---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 9011"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "9011"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/9011"
units:
  - "Chapter 115 — Agricultural Commodity Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter I — Commodity Policy"
---

# §9011. Definitions


In this subchapter and subchapter II:

- (1) **Actual crop revenue—** The term “actual crop revenue”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) for a crop year, means the amount determined by the [Secretary](#20) under [section 9017(b) of this title](/usc/7/9017.md?p=b).
- (2) **Agriculture risk coverage—** The term “agriculture risk coverage” means coverage provided under [section 9017 of this title](/usc/7/9017.md).
- (3) **Agriculture risk coverage guarantee—** The term “agriculture risk coverage guarantee”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) for a crop year, means the amount determined by the [Secretary](#20) under [section 9017(c) of this title](/usc/7/9017.md?p=c).
- (4) **Base acres—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “base acres”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) on a farm, means the number of acres in effect under sections [8702](/usc/7/8702.md) and [8751](/usc/7/8751.md) of this title, as adjusted pursuant to sections [8711](/usc/7/8711.md), [8718](/usc/7/8718.md), and [8752](/usc/7/8752.md) of this title, as in effect on September 30, 2013, subject to any reallocation, adjustment, or reduction under [section 9012 of this title](/usc/7/9012.md).
  - (B) **Inclusion of generic base acres—** The term “[base acres](#4-A)” includes any [generic base acres](#10) planted to a [covered commodity](#6-A) as determined in [section 9014(b) of this title](/usc/7/9014.md?p=b).
- (5) **County coverage—** The term “county coverage” means [agriculture risk coverage](#2) selected under [section 9015(b)(1) of this title](/usc/7/9015.md?p=b-1) to be obtained at the county level.
- (6) **Covered commodity—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “covered commodity” means wheat, oats, and barley (including wheat, oats, and barley used for haying and grazing), corn, grain sorghum, long grain rice, [medium grain rice](#12), [pulse crops](#18), soybeans, [other oilseeds](#13), and peanuts.
  - (B) **Inclusion—** Effective beginning with the 2018 crop year, the term “[covered commodity](#6-A)” includes [seed cotton](#21).
- (7) **Effective price—** The term “effective price”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) for a crop year, means the price calculated by the [Secretary](#20) under [section 9016(b) of this title](/usc/7/9016.md?p=b) to determine whether [price loss coverage](#16) payments are required to be provided for that crop year.
- (8) **Effective reference price—** The term “effective reference price”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) for a crop year, means the lesser of the following:
  - (A) An amount equal to 115 percent of the [reference price](#19-A) for such [covered commodity](#6-A).
  - (B) An amount equal to the greater of—
    - (i) the [reference price](#19-A) for such [covered commodity](#6-A); or
    - (ii) beginning with the crop year 2025, 88 percent of the average of the marketing year average price of the [covered commodity](#6-A) for the most recent 5 crop years, excluding each of the crop years with the highest and lowest marketing year average price.
- (9) **Extra long staple cotton—** The term “extra long staple cotton” means cotton that—
  - (A) is produced from pure strain varieties of the Barbadense species or any hybrid of the species, or other similar types of [extra long staple cotton](#9), designated by the [Secretary](#20), having characteristics needed for various end uses for which [United States](#25) upland cotton is not suitable and grown in irrigated cotton-growing regions of the [United States](#25) designated by the [Secretary](#20) or other areas designated by the [Secretary](#20) as suitable for the production of the varieties or types; and
  - (B) is ginned on a roller-type gin or, if authorized by the [Secretary](#20), ginned on another type gin for experimental purposes.
- (10) **Generic base acres—** The term “generic base acres” means the number of [base acres](#4-A) for cotton in effect under [section 8702 of this title](/usc/7/8702.md), as adjusted pursuant to [section 8711 of this title](/usc/7/8711.md), as in effect on September 30, 2013, subject to any adjustment or reduction under [section 9012 of this title](/usc/7/9012.md).
- (11) **Individual coverage—** The term “individual coverage” means [agriculture risk coverage](#2) selected under [section 9015(b)(2) of this title](/usc/7/9015.md?p=b-2) to be obtained at the farm level.
- (12) **Medium grain rice—** The term “medium grain rice” includes short grain rice and [temperate japonica rice](#23).
- (13) **Other oilseed—** The term “other oilseed” means a crop of sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed, crambe, sesame seed, or any oilseed designated by the [Secretary](#20).
- (14) **Payment acres—** The term “payment acres”, with respect to the provision of [price loss coverage](#16) payments and [agriculture risk coverage](#2) payments, means the number of acres determined for a farm under [section 9014 of this title](/usc/7/9014.md).
- (15) **Payment yield—** The term “payment yield”, for a farm for a [covered commodity](#6-A)—
  - (A) means the yield used to make payments pursuant to section [8714](/usc/7/8714.md) or [8754](/usc/7/8754.md) of this title, as in effect on September 30, 2013; or
  - (B) means the yield established under [section 9013 of this title](/usc/7/9013.md).
- (16) **Price loss coverage—** The term “price loss coverage” means coverage provided under [section 9016 of this title](/usc/7/9016.md).
- (17) **Producer—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “producer” means an owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper that shares in the risk of producing a crop and is entitled to share in the crop available for marketing from the farm, or would have shared had the crop been produced.
  - (B) **Hybrid seed—** In determining whether a grower of hybrid seed is a [producer](#17-A), the [Secretary](#20) shall—
    - (i) not take into consideration the existence of a hybrid seed contract; and
    - (ii) ensure that program requirements do not adversely affect the ability of the grower to receive a payment under this chapter.
- (18) **Pulse crop—** The term “pulse crop” means dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas, and large chickpeas.
- (19) **Reference price—**
  - (A) **In general—** Effective beginning with the 2025 crop year, subject to subparagraphs [(B)](#19-B) and [(C)](#19-C), the term “reference price”, with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) for a crop year, means the following:
    - (i) For wheat, $6.35 per bushel.
    - (ii) For corn, $4.10 per bushel.
    - (iii) For grain sorghum, $4.40 per bushel.
    - (iv) For barley, $5.45 per bushel.
    - (v) For oats, $2.65 per bushel.
    - (vi) For long grain rice, $16.90 per hundredweight.
    - (vii) For [medium grain rice](#12), $16.90 per hundredweight.
    - (viii) For soybeans, $10.00 per bushel.
    - (ix) For [other oilseeds](#13), $23.75 per hundredweight.
    - (x) For peanuts, $630.00 per ton.
    - (xi) For dry peas, $13.10 per hundredweight.
    - (xii) For lentils, $23.75 per hundredweight.
    - (xiii) For small chickpeas, $22.65 per hundredweight.
    - (xiv) For large chickpeas, $25.65 per hundredweight.
    - (xv) For [seed cotton](#21), $0.42 per pound.
  - (B) **Effectiveness—** Effective beginning with the 2031 crop year, the [reference prices](#19-A) defined in [subparagraph (A)](#19-A) with respect to a [covered commodity](#6-A) shall equal the [reference price](#19-A) in the previous crop year multiplied by 1.005.
  - (C) **Limitation—** In no case shall a [reference price](#19-A) for a [covered commodity](#6-A) exceed 113 percent of the [reference price](#19-A) for such [covered commodity](#6-A) listed in [subparagraph (A)](#19-A).
- (20) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- (21) **Seed cotton—** The term “seed cotton” means unginned upland cotton that includes both lint and seed.
- (22) **State—** The term “State” means—
  - (A) a [State](#22);
  - (B) the District of Columbia;
  - (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
  - (D) any other territory or possession of the [United States](#25).
- (23) **Temperate japonica rice—** The term “temperate japonica rice” means rice that is grown in high altitudes or temperate regions of high latitudes with cooler climate conditions, in the Western [United States](#25), as determined by the [Secretary](#20), for the purpose of—
  - (A) the reallocation of [base acres](#4-A) under [section 9012 of this title](/usc/7/9012.md);
  - (B) the establishment of a [reference price](#19-A) (as required under [section 9016(g) of this title](/usc/7/9016.md?p=g)) and an [effective price](#7) pursuant to [section 9016 of this title](/usc/7/9016.md); and
  - (C) the determination of the [actual crop revenue](#1) and [agriculture risk coverage guarantee](#3) pursuant to [section 9017 of this title](/usc/7/9017.md).
- (24) **Transitional yield—** The term “transitional yield” has the meaning given the term in [section 1502(b) of this title](/usc/7/1502.md?p=b).
- (25) **United States—** The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, means all of the [States](#22).
- (26) **United States Premium Factor—** The term “United States Premium Factor” means the percentage by which the difference in the [United States](#25) loan schedule premiums for Strict Middling (SM) 1⅛-inch upland cotton and for Middling (M) 1<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>32</sub>-inch upland cotton exceeds the difference in the applicable premiums for comparable international qualities.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1111, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 659; Pub. L. 115–123, div. F, § 60101(a)(1)–(3), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 308; Pub. L. 115–334, title I, § 1101, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4500; Pub. L. 119–21, title I, § 10301, July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 86.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle A (§§ 1101–1109) of title I of Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 658, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

This chapter, referred to in par. (17)(B)(ii), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 658, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

### Amendments

2025—Par. (8)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10301(a), substituted “beginning with the crop year 2025, 88” for “85”.

Par. (19). Pub. L. 119–21, § 10301(b), added par. (19) and struck out former par. (19) which related to reference prices with respect to covered commodities for a crop year.

2018—Par. (6). Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(1), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted heading, and added subpar. (B).

Pars. (8) to (18). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1101, added par. (8) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (17) as (9) to (18), respectively. Former par. (18) redesignated (19).

Par. (18)(O). Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(2), added subpar. (O).

Par. (19). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1101(1), redesignated par. (18) as (19). Former par. (19) redesignated (20).

Pars. (20) to (25). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1101(1), redesignated pars. (19) to (24) as (20) to (25), respectively. Former par. (25) redesignated (26).

Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(3), added par. (20) and redesignated former pars. (20) to (24) as (21) to (25), respectively.

Par. (26). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1101(1), redesignated par. (25) as (26).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–123, div. F, § 60101(a)(13), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 311, provided that: “Except as provided in paragraph (10) [amending section 1508b of this title], the amendments made by this subsection [amending this section and sections 1508b, 9013 to 9016, and 9032 of this title] shall apply beginning with the 2018 crop year.”

### Administration

Pub. L. 115–123, div. F, § 60101(a)(12), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 311, provided that: “The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out the amendments made by this subsection [amending this section and sections 1508b, 9013 to 9016, and 9032 of this title] in accordance with section 1601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9091).”

### Popcorn Acreage

Pub. L. 108–7, div. A, title VII, § 767, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 48, as amended by Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1609(c), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 709, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of administering subtitle A of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 [7 U.S.C. 9011 et seq.], acreage planted to, or prevented from being planted to, popcorn shall be considered as acreage planted to, or prevented from being planted to, corn: Provided, That if a farm program payment yield for corn is otherwise established for a farm under such subtitle, the same yield shall be used for the acreage on the farm planted to, or prevented from being planted to, popcorn: Provided further, That with respect to all other farms, the farm program payment yield for such popcorn acreage shall be established by the Secretary on a fair and equitable basis to reflect the farm program payment yields for corn on similar farms in the area.”