§1292 New uses and markets for commodities

Summary

Establish, equip, and keep four regional research laboratories, one in each major farm-producing area. At these labs, the Secretary must research and develop new scientific, chemical, and technical uses, and new or bigger markets, for farm commodities, their products, and byproducts. Work should concentrate on commodities that have regular or seasonal surpluses. The Secretary may buy land, accept gifts of property, and use unpaid volunteer services for each lab. Gifts to one lab may not be used by another. The Secretary must cooperate with other federal and state agencies, experiment stations, local governments, businesses, universities, scientific groups, and individuals as needed. Beginning with the fiscal year that starts July 1, 1938, the Secretary may use up to $4,000,000 each year from funds appropriated under section 1391 or section 590o of title 16. One‑fourth of that sum must be given each year to each of the four labs. Also beginning that fiscal year, $1,000,000 each year is allocated to the Secretary of Commerce to promote sales of farm commodities. Of that $1,000,000, $100,000 must be used to study why U.S. agricultural exports fell and how to increase sales abroad. The Secretary must use available funds to expand use of farm commodities at home and to increase their sales worldwide.