§2421 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

Funds for military food can be used to run, care for, and improve farms or plantations outside the United States that are under the control of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the armed forces. The government cannot buy land for this. Any extra produce beyond what is given or sold to the forces or to civilians serving with them may be sold only outside the United States. Only U.S. nationals hired under this rule can get U.S. civilian employee benefits for employment, work, pay, or other job benefits. The farms should be run by private contractors or lessees whenever possible. Before using service members, the military Secretary must try reasonably to hire a civilian on terms that are better for the United States, and the Secretary’s decision about that effort and the terms is final. The authority ended on September 30, 2018.

Title 10, §2421

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Appropriations for the subsistence of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force are available for expenditures necessary in the operation, maintenance, and improvement of any plantation or farm, outside the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, as the case may be, for furnishing fresh fruits and vegetables to the armed forces. However, no land may be acquired under this subsection.

(b)Fruits and vegetables produced under subsection (a) that are over the amount furnished or sold to the armed forces or to civilians serving with the armed forces may be sold only outside the United States.

(c)Of the persons employed by the United States under subsection (a), only nationals of the United States are entitled to the benefits provided by laws relating to the employment, work, compensation, or other benefits of civilian employees of the United States.

(d)A plantation or farm covered by subsection (a) shall be operated, maintained, and improved by a private contractor or lessee, so far as practicable. Before using members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force, as the case may be, the Secretary concerned must make a reasonable effort to make a contract or lease with a person in civil life for his services for that operation, maintenance, or improvement, on terms advantageous to the United States. A determination by the Secretary as to the reasonableness of effort to make a contract or lease, and as to the advantageous nature of its terms, is final.

(e)The authority under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2018.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2421(a) 2421(b)10:1213 (less 1st and 2d provisos).34:555a (less 1st and 2d provisos).10:1213 (2d proviso).34:555a (2d proviso).

June 28, 1944, ch. 306; restated

July 1, 1947, ch. 188, 61 Stat. 234; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, § 3(2), 65 Stat. 708. 2421(c)10:1213 (1st proviso). 34:555a (1st proviso). 2421(d)10:1214. 34:555b. In subsection (a), the word “management”, in 10:1213 and 34:555a, is omitted as covered by the word “operation”. The word “members” is substituted for the word “personnel”. The word “may” is substituted for the word “shall”. The words “any and all” and “the purpose of” are omitted as surplusage. In subsections (a) and (b), the word “continental” is omitted, since section 101(1) of this title defines the United States to include the States and the District of Columbia. In subsection (b), the words “of the United States” are omitted as surplusage. The words “Fruits and vegetables produced under subsection (a)” are substituted for the words “That surplus production”. In subsection (c), the words “nationals of the United States” are substituted for the words “American nationals”. The words “civil-service laws and other * * * of the United States” and “rights * * * or obligations” are omitted as surplusage. In subsection (d), the words “after the termination of the present war” are omitted as executed. The word “by” is substituted for the words “through the instrumentality of”. The words “partnership, association” are omitted as covered by the definition of “person” in section 1 of title 1. The words “United States” are substituted for the word “Government”. The words “management”, “for that purpose”, and “or agreement” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “Marine Corps, or Space Force” for “or Marine Corps” wherever appearing. 2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (e).

§2421 Plantations and Farms: Operation, Maintenance, and Improvement