and small payment increases required under section 8(e) of this Act, and may be distributed among States without regard to distribution of funds formulas of section 15 of this Act. The program authorized under this subsection shall be in addition to, and not in substitution of, other programs in such area authorized by this or any other Act. (16 U.S.C. 590p(b).)

(c)26 (d)27

LAND USE ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM

(e)28 (1) (A) For the purpose of promoting the conservation and economic use of land, and of assisting farmers who because of advanced age, poor health, or other reasons, desire to retire from farming but wish to continue living on their farms, the Secretary, without regard to the foregoing provisions of this Act, except those relating to the use of the services of the State and local committees, is authorized to enter into agreements, during the calendar years 1971, 1972, and 1973 to be carried out during such period not to exceed ten years as he may determine, with farm and ranch owners and operators providing for changes in cropping systems and land uses and for practices or measures to be carried out primarily on any lands owned or operated by them and regularly used in the production of crops (including crops such as tame hay, alfalfa, and clovers, which do not require annual tillage, and including lands covered by conservation reserve contracts under subtitle B of the Soil Bank Act) for the purpose of conserving and developing soil, water, forest, wildlife, and recreation resources. Such agreements shall include such terms and conditions as the Secretary may deem desirable to effectuate the purposes of this subsection and may provide for payments, the furnishing of materials and services, and other assistance in amounts determined by the Secretary to be fair and reasonable, in consideration of the obligations undertaken by the farm and ranch owners and operators and the rights acquired by the Secretary: Provided, That any agreements entered into under this section after July 1, 1970, shall prohibit grazing of such acreage.

(B) Such acreage may be devoted to approved wildlife food plots or fish and wildlife habitat which are established in conformity with standards developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary may compensate producers for such practices. The Secretary may also provide for payment in an amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate in relation to the benefit to the general public if the producer agrees to permit access, without

26 Subsec. (c) was applicable only to the Feed Grain Program for 1961. See p. 124 of Agriculture Handbook 242 for text.

27 Subsec. (d) was applicable only to the Feed Grain Program for 1962. See p. 126 of Agriculture Handbook 242 for

text.

2 Section 16(e) was added by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962, P.L. 87-703, 76 Stat. 606, September 27, 1962. It was substantially amended by Section 801 of the Agricultural Act of 1970, P. L. 91-524, 84 Stat. 1379, November 30, 1970.

other compensation, to all or such portion of the farm as the Secretary may prescribe by the general public, for hunting, trapping, fishing, and hiking, subject to applicable State and Federal regulations. The Secretary after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint an Advisory Board consisting of citizens knowledgeable in the fields of agriculture and wildlife with whom he may consult on the wildlife practice phase of programs under this subsection, and the Secretary may compensate members of the Board and reimburse them for per diem and traveling expenses. The Secretary shall invite the several States to participate in wildlife phases of programs under this subsection by assisting the Department of Agriculture in developing guidelines for (a) providing technical assistance for wildlife and habitat improvement practices, (b) reviewing applications of farmers for the public land use option and selecting eligible areas based on desirability of wildlife habitat, (c) determining accessibility, (d) evaluating effects on surrounding areas, (e) considering esthetic values, (f) checking compliance by cooperators, and (g) carrying out programs of wildlife stocking and management on the acreage set aside. The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior regarding regulations to govern the administration of those aspects of this subparagraph (B) that pertain to wildlife. Funds are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for use in assisting the State wildlife agencies to carry out the provisions of this subparagraph and in administering such assistance.

(2) No agreement shall be entered into under this subsection covering land with respect to which the ownership has changed in the two year period preceding the first year of the contract period unless (a) the new ownership was acquired by will or succession as a result of the death of the previous owner, (b) the land becomes a part of an existing farm or ranch, or (c) the land is combined with other land as a farming or ranching enterprise which the Secretary determines will effectuate the purposes of the program: Provided, That this provision shall not prohibit the continuation of an agreement by a new owner after an agreement has once been entered into under this subsection. The foregoing provision shall not prevent a producer from placing a farm in the program if the farm was acquired by the producer to replace an eligible farm from which he was displaced because of its acquisition by any Federal, State, or other agency having the right of eminent domain.

(3) The Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the farming opportunities and interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, in payments under this subsection.

(4) The Secretary may agree to such modification of agreements previously entered into as he may determine to be desirable to carry out the purposes of this subsection or to facilitate the practical administration of the program carried out pursuant to this subsection. Any agreement may be terminated by mutual agreement with the producer if the Secretary determines that such termination would be in the public interest.

(5) The Secretary shall issue such regulations as he determines necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. The Secretary may if he determines that such action will contribute to the effective and equitable administration of the program use an advertising-and-bíd procedure in determining the lands in any area to be covered by agreements. The total acreage placed under agreements in any county or local community shall be limited to a percentage of the total eligible acreage in such county or local community which the Secretary determines would not adversely affect the economy of the county or local community. In determining such percentage the Secretary shall give appropriate consideration to the productivity of the acreage being retired as compared to the average productivity of eligible acreage in the county or local community.

(6) For the purpose of obtaining an increase in the permanent retirement of cropland to noncrop uses the Secretary may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, transfer funds available for carrying out the program to any other Federal Agency or to States or local government agencies for use in rural areas in acquiring cropland for the preservation of open spaces, natural beauty, the development of wildlife or recreational facilities, or the prevention of air or water pollution under terms and conditions consistent with and at costs not greater than those under agreements entered into with producers, provided the Secretary determines that the purpose of the program will be accomplished by such action. The Secretary also is authorized to share the cost with State and local governmental agencies and other Federal agencies in the establishment of practices or uses which will establish, protect, and conserve open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife or recreational resources, or prevent air or water pollution under terms and conditions and at costs consistent with those under agreements entered into with producers, provided the Secretary determines that the purposes of the program will be accomplished by such action. No appropriation shall be made for any agreement under this paragraph (6) involving an estimated total Federal payment in excess of $250,000 unless such agreement has been approved by resolution adopted by the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate.

(7) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. The Secretary is authorized to utilize the facilities, services, authorities, and funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation in discharging his functions and responsibilities under this subsection including payment of costs of administration for the program authorized under this subsection: Provided, That after June 30, 1972, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not make any expenditures for carrying out the purposes of this subsection unless the Corporation has received funds to cover such expenditures from appropriations made to carry out the purposes of this subsection. In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall not during any of the fiscal years ending June 30, 1971, through June 30, 1973, or during the period June 30, 1973, to December 31, 1973, (A) enter into agreements

with producers which would require payments to producers in any calendar year under such agreements in excess of $10,000,000 plus any amount by which agreements entered into in prior fiscal years require payments in amounts less than authorized for such years, or (B) enter into agreements with States or local agencies under paragraph (6) which would require payments to such State or local government agencies in any calendar year under such agreements in excess of $10,000,000 plus any amount by which agreements entered into in prior fiscal years require payments in amounts less than authorized for such years. For purposes of applying the foregoing limitations, the annual payment shall be chargeable to the year in which performance is rendered regardless of the year in which it is made. (16 U.S.C. 590p(e).)

DISBURSEMENTS TO PRODUCERS

(f)29 The Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities of Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making disbursements to producers under programs formulated pursuant to sections 8 and 16(e) of this Act: Provided, That no such disbursements shall be made by Commodity Credit Corporation unless it has received funds to cover the amount thereof from appropriations available for the purpose of carrying out such programs. (g)30***

(h)31 (i)32

PAYMENT LIMITATIONS AS TO WETLANDS IN CERTAIN STATES

SEC. 16A.33 The Secretary of Agriculture shall not enter into an agreement in the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota to provide financial or technical assistance for wetland drainage on a farm under authority of this Act, if the Secretary of the Interior has made a finding that wildlife preservation will be materially harmed on that farm by such drainage and that preservation of such land in its undrained status will materially contribute to wildlife preservation and such finding, identifying specifically the farm and the land on that farm with respect to which the finding was made, has been filed with the Secretary of Agriculture within ninety days after the filing of the application for drainage assistance: Provided, That the limitation against furnishing such financial or technical assistance shall terminate (1) at such time as the Secretary of the Interior notifies the Secretary of Agriculture that such limitation should not be applicable, (2) one year after the date on which the adverse finding of the Secretary of the Interior was filed unless during that time an offer has been made by the Secretary of the Interior or a State government agency to lease or to purchase the wetland area from the owner thereof as a waterfowl

29 Section 16(f) added by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962, P.L. 87-703, 76 Stat. 607, September 27, 1962. 30 Subsec. (g) was applicable only to the Feed Grain Program for 1963. See p. 128 of Agriculture Handbook 242 for

text.

a1 Subsec. (h) was applicable only to the Feed Grain Program for 1964 and 1965. See p. 19 of Agriculture Handbook 281 for text.

32 Section (i) was added to Section 16 by P. L. 89-321, 79 Stat. 1190, November 3, 1965. The final year of the period was extended from 1969 to 1970 by P. L. 90-559, 82 Stat. 996, October 11, 1968. Thus, it was applicable only to the 1966 through 1970 crops of feed grains. For the full text, see pp. 19-22 of Agriculture Handbook 361.

33 Section 16A was added by the Act of October 2, 1962, P.L. 87-732, 76 Stat. 696.

resource, or (3) five years after the date on which such adverse finding was filed if such an offer to lease or to purchase such wetland area has not been accepted by the owner thereof: Provided further, That upon any change in the ownership of the land with respect to which such adverse finding was filed, the eligibility of such land for such financial or technical assistance shall be redetermined in accordance with the provisions of this section. (16 U.S.C. 590pA.)

SCOPE OF ACT; DEFINITION OF STATE

SEC. 17. (a) This Act shall apply to the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and, as used in this Act, the term "State" includes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (16 U.S.C. 590q(a).)

(b) This Act may be cited as the "Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act." (16 U.S.C. 590q(b).)

[FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ACT OF 1977

CRITICAL LANDS RESOURCE CONSERVATION PROGRAM

SEC. 1511. Notwithstanding any other provision of law(a) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to formulate and carry out a program with owners and operators of land in the Great Plains area as described in section 16(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (49 Stat. 1151, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 590p(b)) to reduce runoff, soil and water erosion, and otherwise to promote the conservation of soil and water resources in such area through the conversion of cropland from soil depleting uses to conserving uses including the production of soil conserving cover crops.

(b) To effectuate the purposes of the program, the Secretary may enter into an agreement for a two-year period with an owner or operator as described in subsection (a) whereby the owner or operator shall agree to devote to a soil conserving cover crop a specifically designated acreage of cropland on the farm up to 50 per centum of the acreage which had been planted to any soil depleting crop or crops in any of the two years preceding the date of the agreement. The agreement shall be renewable for annual periods thereafter subject to the mutual agreement of the owner or operator and the Secretary. In such agreement, the owner or operator shall agree (1) to plant a legume, or if not adapted to such area, an annual, biennial, or a perennial cover crop, as specified in the agreement; (2) to divert from production such portion of one or more crops designated by the Secretary as the Secretary determines necessary to effectuate the purpose of the program; (3) not to harvest any crop from or graze the designated acreage during the agreement period, unless the Secretary determines that it is necessary to permit grazing or harvesting in order to alleviate damage, hardship, or suffering caused by severe drought, flood, or other natural disaster, and consents to such grazing or harvesting subject to an appropriate reduction in the rate of payment; (4) to give adequate assurance, as specified by the Secretary, that the land was not acquired for the purpose of placing it in the program: Provided, That the foregoing

1P.L. 95-113, 91 Stat. 1022, Sept. 29, 1977.