Bill > S281

This bill, the Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013, amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to strengthen rules regarding payments and benefits for commodity programs. It redefines "legal entity" to include various organizational structures and clarifies that general partnerships and joint ventures are not considered legal entities for these purposes. The bill establishes a payment limit of $125,000 per person or legal entity for covered commodities and peanuts, with specific sub-limits for marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments ($75,000) and other payments ($50,000). It also includes provisions for "spousal equity," allowing married couples to jointly receive up to twice the applicable payment limits if they meet certain criteria, such as operating separate farming operations before marriage or electing to receive payments separately, provided their combined payments do not exceed the doubled limit. Furthermore, the bill aims to ensure that irrevocable trusts are legitimate entities and not created solely to avoid payment limitations. It also revises rules to ensure that only "active farmers" receive payments, clarifying what constitutes active engagement in farming, including specific provisions for farm managers who make significant contributions to the operation. These changes are set to apply beginning with the 2014 crop year.