(a) A producer will be eligible for payments under this subpart for a crop, tree, bush, or vine loss only if the producer suffered a loss to the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit due to a qualifying disaster event.

(b) For a loss due to hurricane and conditions related to hurricanes, the crop, tree, bush, or vine loss must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:

(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a hurricane occurring in the 2017 calendar year; or

(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a hurricane occurring in the 2017 calendar year.

(c) A producer with crop, tree, bush, or vine losses on acreage not located in a physical location county that was eligible under paragraph (b)(1) of this section will be eligible for 2017 WHIP for losses due to hurricane and related conditions only if the producer provides supporting documentation that is acceptable to FSA from which the FSA county committee determines that the loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.

(d) For a loss due to wildfires and conditions related to wildfire in the 2017 calendar year, all counties where wildfires occurred, as determined by FSA county committees, are eligible for 2017 WHIP; a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation for wildfire is not required. The loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine must be reasonably related to wildfire and conditions related to wildfire, as specified in this subpart's definition of qualifying disaster event.

(e) For WHIP+, for a loss due to a qualifying disaster event, the crop, tree, bush, or vine loss must have occurred on acreage that was physically located in a county that received a:

(1) Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration authorizing public assistance for categories C through G or individual assistance due to a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years; or

(2) Secretarial Disaster Designation for a qualifying disaster event occurring in the 2018 or 2019 calendar years.

(f) A producer with crop, tree, bush, or vine losses on acreage not located in a physical location county that was eligible under paragraph (b)(1) of this section will be eligible for WHIP+ for losses due to qualifying disaster events only if the producer provides supporting documentation that is acceptable to FSA from which the FSA county committee determines that the loss of the crop, tree, bush, or vine on the unit was reasonably related to a qualifying disaster event as specified in this subpart. Supporting documentation may include furnishing climatological data from a reputable source or other information substantiating the claim of loss due to a qualifying disaster event.

[83 FR 33801, July 18, 2018, as amended 84 FR 48530, Sept. 13, 2019]