$205.107 Crop year.

(a) The crop year, according to which subsection (c)(2)(C)(ii)(IV) requires the master list to be arranged "within each such product," must be:

(1) For a crop grown in soil, the calendar year in which it is harvested or to be harvested;

(2) For animals, the calendar year in which they are born or acquired;

(3) For poultry or eggs, the calendar year in which they are sold or to be sold.

(b) An EFS or notice thereof which does not show crop year (the Section does not require it to do so) must be regarded as applicable to the crop or product in question for every year for which subsection (c)(4)(F) makes the EFS effective.

INTERPRETIVE OPINIONS

§ 205.201 System operator.

The system operator can be the Secretary of State of a State, or any des

ignee of the State pursuant to its laws. Note that the provision in subsection (c)(2) for a system refers to operation by the Secretary of State of a State, but the definition in (c)(11) of “Secretary of State" includes "designee of the State."

§ 205.202 "Effective financing statement" or EFS.

(a) An EFS under subsection (c)(4) need not be the same as a financing statement or security agreement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent document under future successor State law), but can be an entirely separate document meeting the definition in (c)(4). Note that (c)(4) contains a comprehensive definition of the term which does not include any requirement that the EFS be the instrument by which a security interest is created or perfected. Note also the House Committee Report on Pub. L. 99198, No. 99-271, Part 1, September 13, 1985, at page 110: "[T]he bill would not preempt basic state-law rules on the creation, perfection, or priority of security interests."

(b) An EFS may be filed electronically provided a State allows electronic filing of financing statements without the signature of the debtor under applicable State law under provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or may be a paper document. An electronically filed EFS need not be a paper document and need not be signed. If an original or reproduced paper document of an EFS is filed with the State, it must be signed by both the secured party and the debtor, and be filed by the secured party.

(c) Countermeasures against mishandling after filing, such as a requirement that a copy be date stamped and returned to the secured party, are discretionary with the State. If a State chooses to adopt such countermeasures, it is responsible for establishing procedures for recording the date and time when an EFS is received, and for meeting all legal requirements associated with filing and distributing information about security interests as required by § 205.101.

[51 FR 29451, Aug. 18, 1986, as amended at 61 FR 54728, Oct. 22, 1996]

§205.203 Place of filing EFS.

The place of filing an EFS is wherever State law requires, which need not be with the system operator so long as the system operator receives the information needed for the master list, including the information required in subsection (c)(4)(D). Note that the requirements in subsection (c)(4) for an EFS include the requirement that it be "filed with the Secretary of State," but the definition in (c)(11) of "Secretary of State" includes "designee of the State," and the requirements in (c)(2) for a system refer in (A) to filing with the system operator of "effective financing statements or notice of such financing statements.” (emphasis added) § 205.204 Filing “notice” of EFS.

(a) If an EFS is filed somewhere other than with the system operator, and if notice of it is filed with the system operator, such notice could be electronic filing, telephoned information, or any other form of notice which gives the system operator the information needed for the master list. Such notice need not be signed. Note that the Section does not contain any requirement for such notice except the one in subsection (c)(4)(B) that an EFS must be filed somewhere pursuant to State law as discussed above.

(b) Countermeasures against falsifications, errors or omissions in such notices or in the handling of them by the system operator, such as requirements that the notices be on paper and signed, with copies date-stamped and returned to the persons filing them, however advisable they might be from other standpoints, are discretionary with the State and not required by the Section.

$205.205 Fees.

The Section provides at subsection (c)(4)(H) for a fee for filing an EFS. The fee can be set in any manner provided by the law of the State in which such EFS is filed. The basis for this is that (c)(4)(H) provides for the fee to be set by the "Secretary of State" but (c)(11) defines the latter term to include "designee of the State." The fee structure is discretionary with the State.

§205.206 Farm products.

(a) The master list must be organized by farm product as required by subsection (c)(2), and the farm product must be identified on an EFS as required by subsection (c)(4)(D)(iv). The following is a list of such farm products.

Rice, rye, wheat, other food grains (system must specify by name)

Barley, corn, hay, oats, sorghum grain, other feed crops (system must specify by name)

Cotton

Tobacco

Flaxseed, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seeds, other oil crops (system must specify by name)

Dry beans, dry peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro, other vegetables (system must specify by name)

Artichokes, asparagus, beans lima, beans snap, beets, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn sweet, cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, garlic, lettuce, onions, peas green, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, other truck crops (system must specify by name)

Melons (system must specify by name)

Grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, tangelos, tangerines, other citrus fruits (system must specify by name)

Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cherries, coffee, dates, figs, grapes (& raisins), nectarines, olives, papayas, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, plums (& prunes), pomegranates, other noncitrus fruits (system must specify by name)

Berries (system must specify by name) Tree nuts (system must specify by name) Bees wax, honey, maple syrup, sugar beets, sugar cane, other sugar crops (system must specify by name)

Grass seeds, legume seeds, other seed crops (system must specify by name)

Hops, mint, popcorn, other miscellaneous crops (system must specify by name)

Greenhouse & nursery products produced on farms (system must specify by name) Mushrooms, trees, other forest products (system must specify by name)

Chickens, ducks, eggs, geese, turkeys, other poultry or poultry products (system must specify by name)

Cattle & calves, goats, horses, hogs, mules, sheep & lambs, other livestock (system must specify by name)

Milk, other dairy products produced on farms (system must specify by name)

Wool, mohair, other miscellaneous livestock products produced on farms (system must specify by name)

Fish, shellfish

Other farm products (system must specify by name).

(b) Note the definition of the term "farm product" at subsection (c)(5), and the Conference Report on Pub. L. 99-198, No. 99-447, December 17, 1985, at page 486.

(c) A State may establish a system for specified products and not for all. A State establishing a system for specified products and not for all will be deemed to be "a State that has established a central filing system" as to the specified products, and will be deemed not to be such a State as to other products. §205.207 “Amount"

and "reasonable description of the property."

(a) The "amount" of farm products and "reasonable description of the property including county or parish," on an EFS and on the master list under subsections (c)(4)(D)(iv) and (2)(C)(iii), need not be shown on every EFS and master list entry.

(b) Any EFS and master list entry will identify a product. If they do not show an amount, this constitutes a representation that all of such product owned by the person in question is subject to the security interest in question.

(c) Any EFS and master list entry will identify each county or parish in the same State where the product is or is to be produced. If they do not show any further identification of the location of the product, this constitutes a representation that all such product produced in each such county or parish, owned by such person, is subject to the security interest.

(d) The need to supply additional information arises only where some of that product owned by that person is subject to the security interest and some is not.

(e) The additional information about amount and property must be sufficient to enable a reader of the information to identify what product owned by that person is subject, as distinguished from what of the same product owned by the same person is not subject. The precision needed, in the description of the amount and location, would vary from case to case.

(f) The basis for this is the purpose of the entire exercise, to make information available as necessary to enable

an identification of what product is subject to a security interest as distinguished from what is not.

§205.208 Distribution of portions of master list-registration-information to non-registrants on request. (a) The provisions in the Section regarding registration of "buyers of farm products, commission merchants, and selling agents," "regular" distribution of "portions" of the master list, furnishing of "oral confirmation * * * on request," and the effect of all this, that is, subsections (c)(2) (D), (E) and (F), (e) (2) and (3), and (g)(2) (C) and (D), must be read together.

(b) The Section does not require such persons to register. Not registering with a particular system operator has the effect, under subsections (e)(2) and (g)(2)(C), of making such persons, whether they are inside or outside the State covered by that system, subject to security interests shown on that system's master list whether or not such persons know about them, so that such persons for their own protection will need to query the system operator about any seller "engaged in farming operations," of a farm product produced in the State covered by that system, with whom they deal.

(c) The effect of registration by such persons with a particular system is to get them on the list for regular distribution of portions of that system's master list, the portions to be determined by the registration. They are subject only to security interests shown on the portions which they receive, and are not subject to such interests as are shown on the master list but not shown on portions which they receive. Also, if a particular security interest is shown on the master list, but has been placed on it since the last regular distribution of portions of that list to registrants, registrants would not be subject to that security interest. These conclusions are based on the provisions in subsections (e)(3)(A) and (g)(2)(D)(i) that such persons are subject to a security interest only if they receive "written notice

that

specifies both the seller and the farm product."

(d) A question arises as to the length of time for which a registration is effective, and whether a registrant, wishing to change registration as to county or product, can amend an existing registration or must file a new one. This is discretionary with the State since the Section is silent about it.

(e) A question arises whether persons can register to receive only portions of the list for products in which they do not deal, and thus not be subject to security interests in products in which they deal because they are registrants but do not receive written notice of them. For example, can cattle dealers register to receive portions of the master list only for oranges, and thus take cattle free and clear of security interests shown on the master list, but as to which they do not receive written notice because they have not registered to receive the portion for cattle? Registrants will be deemed to be registered only as to those portions of the master list for which they register, and will be deemed to have failed to register as to those portions for which they do not register.

(f) The Section requires "regular" distribution, to registrants, of portions of the master list as amended from time to time by the filing of EFS's and amendments to EFS's. The requirement that the distribution be "regular" necessarily refers to an interval specified in advance. The interval may vary according to product and region. The frequency of such distribution must be a consideration in review for certification since distribution must be timely to serve its purpose. While subsection (c)(2)(E) (providing that distribution be made "regularly as prescribed by the State") gives each State discretion to choose the interval between distributions, whatever interval a State chooses will inevitably make possible some transactions in which security interests are filed in the system but registrants are not subject to them.

(g) Legislative history of the Section shows that buyers, commission merchants, and selling agents are not intended to be liable for errors or other inaccuracies generated by the system. See Nov. 22, 1985 Cong. Rec., Senate,

pg. S16300, and Dec. 18, 1985 Cong. Rec., House, pg. H12523.

(h) In furnishing to non-registrants "oral confirmation within 24 hours of any [EFS] on request followed by written confirmation," by a system operator pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(F), any failure in use of a telephone caused by a "busy signal" could not be the basis of liability of the system operator. The basis for this is that subsection (c)(2)(F) does not mention telephones. Also, while it mentions furnishing information orally, it does not contain any provision as to how queries are to be received, that is, orally, in writing, or otherwise.

(i) Of course it is to be expected that telephones would be used in most cases, but use of them is not required by the legislation and is discretionary with the State.

(j) In the matter of receiving queries and giving oral replies to them, subsection (c)(2)(F) will be complied with if a system operator maintains an office and staff where a query can be received on business days and during business hours such as are regular in the State, and where an oral reply will be available on the regular business day following the day on which the query is received, at or before the time of day when it was received.

(k) Written confirmation is required, by subsection (c)(2)(F), to be given to any non-registered buyer, commission merchant, or selling agent.

(1) Such a written confirmation pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(F) does not alter the liability of the non-registrant querying the system and receiving information about a security interest recorded in it. The basis of this, as above, is that non-registrants are subject to security interests recorded in a system whether or not they know about them, and must query the system for their own protection.

(m) The Section does not specify when or how the written confirmation must be furnished, but provides only that it must follow the oral information. Thus the time and method of furnishing written confirmation is discretionary with the State.

§ 205.209 Amendment or continuation of EFS.

(a) The "material change," required by subsection (c)(4)(E) to be reflected in an amendment to an EFS and master list entry, is whatever change would render the master list entry no longer informative as to what is subject to the security interest in question. That will vary from case to case. The basis for this is the purpose for which the information is supplied, that is, to make information available, to a buyer, commission merchant, or selling agent who proposes to enter into a transaction in a product, whether it is subject to a security interest. The requirement to amend arises when the information already made available no longer serves the purpose and other information is needed in order to do so.

(b) Where an owner of a product makes a change, such as planting a different crop or purchasing different animals from what was represented, without informing the secured party, so that the master list entry is rendered not informative, but the EFS and master list are not amended through no fault of the secured party, the Section is silent as to the consequences. However, see the legislative history cited in § 205.208(f).

(c) The amendment must be filed in the same manner as the original filing. Note the requirement of section (c)(4)(E). The amendment may be filed electronically provided a State allows electronic filing of financing statements without the signature of the debtor under applicable State law under provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code. An electronically filed amendment need not be signed. However, if an original or reproduced paper document is filed, the amendment must be signed by the secured party and the debtor, and be filed by the secured party.

(d) An effective financing statement remains effective for a period of 5 years from the date of filing and may be continued in increments of 5-year periods beyond the initial 5-year filing period by refiling an effective financing statement or by filing a continuation statement within 6 months before expiration of the effective financing statement. A continuation statement may

be filed electronically or as a paper document, and need not contain the signature of the debtor.

[51 FR 29451, Aug. 18, 1986, as amended at 61 FR 54728, Oct. 22, 1996; 63 FR 66721, Dec. 3. 1998]

§ 205.210 Effect of EFS outside State in which filed.

(a) A question arises whether, if an EFS is filed in one State, a notice of it can be filed in another State and shown on the master list for the second State. There is nothing in the Section to prevent this, but it would serve no purpose.

(b) The Section provides only for filing an EFS, covering a given product, in the system for the State in which it is produced. Upon such filing in such system, subsections (e)(2) and (g)(2)(C) make buyers, commission merchants and selling agents not registered with that system subject to the security interest in that product whether or not they know about it, even if they are outside that State. Subsections (e)(3) and (g)(2)(D) make persons registered with that system subject if they receive written notice of it even if they are outside that State. All of these provisions apply only where an EFS is filed in the system for the State in which the product is produced. They do not apply to a filing in another system.

(c) What constitutes "receipt" of notice is determined by the law of the State in which the intended recipient of notice resides. This is based on subsection (f) which follows provisions for notice to buyers, and (g)(3) which follows provisions for notice to commission merchants and selling agents. Each of those provisions uses the word "buyer" but it means "intended recipient of notice."

§ 205.211 Applicability of court decisions under the UCC.

(a) Court decisions under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), about the scope of the "farm products" exception in Section 9-307(1) thereof, and interpreting the terms therein, particularly "person engaged in farming operations" which is not defined in the Section, are applicable to an extent in interpreting the Section. The basis of