This indemnity payment program will be carried out by FSA under the direction and supervision of the Deputy Administrator. In the field, the program will be administered by the State and county committees.

For purposes of this subject, the following terms shall have the meanings specified:

Affected farmer means a person who produces whole milk which is removed from the commercial market any time from:

(1) Pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of pesticide residues in such whole milk by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency, or

(2) Pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of other residues of chemicals or toxic substances residues, or contamination from nuclear radiation or fallout in such whole milk by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency.

Affected manufacturer means a person who manufactures dairy products which are removed from the commercial market pursuant to the direction of a public agency because of the detection of pesticide residue in such dairy products by tests made by a public agency or under a testing program deemed adequate for the purpose by a public agency.

Application period means any period during which an affected farmer's whole milk is removed from the commercial market pursuant to direction of a public agency for a reason specified in paragraph (k) of this section and for which application for payment is made.

Base period means the calendar month or 4-week period immediately preceding removal of milk from the market.

Chemicals or Toxic Substances means any chemical substance or mixture as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2602).

Commercial market means (1) the market to which the affected farmer normally delivers his whole milk and from which it was removed because of detection therein of a residue of a violating substance(s) or (2) the market to which the affected manufacturer normally delivers his dairy products and from which they were removed because of detection therein of pesticide residue.

Contaminated milk means milk containing elevated levels of any violating substance that may affect public health based on tests made by the applicable public agency and resulting in the removal of the milk from the commercial market.

County committee means the FSA county committee.

Depopulation means, consistent with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 1 definition, the rapid destruction of a population of cows with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable.

Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, FSA.

FSA means the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Milk handler means the marketing agency to or through which the affected dairy farmer marketed his whole milk at the time he was directed by the public agency to remove his whole milk from the commercial market.

Not marketable means no commercial market is available for affected cows to be slaughtered, processed, and marketed through the food chain system as determined by the Deputy Administrator.

Nuclear Radiation or Fallout means contamination from nuclear radiation or fallout from any source.

Pay period means (1) in the case of an affected farmer who markets his whole milk through a milk handler, the period used by the milk handler in settling with the affected farmer for his whole milk, usually biweekly or monthly, or (2) in the case of an affected farmer whose commercial market consists of direct retail sales to consumers, a calendar month.

Payment subject to refund means a payment which is made by a milk handler to an affected farmer, and which such farmer is obligated to refund to the milk handler.

Person means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity.

Pesticide means an economic poison which was registered pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 135 through 135k), and approved for use by the Federal Government.

Public agency means any Federal, State or local public regulatory agency.

Removed from the commercial market means (1) produced and destroyed or fed to livestock, (2) produced and delivered to a handler who destroyed it or disposed of it as salvage (such as separating whole milk, destroying the fat, and drying the skim milk), or (3) produced and otherwise diverted to other than the commercial market.

Same loss means the event or trigger that caused the milk to be removed from the commercial market. For example, if milk is contaminated, the original cause of the contamination was the trigger and any loss related to that contamination would be considered the same loss.

Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or any officer or employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to whom he has delegated, or to whom he may hereafter delegate, authority to act in his stead.

State committee means the FSA State committee.

Violating substance means one or more of the following, as defined in this section: Pesticide, chemicals or toxic substances, or nuclear radiation or fallout.

Whole milk means milk as it is produced by cows.

(a) The amount of an indemnity payment for milk, including, but not limited to organic milk, made to an affected farmer who is determined by the county committee to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart will be in the amount of the fair market value of the farmer's normal marketings for the application period, as determined in accordance with §§ 760.4 and 760.5, less:

(1) Any amount the affected farmer received for whole milk marketed during the application period; and

(2) Any payment not subject to refund that the affected farmer received from a milk handler with respect to milk removed from the commercial market during the application period.

(b) The eligible period for Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) benefits for milk for the same loss is limited to 3 calendar months from when the first claim for milk benefits is approved. Upon written request from an affected farmer on the milk indemnity form authorized by the Deputy Administrator, the Deputy Administrator may authorize, at the Deputy Administrator's discretion, additional months of benefits for the affected farmer for milk due to extenuating circumstances, which may include allowing additional time for public agency approval of a removal plan for cow indemnification and confirmation of site disposal for affected cows. Additionally, the Deputy Administrator has discretion to approve additional months based on issues that are beyond the control of the affected farmer who is seeking cow indemnification, as well as when the affected farmer is following a plan to reduce chemical residues in milk, cows, and heifers to marketable levels.

(a) The county committee shall determine the affected farmer's normal marketings which, for the purposes of this subpart, shall be the sum of the quantities of whole milk which such farmer would have sold in the commercial market in each of the pay periods in the application period but for the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market because of the detection of a residue of a violating substance.

(b) Normal marketings for each pay period are based on the average daily production during the base period.

(c) Normal marketings determined in paragraph (b) of this section are adjusted for any change in the daily average number of cows milked during each pay period the milk is off the market compared with the average number of cows milked daily during the base period.

(d) If only a portion of a pay period falls within the application period, normal marketings for such pay period shall be reduced so that they represent only that part of such pay period which is within the application period.

(a) The county committee shall determine the fair market value of the affected farmer's normal marketings, which, for the purposes of this subpart, shall be the sum of the net proceeds such farmer would have received for his normal marketings in each of the pay periods in the application period.

(b) The county committee shall determine the net proceeds the affected farmer would have received in each of the pay periods in the application period (1) in the case of an affected farmer who markets his whole milk through a milk handler, by multiplying the affected farmer's normal marketings for each such pay period by the average net price per hundred-weight of whole milk paid during the pay period by such farmer's milk handler in the same area for whole milk similar in quality and butterfat test to that marketed by the affected farmer in the base period used to determine his normal marketings, or (2) in the case of an affected farmer whose commercial market consists of direct retail sales to consumers, by multiplying the affected farmer's normal marketings for each such pay period by the average net price per hundredweight of whole milk, as determined by the county committee, which other producers in the same area who marketed their whole milk through milk handlers received for whole milk similar in quality and butterfat test to that marketed by the affected farmer during the base period used to determine his normal marketings.

(c) In determining the net price for whole milk, the county committee shall deduct from the gross price therefor any transportation, administrative, and other costs of marketing which it determines are normally incurred by the affected farmer but which were not incurred because of the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market.

The affected farmer shall furnish to the county committee complete and accurate information sufficient to enable the county committee or the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart. Such information shall include, but is not limited to:

(a) A copy of the notice from, or other evidence of action by, the public agency which resulted in the removal of the affected farmer's whole milk from the commercial market.

(b) The specific name of the violating substance causing the removal of his whole milk from the commercial market, if not included in the notice or other evidence of action furnished under paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) The quantity and butterfat test of whole milk produced and marketed during the base period. This information must be a certified statement from the affected farmer's milk handler or any other evidence the county committee accepts as an accurate record of milk production and butterfat tests during the base period.

(d) The average number of cows milked during the base period and during each pay period in the application.

(e) If the affected farmer markets his whole milk through a milk handler, a statement from the milk handler showing, for each pay period in the application period, the average price per hundred-weight of whole milk similar in quality to that marketed by the affected farmer during the base period used to determine his normal marketings. If the milk handler has information as to the transportation, administrative, and other costs of marketing which are normally incurred by producers who market through the milk handler but which the affected farmer did not incur because of removal of his whole milk from the market, the average price stated by the milk handler shall be the average gross price paid producers less any such costs. If the milk handler does not have such information, the affected farmer shall furnish a statement setting forth such costs, if any.

(f) The amount of proceeds, if any, received by the affected farmer from the marketing of whole milk produced during the application period.

(g) The amount of any payments not subject to refund made to the affected farmer by the milk handler with respect to the whole milk produced during the application period and remove from the commercial market.

(h) To the extent that such information is available to the affected farmer, the name of any pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance used on the farm within 24 months prior to the application period, the use made of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, the approximate date of such use, and the name of the manufacturer and the registration number, if any, on the label on the container of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance.

(i) To the extent possible, the source of the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance that caused the contamination of the whole milk, the results of any laboratory tests on the feed supply, and the monthly milk testing results that detail the chemical residue levels.

(j) Such other information as the county committee may request to enable the county committee or the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart.

(a) An indemnity payment for milk or cows (dairy cows including, but not limited to, bred and open heifers) may be made under this subpart to an affected farmer under the conditions in this section.

(b) If the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, in the contaminated milk was used by the affected farmer, the affected farmer must establish that each of the conditions in this section are met:

(1) That the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, when used, was registered (if applicable) and approved for use as provided in § 760.2(f);

(2) That the contaminated milk was not the result of the affected farmer's failure to use the pesticide, chemical, or toxic substance, according to the directions and limitations stated on the label; and

(3) That the contaminated milk was not otherwise the affected farmer's fault.

(c) If the violating substance in the contaminated milk was not used by the affected farmer, the affected farmer must establish that each of the conditions in this section are met:

(1) The affected farmer did not know or have reason to believe that any purchased feed contained a violating substance;

(2) None of the milk was produced by dairy cattle that the affected farmer knew, or had reason to know at the time they were acquired, had elevated levels of a violating substance; and

(3) The contaminated milk was not otherwise the affected farmer's fault.

(d) The affected farmer has adopted recommended practices and taken action to eliminate or reduce chemical residues of violating substances from the milk as soon as practicable following the initial discovery of the contaminated milk.

The affected farmer or his legal representative, as provided in §§ 760.25 and 760.29, must sign and file an application for payment on a form which is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator. The form must be filed with the county FSA office for the county where the farm headquarters are located no later than December 31 following the end of the fiscal year in which the loss occurred, or such later date as the Deputy Administrator may specify. The application for payment shall cover application periods of at least 28 days, except that, if the entire application period, or the last application period, is shorter than 28 days, applications for payment may be filed for such shorter period. The application for payment shall be accompanied by the information required by § 760.6 as well as any other information which will enable the county committee to determine whether the making of an indemnity payment is precluded for any of the reasons set forth in § 760.7. Such information shall be submitted on forms approved for the purpose by the Deputy Administrator.

(a) No indemnity payment shall be made for contaminated milk resulting from residues of chemicals or toxic substances if, within 30 days after receiving a complete application, the Deputy Administrator determines that other legal recouse is available to the farmer. An application shall not be deemed complete unless it contains all information necessary to make a determination as to whether other legal recourse is available to the farmer. However, notwithstanding such a determination, the Deputy Administrator may reopen the case at a later date and make a new determination on the merits of the case as may be just and equitable.

(b) In the event that a farmer receives an indemnity payment under this subpart, and such farmer is later compensated for the same loss by the person (or the representative or successor in interest of such person) responsible for such loss, the indemnity payment shall be refunded by the farmer to the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That the amount of such refund shall not exceed the amount of other compensation received by the farmer.

(c) For any affected farmer that exceeded 3 months of milk indemnity payments before December 13, 2021 no further payments for milk indemnity will be made for the same loss except as provided in § 760.3(b) and the affected farmer may apply for cow indemnity as specified in this subpart.

(d) An affected farmer that has an approved application for cow indemnity is no longer eligible for milk indemnity payments for the same loss.

(e) Cows purchased or bred after the initial discovery of the milk contamination are not eligible for DIPP benefits due to the same loss.

(a) The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) will determine eligibility for DIPP indemnification based on if the cows of the affected farmer are likely to be not marketable for 3 months or longer [from the date the affected farmer submits an application for cow indemnification per § 760.13]. The Deputy Administrator will review the following factors in making that determination:

(1) Milk testing results;

(2) Non marketability of affected cows through commercial marketing facilities;

(3) Type and source of chemical residues impacting the milk and animal tissues; and

(4) Projected duration for chemical residue reduction including the actions taken by the affected farmer to reduce the chemical residues to marketable levels since the affected cows were discovered.

(b) See § 760.11 for indemnity payment eligibility for bred and open heifers.

(c) Affected farmers applying for indemnification of cows, including heifers, must develop a removal plan both to permanently remove the affected cows by depopulating the cows.

(1) The removal plan for affected cows for which an affected farmer applies for indemnification under DIPP must be approved by the applicable public agency where the cows are located and must be in accordance with any applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and public agency depopulation and animal disposal requirements and guidelines, including contaminant disposal requirements, in the State where the affected cows are located.

(2) The approved removal plan must be submitted with the application for indemnification.

(d) The amount of an indemnity payment for cows to an affected farmer who is determined by the Deputy Administrator to be eligible for indemnification and by the county committee to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart will be based on the national average fair market value of the cows. DIPP cow indemnification will be based on the 100 percent value of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) rates as applicable for the calendar year for milk indemnification established for dairy cows, per head. For example, for a 100-cow farm: 100 cows multiplied by $1,300 (2021 LIP rate based on 100 percent value of average cow) = $130,000 payment.

(e) For any cow indemnification payment under this section or § 760.11, the affected farmer has the option to receive 50 percent of calculated payment in advance after application approval with the remaining fifty percent paid after the affected cows have been depopulated and removed. Otherwise, the affected farmer may choose to receive 100 percent of payment after cows have been depopulated and removed. Documented records of depopulation and removal of affected cows must be provided to FSA to the satisfaction of the county committee, before the final payment will be made.

(f) Upon written request from an affected farmer on a form authorized by the Deputy Administrator, the Deputy Administrator may approve, at the Deputy Administrator's discretion, indemnification of additional affected cows as specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through (3) of this section.

(1) The affected cows were depopulated or died above normal mortality rates for cows between approval of the affected farmer's application for the first month of milk indemnity and public agency approval of the affected farmer's removal plan for cow indemnification. Normal mortality rates established annually by the FSA State committee for their state for the following cow and heifer weight groups will be used:

(i) Dairy, nonadult less than 400 pounds;

(ii) Dairy, nonadult 400 pounds or more; and

(iii) Dairy, adult cow.

(2) This request may include both cows that were included in applications for milk indemnity and heifers that were affected from the same loss.

(3) An affected farmer making such a request must submit the information specified in § 760.12(c).

(g) Affected cows that are marketed as cull or for breeding are not eligible for indemnification.

(a) Bred (young dairy female in gestation) and open (young dairy female not in gestation) heifers that contain elevated levels of chemical residues as the result of the same loss may be eligible for indemnification through DIPP. For affected bred and open heifers participating affected farmers may receive indemnification if the farmer's dairy cows were determined to be likely not marketable for three months or longer according to § 760.10(a) and the Deputy Administrator determines the bred and open heifers to be eligible under paragraph (b) of this section. Except as provided in this section or otherwise stated in this subpart, the provisions in this subpart for cow indemnity apply equally to bred and open heifers, for example the removal requirements in § 760.10(b).

(b) The county committee will make the recommendation to the Deputy Administrator to determine if eligible bred and open heifers that have been affected by the same loss will likely be not marketable for 3 months or longer from the date the affected farmer submits an application for cow indemnification per § 760.13 because of elevated levels of chemical residues that will pass through milk once lactating. Affected farmers must provide the information specified in § 760.12(a) and (b) for the county committee to make a recommendation of eligibility to the Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator will take into consideration the recommendation of the county committee in making its eligibility determination.

(c) The amount of the cow indemnity for bred and open heifers will be based on the national average fair market value of the non-adult heifers. DIPP bred and open heifer indemnification will be based on the 100 percent value of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) rates as applicable for the calendar year of milk indemnification established for non-adult dairy, by weight range, per head. For example, for an affected farmer with 40 bred or open heifers at different weight ranges: 10 bred heifers at 800 pounds or more multiplied by $986.13 ($9861.30), 10 bred or open heifers at 400 to 799 pounds multiplied by $650.00 ($6500.00), 10 open heifers at 250 to 399 pounds multiplied by $325.00 ($3250.00), and 10 open heifers 250 pounds or less multiplied by $57.65 ($576.50) = $20,187.80 payment.

(a) To apply for DIPP for affected cows, the affected farmer must provide the county committee complete and accurate information to enable the Deputy Administrator to make the determinations required in this subpart in addition to providing the information requested in § 760.6(a), (b), (h), and (i), if not previously provided to FSA in a milk indemnity application. The information specified in this section must be submitted as part of the cow indemnity application and includes, but is not limited to, the following items:

(1) An inventory of all dairy cows as of the date of application including lactating cows, bred heifers, and open heifers on the farm;

(2) A detailed description and timeline of how, where, and when cows will be depopulated and permanently removed from the farm (the removal plan);

(3) Documentation of public agency approval of the removal plan for cow depopulation and cow and contaminate disposal in accordance with any applicable EPA and public agency disposal requirements and guidelines;

(4) Documentation from 2 separate commercial markets stating that such market declined to accept the affected cows through a cull cow market, slaughter facility, or processing facility due to elevated levels of chemical residues;

(5) Documentation of any projected timelines for reducing chemical residues, any actions the affected farmer has taken to reduce chemical residues to marketable levels including any documents verifying steps undertaken, and any professional assistance obtained, including, discussion of strategy with the public agencies; and

(6) Any other documentation that may support the determination that the affected cows or milk from such cows is likely to be not marketable for longer than 3 months; and other documentation as requested or determined to be necessary by the county committee or the Deputy Administrator.

(b) To apply for DIPP for bred and open heifers the affected farmer must provide the information specified in paragraph (a) of this section and: veterinarian records, blood test results, and other testing information requested by the county committee for the recommendation specified in § 760.11(b) and eligibility for indemnification.

(c) To request consideration for indemnification of affected cows and heifers under § 760.10(e), the affected farmer must submit the information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section to provide an accounting of affected cows and heifers that were depopulated or died above normal mortality rates for cows between approval of the affected farmer's application for the first month of milk indemnity and the public agency approval of the affected farmer's removal plan for cow indemnification.

(1) Herd health record documenting cow and heifer deaths; and

(2) Farm inventory or other record identifying the loss of dairy cows and heifers.

(d) The affected farmer certifies at application that once the cow indemnity application is approved, the affected farmer will dry off all lactating cows in a reasonable timeframe and discontinue milking.

(a) Any affected farmer may apply for cow indemnity under §§ 760.10 and 760.11. To apply for DIPP for affected cows, the affected farmer must sign and file an application for payment on a form that is approved for that purpose by the Deputy Administrator and provide the information described in § 760.12.

(b) The form must be filed with the FSA county office for the county where the farm headquarters is located by December 31 following the fiscal year end in which the affected farmer's milk was removed from the commercial market, except that affected farmers that have received 3 months of milk indemnity payments prior to December 13, 2021, must file the form within 120 days after December 13, 2021. Upon written request from an affected farmer and at Deputy Administrator's discretion, the deadline for that affected farmer may be extended.

An indemnity payment may be made to the affected manufacturer who is determined by the Deputy Administrator to be in compliance with all the terms and conditions of this subpart in the amount of the fair market value of the product removed from the commercial market because of pesticide residues, less any amount the manufacturer receives for the product in the form of salvage.

The affected manufacturer, or his legal representatives, shall file an application for payment with the Deputy Administrator, FSA, Washington, D.C., through the county office serving the county where the contaminated product is located. The application for payment may be in the form of a letter or memorandum. Such letter or memorandum, however, must be accompanied by acceptable documentation to support such application for payment.

The affected manufacturer shall furnish the Deputy Administrator, through the county committee, complete and accurate information sufficient to enable him to make the determination as to the manufacturer's eligibility to receive an indemnity payment. Such information shall include, but is not limited to:

(a) A copy of the notice or other evidence of action by the public agency which resulted in the product being removed from the commercial market.

(b) The name of the pesticide causing the removal of the product from the commercial market and, to the extent possible, the source of the pesticide.

(c) A record of the quantity of milk or butterfat used to produce the product for which an indemnity payment is requested.

(d) The identity of any pesticide used by the affected manufacturer.

(e) Such other information as the Deputy Administrator may request to enable him to make the determinations required in this subpart.

An indemnity payment may be made under this subpart to an affected manufacturer only under the following conditions:

(a) If the pesticide contaminating the product was used by the affected manufacturer, he establishes each of the following: (1) That the pesticide, when used, was registered and recommended for such use as provided in § 760.2(f); (2) that the contamination of his product was not the result of his failure to use the pesticide in accordance with the directions and limitations stated on the label of the pesticide; and (3) that the contamination of his product was not otherwise his fault.

(b) If the pesticide contaminating the product was not used by the affected manufacturer: (1) He did not know or have reason to believe that the milk from which the product was processed contained a harmful level of pesticide residue, and (2) the contamination of his product was not otherwise his fault.

(c) In the event that a manufacturer receives an indemnity payment under this subpart, and such manufacturer is later compensated for the same loss by the person (or the representative or successor in interest of such person) responsible for such loss, the indemnity payment shall be refunded by the manufacturer to the Department of Agriculture: Provided, That the amount of such refund shall not exceed the amount of other compensation received by the manufacturer.

(a) County executive directors and State and county committees do not have authority to modify or waive any of the provisions of the regulations in this subpart.

(b) The State committee may take any action authorized or required by the regulations in this subpart to be taken by the county committee when such action has not been taken by the county committee. The State committee may also:

(1) Correct, or require a county committee to correct, any action taken by such county committee which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart, or (2) require a county committee to withhold taking any action which is not in accordance with the regulations in this subpart.

(c) No delegation herein to a State or county committee shall preclude the Deputy Administrator or his designee from determining any question arising under the regulations in this subpart or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.

(a) A receiver of an insolvent debtor's estate and the trustee of a trust estate shall, for the purpose of this subpart, be considered to represent an insolvent affected farmer or manufacturer and the beneficiaries of a trust, respectively, and the production of the receiver or trustee shall be considered to be the production of the person or manufacturer he represents. Program documents executed by any such person will be accepted only if they are legally valid and such person has the authority to sign the applicable documents.

(b) An affected dairy farmer or manufacturer who is a minor shall be eligible for indemnity payments only if he meets one of the following requirements:

(1) The right of majority has been conferred on him by court proceedings or by statute;

(2) A guardian has been appointed to manage his property and the applicable program documents are signed by the guardian; or

(3) A bond is furnished under which the surety guarantees any loss incurred for which the minor would be liable had he been an adult.

The appeal regulations issued by the Administrator, FSA, part 780 of this chapter, shall be applicable to appeals by dairy farmers or manufacturers from determinations made pursuant to the regulations in this subpart.

(a) If the affected farmer or manufacturer is indebted to any agency of the United States and such indebtedness is listed on the county debt record, indemnity payments due the affected farmer or manufacturer under the regulations in this part shall be applied, as provided in the Secretary's setoff regulations, part 13 of this title, to such indebtedness.

(b) Compliance with the provisions of this section shall not deprive the affected farmer or manufacturer of any right he would otherwise have to contest the justness of the indebtedness involved in the setoff action, either by administrative appeal or by legal action.

If the indemnity payment disbursed to an affected farmer or to a manufacturer exceeds the amount authorized under the regulations in this subpart, the affected farmer or manufacturer shall be personally liable for repayment of the amount of such excess.

In the case of the death, incompetency, or disappearance of any affected farmer or manufacturer who would otherwise receive an indemnity payment, such payment may be made to the person or persons specified in the regulations contained in part 707 of this chapter. The person requesting such payment shall file Form FSA-325, “Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died, Disappeared, or Have Been Declared Incompetent,” as provided in that part.

(a) The affected farmer, as well as his milk handler and any other person who furnished information to such farmer or to the county committee for the purpose of enabling such farmer to receive a milk indemnity payment under this subpart, shall maintain any existing books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. The affected farmer, his milk handler, and any other person who furnishes such information to the affected farmer or to the county committee shall permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.

(b) The affected manufacturer or any other person who furnishes information to the Deputy Administrator for the purposes of enabling such manufacturer to receive an indemnity payment under this subpart shall maintain any books, records, and accounts supporting any information so furnished for 3 years following the end of the year during which the application for payment was filed. The affected manufacturer or any other person who furnishes such information to the Deputy Administrator shall permit authorized representatives of the Department of Agriculture and the General Accounting Office, during regular business hours, to inspect, examine, and make copies of such books, records, and accounts.

No assignment shall be made of any indemnity payment due or to come due under the regulations in this subpart. Any assignment or attempted assignment of any indemnity payment due or to come due under this subpart shall be null and void.

The Deputy Administrator shall cause to be prepared such forms and instructions as are necessary for carrying out the regulations in this subpart. Affected farmers and manufacturers may obtain information necessary to make application for a dairy indemnity payment from the county FSA office. Form FSA-373—Application for Indemnity Payment, is available at the county ASC office.

(a) Payment of indemnity claims will be contingent upon the availability of FSA funds to pay such claims. Claims will be, to the extent practicable within funding limits, paid from available funds, on a first-come, first-paid basis, based on the date FSA approves the application, until funds available in that fiscal year have been expended.

(b) DIPP claims received in a fiscal year after all available funds have been expended will not receive payment for such claims.