Notice2021-27015
Notice of Funds Availability; Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 14, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFarm Service Agency
Abstract
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this notice announcing the availability of $50 million for the new Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) to provide assistance to producers that sold hogs through a negotiated sale from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020, the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eligibility requirements, payment calculation, and application procedure for SMHPP are included in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 237 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71003-71007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27015]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
[Docket ID FSA-2021-0012]
Notice of Funds Availability; Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notification of funding availability.
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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this notice
announcing the availability of $50 million for the new Spot Market Hog
Pandemic Program (SMHPP) to provide assistance to producers that sold
hogs through a negotiated sale from April 16, 2020, through September
1, 2020, the period in which these producers faced the greatest
reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
eligibility requirements, payment calculation, and application
procedure for SMHPP are included in this notice.
DATES:
Funding availability: Implementation will begin December 14, 2021.
Comment Date: We will consider comments on the Paperwork Reduction
Act that we receive by: February 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the information
collection request. You may submit comments by any of the following
methods, although FSA prefers that you submit comments electronically
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket ID FSA-2021-0012. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail, Hand-Delivery, or Courier: Director, Safety Net
Division, FSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0510,
Washington, DC 20250-0522. In your comment, specify the docket ID FSA-
2021-0012.
You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. All comments received, including those
received by mail, will be posted without change and publicly available
on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Graham; telephone: (202) 720-
6825; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#165d7f7b7473647a6f385164777e777b566365727738717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c68dafaba4a3b4aabfe881b4a7aea7ab86b3b5a2a7e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA
Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice) or 844-433-2774 (toll-free
nationwide).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L.
116-136) provides funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the
COVID-19 pandemic by providing support for agricultural producers who
were impacted. The Secretary announced the USDA Pandemic Assistance for
Producers initiative on March 24, 2021. As a part of that initiative,
FSA is implementing SMHPP, as directed by the Secretary, to make
payments to producers that sold hogs through a negotiated sale from
April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020, the period in which these
producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
FSA and USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) have identified
negotiated hogs as a sector of the agricultural industry significantly
impacted by the pandemic that had not been adequately addressed by
previous pandemic relief programs and experienced the greatest market
price impacts out of all hog purchase types. Using a price analysis of
the average daily national negotiated sales during the pandemic
compared to the daily 5-year average for years 2015 through 2019. FSA
and AMS determined April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020, to be the
period with the greatest market impacts on hogs sold through a
negotiated sale due to the pandemic. The reduced market prices were a
result of fewer negotiated hogs being procured, packer production
decreases due to employee illness, and supply chain issues. This period
also generally aligns with the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
(CFAP) 2 eligibility period for swine, which ran from April 16, 2020,
through August 31, 2020.
Direct payments will be limited to hog producers located in the
United States. This assistance will be available to hog producers
through SMHPP as provided in this notice.
FSA is administering SMHPP under the general supervision and
direction of the FSA Administrator and AMS. AMS is providing technical
assistance to FSA, which includes, but is not limited to, sharing
expertise on the hog industry regarding the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the industry.
Definitions
The definitions in 7 CFR parts 718 and 1400 apply to SMHPP, except
as otherwise provided in this document. The following definitions also
apply.
Barrow means a neutered male swine, with the neutering performed
before the swine reached sexual maturity.
Boar means a sexually intact male swine.
Breeding stock means sows and boars.
Contract grower means a person or legal entity who grows or
produces eligible livestock under contract for or on behalf of another
person or entity. The contract grower's income is dependent upon the
successful production of livestock or offspring from livestock. The
contract grower does not have ownership in the livestock and is not
entitled to a share from sales proceeds of the livestock.
Gilt means a young female swine that has not produced a litter.
Hogs means barrows and gilts (excluding breeding stock).
Negotiated sale means a sale by a producer of hogs to a packer
under which the base price for the hogs is determined by seller-buyer
interaction and agreement on a delivery day. The hog industry also
refers to a negotiated sale as a cash or spot market sale. The hogs are
scheduled for delivery to the packer not more than 14 days after the
date on which the hogs are committed to the packer. A negotiated
formula sale is also considered a negotiated sale.
Negotiated formula sale means a hog or pork market formula sale
under which:
(1) The formula is determined by negotiation on a lot-by-lot basis;
and
(2) The hogs are scheduled for delivery to the packer not later
than 14 days after the date on which the formula is negotiated and the
hogs are committed to the packer.
Ownership interest means to have either a legal ownership interest
or a beneficial ownership interest in a legal entity. For the purposes
of administering SMHPP, a person or legal entity that owns a share or
stock in a legal entity that is a corporation, limited liability
company, limited partnership, or similar type entity where members hold
a legal ownership interest, and shares in the profits or losses of such
entity is considered to have an
[[Page 71004]]
ownership interest in such legal entity. A person or legal entity that
is a beneficiary of a trust or heir of an estate who benefits from the
profits or losses of such entity is considered to have a beneficial
ownership interest in such legal entity.
Packer means a packer as defined in section 201 of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191). Therefore, packer means any person
engaged in the business:
(a) Of buying livestock in commerce for purposes of slaughter;
(b) Of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products for
sale or shipment in commerce; or
(c) Of marketing meats, meat food products, or livestock products
in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or
distributor in commerce.
Producer means a person or legal entity who has ownership of the
hogs and whose production and facilities are located in the United
States.
Sold means the producer and packer agreed on the negotiated price
through a negotiated sale, and the producer delivered the hogs within
the time of that agreement. For SMHPP, a hog is considered sold on the
date of the agreement, rather than when the hog or payment is
delivered.
Sow means an adult female swine that has produced one or more
litters.
Swine means domesticated omnivorous pig, hog, or boar.
United States means all 50 states of the United States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any other
territory or possession of the United States.
Eligible Hogs
Eligible hogs are hogs sold through a negotiated sale by producers
from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020. FSA is providing
assistance for these hogs because USDA has determined producers that
sold hogs through negotiated sales were affected by the greatest
reduction in market prices of swine producers due to the COVID-19
pandemic during this period. The hogs must have been physically located
in the United States at the time of sale.
Eligible Producers
An eligible producer is a person or legal entity who has ownership
of the eligible hogs and whose production and facilities are located in
the United States.
To be eligible for SMHPP, a producer must be any of the following:
(1) Citizen of the United States;
(2) Resident alien, which for purposes of this subpart means
``lawful alien'' as defined in 7 CFR part 1400;
(3) Partnership of citizens or resident aliens of the United
States;
(4) Corporation, limited liability company, or other organizational
structure organized under State law solely owned by U.S. citizens or
resident aliens; or
(5) Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4(b)
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
Eligible producers must have sold the hogs through negotiated sale
contract during the time frame of April 16, 2020, through September 1,
2020.
Ineligible Producers
Ineligible producers include:
(1) Contract growers;
(2) Federal, State, and local governments, including public
schools;
(3) Packers; and
(4) Producers for hog purchases through all other purchase types
including:
--Other market formula,
--Swine or pork market formula,
--Other purchase arrangements, and
--Packer owned.
Application Process
FSA will accept applications from December 15, 2021, through
February 25, 2022. To apply for SMHPP, eligible producers must submit a
complete form FSA-940, Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP)
Application. Applications may be submitted to any FSA county office in
person or by mail, email, facsimile, or other methods announced by FSA.
Producers must also submit all of the following items, if not
previously filed with FSA:
<bullet> Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet for new customers or
existing customers needing to update their customer profile;
<bullet> Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or
legal entity as provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
<bullet> Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if
applicable);
<bullet> Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information, for the
2020 program year for the person or legal entity, including the legal
entity's members, partners, shareholders, heirs, or beneficiaries as
provided in 7 CFR part 1400;
<bullet> Form FSA-1123, Certification of 2020 Adjusted Gross
Income, if applicable; and
<bullet> A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to
as HELC) and wetland conservation certification as provided in 7 CFR
part 12 (form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and
Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification for the SMHPP producer and
applicable affiliates.
Producers must submit all required eligibility documentation
specified above, as applicable, no later than 60 days from the date a
producer signs and submits the form FSA-940. If the producer does not
timely submit the required eligibility forms, or a member who is
required to submit the form AD-1026 does not do so, FSA will not issue
a payment. When the other required eligibility forms are not timely
submitted for a member of a legal entity, FSA will reduce the payment
based on the member's ownership interest in the legal entity.
If requested by FSA, the producer must provide supporting
documentation to verify the accuracy of information provided on the
application, including to substantiate the number of hogs reported on
the application. Examples of supporting documentation that may be
requested include negotiated sale agreement, veterinarian records,
feeding records, inventory records, rendering receipts, purchase
receipts, slaughter sheets (kill sheets), invoices, and other records
determined acceptable by FSA. If any supporting documentation is
requested to verify the sales of hogs sold through a negotiated sale,
the documentation must be submitted to FSA within 30 days from the
request or the application will be disapproved by FSA.
Payment
SMHPP payments compensate eligible hog producers for hogs sold
through a negotiated sale from April 16, 2020, through September 1,
2020. To simplify administration of SMHPP, FSA and AMS has determined a
single payment rate of $54 per head.
USDA calculated the average daily difference in the negotiated
sales price during the applicable time frame, compared to the daily 5-
year average for negotiated sales prices during April 16 through
September 1 for years 2015 through 2019. The average daily difference
was equal to $77 per hog based on the average carcass weight that was
submitted to AMS through livestock mandatory reporting.
The SMHPP payment rate of $54 per head is equal to the $77 per head
minus the CFAP 2 rate of $23 per head. CFAP 2 paid for the highest hog
inventory from April 16, 2020, through August 31, 2020. CFAP 2 was
available to all swine producers who qualified under the terms and
conditions of such program
[[Page 71005]]
and the application period for CFAP 2 was extended, ending October 12,
2021, to allow additional time for all eligible producers to apply.
SMHPP is therefore not intended to cover pandemic impacts that were or
could have been compensated under CFAP 2; accordingly, the CFAP 2 hog
payment rate of $23 per head has been deducted from the calculated
payment rate for SMHPP.
SMHPP payments will be calculated by multiplying the number of head
of eligible hogs, not to exceed 10,000 head, by the payment rate per
head of $54. FSA will issue payments to eligible hog operations as
applications are received and approved. SMHPP is not subject to payment
limitations.
Provisions Requiring Refund to FSA
In the event that any application for an SMHPP payment resulted
from erroneous information reported by the producer, the payment will
be recalculated, and the producer must refund any excess payment to
FSA, including interest to be calculated from the date of the
disbursement to the SMHPP producer. If, for whatever reason, FSA
determines that the producer misrepresented the total hogs sold through
a negotiated sale, the application will be disapproved, and the
producer must refund the full SMHPP payment to FSA with interest from
the date of disbursement. Any required refunds must be resolved in
accordance with 7 CFR part 3.
Miscellaneous Provisions
A person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or general
partnership, is ineligible for SMHPP payments if the person's or legal
entity's average adjusted gross income (AGI), using the average of the
adjusted gross incomes for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 tax years, exceeds
$900,000 as described in 7 CFR part 1400, subpart F, unless the
exception described below applies. With respect to joint ventures and
general partnerships, this average AGI provision will be applied to
members of the joint venture and general partnership. Average AGI
provisions are applicable to members, partners, stockholders, heirs,
and beneficiaries with an ownership interest in a legal entity,
including a general partnership or joint venture who are at or above
the fourth tier of ownership in the business structure. The eligible
hog producer's payment will be reduced by the portion of a payment
attributed to a member who exceeds the average $900,000 AGI limitation
or is otherwise ineligible for payment.
A person or legal entity whose average AGI exceeds $900,000 may
otherwise be eligible for SMHPP payments if the 2020 AGI alone is less
than $900,000. In order to qualify for this exception to the average
AGI limitation, persons or legal entities must submit form FSA-1123 to
certify that their 2020 AGI is not more than $900,000 and provide a
certification from a licensed CPA or attorney attesting to the accuracy
of the person's or legal entity's certification.
A payment made to a legal entity will be attributed to those
members who have a direct or indirect ownership interest in the legal
entity, unless the payment of the legal entity has been reduced by the
proportionate ownership interest of the member due to that member's
ineligibility.
Attribution of payments made to legal entities will be tracked
through four levels of ownership in legal entities as follows:
<bullet> First level of ownership--any payment made to a legal
entity that is owned in whole or in part by a person will be attributed
to the person in an amount that represents the direct ownership
interest in the first-tier or payment legal entity;
<bullet> Second level of ownership--any payment made to a first-
tier legal entity that is owned in whole or in part by another legal
entity (referred to as a second-tier legal entity) will be attributed
to the second-tier legal entity in proportion to the ownership of the
second-tier legal entity in the first-tier legal entity; if the second-
tier legal entity is owned in whole or in part by a person, the amount
of the payment made to the first-tier legal entity will be attributed
to the person in the amount that represents the indirect ownership in
the first-tier legal entity by the person;
<bullet> Third and fourth levels--except as provided in the second-
level of ownership bullet above, any payments made to a legal entity at
the third and fourth tiers of ownership will be attributed in the same
manner as specified in the second-level of ownership bullet above; and
<bullet> Fourth-tier ownership--if the fourth-tier of ownership is
that of a legal entity and not that of a person, a reduction in payment
will be applied to the first-tier or payment legal entity in the amount
that represents the indirect ownership in the first-tier or payment
legal entity by the fourth-tier legal entity.
Payments made directly or indirectly to a person who is a minor
child will not be combined with the earnings of the minor's parent or
legal guardian.
A producer that is a legal entity must provide the names,
addresses, ownership share, and valid taxpayer identification numbers
of the members holding an ownership interest in the legal entity.
Payments to a legal entity will be reduced in proportion to a member's
ownership share when a valid taxpayer identification number for a
person or legal entity that holds a direct or indirect ownership
interest, at or above the fourth level of ownership in the business
structure, is not provided to USDA.
If an individual or legal entity is not eligible to receive SMHPP
payments due to the individual or legal entity failing to satisfy some
other payment eligibility provision such as AGI or conservation
compliance provisions, the payment made either directly or indirectly
to the individual or legal entity will be reduced to zero. The amount
of the reduction for the direct payment to the producer will be
commensurate with the direct or indirect ownership interest of the
ineligible individual or ineligible legal entity.
General requirements that apply to other FSA-administered commodity
programs also apply to SMHPP, including compliance with the provisions
of 7 CFR part 12, ``Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation,''
and the provisions of 7 CFR 718.6, which address ineligibility for
benefits for offenses involving controlled substances. Appeal
regulations specified in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 and equitable relief
and finality provisions specified in 7 CFR part 718, subpart D, apply
to determinations under SMHPP. The determination of matters of general
applicability that are not in response to, or result from, an
individual set of facts in an individual participant's application for
payment are not matters that can be appealed. Such matters of general
applicability include, but are not limited to, the determination of
applicable time period for eligible negotiated sales and the payment
rate for SMHPP.
Participants are required to retain documentation in support of
their application for 3 years after the date of approval. Participants
receiving SMHPP payments or any other person who furnishes such
information to USDA must permit authorized representatives of USDA or
the Government Accountability Office, during regular business hours, to
enter the agricultural operation and to inspect, examine, and to allow
representatives to make copies of books, records, or other items for
the purpose of confirming the accuracy of the information provided by
the participant.
[[Page 71006]]
A producer may file an application with an FSA county office after
the SMHPP application deadline, and in such case the application will
be considered a request to waive the deadline. The Deputy Administrator
for Farm Programs, FSA (Deputy Administrator), has the discretion and
authority to consider the case and waive or modify application
deadlines and other requirements or program provisions not specified in
law, in cases where the Deputy Administrator determines it is equitable
to do so and where the Deputy Administrator finds that the lateness or
failure to meet such other requirements or program provisions do not
adversely affect the operation of SMHPP. Although producers have a
right to a decision on whether they filed applications by the deadline
or not, producers have no right to a decision in response to a request
to waive or modify deadlines or program provisions. The Deputy
Administrator's refusal to exercise discretion to consider the request
will not be considered an adverse decision and is, by itself, not
appealable.
Any payment under SMHPP will be made without regard to questions of
title under State law and without regard to any claim or lien. The
regulations governing offsets in 7 CFR part 3 apply to SMHPP payments.
In either applying for or participating in SMHPP, or both, the
producer is subject to laws against perjury and any penalties and
prosecution resulting therefrom, with such laws including but not
limited to 18 U.S.C. 1621. If the producer willfully makes and
represents as true any verbal or written declaration, certification,
statement, or verification that the producer knows or believes not to
be true, in the course of either applying for or participating in
SMHPP, or both, then the producer is guilty of perjury and, except as
otherwise provided by law, may be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5
years, or both, regardless of whether the producer makes such verbal or
written declaration, certification, statement, or verification within
or outside the United States.
For the purposes of the effect of a lien on eligibility for Federal
programs (28 U.S.C. 3201(e)), USDA waives the restriction on receipt of
funds under SMHPP but only as to beneficiaries who, as a condition of
the waiver, agree to apply the SMHPP payments to reduce the amount of
the judgment lien.
In addition to any other Federal laws that apply to SMHPP, the
following laws apply: 15 U.S.C. 714; and 18 U.S.C. 286, 287, 371, and
1001.
Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), FSA is requesting comments from interested individuals and
organizations on the information collection request associated with
SMHPP. After the 60-day period ends, the information collection request
will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a 3-
year approval to cover SMHPP information collection. To start the SMHPP
information collection approval, prior to publishing this notice, FSA
received emergency approval from OMB for 6 months. The emergency
approval covers SMHPP information collection activities.
Title: SMHPP.
OMB Control Number: 0560-NEW.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: FSA will make payments to producers that sold hogs
through negotiated sale from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020,
the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in
market prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. FSA is expected to
use an estimated $50 million in funds provided by the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136) to assist
producers under SMHPP.
For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the
formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated
average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual
responses.
Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this
information collection is estimated to average 0.32 hours per response
to include the time for reviewing instructions, searching for
information, gathering and maintaining the data, and completing and
reviewing the collection of information.
Type of Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other
for profit farms.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 23,113.
Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 1.965.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 45,417.
Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.31 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14,253.
We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information
collection to help us to:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether
the information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA's estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; or
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office
of Management and Budget approval.
Environmental Review
The environmental impacts have been considered in a manner
consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the FSA regulation
for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799).
As previously stated, SMHPP is providing payments to qualified hog
operations for financial losses of hogs sold through negotiated sale
from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020, due to low market
prices as a result of COVID-19. The limited discretionary aspects of
SMHPP do not have the potential to impact the human environment as they
are administrative. Accordingly, these discretionary aspects are
covered by the FSA Categorical Exclusions specified in 7 CFR
799.31(b)(6)(iii) that applies to price support programs and Sec.
799.31(b)(6)(vi) that applies to safety net programs.
No Extraordinary Circumstances (Sec. 799.33) exist. As such, the
implementation of SMHPP and the participation in SMHPP do not
constitute major Federal actions that would significantly affect the
quality of the human environment, individually or cumulatively.
Therefore, FSA will not prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement for this action and this document serves
as documentation of the programmatic environmental compliance decision
for this federal action.
Federal Assistance Programs
The title and number of the Federal assistance programs, as found
in the
[[Page 71007]]
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this document applies
is 10.144--Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program.
USDA Non-Discrimination Policy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family or parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for
prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (for example, braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 or 844-433-
2774 (toll-free nationwide). Additionally, program information may be
made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint">https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint</a> and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form
or letter to USDA by mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#155a545655606671743b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83ccc2c0c3f6f0e7e2ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Steven Peterson,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-27015 Filed 12-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.