Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§1831a Contract restrictions

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - SOIL BANK PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM › § 1831a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

On and after June 13, 1958, conservation reserve contracts cannot pay more for conservation work than the average rate for similar work under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). They also cannot pay annual rent that is more than 20 percent of the land’s value. The land’s value is figured without counting buildings, other improvements, or location. When the county committee figures that land value, it must consider the landowner or operator’s estimate of value and their certificate about the land’s production history and productivity.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §1831a

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

On and after June 13, 1958 no conservation reserve contract shall be entered into which provides for (1) payments for conservation practices in excess of the average rate for comparable practices under the environmental quality incentives program established under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.], or (2) annual rental payments in excess of 20 per cent of the value of the land placed under contract, such value to be determined without regard to physical improvements thereon or geographic location thereof. In determining the value of the land for this purpose, the county committee shall take into consideration the estimate of the landowner or operator as to the value of such land as well as his certificate as to the production history and productivity of such land.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Act is classified generally to subpart A (§ 3839aa et seq.) of part IV of subchapter IV of chapter 58 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was not enacted as part of the Soil Bank Act which comprised this chapter.

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–334 inserted “subchapter A of” before “chapter 4”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “environmental quality incentives program established under chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985” for “Agricultural Conservation Program”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 1831a

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73