control of the Commodity Credit Corporation. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002(Title I, Subtitle C) eliminated the two-tiered loan program. Also Nonquota peanuts, and Over-quota peanuts. See Farm poundage quota(s) (peanuts),andPeanut (price-support) program.
See Also: 
Additionals.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  contract.  export.  farm.  Farm poundage quota(s) (peanuts).  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  marketing year.  Nonquota peanuts.  Over-quota peanuts.  Peanut (price-support) program.  poundage quota.  program.  under loan.  

Additive(s)
(1) Any substance intended (directly or indirectly) to affect the characteristics of any food. This includes any substance used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, storage, or transportation of food. The Food and Drug Administrationnow interprets additive to mean the added substance as a whole and not each of its individual constituents. (2) See Direct additive(s), and Indirect additive(s). (3) See Food additive(s). (4) See Feed additive(s).
See Also: 
additive.  Direct additive(s).  Feed additive(s).  Food additive(s).  Food and Drug Administration.  Indirect additive(s).  processing.  storage.  

Adjudicator
Under thePigford v. Veneman consent decree, the entity that makes all final decisions on Track A claims.
See Also: 
consent decree.  Pigford v. Veneman.  Track A.  

Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)
Begun in 1999 by the Risk Management Agency, the AGR is a whole-farm risk management pilot revenue insurance programthat insures the revenue for a producer's entire farm rather than individual crops by guaranteeing a percentage of average gross farm income, including a small amount of livestock revenue. Through the use of one insurance product, the AGR guarantees a percentage income from multiple agricultural commodities grown by the insured including grains, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, floriculture, Christmas trees, nursery crops, maple syrup, livestock and poultry, aquaculture, milk, eggs, and other agricultural products except timber and other forest products. The plan uses a producer's previous five years of Schedule F tax forms to calculate the policy revenue guarantee. No more than 35 percent of expected allowable income can come from animals or animal products. If more than 50 percent of expected farm income is from crops that have multiperil crop insurance available, a producer can still getAGRinsurance, but must also get at least catastrophic coveragelevels of MPCI for those crops.The original program was offered in selected counties in five states and was raised to seventeen states in 2001. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 10004) extended the program through at least 2004 and added at least eight counties each in California and Pennsylvania for 2003.
See Also: 
aquaculture.  catastrophic coverage.  farm.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  floriculture.  forest products.  grains.  livestock.  multiperil crop insurance.  oilseeds.  poultry.  producer.  program.  revenue.  risk management.  Risk Management Agency.  

Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite)
A proposed simplified version of AGR whole-farm insurance initially designed for producers with an adjusted gross farm income of less than $100,000. Unlike regular AGR insurance, producers would still be eligible to participate if they had more than 35 percent livestock income if at least 30 percent of the animal feed (by weight) is produced on-farm. Also, producerswould not be required to get at least Catastrophic coverage levels of coverage for crops covered by Multiperil crop insurance in their county. Producers would also not be required to provide copies of tax returns unless they file an insurance claim. In December 2002, Pennsylvania was approved to provide AGR-Lite insurance in pilot counties as either stand-alone coverage or as umbrella coverage with other crop insurance. Policies are limited to a maximum liability of $100,000 for producers with adjusted gross farm income of $205,000 or less.
See Also: 
AGR.  Catastrophic coverage.  crop insurance.  eligible.  farm.  gross farm income.  insurance.  livestock.  Multiperil crop insurance.  whole-farm insurance.  

Adjusted base price
When calculating parity, the average price received by producers in the most recent ten years, divided by the index of average prices received by producers for all farm products in the same ten years.
See Also: 
farm.  parity.  

Adjusted gross income limit; adjusted gross income cap
Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 1604), for the 2003 and subsequentcrop years, fiscal years, or programyears, individuals or entities with adjusted gross incomes during a crop year that exceed $2.5 million for the three tax years immediately preceding the applicable year are ineligible to receive direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, marketing loan gains, loans deficiency payments, or conservation payments unless 75 percent or more of the average adjusted gross income of the individual or entity is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry operations. The Commodity Credit Corporation will not consider the following as income from farming, ranching, and forestry operations: (a) income from selling land used to produce forestry or agricultural commodities, (b) farm or forestry implement sales by a retail dealership, (c) investment income, (d) income from sales at a market unless the commodity being sold was produced by the person, (e) income from sales as a commission broker, auctioneer, or warehouse operator or similar enterprise, or (f) undifferentiated income from integrated operations. Also Gross income limit.
See Also: 
average adjusted gross income.  commodity.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  conservation payments.  crop year.  entity.  farm.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  forestry.  Gross income limit.  market.  person.  program.  warehouse.  

Adjusted world price (AWP)
An estimate of the world price adjusted to a U.S. price-equivalent using a formula that includes transportation, processing, and handling charges. The adjusted world price is announced on a weekly basis by the USDA. See Adjusted world price (cotton), and Adjusted world price (rice).
See Also: 
adjusted world price.  Adjusted world price (cotton).  Adjusted world price (rice).  handling.  processing.  world price.  

Adjusted world price (cotton)
A price equal to the Northern Europe price adjusted to U.S. base quality and average location. The AWP can be further adjusted for individual cotton qualities using the schedule of loan premiums and discounts and location differentials. Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 1204(e)), the Step 1 adjustment was maintained through July 31, 2008. See Northern Europe; Northern Europe price (NE), and U.S. Northern Europe (USNE).
See Also: 
cotton.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  Northern Europe; Northern Europe price (NE).  Step 1 adjustment.  U.S. Northern Europe (USNE).  

Adjusted world price (rice)
The prevailing world market price for rice adjusted to U.S. quality and location. See Prevailing world market price (rice).
See Also: 
prevailing world market price.  Prevailing world market price (rice).  

Adjusted world price lock-in
Under the loan deficiency payment program for upland cotton, a producer may request a loan deficiency payment and lock in the adjusted world price for computing such payments after harvest (but before ginning) while the cotton is stored in modules, ricks, or trailers. See Request to lock-in.
See Also: 
adjusted world price.  cotton.  loan deficiency payment.  producer.  Request to lock-in.  upland cotton.  

Adjuster (crop insurance)
A person with the ability to determine the amount of loss, and the authority to enter into an agreement of settlement with the insured.
See Also: 
authority.  

Adjustment for price and yield lease
A type of flexible leaseusing various combinations of adjustments for price and yield. Because prices may be high when yields are low and vice versa, adjusting the rent for changes in both ensures that the actual rent will be more closely tied to the total value of the crop. See Adjustment for price only lease, Adjustment for yield only lease, Base rent plus bonus lease, and Percentage share lease.
See Also: 
Adjustment for price only lease.  Adjustment for yield only lease.  Base rent plus bonus lease.  flexible lease.  Percentage share lease.  

Adjustment for price only lease
A flexible lease in which the rent varies according to the actual commodity price. Many different formulas can be used to calculate the rent. See Adjustment for price and yield lease, Adjustment for yield only lease, Base rent plus bonus lease, and Percentage share lease.
See Also: 
Adjustment for price and yield lease.  Adjustment for yield only lease.  Base rent plus bonus lease.  commodity.  flexible lease.  Percentage share lease.  

Adjustment for yield only lease
A flexible lease in which the rent varies according to the yield actually harvested. See Adjustment for price and yield lease, Adjustment for price only lease, Base rent plus bonus lease, and Percentage share lease.
See Also: 
Adjustment for price and yield lease.  Adjustment for price only lease.  Base rent plus bonus lease.  flexible lease.  Percentage share lease.  

Administrative offset
(1) Debts to federal agencies from delinquent borrowers must be offset against any payments that might be due from the federal government. Payments taken are applied to the borrower's unpaid debt. Payments that can be offset include livestock indemnity and Conservation Reserve Programpayments. Delinquent borrower accounts need not be accelerated before an agency can offset payments. Before offsetting payments, the Farm Service Agencywill attempt loan restructuring. (2) If money is owed to the Commodity Credit Corporation on past due accounts, the FSA and CCC can, under certain conditions, collect on the debt by withholding farm program payments otherwise owed to a producer. Also Offset (administrative).
See Also: 
CCC.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  Conservation Reserve Program.  Farm Service Agency.  livestock indemnity.  loan restructuring.  offset.  Offset (administrative).  producer.  

Adulterant (economic)
Economic food fraud involving the substitution of something of lesser value for something of higher value and then passing off the product as one of higher value.

Adulterant(s) (food)
Microbiological and chemical impurities of food that are banned by law.

Adulterated (foods)
(1) Impure and unsafe foods not fit for human consumption or injurious to health. (2) A meatormeat food product that (a) contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it injurious to health; (b) contains any added poisonous or added deleterious substance including unsafe pesticide chemicals in or on a raw agricultural commodity, unsafe food additives, or unsafe color additives; (c) consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is for any other reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food; (d) has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health; (e) is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal that has died otherwise than by slaughter; (f) has a container composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render the contents injurious to health; (g) has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption; (h) has had any valuable constituent, in whole or in part, omitted, abstracted, or substituted; (i) has had damage or inferiority concealed in any manner; (j) has had any substance added to, mixed, or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is; or (k) if it is margarine containing animal fat, has had any of the raw material used therein that consisted in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance.
See Also: 
food additives.  meat.  meat food product.  raw agricultural commodity.  

Advance (direct) payment(s)
Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 1103(d)(2)), at the option of the producers on a farm, up to 50 percent of the direct paymentfor a covered commodity for any of the 2003 through 2007 crop yearsshall be paid in advance in any month selected by the producer that is during the period beginning on December 1 of the calendar year before the calendar year in which the crop of the covered commodity is harvested through the month within which the direct payment would otherwise be made.
See Also: 
covered commodity.  direct payment.  farm.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  producer.  

Advanced deficiency payment(s)
Under former farm bill programs, payments made to crop producers when they signed up for the federal commodity program. The USDA was required by law to make the payment when an acreage reduction program was in effect and deficiency payments were expected to be paid. Advanced deficiency payments could range from 30 to 50 percent of expected payments, depending upon the program crop. Up to 50 percent of the advanced payment could be made in the form of generic commodity certificates. If final deficiency payments were less than the advanced amount, producers were required to refund the excess portion. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 171) eliminated the deficiency payment concept and replaced it with declining production flexibility contract payments. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 introduced counter-cyclical payments with the possibility of advanced partial payments.
See Also: 
acreage reduction program.  commodity program.  deficiency payment.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  payments.  production flexibility contract.  program crop.  

Advanced materials
The use of environmentally friendly, renewable plant and animal materials for important strategic and industrial products and manufacturing.
See Also: 
plant.  

Advanced meat recovery (AMR)
A technology that enables processors to remove the attached skeletal muscle tissue from livestock bones under high pressure without incorporating significant amounts of bone and bone products into the final meat product. When produced properly, product from AMR systems is comparable to meat derived by hand deboning and can be labeled as meat if such does not include central nervous system tissue, excessive amounts of bone solids, or bone marrow.
See Also: 
livestock.  meat.  muscle.  

Advanced meat recovery product(s)
Products derived from the AMR process that are usually blended with ground products derived from beef or pork trimmings. AMR products are used in meat patties, links, sausages, chili products, sauces, soup bases, meat gravies, broth, and flavorings.

Advanced priced; advance pricing (dairy)
The setting of prices in advance to be used in the coming month by taking the National Agricultural Statistics Service prices published for a period prior to the date established for setting such prices.
See Also: 
National Agricultural Statistics Service.  

Advanced recourse loan(s)
Price-support loans made early in the marketing year to enable producers to hold their crops for later sale. Producers must repay the recourse loan with interest and reclaim the crops used as collateral. Advanced recourse loans have been made to upland and extra-long staple cotton (ELS) cottonseed producers only. However, the USDA is authorized to make advanced recourse loans to producers of other commodities if such loans are necessary to provide adequate operating credit.
See Also: 
authorized.  cottonseed.  marketing year.  recourse loan.  upland.  

Adverse (loan quality)
For Farm Credit Systeminstitutions, all loans that are classified below special mention. See Asset (quality) classification(s).
See Also: 
Asset (quality) classification(s).  Farm Credit System.  special mention.  

Adverse action(s) (loans)
The loss or downsizing of a borrower's farming operation due to liquidation, voluntary conveyance of security property, loan acceleration, repossession, foreclosure, or the taking of collection action to resolve a distressed loan.
See Also: 
distressed loan.  loan.  

Adverse decision(s)
An administrative decision made by an officer, employee, or committee of a USDA agency that is adverse to a participant. The term includes a denial of equitable relief by an agency or the failure of an agency to issue a decision or otherwise act on the request or right of the participant. See National Appeals Division (NAD).
See Also: 
National Appeals Division (NAD).  

Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)
A 35-member, Congressionally mandated advisory body to the President and the U.S. Trade Representativeon matters concerning national trade policy and trade negotiations. The 35 members represent agriculture, business, labor, environment, and consumers.
See Also: 
U.S. Trade Representative.  

Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
The Committee authorized by Sec. 5 of theAgricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the administration of the Farm Service Agency's beginning farmers and ranchers programs and methods to increase participation between federal and state programs to provide joint financing to beginning farmers and ranchers. The Committee has identified six urgent recommendations: provide funding support for direct loans and guaranteed loan programs, allow guarantees on aggie bond loans, exempt aggie bonds from volume caps, provide a comprehensive assessment of existing beginning farmer and rancher programs, improve USDA staffing to handle loan activity, and provide greater support for outreach and technical assistance for minority farmers. See Beginning Farmer and Rancher Contract Land Sales Program, and State Beginning Farmer and Rancher Guarantee Program.
See Also: 
aggie bond.  Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992.  authorized.  beginning.  loan.  State Beginning Farmer and Rancher Guarantee Program.  technical assistance.  

Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets
The Committee established under the authority of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Sec. 1542(d)(7)), as amended, to provide information and advice, based upon the knowledge and expertise of the members, useful to the USDA in implementing a program to provide technical assistance and share U.S. agricultural expertise with emerging markets. The Committee is to also advise the USDA on ways to increase the involvement of the U.S. private sector in cooperative work with emerging markets in food and rural business systems.
See Also: 
emerging markets.  Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.  program.  rural.  technical assistance.  

Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases (FAPD)
The Committee that advises the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the means to prevent, suppress, control, or eradicate an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or other destructive foreign animal or poultry disease, should such enter the U.S.
See Also: 
foot-and-mouth disease.  poultry.  

Advisory Committee on Small Farms
Established in November 1999 and expired in November 2001. The purpose of the Committee was to gather and analyze information regarding small farms and ranches within the U.S. and its Territories. The Committee recommended USDA actions to enhance the viability and economic livelihood of small farms and ranches within the U.S. In November 2001, the Committee issued Building on a Time to Act as guide to developers of the farm bill in 2002. See Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century,Small Farm Coordinators,Small Farm Council, and Small farms policy(ies) (USDA).
See Also: 
Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century.  Building on a Time to Act.  farm bill.  Small Farm Coordinators.  Small Farm Council.  small farms.  Small farms policy(ies) (USDA).  

Aerial photography
Photographs of a part of the earth's surface taken by a camera mounted in an aircraft for mapping purposes. This usually consists of a series of overlapping vertical photos taken in strips that can form the basis for mapping.

Aerial seeding; aerial sowing
Broadcast seeding of seeds, seed pellets, and the like from aircraft.
See Also: 
Broadcast.  

Aerobe
An organism that can grow in the presence of air.

Aerobic
A biological process that occurs in the presence of oxygen.

Aerobic decomposition
The breakdown of a molecule into simpler molecules or atoms by microorganisms under favorable conditions of oxygenation. See Anaerobic decomposition.
See Also: 
Anaerobic decomposition.  

Aerobic lagoon
An aerated treatment lagoon that uses oxygen to speed up the natural process of biochemical decomposition of organic matter. See Anaerobic lagoon.
See Also: 
Anaerobic lagoon.  biochemical.  lagoon.  organic matter.  

Affected domestic producer(s)
Under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, any manufacturer, producer, farmer, rancher, or worker representative (including associations of such persons) that (a) was a petitioner or interested party in support of the petition with respect to which an antidumping duty order, a finding under the Antidumping Act of 1921, or a countervailing duty order has been entered, and (b) remains in operation. Companies, businesses, or persons that have ceased the production of the product covered by the order or finding, or who have been acquired by a company or business that is related to a company that opposed the investigation shall not be considered an affected domestic producer.
See Also: 
Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000.  countervailing duty.  dumping.  producer.  

Affidavit weight(s)
A weight obtained by a weigher on any scale not inspected for certification within the past 12 months. See Certified weight(s).
See Also: 
Certified weight(s).  

Afforestation
The establishment of a tree crop on an area from which it has always, or for very long, been absent. Where such establishment fails and is repeated, the latter may properly be termed reafforestation.
See Also: 
reafforestation.  

Aflatoxin
A highly carcinogenic mycotoxin, produced by two types of mold, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, that sometimes occurs when crops are stored under warm, humid conditions or are grown under stressful conditions, such as drought. Aflatoxin is most commonly associated with corn, grain sorghum, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. Grain for export is generally rejected if it contains aflatoxin. See Mycotoxicoses, and Mycotoxin(s).
See Also: 
cotton.  export.  Grain.  grain sorghum.  Mycotoxicoses.  Mycotoxin(s).  

Africa: Seeds of Hope Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-385)
Signed into law November 13, 1998. The Act signified a continued shift in U.S. relations with Africa. The Act refocused U.S. development assistance resources on agricultural and rural development and required the U.S. Agency for International Development and USDA to develop plans for using microcredit finance strategies, agricultural research, and agricultural extension as mechanisms to reduce rural poverty in Africa. The Act seeks to prioritize economic development for small-scale producers and struggling rural communities. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is encouraged to expand its development funding from U.S. corporations investing abroad, to businesses, private voluntary organizations, and nongovernment organizations that work directly with African rural populations. In recognizing the role of women in small-scale agriculture, the Act encouragesUSAID to put greater emphasis on entrepreneurial opportunities for women in development programming. The legislation also calls for increased participation by African partners in decision-making processes involved in development programming. This Act established the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
See Also: 
Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.  extension.  resources.  rural development.  U.S. Agency for International Development.  

African Growth and Opportunity Act (P.L. 106-200)
Signed into law May 18, 2000. An Act to increase trade opportunities with Africa and the Caribbean Basin. The Act also included a carousel retaliation provision for the purpose of intensifying pressure on the European Unionto permit imports of beef produced with hormones and to resolve a long-running dispute over banana imports.
See Also: 
beef.  carousel retaliation.  European Union.  

African swine fever (ASF)
A highly contagious, generalized disease of pigs caused by a virus that exhibits varying virulence between strains. The virus resists inactivation, and can persist in meat up to fifteen weeks, processed hams up to six months, and up to one month in contaminated pens. Very few pigs survive infection and those that do are contagious.
See Also: 
meat.  processed.  virulence.  

Africanized honeybee(s)
An undesirable subspecies of honeybee that exhibits an extremely aggressive or defensive temperament.
See Also: 
species.  

Ag in the Classroom; Agriculture in the Classroom
A grassroots program coordinated by the USDA designed to help students from pre-kindergarten to the 12th grade become agriculturally literate. Its goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies. The program encourages educators to teach more about the food and fiber system and the role of agriculture, and is carried out in each state, according to state needs and interests, by individuals representing farm organizations, agribusiness, education, and government.
See Also: 
agribusiness.  farm.  fiber.  program.  

AgSTAR program
A voluntary program jointly sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, USDA, and Department of Energy to encourage the use ofmethane recovery (biogas) technologies for concentrated animal feeding operations that manage manure as liquids or slurries. The technologies reduce greenhouse gas concentrations while achieving other environmental benefits.
See Also: 
biogas.  Environmental Protection Agency.  greenhouse gas.  methane.  voluntary program.  

Age
(1) Of a forest, crop, or stand, the mean age of the trees comprising it. In practice, in even-aged or regular forests, the mean age of dominant and sometimes co-dominant trees is taken. Also, the age of a plantation is generally taken from the year in which it was formed, exclusive of the age of the nursery stock then brought to it. (2) Of a tree, the time elapsed since germination of the seed or the budding of the sprout of a cutting from which it developed.
See Also: 
co-dominant.  dominant.  even-aged.  nursery.  plantation.  stand.  stock.  

Agency for International Development
See U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
See Also: 
U.S. Agency for International Development.  

Aggie bond(s)
Tax-exempt, qualified, small-issue, agricultural private activity bonds used to provide financial assistance to beginning and first-time farmers as a method of lower financing for which neither the states nor the federal government assume any risk. The purpose of the bonds is for first-time land purchases, farm equipment, farm buildings, and livestock used for breeding purposes. The applicant must qualify as a beginning and first-time farmer.
See Also: 
beginning.  breeding.  farm.  livestock.  

Aggregate Measure of Support (AMS)
An index that measures the monetary value of government support to a sector. The AMS, as defined in the Agreement on Agriculture, includes both budgetary outlays as well as revenue transfers from consumers to producers as a result of policies that distort market prices. The AMS includes actual or calculated amounts of direct payments to producers (such as deficiency payments), input subsidies (on irrigation water, for example), the estimated value of revenue transferred from consumers to producers as a result of policies that distort market prices, and interest subsidies on commodity loan programs.
See Also: 
Agreement on Agriculture.  commodity.  irrigation.  

Aging
A process applied to cigarette tobacco whereby the leaf is compressed in hogsheads or other containers at a moisture content of 10 to 13 percent to mildly ferment the tobacco. See Fermentation.
See Also: 
Fermentation.  moisture content.  process.  tobacco.  

AgrAbility
See Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities.
See Also: 
Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities.  

Agreement on Agriculture
See Uruguay Round Agreement(s); Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA).
See Also: 
Uruguay Round Agreement(s); Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA).  

Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
An agreement under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture that establishes rules to prevent countries from using arbitrary and unjustifiable health and environmental regulations as disguised trade barriers. See Sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and Uruguay Round Agreement(s).
See Also: 
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures.  trade barriers.  Uruguay Round Agreement(s).  

Agribusiness(es)
Producers and manufacturers of agricultural goods and services, such as fertilizer and farm equipment makers, food and fiber processors, wholesalers, transporters, and retail food and fiber outlets.
See Also: 
farm.  fertilizer.  fiber.  

Agricultural Act of 1948 (P.L. 80-897)
Signed into law July 3, 1948. The law made price-supports mandatory at 90 percent of parity for 1949 basic commodities. It also provided that beginning in 1950, parity would be reformulated to take into consideration average prices of the previous ten years, as well as those of the 1910-14 base period.
See Also: 
base period.  parity.  

Agricultural Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-439)
Signed into law October 31, 1949. This law, along with the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, makes up the major part of permanent legislation that is still effective in amended form. The 1949 Act designated mandatory support for the following nonbasic commodities: wool and mohair, tung nuts, honey, Irish potatoes (excluded in the Agricultural Act of 1954), and milk, butterfat, and their products. See Section 416(b).
See Also: 
Agricultural Act of 1954.  Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938.  butterfat.  permanent legislation.  Section 416(b).  wool.  

Agricultural Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-690)
Signed into law August 28, 1954. It established a flexible price-support for basic commodities (excluding tobacco) at 822 to 90 percent of parity and authorized a Commodity Credit Corporation reserve for foreign and domestic relief.
See Also: 
authorized.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  parity.  price-support.  tobacco.  

Agricultural Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-540)
Signed into law May 28, 1956. This law contained the Soil Bank Act that authorized the acreage reserve program for wheat, corn, rice, cotton, peanuts, and several types of tobacco. It also provided for a ten-year Conservation Reserve Program. See Soil Bank Program.
See Also: 
authorized.  Bank.  Conservation Reserve Program.  cotton.  Soil.  Soil Bank Program.  tobacco.  

Agricultural Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-297)
Signed into law April 11, 1964. This law authorized a two-year voluntary marketing certificate program for wheat and a payment-in-kind (PIK) program for cotton.
See Also: 
authorized.  cotton.  payment-in-kind (PIK).  program.  

Agricultural Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-524)
Signed into law November 30, 1970. The law, in effect through 1973, established the cropland set-aside program and a payment limitation per producer (set at $55,000 per crop). It also amended and extended the authority of the Class I Base Plan in milk marketing order areas.
See Also: 
Class I.  cropland.  milk marketing order.  payment limitation.  producer.  program.  set-aside.  

Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935 (P.L. 74-320)
Signed into law August 24, 1935. The law gave the President authority to impose import quotas when imports interfered with agricultural adjustment programs. See Section 32.
See Also: 
Section 32.  

Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 (P.L. 73-10)
Signed into law May 12, 1933. The law introduced the price-support programs, including production adjustments, and incorporated the Commodity Credit Corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 17, 1933. The price-support payments were financed mostly by processing taxes on the specific commodity. The Act also made price-support loans by the CCC mandatory for the designated basic (storable) commodities (corn, wheat, and cotton). Support for other commodities was authorized upon recommendation by the USDA with the President's approval. Commodity loan programs carried out by the CCC for 1933-37 included programs for cotton, corn, turpentine, rosin, tobacco, peanuts, dates, figs, and prunes. The provisions for production control and processing taxes in the Act were later declared unconstitutional.
See Also: 
authorized.  basic.  CCC.  commodity.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  cotton.  price-support.  processing.  production control.  storable.  tobacco.  

Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (P.L. 75-430)
Signed into law February 16, 1938. The law was the first to make price-supports mandatory for corn, cotton, and wheatBto help maintain a sufficient supply in low production periodsBalong with marketing quotas to keep supply in line with market demand. It also established permissive supports for butter, dates, figs, hops, turpentine, rosin, pecans, prunes, raisins, barley, rye, grain sorghum, wool, winter cover-crop seeds, mohair, peanuts, and tobacco for the 1938-40 period. The 1938 Act is considered part of permanent legislation. Provisions of this law are often superseded by more current legislation. However, if the current legislation expires and new legislation is not enacted, the law reverts back to the 1938 Act (along with the Agricultural Act of 1949).
See Also: 
Agricultural Act of 1949.  barley.  cotton.  grain sorghum.  market.  mohair.  permanent legislation.  rye.  tobacco.  wool.  

Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-7)
Signed into law February 20, 2003. The Act (Division N, Title II, of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003) provides assistance to producers who suffered losses due to weather-related disasters or other emergency conditions. The Act included a Tobacco Payment Program; extended and modified the Crop Disaster Program for either 2001 or 2002 crops; expanded the Livestock Compensation Program; included $250 million for the Livestock Assistance Program; and provided payments to first handlers of cottonseed and sugarcane processors and producers who suffered hurricane losses, sugarbeet producers who suffered losses due to drought or flood, and producers of specialty crops.
See Also: 
Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003.  cottonseed.  Crop Disaster Program.  Livestock Assistance Program.  Livestock Compensation Program.  Tobacco Payment Program.  

Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002
Title II, Subtitle B, of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002, which requires that entities such as private, state, and federal research laboratories, universities, and vaccine companies that possess, use, or transfer biological agents or toxins deemed a threat to public health or animal or plant health or products, register these agents with the appropriate federal department. See Overlap agents.
See Also: 
biological agents.  Overlap agents.  plant.  

Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP)
A former program that carried out conservation and environmental protection practices on agricultural land. ACP was a cost-sharing program between agricultural producers, federal and state agencies, and other groups. Cost-sharing was available under annual or long-term agreements. In 1996, under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 334), the ACP was repealed and functions of the ACP were combined in the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
See Also: 
agricultural land.  conservation.  Environmental Quality Incentives Program.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  program.  

Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (P. L. 95-334)
Signed into law Aug. 4, 1978. This Act expanded the eligibility and increased the loan limits for real estate and other Farmers Home Administration farmer program loans, provided for loan servicing and forbearance, provided emergency credit, established new guaranteed loan authority, and established the Emergency Conservation Program.
See Also: 
Emergency Conservation Program.  forbearance.  loan.  loan servicing.  

Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-233) (12 U.S.C. §§ 2001 et seq.)
Signed into law January 6, 1988. The law provided credit assistance to producers, strengthened the Farm Credit System, and facilitated the establishment of a secondary market for agricultural loans.
See Also: 
Farm Credit System.  secondary market.  

Agricultural Credit Associations (ACA)
Associations that have been created by the merger of one or more Federal Land Bank Associations and one or more Production Credit Associations, and that have received a transfer of authority to make and participate in long-term real estate mortgage loans.
See Also: 
Production Credit Associations.  

Agricultural Credit Bank(s) (ACB)
Banks created by the merger of a Farm Credit Bank and a Bank for Cooperatives. The ACBmakes loans of all kinds to agricultural, aquacultural, and public utility cooperatives, and is authorized to finance U.S. agricultural exports and provide international banking services for producer-owned cooperatives. See Farm Credit System (FCS).
See Also: 
authorized.  Farm Credit Bank.  Farm Credit System (FCS).  producer.  

Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-554)
Signed into law Oct. 28, 1992. Established the down-payment loan program under which loans are made to qualified beginning farmers and ranchers who make a 10 percent participation down payment on the farm to be purchased. Loans may be made to provide an amount equal to 30 percent of the purchase price or appraised value, whichever is lower, of the property to be acquired. The interest rate is set at 4 percent. The remaining balance, not to exceed 60 percent, may be guaranteed by Farm Service Agency.The purchase price or appraised value of the farm, whichever is lower, cannot exceed $250,000.
See Also: 
farm.  Farm Service Agency.  guaranteed.  loan.  program.  

Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund (ACIF)
Authorized by Title III of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, the ACIF provides direct and guaranteed farm ownership, farm operating, and emergency disaster loans to individuals, joint owners, farm cooperatives, and private domestic corporations and partnerships that are controlled by farmers and ranchers engaged primarily and directly in farming and ranching.
See Also: 
Authorized.  Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.  direct.  emergency disaster loans.  farm.  farm operating.  

Agricultural Credit Technical Corrections Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-399)
Signed into law August 17, 1988. The law corrected the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, restoring language that exempted mergers of the Farm Credit System institutions from state transfer taxes. It also permitted Farm Credit Banks to make long-term real estate loans and provide other financial assistance and discounts to Federal Land Bank Associations, and made technical corrections to authority for the Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation.
See Also: 
Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.  Farm Credit System.  Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation.  real estate loans.  

Agricultural Credits Act of 1923
Signed into law March 4, 1923. The Act provided for the creation of 12 regional Federal Intermediate Credit Banks to discount short- and intermediate-term loans made by commercial banks, livestock loan companies, and thrift institutions to farmers and ranchers.
See Also: 
livestock.  loan.  

Agricultural Economic Assistance Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-25)
Signed into law August 13, 2001. The Act directed the USDA to use specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds for market loss assistance payments to farm owners and producers who were eligible for a final FY2001 production flexibility contract payment (proportional to total 2001 flexibility contract payments received). The Act authorized the use ofCCCfunds for supplemental 2000 payments to qualifying (a) oilseed producers, (b) peanut producers, (c) wool and mohair producers, (d) tobacco producers (payments to Georgia producers could be made only if Georgia provided specified funds for such purpose), and (e) cottonseed producers and first handlers. Funds were also provided for agricultural promotion activities. The Act also established a $150,000 individual payment limitation on 2001loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains.
See Also: 
authorized.  CCC.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  eligible.  farm.  payment.  payment limitation.  production flexibility contract.  wool.  

Agricultural Export/Import Statistics Report
SeeBICO report.
See Also: 
BICO report.  

Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967 (P.L. 90-288) (7 U.S.C. §§ 2301 et seq.)
Signed into law April 16, 1968. The Act, administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service, enables producers to file complaints with the USDA if processors refuse to deal with them because they are members of a producers' bargaining association or marketing association. This statute makes it unlawful for handlers to coerce, intimidate, or discriminate against producers because they belong to such associations. The USDA will institute court proceedings when rights are found to have been violated.
See Also: 
Agricultural Marketing Service.  bargaining association.  marketing association.  

Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-460)
The Act requires a report to the Secretary of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural lands. Foreign persons (including foreign governments and corporations with at least 10 percent foreign ownership) who hold, acquire, or transfer any interest in agricultural land (other than a security interest) must disclose their ownership. No barrier to foreign ownership is included in the Act. Foreign ownership accounts for one percent of all U.S. agricultural lands.
See Also: 
agricultural land.  security interest.  

Agricultural Genome Initiative
A program first authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Sec. 1671) as the Plant Genome Mapping Program and amended by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996(Sec. 835) and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of2002 (Sec. 7208). The goals of the Initiative are to expand knowledge concerning genomes forspecies of importance to the food and agriculture sectors, focus on the species that will yield scientifically important results, build on other genome research to understand gene structure and function, develop improved bioinformatics to enhance both gene sequencing or structure determination and analysis of the biological function of genes and gene products, and to encourage collaboration and accessibility.
See Also: 
authorized.  bioinformatics.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.  gene sequencing.  genome.  Plant Genome Mapping Program.  program.  species.  

Agricultural Loan Mediation Program
See Certified mediation program, and State mediation grants.
See Also: 
Certified mediation program.  State mediation grants.  

Agricultural Management Assistance (Program) (AMA and AMAP)
A program, first established by theAgricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Title I, Sec. 133) and amended by theFarm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002(Sec. 2501), to provide cost-share payments to producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures orirrigation structures, plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality, and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming. Assistance is available in 15 states where participation in the federal crop insurance program is historically low.
See Also: 
Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.  conservation.  cost-share.  erosion.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  farming.  federal crop insurance program.  integrated pest management.  irrigation.  organic.  program.  soil erosion.  

Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA) (7 U.S.C. §§ 7201 et seq.)
Title I of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 that authorized the use of production flexibility contracts. See Agricultural Market Transition program.
See Also: 
Agricultural Market Transition program.  authorized.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  

Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA) payment(s)
See Production flexibility contract payment(s).
See Also: 
Production flexibility contract payment(s).  

Agricultural Market Transition program
With passage of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Title I), the level of income support was no longer determined by current commodity prices or levels of production. Restrictions on acreage and crops planted were substantially reduced. Theseincome supports were scheduled to be phased out by 2002, but nonrecourse loans and the marketing loan provisions were to be retained. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 replaced this program with fixed direct payments.
See Also: 
acreage.  commodity.  Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  income support.  marketing loan.  program.  

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. §§ 1621 et. seq.)
Signed into law Aug. 14, 1946. This Act amended the Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935 to broaden basic research authority to include marketing and distribution, barriers to free trade, new market opportunities, farm problems that may arise in the future, and related activities. The Act also set grading standards for agricultural products, and authorized voluntary inspection and certification for conformity.
See Also: 
authorized.  Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935.  basic research.  farm.  inspection.  market.  marketing.  

Agricultural Marketing Agreements Act of 1937 (P.L. 75-137) (7 U.S.C. §§ 601 et. seq.)
Signed into law June 3, 1937. This Act allowed the USDA to enter into agreements with processors, producers, and producer associations for the promulgation of marketing agreements and orders, including terms and conditions, administration of the Act, and enforcement, with the goal of establishing orderly marketing and fair prices.
See Also: 
marketing.  producer.  

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
The USDA agency that administers programs and enforces regulations authorized by 31 different statutory authorities to make marketing more orderly and efficient. The AMSmission is carried out in eight broad areas: (a) market news; (b) standards, grading, and shell egg surveillance; (c) market protection and promotion; (d) wholesale market development; (e) transportation services; (f) payments to states and possessions; (g) Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act program; and (h) strengthening agricultural markets and producer income. Its responsibilities include establishing grading standards for cotton, tobacco, meat, dairy products, poultry, eggs, fruits, nuts, and vegetables; operating grading services; and administering federal marketing orders and agreements. The agency also operates the federal-state Market News Service, in cooperation with agencies in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 territories, reporting up-to-the-minute information on prices, supply, and demand for agricultural commodities.
See Also: 
authorized.  cotton.  dairy products.  grading.  market.  marketing.  meat.  payments to states and possessions.  Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.  poultry.  producer.  program.  tobacco.  

Agricultural Mediation Program
See Certified mediation program, and State mediation grants.
See Also: 
Certified mediation program.  State mediation grants.  

Agricultural Program(s)
(1) See Program(s) (agricultural). (2) Under agricultural appropriations, the Agricultural Programs title includes the Office of the Secretary; Executive Operations; Chief Economist; National Appeals Division; Office of Budget and Program Analysis; Office of the Chief Information Officer; Common Computing Environment; Office of the Chief Financial Officer; Working Capital Fund; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; Agricultural Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments; Hazardous Materials Management; Departmental Administration; Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; Office of Communications; Office of the Inspector General; Office of the General Counsel; Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; Economic Research Service; National Agricultural Statistics Service; Agricultural Research Service; ARSBuildings and Facilities; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Research and Education Activities;Native American Institutions Endowment Fund; Extension Activities; Integrated Activities; Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceBuildings and Facilities; Agricultural Marketing Service -Marketing Services; Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply; Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; Food Safety and Inspection Service; Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Farm Service Agency; State Mediation Grants; Dairy Indemnity Program; Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account; Risk Management Agency; Federal Crop Insurance Corporation fund; Commodity Credit Corporation fund; and Hazardous Waste Management. It is proposed that the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Farm Assistance Programs, and the Emergency Conservation Program be added.
See Also: 
agricultural appropriations.  Agricultural Marketing Service.  Agricultural Research Service.  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.  Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.  Commodity Credit Corporation.  Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.  Dairy Indemnity Program.  Economic Research Service.  Emergency Conservation Program.  Extension.  Farm.  Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.  Farm Service Agency.  Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.  Food Safety.  Food Safety and Inspection Service.  Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply.  Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.  Hazardous Materials Management.  Hazardous Waste Management.  Integrated Activities.  Marketing and Regulatory Programs.  Marketing Services.  National Agricultural Statistics Service.  National Appeals Division.  Native American Institutions Endowment Fund.  Office of Communications.  Office of the General Counsel.  Office of the Inspector General.  Program.  Program(s) (agricultural).  Research, Education, and Economics.  Risk Management Agency.  Socially Disadvantaged.  State Mediation Grants.  Working Capital Fund.  

Agricultural Programs Adjustment Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-258)
Signed into law April 10, 1984. The law froze target price increases provided in the 1981 Act; authorized paid land diversions for feed grains, upland cotton, and rice; and provided a wheat payment-in-kind program for 1984.
See Also: 
authorized.  feed grains.  target price.  upland cotton.  

Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program (AQI)
Part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service pest and disease exclusion programs that protect American agriculture from exotic diseases and pests (in coordinationwith the U.S. Customs Service), as well as facilitate the entry of U.S. agricultural products into international markets. In 2003, the function of inspecting passengers and cargo at land border crossings with Mexico and Canada was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.
See Also: 
exclusion.  

Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-203)
Signed into law December 22, 1987. This Act is Title I of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. The Act set the 1988 and 1989crop year target prices for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, extra-long staple cotton, and rice, and limited the reduction of the 1988 and 1989 crop year loan rates. The Act also directed the USDA to implement a paid land diversion program for the 1988 and 1989 feed grain crops; reduce 1988 and 1989 peanut program, sugar program, and tobacco program costs by 1.4 percent; reduce honey loan levels; and reduce 1988 milk price-supports. The Act provided advance deficiency payments for the 1988 through 1990 crop years of wheat and feed grains at between 40 percent and 50 percent of the projected payment rate, and rice and upland cotton at between 30 percent and 50 percent of the projectedpayment rate. The Act significantly reformed payment limitation authority.
See Also: 
extra-long staple cotton.  feed grain.  feed grains.  loan.  Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987.  payment rate.  program.  tobacco.  upland cotton.  

Agricultural Research Facilities Planning and Closure Commission
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 authorized the creation of a commission to make recommendations to Congress on federal agricultural research facilities, including reviewing existing and proposed research facilities, and identifying those that should be closed, realigned, consolidated, or modernized. This authority was repealed in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Sec. 864).
See Also: 
authorized.  Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.  

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
The USDA agency that conducts basic, applied, and developmental research of regional, national, and international scope. ARSconducts research in the areas of livestock; plants; soil, water, and air quality; energy; food safety and quality; human nutrition; food processing, storage, and distribution efficiency; nonfood agricultural products; and international development.
See Also: 
applied.  basic.  livestock.  processing.  soil.  storage.  

Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) (P.L. 105-185)
Signed into law June 23, 1998. Reauthorization and reform of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and teaching programs. The Act mandated better integration of research with technology transfer and information dissemination activities, encouraged regional and multi-state cooperation, and sought to target research to the most worthy institutions and programs.
See Also: 
authorization.  extension.  technology transfer.  

Agricultural Resources Conservation Program (ARC