# Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act of 2023

This bill addresses a problem that many farmers face when disaster strikes: getting help from federal agriculture programs. The core issue is that some farmers have been unfairly excluded or had difficulty accessing government assistance programs designed to help when crops are damaged by weather, disease, or other disasters. This bill aims to make sure those disaster relief programs are available to all eligible farmers, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The legislation focuses on removing barriers that have prevented certain farmers from getting the support they need. Specifically, it works to ensure that federal disaster assistance—money and resources provided when farming operations suffer significant losses—reaches farmers who qualify but may have been overlooked or faced unnecessary obstacles in the application process. This could include farmers from underrepresented groups, beginning farmers, or those who faced discrimination in the past. The bill essentially says that if you're a farmer who meets the basic requirements and your operation has been damaged by a disaster, you should be able to access these federal programs without facing extra hurdles.

For most farmers, this means clearer pathways to get help when they need it most. If your crops are destroyed by a hurricane, drought, or disease outbreak, these disaster programs can be the difference between staying in business and losing your farm. By making access fairer and more transparent, the bill helps ensure that government assistance actually reaches the people it's intended to help, rather than being distributed unevenly or going to some farmers while others are left out.

Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act of 2023

Padilla, Alex

Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act&nbsp;of 2023This 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<ul><li>Livestock Indemnity Program;</li><li>Livestock Forage Disaster Program;</li><li>Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program;</li><li>Tree Assistance Program; and</li><li>Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.</li></ul>