Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73

§5831 Technical guides and handbooks

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 88— - RESEARCH › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION › Part Part C— - Sustainable Agriculture Technology Development and Transfer Program › § 5831

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create and share handbooks, technical guides, and other teaching materials about sustainable farming. These had to be finished within two years after November 28, 1990. The materials must be made with help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and any other groups the Secretary picks, and they must be coordinated with work under section 3861 of title 16. The guides should explain things like choosing crops and varieties, rotations, building soil, tillage, nutrient and pest management, habitat and livestock care, and soil, water, and energy conservation. They must give practical, step-by-step help so farmers can solve site-specific environmental and resource problems and keep farms profitable, including keeping soils and wildlife healthy, using inputs efficiently, protecting water, and making best use of on-farm and nonrenewable resources. The materials must be available to farmers and the public through colleges, the State Cooperative Extension Service, the Soil Conservation Service, other State and Federal agencies, and other appropriate groups. Funding authorized is whatever is needed for fiscal year 2013 and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §5831

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than two years after November 28, 1990, the Secretary shall develop and make available handbooks and technical guides, and any other educational materials that are appropriate for describing sustainable agriculture production systems and practices, as researched and developed under this subchapter, chapter 86 of this title,11 See References in Text note below. and other appropriate research programs of the Department.
(b)The Secretary shall develop the handbooks, technical guides, and educational materials in consultation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and any other appropriate entities designated by the Secretary. The Secretary shall coordinate activities conducted under this section with those conducted under section 3861 of title 16.
(c)The handbooks and guides, and other educational materials, shall include detailed information on the selection of crops and crop-plant varieties, rotation practices, soil building practices, tillage systems, nutrient management, integrated pest management practices, habitat protection, pest, weed, and disease management, livestock management, soil, water, and energy conservation, and any other practices in accordance with or in furtherance of the purpose of this subchapter.
(d)The handbooks and guides, and other educational materials, shall provide practical instructions and be organized in such a manner as to enable agricultural producers desiring to implement the practices and systems developed under this subchapter, chapter 86 of this title,1 and other appropriate research programs of the Department to address site-specific, environmental and resource management problems and to sustain farm profitability, including—
(1)enhancing and maintaining the fertility, productivity, and conservation of farmland and ranch soils, ranges, pastures, and wildlife;
(2)maximizing the efficient and effective use of agricultural inputs;
(3)protecting or enhancing the quality of water resources; or
(4)optimizing the use of on-farm and nonrenewable resources.
(e)The Secretary shall ensure that handbooks and technical guides, and other educational materials are made available to the agricultural community and the public through colleges and universities, the State Cooperative Extension Service, the Soil Conservation Service, other State and Federal agencies, and any other appropriate entities.
(f)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1)such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2013; and
(2)$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (c), and (d), was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle B (§§ 1619–1629) of title XVI of Pub. L. 101–624, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3733, which enacted this subchapter, repealed sections 4701 to 4710 of this title, and repealed provisions set out as a note under section 4701 of this title. For complete classification of subtitle B to the Code, see Tables. Chapter 86 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d), was in the original “subtitle G of title XIV”, meaning subtitle G (§§ 1481–1485) of title XIV of Pub. L. 101–624, which was repealed by Pub. L. 105–185, title III, § 302(c), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 563.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “2023” for “2018”. 2014—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–79 amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.” 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–127, § 862(b)(3), struck out “section 5881 of this title,” before “and other appropriate”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–127, § 860(c)(3), substituted “Natural Resources Conservation Service” for “Advisory Council, the Soil Conservation Service,”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–127, § 862(b)(3), struck out “section 5881 of this title,” before “and other appropriate” in introductory provisions. 1991—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “educational” for “education”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 5831

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73