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The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending regulations for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP is administered for CCC by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). NAP provides producers of crops that are not eligible for crop insurance with a basic level of risk management coverage. NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yield, loss of inventory, or prevented plantings occur due to a natural disaster. The rule includes changes to NAP required by the 2014 Farm Bill. The changes include revised NAP eligibility requirements for coverage on tilled native sod, and added coverage for sweet sorghum and biomass sorghum. Beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers will be eligible for service fee waivers. New "buy up" provisions will allow producers to buy additional NAP coverage for an additional premium. While the rule does not have a statutory deadline, the 2014 Farm Bill requires changes to the NAP program beginning with the 2015 coverage year, which begins as early as May 2014.  In addition to the 2014 Farm Bill changes, the rule also makes the following changes:

• Adds NAP coverage for organic crops.
• Expands NAP coverage for mollusks, a common aquaculture crop. Specifically, it removes the current requirement that eligible mollusk inventory be seeded and raised in containers or similar devices designed to protect the aquaculture species.

Statement of Need:

This rule is needed to update the FSA regulations to implement the 2014 Farm Bill changes.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79).

Alternatives:

There are no alternatives to this rule, the changes are legislatively mandated.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

A cost benefit analysis was prepared for this rule and will be made available when the rule is published.

Risks:

None.