at such times as it may specify, or upon call of the chairman of the county agricultural executive committee for such county. The local administrative areas designated by the Secretary and serving on the date of enactment of this Act as units for administration of programs under section 8 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act shall serve as local administrative areas for the purposes of this section, but each county agricultural association may from time to time designate different local administrative areas within its county for the purposes of this section.

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

SEC. 107. Each county agricultural association shall elect annually from among its elected members (1) not less than three and not more than five, as determined by the association, members of a county agricultural executive committee, designating one of such members to be chairman, one to be vice chairman, and one to be secretary, of such committee, and (2) first and second alternates. Vacancies occurring among the elected members of such committee between annual elections shall be filled for the unexpired terms by the first and second alternates in that order, or, if there are no alternates available, by election by the county agricultural association, and at such election first and second alternates again shall be elected. Vacancies in the offices of chairman, vice chairman, and secretary occurring between annual elections shall be filled for the unexpired terms by election by such committee from among its members. No member shall be elected for four full consecutive terms. The agricultural extension agent for each county shall be a member, ex officio, but without vote, of the county agricultural executive committee for such county. Subject to the supervision and direction of the county agricultural association, the county agricultural executive committee shall, through personnel employed by it, perform within the county the functions assigned to it pursuant to section 101 (c) of this Act and such other functions as the secretary may assign to it.

STATE AGRICULTURAL COUNCILS

SEC. 108. For each State of the United States there shall be a State agricultural council consisting of the ex-officio members hereinafter specified, four elected members, and as many additional elected members as may be specified in accordance with the provisions of this section; but the number of additional members so specified shali not exceed either (1) six, or (2) one for each full twenty counties in the State, plus one if the number of counties in the State is not evenly divisible by twenty and exceeds by more than ten the multiple of twenty which it least exceeds. The Commissioner (or Secretary or Director, as the case may be) of Agriculture, or his designee, the Director of the Agricultural Experiment stations, or his designee, and the Director of the Agricultural Extension Service, or his designee, for such State shall be the ex-officio members. The number of additional members, if any, to be elected shall be specified by the ex-officio members for the election first after the enactment of this Act and by the State agricultural council for subsequent elections. The members to be elected in any year, and first and second alternates, shall be elected by the chairmen of the county agricultural executive committees of the State, meeting together for that purpose, but not more than half of those to be elected shall be elected from among the number of such chairmen. The members first elected after the enactment of this Act shall be elected for three-, two-, and one-year terms in as nearly equal groups as may be possible as follows: Not less than one-third of the number to be elected shall first be elected, to serve for three-year-terms; not less than one-half of the number remaining to be elected shall then be elected, to serve for two-year terms; and the number then remaining to be elected shall then be elected to serve for one-year terms. Should the number of members to be elected at any election after the first election be increased in accordance with the provisions of this section, the additional members so added shall be elected for terms of one, two, or three years in such manner that the number of terms expiring in succeeding years shall, as nearly as may be possible, be equal. Successors of all elected members shall be elected for three-year terms. Any decrease, after the first election, in the number of members to be elected shall be made by allowing terms to expire without electing successors in such manner that the number of terms expiring annually after the decrease has been completed shall, as nearly as may be possible, be equal. Vacancies occurring among the elected members shall be filled for the unexpired terms by the first and second alternates in that

order, or, if there be no alternates available, by election by the chairmen of the county agricultural executive committees, conducted by mail or in such manner as may be determined by the State agricultural council, and at such election first and second alternates again shall be elected. No member shall be elected for any term which, with any previous periods of service by him as a member, would exceed five years during any six-year period.

The State agricultural council shall develop plans to effectuate the purposes of section 7 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act in its State, and shall perform the functions assigned to it pursuant to section 101 (c) of this Act and such other functions within its State as the Secretary may assign to it. It shall elect from among its number a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary, and shall employ a State administrator and such other personnel as it may deem necessary to carry out its functions. In carrying out the functions assigned to it, and subject to the approval of the Secretary, it may enter into arrangements with (1) the Agricultural Extension Service in its State for the conduct of education and demonstrational programs and (2) State agricultural councils of other States for cooperation on matters of mutual interest. Federal grants-in-aid for programs administered by the State council shall be disbursed by the appropriate agency of the State only pursuant to direction by the State agricultural council. Any grants-in-aid or other funds allocated to a State for programs administered by the State agricultural council may be withheld or recalled by the Secretary if he determines that such council is not faithfully administering the programs assigned to it.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

SEC. 109. The Secretary is authorized and directed, from any funds made available for the purposes of the Acts in connection with which State agricultural councils, county agricultural associations, or county agricultural executive committees may be utilized, to make payments to such councils, associations, or committees to cover the estimated administrative expenses incurred or to be incurred by them in carrying out the functions assigned to them under such Acts. All or part of such administrative expenses of any such council, association, or committee may be deducted pro rata from the Soil Conservation Act payments, parity payments, or loans, or other payments or grants-in-aid under such Acts, unless payment of such expenses is otherwise provided by law. The Secretary may make such payments in advance of determination of performance. The administrative expenses covered by such payments shall not include compensation for services of council, association, and committee members except as follows:

(a) Each elected member of a State agricultural council shall be entitled to compensation, at such rates as may be fixed by the Secretary, for time actually spent by him in the work of the council not exceeding an average of eight hours per week for his period of service as such member; and

(b) Each elected member of a county agricultural executive committee shall be entitled to compensation, at such rate as may be fixed by the appropriate State agricultural council, for time actually spent by him in the work of the committee, not exceeding an average of four hours per week for his period of service as such member.

Subject to such limitations as the Secretary may prescribe, such council, association, and committee members shall also be entitled to their reasonable expenses incurred in serving as such members. No such member shall, out of any amounts paid by the Secretary, be paid for performing any services in addition to his services as member for any such council, association, or committee, but a member may resign as member in order to accept employment by a council, association, or committee. The Secretary shall make such regulations as are necessary relating to the selection and exercise of the functions of such councils, associations, and committees, respectively. A county agricultural association may, except as may be disapproved by the Secretary, accept, in addition to the amounts paid to it by the Secretary, funds from other sources to be utilized for agricultural purposes.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

SEC. 110. (a) There is hereby established a National Agricultural Council consisting of (1) four members representing the interests of producers, processors, distributors, and consumers of agricultural products, not more than two of whom

shall be affiliated with the same political party, to be appointed by the President (after receiving the recommendations of the Secretary), with the advice and consent of the Senate; (2) four members representing the northeastern, southern, midwestern, and western regions of the United States, to be elected by the chairmen of the State agricultural councils from among the elected members of the State agricultural counciles; and (3) one member appointed by the Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. Appointed members shall be subject to removal by the appointing power. No appointed member shall serve for more than four consecutive years. The elected members first elected after the enactment of this Act shall be elected, respectively, as designated by the chairmen of the State agricultural councils, to serve for four, three, two, and one year terms. Their successors shall serve for four year terms. No member shall be elected for a term which, with any previous periods of service by him as a member, would exceed six years during any seven-year period. Any vacancy in such Council shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment or election was made, but, in the case of election, only for the unexpired term. Such Council shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from among its members. Members shall receive compensation for their services as members at the rate of $ per diem when engaged in the performance of duties vested in the National Agricultural Council, but not less than $more than $ per annum, plus reimbursement for transportation expenses incurred by them in the performance of such duties. They shall not be reimbursed for personal expenses other than transportation expenses.

nor

(b) The National Agricultural Council shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, in accordance with the provisions of the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended: Provided, That it may also procure, without regard to the civil-service laws and classification laws, temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized for the departments by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (Public Law 600, Seventy-ninth Congress; 60 Stat. 810), but at rates not to exceed $per diem for individuals. It may also establish temporary committees, including representatives of producers, industry, government, and science, to assist and advise it; and may pay the expenses of such committees and the members thereof incurred in carrying out their duties.

(c) The National Agricultural Council shall

(1) make such studies and investigations of agricultural matters and phases of the work of the Department of Agriculture as it deems appropriate; (2) advise the Secretary and the Congress with respect to such agricultural matters as it may deem appropriate, or the Secretary or any committee of the Congress may request;

(3) determine from time to time, in the light of changing conditions of supply and demand, the adequacy, or necessity for adjustment, of the levels of price support provided for by section 302 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938; and

(4) annually, and at such other times as it may deem appropriate, report to the Secretary, the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives its findings and recommendations concerning such agricultural matters as it deems appropriate to bring to the attention of the Secretary and the Congress. (d) The National Agricultural Council, or any member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, and take such testimony, as such Council or such member may deem advisable. Any member of such Council may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before such Council or before such member. Such Council is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this section; and each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to such Council, upon request made by the chairman or vice chairman.

(e) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section such sums as Congress may from time to time determine to be necessary.

MEMBERSHIP LIMITED TO ONE COUNCIL OR ASSOCIATION

SEC. 111. No person shall be a member of more than one council or association established pursuant to this Act. Election of any chairman of a county agricultural executive committee to be a member of a State agricultural council shall cause the offices he holds as a member of a county agricultural association and a member of a county agricultural executive committee to become vacant. Election of any member of a State agricultural council to be a member of the National Agricultural Council shall cause the office he holds as member of a State agricultural council to become vacant.

FARMERS' HOME ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 112. The Secretary shall, as rapidly as he deems expedient, (1) transfer the functions of the Farmers' Home Administration to be performed within each State to the State agricultural council for such State; (2) make available to such council to assist it in the performance of the functions so transferred such employees of the Department of Agriculture as the Secretary and such council may deem necessary; and (3) allocate to such State such portion of the appropriated funds available for administering the functions of the Farmers' Home Administration as he deems necessary for performance of the functions so transferred. In performing such transferred functions such council shall utilize the county committees, if any, appointed by the Secretary pursuant to section 42 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act and the county agricultural associations. The Secretary shall consider nominations by such council in appointing members of committees pursuant to such section 42, and upon its recommendation may (A) abolish such committee in any county, or (B) treating a group of two or more counties as a single county for the purposes of such section, appoint one such committee for the group in lieu of appointing a committee for each of such counties. Any funds allocated to any State as provided in this section and not required for the administration of the transferred functions shall, at the end of the fiscal year for which appropriated, be paid to the State agricultural council of such State to be disbursed by it for soil conservation and improvement purposes.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS

SEC. 113. For the purpose of testing any program, or phase thereof, which the Secretary is authorized but not required to carry out, relating to the production, distribution, or utilization of agricultural commodities or to any other agricultural matter, the Secretary is authorized to select not more than ten counties distributed throughout the area to whihch such program or phase might be made applicable and make such program or phase applicable to such counties on an experimental basis.

TITLE II-AMENDMENTS TO SOIL CONSERVATION AND DOMESTIC ALLOTMENT ACT

UTILIZATION OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN STATE PLANS

SEC. 201. Section 7 (d) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:

"No such plan submitted by a State of the United States shall be approved by the Secretary unless it has been approved by the State agricultural council created pursuant to section 108 of the Agricultural Act of 1948 and by its terms provides

"(A) that any sum to be allocated by the Secretary to carry out the plan shall be disbursed by the appropriate agency of the State only pursuant to direction by the State agricultural council, and

"(B) that (i) the State agricultural council, and (ii) the county agricultural associations and county agricultural executive committees created pursuant to sections 106 and 107 o fthe Agricultural Act of 1948, shall respectively, if authorized by the State, be administering and participating agencies as provided in clauses (1) and (2) of this subsection".

EXTENSION OF NATIONAL PAYMENT PROGRAMS

SEC. 202. Section 8 (a), as amended, of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act is amended (a) by striking out "January 1, 1949" wherever appearing therein and inserting in lieu thereof "January 1, 1953", and (b) by striking out "December 31, 1948" and inserting in lieu thereof "December 31, 1952".

UTILIZATION OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NATIONAL PROGRAMS

SEC. 203. Section 8 (b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act is amended to read as follows:

"(b) Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall have power to carry out the purposes specified in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of section 7 (a) by making payments or grants of other aid to agricultural producers, including tenants and sharecroppers, in amounts determined by the Secretary to be fair and reasonable in connection with the effectuation of such purposes during the year with respect to which such payments or grants are made, and measured by (1) their treatment or use of their land, or a part thereof, for soil restoration, soil conservation, or the prevention of erosion; (2) changes in the use of their land; (3) their equitable share as determined by the Secretary, of the normal national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption; or (4) their equitable share, as determined by the Secretary, of the national production of any commodity or commodities required for domestic consumption and exports adjusted to reflect the extent to which their utilization of cropland on the farm conforms to farming practices which the Secretary determines will best effectuate the purposes specified in section 7 (a); or (5) any combination of the above. In arid or semiarid sections, (1) and (2) above shall be construed to cover water conservation and the beneficial use of water on individual farms, including measures to prevent run-off, the building of check dams and ponds, and providing facilities for applying water to the land. In determining the amount of any payment or grant measured Ly (1) or (2) the Secretary shall take into consideration the productivity of the land affected by the farming practices adopted during the year with respect to which such payment is made. In carrying out the provisions of this section in the continental United States, the Secretary is directed to utilize the State agricultural councils and county agricultural associations and executive committees created pursuant to the Agricultural Act of 1948. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall, as far as practicable, protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers; is authorized to utilize the agricultural extension service and other approved agencies; shall accord such recognition and encouragement to producer-owned and producer-controlled cooperative associations as will be in harmony with the policy toward cooperative associations set forth in existing Acts of Congress and as will tend to promote efficient methods of marketing and distribution; shall not have power to acquire any land or any right or interest therein; shall, in every practicable manner, protect the interests of small producers; and shall in every practical way encourage and provide for soilconserving and soil-rebuilding practices rather than the growing and soil- depleting crops. Rules and regulations governing payments or grants under this subsection shall be as simple and direct as possible, and, whereever practicable, they shall be classified on two bases: (a) Soil-depleting crops and practices, (b) soil-building crops and practices. Nothwithstanding any other provision of law in making available conservation materials consisting of seeds, seed inoculants, fertilizers, liming and other soil-conditioning materials, trees, or plants, or in making available soil-conserving or soil-building services, to agricultural producers under this subsection, the Secretary may make payments, in advance of determination of performance by the producers, to persons who fill purchase orders covering approved conservation materials or covering soilconserving or soil-building services, furnished to producers at not to exceed a fair price fixed in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary, or who render services to the Secretary in delivering to producers approved conservation materials, for the carrying out, by the producers, of soil-building or soil-conserving practices approved by the Secretary.