Collapse to view only § 590f. Authorization of appropriations and conservation technical assistance funds

§ 590a. Purpose
It is recognized that the wastage of soil and moisture resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands of the Nation, resulting from soil erosion, is a menace to the national welfare and that it is declared to be the policy of Congress to provide permanently for the control and prevention of soil erosion to preserve soil, water, and related resources, promote soil and water quality, control floods, prevent impairment of reservoirs, and maintain the navigability of rivers and harbors, protect public health, public lands and relieve unemployment, and the Secretary of Agriculture, from now on, shall coordinate and direct all activities with relation to soil erosion and in order to effectuate this policy is authorized, from time to time—
(1) To conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion and the preventive measures needed, to publish the results of any such surveys, investigations, or research, to disseminate information concerning such methods, and to conduct demonstrational projects in areas subject to erosion by wind or water;
(2) To carry out preventive measures, including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and changes in use of land;
(3) To cooperate or enter into agreements with, or to furnish financial or other aid to, any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any person, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary, for the purposes of this chapter; and
(4) To acquire lands, or rights or interests therein, by purchase, gift, condemnation, or otherwise, whenever necessary for the purposes of this chapter.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 1, 49 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2802(a)(1), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1085; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2802(a)(1), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1813.)
§ 590b. Lands on which preventive measures may be taken
The acts authorized in section 590a(1) and (2) of this title may be performed—
(a) On lands owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency having jurisdiction thereof; and
(b) On any other lands, upon obtaining proper consent or the necessary rights or interests in such lands.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 2, 49 Stat. 163.)
§ 590c. Conditions under which benefits of law extended to nongovernment controlled landsAs a condition to the extending of any benefits under this chapter to any lands not owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, the Secretary of Agriculture may, insofar as he may deem necessary for the purposes of this chapter, require the following:
(1) The enactment and reasonable safeguards for the enforcement of State and local laws imposing suitable permanent restrictions on the use of such lands and otherwise providing for the prevention of soil erosion.
(2) Agreements or covenants as to the permanent use of such lands.
(3) Contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise, to any operations conferring such benefits.
(4)
(A) The payment of user fees for conservation planning technical assistance if the Secretary determines that the fees, subject to subparagraph (B), are—
(i) reasonable and appropriate;
(ii) assessed for conservation planning technical assistance resulting in the development of a conservation plan; and
(iii) assessed based on the size of the land or the complexity of the resource issues involved.
(B) Fees under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $150 per conservation plan for which technical assistance is provided.
(C) The Secretary may waive fees otherwise required under subparagraph (A) in the case of conservation planning technical assistance provided—
(i) to beginning farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 1991(a) of title 7);
(ii) to limited resource farmers or ranchers (as defined by the Secretary);
(iii) to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (as defined in section 2003(e) of title 7);
(iv) to qualify for an exemption from ineligibility under section 3812 of this title; or
(v) to comply with Federal, State, or local regulatory requirements.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 3, 49 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 113–67, div. A, title VII, § 705(a), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1192.)
§ 590d. Cooperation of governmental agencies; officers and employees, appointment and compensation; expenditures for personal services and supplies
For the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of Agriculture may—
(1) Secure the cooperation of any governmental agency;
(2) Subject to the provisions of the civil-service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, appoint and fix compensation of such officers and employees as he may deem necessary, except for a period not to exceed eight months from April 27, 1935, the Secretary of Agriculture may make appointments and may continue employees of the organization heretofore established for the purpose of administering those provisions of the National Industrial Recovery Act which relate to the prevention of soil erosion, without regard to the civil-service laws or regulations and the Classification Act, as amended; and any persons with technical or practical knowledge may be employed and compensated under this chapter on a basis to be determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and
(3) Make expenditures for personal services and rent in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, for the purchase of law books and books of reference, for printing and binding, for the purchase, operation, and maintenance of passenger-carrying vehicles, and perform such acts, and prescribe such regulations, as he may deem proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 4, 49 Stat. 164; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, title XI, § 1106(a), 63 Stat. 972; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 102, eff. Jan. 1, 1979, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3784.)
§ 590e. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 246(f)(1), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3225
§§ 590e–1, 590e–2. Omitted
§ 590f. Authorization of appropriations and conservation technical assistance funds
(a) Authorization of appropriations
(b) Conservation Technical Assistance Fund
(1) In general
(2) Deposits
(3) Availability
Amounts in the Fund shall—
(A) only be available to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts;
(B) be used for the costs of carrying out this chapter; and
(C) remain available until expended.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 6, 49 Stat. 164; Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title III, § 302(a), 58 Stat. 738; Pub. L. 113–67, div. A, title VII, § 705(b), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1193.)
§ 590g. Additional policies and purposes of chapter
(a) Purposes enumerated
(b) to (g) Repealed. Pub. L. 87–703, title I, § 101(1), Sept. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 605
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 7, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1148; amended June 28, 1937, ch. 395, § 1, 50 Stat. 329; Pub. L. 87–703, title I, § 101(1), Sept. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 92–419, title VI, § 606(1), Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 676; Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1253, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1517; Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2802(a)(2), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1085; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2802(a)(2), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1813.)
§§ 590g–1, 590g–2. Omitted
§ 590h. Payments and grants of aid
(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 87–703, title I, § 101(2), Sept. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 605
(b) Conservation and environmental assistance
(1) Environmental quality incentives program
(2) to (4) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(A)(i)(I), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1004
(5) State, county, and area committees
(A) Appointment of State committees
(B) Establishment and elections for county, area, or local committees
(i) Establishment(I) In general(II) Local administrative areas
(ii) Composition of county, area, or local committees(I) In general
Except as provided in subclause (II), a committee established under clause (i) shall consist of not fewer than 3 nor more than 5 members that—
(aa) are fairly representative of the agricultural producers within the area covered by the county, area, or local committee; and(bb) are elected by the agricultural producers that participate or cooperate in programs administered within the area under the jurisdiction of the county, area, or local committee.(II) Combination or consolidation of areas
A committee established by combining or consolidating 2 or more county or area committees shall consist of not fewer than 3 nor more than 11 members that—
(aa) are fairly representative of the agricultural producers within the area covered by the county, area, or local committee; and(bb) are elected by the agricultural producers that participate or cooperate in programs administered within the area under the jurisdiction of the county, area, or local committee.(III) Representation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers(IV) Eligibility for membership
(iii) Elections(I) In general(II) Nondiscrimination statement(III) Nominations(aa) Eligibility(bb) Outreach(IV) Opening of ballots(aa) Public notice(bb) Opening of ballots(cc) Observation(V) Report of election
Not later than 20 days after the date on which an election is held, a county, area, or local committee shall file an election report with the Secretary and the State office of the Farm Service Agency that includes—
(aa) the number of eligible voters in the area covered by the county, area, or local committee;(bb) the number of ballots cast in the election by eligible voters (including the percentage of eligible voters that cast ballots);(cc) the number of ballots disqualified in the election;(dd) the percentage that the number of ballots disqualified is of the number of ballots received;(ee) the number of nominees for each seat up for election;(ff) the race, ethnicity, and gender of each nominee, as provided through the voluntary self-identification of each nominee; and(gg) the final election results (including the number of ballots received by each nominee).(VI) National report(VII) Election reform(aa) Analysis(bb) Inclusion(cc) Methods of inclusion
(iv) Term of office
(v) Public availability and report to Congress(I) Public disclosure(II) Report to Congress
(C) Termination or combination of committees
The Secretary may not terminate a county or area committee or combine or consolidate two or more county or area committees unless—
(i) the Secretary first notifies the committee or committees involved of the proposed action; and
(ii) the State committee of the State in which the affected counties are located approves of such action in a vote taken after the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date the notification is received.
(D) Use of committees
(E) Regulations
The Secretary shall issue such regulations as the Secretary considers necessary relating to the selection and exercise of the functions of the respective committees, and to the administration through such committees of the programs described in subparagraph (D). Pursuant to such regulations, each county and area committee shall select an executive director for the area or county. Such selection shall be made in the same manner as provided for the selection of the county executive director under section 7.21(b)(2) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 1994. Regulations governing payments or grants under this subsection shall be as simple and direct as possible, and, whenever practicable, they shall be classified on the following two bases:
(i) Soil-depleting practices.
(ii) Soil-building practices.
(F) Mandatory duties of Secretary
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
(i) insofar as practicable, protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers;
(ii) accord such encouragement to producer-owned and producer-controlled cooperative associations as will be in harmony with the policy toward cooperative associations set forth in Federal laws and as will tend to promote efficient methods of marketing and distribution;
(iii) in every practicable manner, protect the interests of small producers; and
(iv) in every practical way, encourage and provide for soil-conserving and soil-rebuilding practices.
(G) Discretionary authorities of Secretary
(H) Limitations
(c) Apportionment of acreage allotments
(1) In apportioning acreage allotments under this section in the case of wheat and corn, the National and State allotments and the allotments to counties shall be apportioned annually on the basis of the acreage seeded for the production of the commodity during the ten calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the national acreage allotment is determined (plus, in applicable years, the acreage diverted under previous agricultural adjustment and conservation programs), with adjustments for abnormal weather conditions and trends in acreage during the applicable period.
(2) In the case of wheat, the allotment to any county shall be apportioned annually by the Secretary, through the local committees, among the farms within such county on the basis of tillable acres, crop-rotation practices, type of soil, and topography. Not more than 3 per centum of such county allotment shall be apportioned to farms on which wheat has not been planted during any of the three marketing years immediately preceding the marketing year in which the allotment is made. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the allotments established, or which would have been established, for any farm acquired in 1940 or thereafter by the United States for national-defense purposes shall be placed in an allotment pool and shall be used only to establish allotments for other farms owned or acquired by the owner of the farm so acquired by the United States. The allotments so made for any farm, including a farm on which wheat has not been planted during any of the three marketing years preceding the marketing year in which the allotment is made, shall compare with the allotments established for other farms in the same area which are similar except for the past acreage of wheat.
(3) In the case of corn, the allotment to any county shall be apportioned annually by the Secretary, through the local committees, among the farms within such county on the basis of tillable acreage, type of soil, topography, and crop rotation practices.
(4) Repealed. Apr. 10, 1939, ch. 48, 53 Stat. 573.
(5) In determining normal yield per acre for any county under this section in the case of wheat or corn, the normal yield shall be the average yield per acre therein for such commodity during the ten calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which such yield is determined, adjusted for abnormal weather conditions and trends in yields. If for any reason there is no actual yield, or the data therefor are not available for any year, then an appraised yield for such year, determined in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, shall be used. If, on account of drought, flood, insect pests, plant disease, or other uncontrollable natural cause, the yield in any year of such ten-year period is less than 75 per centum of the average (computed without regard to such year), such year shall be eliminated in calculating the normal yield per acre. Such normal yield per acre for any county need be redetermined only when the actual average yield for the ten calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which such yield is being reconsidered differs by at least 5 per centum from the actual average yield for the ten years upon which the existing normal yield per acre for the county was based.
(6) In determining normal yield per acre for any farm under this section in the case of wheat or corn, the normal yield shall be the average yield per acre thereon for such commodity during the ten calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which such yield is determined, adjusted for abnormal weather conditions and trends in yields. If for any such year the data are not available, or there is no actual yield, then the normal yield for the farm shall be appraised in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, taking into consideration abnormal weather conditions, the normal yield for the county, and the yield in years for which data are available.
(d) to (f) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(A)(ii), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1004
(g) Assignment of payments
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 8, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1149; amended June 28, 1937, ch. 395, § 1, 50 Stat. 329; Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title I, §§ 101, 102, 103, 52 Stat. 31, 34, 35; Apr. 7, 1938, ch. 107, §§ 16–18, 52 Stat. 204, 205; Apr. 10, 1939, ch. 48, 53 Stat. 573; May 14, 1940, ch. 200, 54 Stat. 216; July 2, 1940, ch. 521, § 2, 54 Stat. 727; June 21, 1941, ch. 217, 55 Stat. 257; Dec. 26, 1941, ch. 626, § 1, 55 Stat. 860; Feb. 6, 1942, ch. 44, § 4, 56 Stat. 53; Sept. 29, 1942, ch. 568, 56 Stat. 761; Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title III, § 301, 58 Stat. 737; July 25, 1946, ch. 642, 60 Stat. 663; July 3, 1948, ch. 827, title I, § 4, 62 Stat. 1250; Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 997, 64 Stat. 978; May 26, 1952, ch. 335, 66 Stat. 95; Aug. 28, 1954, ch. 1041, title V, § 501, 68 Stat. 907; Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 624, 69 Stat. 545; Apr. 6, 1956, ch. 186, 70 Stat. 105; July 24, 1956, ch. 668, 70 Stat. 597; Pub. L. 85–553, July 25, 1958, 72 Stat. 414; Pub. L. 86–70, § 13(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 86–624, § 8(a), July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 87–703, title I, § 101(2), (3), Sept. 27, 1962, 76 Stat. 605, 606; Pub. L. 88–534, § 1, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 743; Pub. L. 89–742, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1167; Pub. L. 92–419, title VI, §§ 605, 606(2)–(5), Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 676, 677; Pub. L. 95–113, title XV, § 1501(a), Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1019; Pub. L. 96–294, title II, § 259, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 709; Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, §§ 1711(a), 1712, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1635, 1636; Pub. L. 99–253, § 3, Feb. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 36; Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(a) [title VI, § 645], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783, 1783–36, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(a) [title VI, § 645], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341, 3341–36; Pub. L. 99–641, title II, § 204, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3563; Pub. L. 101–624, title XI, § 1146, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3516; Pub. L. 102–237, title II, § 202, Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1848; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 227(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3216; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(A), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1004; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10708(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 522; Pub. L. 110–234, title I, § 1615, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1021; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title I, § 1615, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1749; Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2301(d)(2)(D), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4554.)
§§ 590h–1, 590h–2. Omitted
§ 590h–3. Repealed. Pub. L. 88–534, § 2, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 743
§ 590h–4. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(2)(G), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1006
§ 590i. Surveys and investigations; publication of information

The Secretary is authorized to conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the conditions and factors affecting, and methods of accomplishing most effectively, the policy and purposes of section 590g(a) of this title. Notwithstanding any provision of existing law, the Secretary is authorized to make public such information as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 9, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1150; amended June 28, 1937, ch. 395, § 2, 50 Stat. 329; Pub. L. 97–375, title I, § 103(c), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1819.)
§ 590i–1. Omitted
§ 590i–2. Omitted
§ 590j. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) Agricultural commodity
The term “agricultural commodity” means—
(A) an agricultural commodity; and
(B) any regional or market classification, type, or grade of an agricultural commodity.
(2) Technical assistance
(A) In general
(B) Inclusions
The term “technical assistance” includes—
(i) technical services provided directly to farmers, ranchers, and other eligible entities, such as conservation planning, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices; and
(ii) technical infrastructure, including activities, processes, tools, and agency functions needed to support delivery of technical services, such as technical standards, resource inventories, training, data, technology, monitoring, and effects analyses.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 10, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1150; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title II, § 2802(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1085; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title II, § 2802(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1813.)
§ 590k. Availability of funds

All funds available for carrying out this chapter shall be available for allotment to the bureaus and offices of the Department of Agriculture and for transfer to such other agencies of the Federal or State Governments, or to local public agencies, as the Secretary may request to cooperate or assist in carrying out this chapter, and for payments to committees or associations of producers in any region or regions to cover the estimated administrative expenses to be incurred by any such committee or association in cooperating in carrying out this chapter: Provided, That the Secretary may prescribe that all or part of such estimated expenses of any such committee or association may be deducted pro rata from the payments or grants made to the members thereof: Provided further, That the Secretary may make such payments in advance of determination of performance. Funds so transferred may be placed in a single account for each State.

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 11, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1150; amended June 24, 1936, ch. 767, 49 Stat. 1915; Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 950, § 6(c), 70 Stat. 1033; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(B), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1005.)
§ 590l. Expansion of domestic and foreign markets for agricultural commodities; advances for crop insurance; transfer of funds to corporation
(a) Market expansion and surplus disposition
(b) Advances for premiums
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 12, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1151; amended Mar. 25, 1939, ch. 15, 53 Stat. 550; July 2, 1940, ch. 521, § 1, 54 Stat. 727.)
§ 590m. Execution of powers of Secretary by Production and Marketing Administration

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 13, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1151; amended 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 501, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7877, 60 Stat. 1100.)
§ 590n. Payments reviewable only by Secretary

The facts constituting the bases for any payment or grant or the amount thereof authorized to be made under section 590g of this title, when officially determined in conformity with rules or regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall be reviewable only by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 14, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1151; amended Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 950, § 6(a), 70 Stat. 1033; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(C), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1005.)
§ 590o. Authorization of appropriations; distribution of appropriated funds

To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the purposes of section 590g of this title there is authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year not exceeding $500,000,000. The amount appropriated shall be available until expended. The Secretary shall distribute the funds available for financial assistance among the several States in accordance with their conservation needs, as determined by the Secretary.

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 15, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1151; amended Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title I, § 104, 52 Stat. 35; Aug. 28, 1954, ch. 1041, title V, § 502, 68 Stat. 908; Pub. L. 92–419, title VI, § 606(6), Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 677; Pub. L. 95–113, title XV, § 1501(b), Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1020; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(1)(D), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1005.)
§ 590p. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1006
§ 590p–1. Limitation on wetlands drainage assistance to aid wildlife preservation; termination of limitation; redetermination of need for assistance upon change of ownership of lands

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 chapter, 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 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.

(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 16A, as added Pub. L. 87–732, Oct. 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 696.)
§ 590q. Coverage; “State” defined; short title
(a) This chapter shall apply to the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, and, as used in this chapter, the term “State” includes Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
(b) This chapter may be cited as the “Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act”.
(Apr. 27, 1935, ch. 85, § 17, as added Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, § 1, 49 Stat. 1151; amended July 26, 1947, ch. 339, § 2, 61 Stat. 494; Pub. L. 86–70, § 13(b), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 86–624. § 8(b), July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 98–454, title VI, § 601(d), Oct. 5, 1984, 98 Stat. 1736.)
§ 590q–1. Sale and distribution of supplies, materials, and equipment to other Government agencies; reimbursement

The Soil Conservation Service subject to applicable regulations under chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3306(f), 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4104, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 may sell and distribute supplies, materials, and equipment to other Government activities, the cost of such supplies and materials or the value of such equipment (including the cost of transportation and handling) to be reimbursed to appropriations current at the time additional supplies, materials, or equipment are procured from the appropriations chargeable with the cost or value of such supplies, materials, or equipment.

(Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, title III, § 302(b), 58 Stat. 738; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, § 2(12), 65 Stat. 707.)
§ 590q–2. Voluntary relinquishment of allotments

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may provide for the reduction or cancellation of any allotment or base when the owner of the farm states in writing that he has no further use of such allotment or base.

(Pub. L. 91–524, title VIII, § 803, Nov. 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 1381.)
§ 590q–3. Critical lands resource conservation program in Great Plains area
Notwithstanding any other provision of law—
(a) Authorization for program
(b) Terms of agreements with owners or operators
(c) Annual adjustment payments
(d) Termination of agreements
(e) Preservation of cropland, crop acreage, and allotment history
(f) Utilization of Federal and non-Federal offices
(g) Program payments
(h) Tenants and sharecroppers
(i) Rules and regulations
(j) Authorization of appropriations; utilization of Commodity Credit Corporation
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XV, § 1511, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1022.)