drought monitor
(1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Covered livestock (i) In general The term “covered livestock” means livestock of an eligible livestock producer that, during the 60 days prior to the beginning date of a qualifying drought or fire condition, as determined by the Secretary, the eligible livestock producer— (I) owned; (II) leased; (III) purchased; (IV) entered into a contract to purchase; (V) is 1 a contract grower; or (VI) sold or otherwise disposed of due to qualifying drought conditions during— (aa) the current production year; or (bb) subject to paragraph (3)(B)(ii), 1 or both of the 2 production years immediately preceding the current production year. (ii) Exclusion The term “covered livestock” does not include livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot, on the beginning date of the qualifying drought or fire condition, as a part of the normal business operation of the eligible livestock producer, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Drought monitor The term “drought monitor” means a system for classifying drought severity according to a range of abnormally dry to exceptional drought, as defined by the Secretary. (C) Eligible livestock producer (i) In general The term “eligible livestock producer” means an eligible producer on a farm that— (I) is an owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of covered livestock that provides the pastureland or grazing land, including cash-leased pastureland or grazing land, for the livestock; (II) provides the pastureland or grazing land for covered livestock, including cash-leased pastureland or grazing land that is physically located in a county affected by drought; (III) certifies grazing loss; and (IV) meets all other eligibility requirements established under this subsection. (ii) Exclusion The term “eligible livestock producer” does not include an owner, cash or share lessee, or contract grower of livestock that rents or leases pastureland or grazing land owned by another person on a rate-of-gain basis. (D) Normal carrying capacity The term “normal carrying capacity”, with respect to each type of grazing land or pastureland in a county, means the normal carrying capacity, as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i), that would be expected from the grazing land or pastureland for livestock during the normal grazing period, in the absence of a drought or fire that diminishes the production of the grazing land or pastureland. (E) Normal grazing period The term “normal grazing period”, with respect to a county, means the normal grazing period during the calendar year for the county, as determined under paragraph (3)(D)(i).