Agricultural Marketing Service or AMS means the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department.

Application means the Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program Application.

Application period means the date established by the Deputy Administrator for producers to apply for program benefits. Unless otherwise announced, that period will end January 13, 2005.

Base period means the period from August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004, during and after which ewe lambs must meet all qualifying eligibility criteria.

Ewe lamb means a female lamb no more than 18 months of age that has not produced an offspring.

Farm Service Agency or FSA means the Farm Service Agency of the Department.

Foot rot means an infectious, contagious disease of sheep that causes severe lameness and economic loss from decreased flock production.

Lambing cycle means the period of time from birth to weaning.

Parrot mouth means a genetic defect resulting in the failure of the incisor teeth to meet the dental pad correctly.

Person means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, estate, trust, association, cooperative, or other business enterprise or other legal entity who is, or whose members are, a citizen or citizens of, or legal resident alien or aliens in the United States.

Sheep and lamb operation means any self-contained, separate enterprise operated as an independent unit exclusively within the United States in which a person or group of persons raise sheep and/or lambs.

United States means the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.