---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 9014"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "9014"
heading: "Payment acres"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/9014"
units:
  - "Chapter 115 — Agricultural Commodity Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter I — Commodity Policy"
---

# §9014. Payment acres

- (a) **Determination of payment acres—**
  - (1) **General rule—** For the purpose of [price loss coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=16) and [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) when [county coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=5) has been selected under [section 9015(b)(1) of this title](/usc/7/9015.md?p=b-1), but subject to [subsection (e)](#e), the [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) for each [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on a farm shall be equal to 85 percent of the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for the [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm.
  - (2) **Effect of individual coverage—** In the case of [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) when [individual coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=11) has been selected under [section 9015(b)(2) of this title](/usc/7/9015.md?p=b-2), but subject to [subsection (e)](#e), the [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) for a farm shall be equal to 65 percent of the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for all of the [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm.
- (b) **Treatment of generic base acres—**
  - (1) **In general—** In the case of [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10), [price loss coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=16) payments and [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) payments are made only with respect to [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) planted to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) for the crop year.
  - (2) **Attribution—** With respect to a farm containing [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10), for the purpose of applying paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2) of subsection (a), [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm are attributed to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) in the following manner:
    - (A) If a single [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) is planted and the total acreage planted exceeds the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm, the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) are attributed to that [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) in an amount equal to the total number of [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10).
    - (B) If multiple [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) are planted and the total number of acres planted to all [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm exceeds the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm, the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) are attributed to each of the [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm on a pro rata basis to reflect the ratio of—
      - (i) the acreage planted to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm; to
      - (ii) the total acreage planted to all [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm.
    - (C) If the total number of acres planted to all [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) on the farm does not exceed the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm, the number of acres planted to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) is attributed to that [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A).
  - (3) **Treated as additional acreage—** When [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) are planted to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) or acreage planted to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) is attributed to [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10), the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) are in addition to other [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) on the farm.
  - (4) **Seed cotton—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after February 9, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall require the owner of a farm to allocate all [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm under subparagraph [(B)](#b-4-B) or [(C)](#b-4-C), or both.
    - (B) **No recent history of covered commodities—** In the case of a farm on which no [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) (including [seed cotton](/usc/7/9011.md?p=21)) were planted or were prevented from being planted at any time during the 2009 through 2016 crop years, the owner of such farm shall allocate [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm to unassigned crop base for which no payments may be made under section [9016](/usc/7/9016.md) or [9017](/usc/7/9017.md) of this title.
    - (C) **Recent history of covered commodities—** In the case of a farm not described in [subparagraph (B)](#b-4-B), the owner of such farm shall allocate [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm—
      - (i) subject to [subparagraph (D)](#b-4-D), to [seed cotton](/usc/7/9011.md?p=21) [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) in a quantity equal to the greater of—
        - (I) 80 percent of the [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm; or
        - (II) the average number of [seed cotton](/usc/7/9011.md?p=21) acres planted or prevented from being planted on the farm during the 2009 through 2012 crop years (not to exceed the total [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on the farm); or
      - (ii) to [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) (including [seed cotton](/usc/7/9011.md?p=21)), by applying subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), and (F) of [section 9012(a)(3) of this title](/usc/7/9012.md?p=a-3).
    - (D) **Treatment of residual generic base acres—** In the case of a farm on which [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) are allocated under [subparagraph (C)(i)](#b-4-C-i), the residual [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) shall be allocated to unassigned crop base for which no payments may be made under section [9016](/usc/7/9016.md) or [9017](/usc/7/9017.md) of this title.
    - (E) **Effect of failure to allocate—** In the case of a farm not described in [subparagraph (B)](#b-4-B) for which the owner of the farm fails to make an election under [subparagraph (C)](#b-4-C), the owner of the farm shall be deemed to have elected to allocate all [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) in accordance with [subparagraph (C)(i)](#b-4-C-i).
- (c) **Exclusion—** The quantity of [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) determined under [subsection (a)](#a) may not include any crop subsequently planted during the same crop year on the same land for which the first crop is eligible for [price loss coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=16) payments or [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) payments, unless the crop was approved for double cropping in the county, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20).
- (d) **Effect of minimal payment acres—**
  - (1) **Prohibition on payments—** Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm may not receive [price loss coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=16) payments or [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) payments if the sum of the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) on the farm is 10 acres or less, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20), unless the sum of the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) on the farm, when combined with the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) of other farms in which the [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) has an interest, is more than 10 acres.
  - (2) **Exceptions—** [Paragraph (1)](#d-1) does not apply to a [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) that is—
    - (A) a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in [section 2003(e) of this title](/usc/7/2003.md?p=e));
    - (B) a limited resource farmer or rancher, as defined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20);
    - (C) a beginning farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of [section 2279 of this title](/usc/7/2279.md)); or
    - (D) a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of [section 2279 of this title](/usc/7/2279.md)).
- (e) **Effect of planting fruits and vegetables—**
  - (1) **Reduction required—** In the manner provided in this subsection, [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) on a farm shall be reduced in any crop year in which fruits, vegetables (other than mung beans and [pulse crops](/usc/7/9011.md?p=18)), or wild rice have been planted on [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) on a farm.
  - (2) **Price loss coverage and county coverage—** In the case of [price loss coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=16) payments and agricultural risk coverage payments using [county coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=5), the reduction under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be the amount equal to the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) planted to crops referred to in such paragraph in excess of 15 percent of [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A).
  - (3) **Individual coverage—** In the case of agricultural risk coverage payments using [individual coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=11), the reduction under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be the amount equal to the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) planted to crops referred to in such paragraph in excess of 35 percent of [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A).
  - (4) **Reduction exceptions—** No reduction to [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) shall be made under this subsection if—
    - (A) cover crops or crops referred to in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) are grown solely for conservation purposes and not harvested for use or sale, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20); or
    - (B) in any region in which there is a history of double-cropping [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) with crops referred to in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) and such crops were so double-cropped on the [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20).
  - (5) **Effect of reduction—** For each crop year for which fruits, vegetables (other than mung beans and [pulse crops](/usc/7/9011.md?p=18)), or wild rice are planted to [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) on a farm for which a reduction in [payment acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=14) is made under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall consider such [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) to be planted, or prevented from being planted, to a [covered commodity](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) for purposes of any adjustment or reduction of [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for the farm under [section 9012 of this title](/usc/7/9012.md).
- (f) **Unassigned crop base—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall maintain information on [generic base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=10) on a farm allocated as unassigned crop base under [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1114, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 666; Pub. L. 115–123, div. F, § 60101(a)(5), (6), (11), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 308, 309, 311; Pub. L. 115–334, title I, § 1104, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4502.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), 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

2018—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(11), substituted “paragraphs (1) and (2)” for “paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B)”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(5), added par. (4).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1104(1)(A), inserted “, unless the sum of the base acres on the farm, when combined with the base acres of other farms in which the producer has an interest, is more than 10 acres” before period at end.

Subsec. (d)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1104(1)(B), added subpars. (C) and (D).

Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 115–334, § 1104(2), added par. (5).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–123, § 60101(a)(6), added subsec. (f).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–123 applicable beginning with the 2018 crop year, see section 60101(a)(13) of Pub. L. 115–123, set out as a note under section 9011 of this title.