Who is a “producer” as defined by new Farm Bill?
Provided by Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension farm management specialist. Just who is a producer? The definition in the farm bill says the producer has to have an interest in the crop that is at risk, so that covers landowners with a crop share rental arrangement. But what about landowners who cash rent? People are asking that question this winter because they wonder what happens to a producer who cash rents and signs up for ACRE. Also, what happens to the election if the producer is no longer renting the ground in a year or two? Is the new cash rent tenant eligible to pick between the old program and ACRE, or does the ACRE election remain in force? If it does remain in force, does that mean existing cash rent tenants must get their landlord to sign off on the ACRE election? These are all good questions. First, understand that the landlord is one of the “at risk” persons for farm program purposes as defined by USDA’s Farm Service Agency in the 1996 Farm Bill. Cash rent lan
