Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act

This bill waives the adjusted gross income limitations for payments or benefits under specific Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs for a person or legal entity that derives a portion of their income from agriculture. (Currently, a person or entity is not eligible to receive certain benefits during a crop, fiscal, or program year if their average gross income exceeds $900,000.)

Specifically, in the case of an excepted payment or benefit, the adjusted gross income limitation is waived if 75% or more of the average adjusted gross income for the person or entity is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities. These activities include agritourism, direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products, and the sale of agricultural equipment owned by such person or entity.

The bill applies to the USDA

• Livestock Indemnity Program;
• Livestock Forage Disaster Program;
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program;
• Tree Assistance Program; and
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.