12.9—Landlords and tenants.
(a) Landlord eligibility.
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the ineligibility of a tenant or sharecropper for benefits (as determined under § 12.4) shall not cause a landlord to be ineligible for USDA program benefits accruing with respect to land other than those in which the tenant or sharecropper has an interest.
(2)
The provisions of paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall not be applicable to a landlord if the production of an agricultural commodity on highly erodible land or converted wetland by the landlord's tenant or sharecropper is required under the terms and conditions of the agreement between the landlord and such tenant or sharecropper and such agreement was entered into after December 23, 1985, or if the landlord has acquiesced in such activities by the tenant or sharecropper.
(b) Tenant or renter eligibility.
(1)
The ineligibility of a tenant or renter may be limited to the program benefits listed in § 12.4(c) accruing with respect to only the farm on which the violation occurred if:
(i)
The tenant or renter shows that a good-faith effort was made to comply by developing an approved conservation plan for the highly erodible land in a timely manner and prior to any violation of the provisions of this part; and
(ii)
The owner of such farm refuses to apply such a plan and prevents the tenant or renter from implementing certain practices that are a part of the approved conservation plan; and
(iii)
FSA determines that the lack of compliance is not a part of a scheme or device as described in § 12.10.
(2)
If relief is granted under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the tenant or renter must actively apply those conservation treatment measures that are determined to be within the control of the tenant or renter.