Producers seeking dairy drought relief must file an application and supporting records, and the department must provide forms, review the records, and keep the information confidential except for two specified items.
I. In order to qualify for the New Hampshire dairy producer drought relief program, a producer shall complete and submit an application in which the department shall be provided proof of homegrown feed loss due to drought along with records of milk production for the 2016 calendar year. II. The department shall design and provide such forms and applications as necessary to calculate and process the program and shall supply such forms and applications to any producer upon request. III. Any producer electing to participate in the New Hampshire dairy drought relief program shall complete and submit an application no later than 30 days after the effective date of this subdivision. IV. For the purposes of verification of an application and claim, such records and data kept by the producer or producer's agent, the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Dairy Marketing Program, the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension service, Dairy Marketing Services LLC, or the producer's lender, cooperative, insurance agent, crop insurance representative, or processor shall be provided to the department along with the completed application. The department shall review such records and data in support of an application. V. A new producer's annual milk production for 2016 shall be prorated based on its actual milk production. VI. The applicant producer shall sign a release allowing the department access to production and crop records and permit the department on-site access for program verification purposes. The producer shall allow the department to make random inspections and audits of records, as necessary, in order to verify production. Information provided to the department is proprietary to the producer and the department and is to be used solely for program verification and determining payment. In no way shall such information provided be made public except for (a) the percentage of homegrown feed loss approved by the department, and (b) total payment to the producer. VII. The applicant producer shall sign a form provided by the department attesting, to the best of the producer's knowledge, that the records and data provided by the producer are accurate and truthful. Source: Source. 2017, 27:2, eff. Apr. 25, 2017.