§590z–3 Settlement of projects on agricultural basis

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture, working with the Interior Department, can create and run farm settlement projects in the Great Plains and other dry areas. The Secretary can place people who need land, give settlers advice on farming, soil care, and good land use, buy farm land inside those projects, and prepare land (clearing, leveling, and making it ready for irrigation). Contracts with water users for leasing, buying, or improving land must require yearly or twice-yearly payments set by the Secretary. Each land contract must repay the United States the costs of buying and improving that tract within no more than 50 years after it is first settled, except for administrative costs in Washington, D.C., and must charge at least 3% interest per year on unpaid balances. Contracts must also cover any construction or operation and maintenance charges required by the repayment agreement. The Secretary may use services, labor, materials, or money provided by other federal agencies (for example, the Work Projects Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Office of Indian Affairs, or the Department of Agriculture) if the President approves and sets repayment terms. The Secretary may also accept contributions from states, local governments, organizations, or individuals, and those funds can be spent for the same purposes as if they had been specially appropriated. Purchases or services totaling $300 or less are exempt from the usual federal purchasing rule.