calculation method is necessary to ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, there are not significant yield calculation disparities between comparable counties in the State. (b) The alternate calculation method referred to in subsection (a) is a method of calculating the actual yield for the 2017 crop year for county-level agriculture risk coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1) ), under which— (1) county data of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (referred to in this section as NASS data ) is used for the calculations