Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110
§3835 Contracts
Title 16 › CHAPTER 58 — ERODIBLE LAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESERVE PROGRAM › SUBCHAPTER IV — AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROGRAM › Part I — Comprehensive Conservation Enhancement Program › subpart b — conservation reserve › § 3835
Summary
Before signing a new conservation contract, the owner must not have bought the land within the past 1-year unless the land was inherited by will or succession, bought before January 1, 1985, the Secretary finds it was not bought to get into the program, or the ownership changed because of foreclosure and the prior owner redeems under State law. A new owner can keep an already existing contract. A person who has farmed the land for at least 1 year (or since January 1, 1985, if later) and controls it can enter a contract even if they do not own it. If land is sold or its occupancy is transferred during a contract, the new owner or operator can keep the contract, sign a new one, or opt out. The Secretary may change a contract if the owner agrees and the change helps run the program, helps transfer the land to a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer, or allows other appropriate goals. The Secretary may also allow land to be used to grow crops for a year under conditions the Secretary sets. The Secretary may end a contract if the owner agrees and the Secretary finds it in the public interest, but must give the House and Senate agriculture committees 90 days’ written notice before ending all such contracts. During fiscal year 2015, a participant whose contract has run at least 5 years may end it early by giving reasonable notice. Ending early does not erase liability for past violations. Many kinds of sensitive or protected lands are not eligible for early termination, including filterstrips, waterways, riparian buffers, windbreaks, highly erodible land (erodibility index over 15), hardwoods, wetlands, certain wildlife and habitat areas, structural conservation features, wellhead protection areas, lands under easement, lands next to perennial streams or permanent water bodies, and lands in the conservation reserve enhancement program. Early termination takes effect when the Secretary approves it, and any rental payment for a partially completed fiscal year is prorated. Ending a contract does not stop the owner from later bidding to re-enroll the land. If land is returned to crop production, conservation rules similar to those for nearby land apply and cannot be stricter. When land is being transferred to a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer to prepare for production, the Secretary must allow a 2-year transition for improvements and organic certification, require sale or long lease to that farmer at contract end, require a conservation plan, offer priority for enrollment in certain conservation programs, and may continue annual payments to the former holder for up to 2 more years if not a family member. If land is moved into the agricultural conservation easement program, the Secretary may modify or end the contract.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §3835
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Ownership or operation requirements
(1)In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no contract shall be entered into under this subpart concerning land with respect to which the ownership has changed in the 1-year period preceding the first year of the contract period unless—
(A)the new ownership was acquired by will or succession as a result of the death of the previous owner;
(B)the new ownership was acquired before January 1, 1985;
(C)the Secretary determines that the land was acquired under circumstances that give adequate assurance that the land was not acquired for the purpose of placing the land in the program established by this subpart; or
(D)the ownership change occurred due to foreclosure on the land and the owner of the land immediately before the foreclosure exercises a right of redemption from the mortgage holder in accordance with State law.
(2)Exceptions
Paragraph (1) shall not—
(A)prohibit the continuation of an agreement by a new owner after an agreement has been entered into under this subpart; or
(B)require a person to own the land as a condition of eligibility for entering into the contract if the person—
(i)has operated the land to be covered by a contract under this section for at least 1 year preceding the date of the contract or since January 1, 1985, whichever is later; and
(ii)controls the land for the contract period.
(b)Sales or transfers
If, during the term of a contract entered into under this subpart, an owner or operator of land subject to the contract sells or otherwise transfers the ownership or right of occupancy of the land, the new owner or operator of the land may—
(1)continue the contract under the same terms or conditions;
(2)enter into a new contract in accordance with this subpart; or
(3)elect not to participate in the program established by this subpart.
(c)Modifications
(1)In general
The Secretary may modify a contract entered into with an owner or operator under this subpart if—
(A)the owner or operator agrees to the modification; and
(B)the Secretary determines that the modification is desirable—
(i)to carry out this subpart;
(ii)to facilitate the practical administration of this subpart;
(iii)to facilitate a transition of land subject to the contract from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher for the purpose of returning some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods; or
(iv)to achieve such other goals as the Secretary determines are appropriate, consistent with this subpart.
(2)Production of agricultural commodities
The Secretary may modify or waive a term or condition of a contract entered into under this subpart in order to permit all or part of the land subject to such contract to be devoted to the production of an agricultural commodity during a crop year, subject to such conditions as the Secretary determines are appropriate.
(d)Termination
(1)In general
The Secretary may terminate a contract entered into with an owner or operator under this subpart if—
(A)the owner or operator agrees to the termination; and
(B)the Secretary determines that the termination would be in the public interest.
(2)Notice to congressional committees
At least 90 days before taking any action to terminate under paragraph (1) all conservation reserve contracts entered into under this subpart, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate written notice of the action.
(e)Early termination by owner or operator (f) Transition option for certain farmers or ranchers
(1)Early termination
(A)In general
During fiscal year 2015, the Secretary shall allow a participant that entered into a contract under this subpart to terminate the contract at any time if the contract has been in effect for at least 5 years.
(B)Liability for contract violation
The termination shall not relieve the participant of liability for a contract violation occurring before the date of the termination.
(C)Notice to Secretary
The participant shall provide the Secretary with reasonable notice of the desire of the participant to terminate the contract.
(2)Certain land excepted
The following land shall not be subject to an early termination of contract under this subsection: (A)
(B)Land with an erodibility index of more than 15.
(C)Land devoted to hardwood trees.
(D)Wildlife habitat, duck nesting habitat, pollinator habitat, upland bird habitat buffer, wildlife food plots, State acres for wildlife enhancement, shallow water areas for wildlife, and rare and declining habitat.
(E)Farmable wetland and restored wetland.
(F)Land that contains diversions, erosion control structures, flood control structures, contour grass strips, living snow fences, salinity reducing vegetation, cross wind trap strips, and sediment retention structures.
(G)Land located within a federally designated wellhead protection area.
(H)Land that is covered by an easement under the conservation reserve program.
(I)Land located within an average width, according to the applicable Natural Resources Conservation Service field office technical guide, of a perennial stream or permanent water body.
(J)Land enrolled under the conservation reserve enhancement program.
(3)Effective date
The contract termination shall become effective upon approval by the Secretary.
(4)Prorated rental payment
If a contract entered into under this subpart is terminated under this subsection before the end of the fiscal year for which a rental payment is due, the Secretary shall provide a prorated rental payment covering the portion of the fiscal year during which the contract was in effect.
(5)Renewed enrollment
The termination of a contract entered into under this subpart shall not affect the ability of the owner or operator that requested the termination to submit a subsequent bid to enroll the land that was subject to the contract into the conservation reserve.
(6)Conservation requirements
If land that was subject to a contract is returned to production of an agricultural commodity, the conservation requirements under subchapters II and III shall apply to the use of the land to the extent that the requirements are similar to those requirements imposed on other similar land in the area, except that the requirements may not be more onerous than the requirements imposed on other land.
(g)End of contract considerations
The Secretary shall not consider an owner or operator to be in violation of a term or condition of the conservation reserve contract if—
(1)during the year prior to expiration of the contract, the owner or operator—
(A)(i)enters into a contract under the environmental quality incentives program established under subpart A of part IV; and
(ii)begins the establishment of a practice under that contract; or
(B)(i)enters into a contract under the conservation stewardship program established under subpart B of part IV; and
(ii)begins the establishment of a practice under that contract; or
(2)during the 3 years prior to the expiration of the contract, the owner or operator begins the certification process under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
(h)Land enrolled in agricultural conservation easement program
The Secretary may terminate or modify a contract entered into under this subpart if eligible land that is subject to such contract is transferred into the agricultural conservation easement program under subchapter VII.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 2279(e) of title 7, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), was redesignated section 2279(a) of title 7 by Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12301(b)(3), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4951. The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, referred to in subsecs. (f)(1)(A)(ii) and (g)(2), is title XXI of Pub. L. 101–624, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3935, which is classified generally to chapter 94 (§ 6501 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 6501 of Title 7 and Tables. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3835, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1235, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1513; Pub. L. 100–233, title VIII, § 801, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1710; Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1447(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3605; Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 332(c), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 994, related to contracts, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 107–171.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(A), substituted “contract holder” for “retired farmer or rancher” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(C), substituted “2 years” for “1 year” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(B), substituted “contract holder” for “retired or retiring owner or operator”. Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(B), (D), substituted “contract holder” for “retired or retiring owner or operator” and inserted “, including a lease with a term of less than 5 years and an option to purchase” after “lease with an option to purchase”. Subsec. (f)(1)(E). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(E), (G), added subpar. (E). Former subpar. (E) redesignated (F). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(B), substituted “contract holder” for “retired or retiring owner or operator” in two places. Subsec. (f)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(1)(F), redesignated subpar. (E) as (F). Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(2)(A), substituted “To the extent that the maximum number of acres permitted to be enrolled under the conservation reserve program has not been met, the Secretary” for “The Secretary” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(a)(2)(B), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “is eligible for enrollment under the continuous signup option pursuant to section 3834(d)(2)(A)(ii) of this title; and”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–334, § 2208(b), amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall not consider an owner or operator to be in violation of a term or condition of the conservation reserve contract if— “(1) during the year prior to expiration of the contract, the land is enrolled in the conservation stewardship program; and “(2) the activity required under the conservation stewardship program pursuant to such enrollment is consistent with this subpart.” 2014—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(a)(1), substituted “During fiscal year 2015, the Secretary” for “The Secretary” and struck out “before January 1, 1995,” after “under this subpart”. Subsec. (e)(2)(C) to (J). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(a)(2), added subpars. (C) to (J) and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “Other land of high environmental value (including wetland), as determined by the Secretary.” Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(a)(3), substituted “upon approval by the Secretary” for “60 days after the date on which the owner or operator submits the notice required under paragraph (1)(C)”. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(b)(1)(A), substituted “Transition to covered farmer or rancher” for “Duties of the Secretary” in heading and, in introductory provisions, substituted “In the case of a contract modification approved in order to facilitate the transfer of land subject to a contract from a retired farmer or rancher to a beginning farmer or rancher, a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2279(e) of title 7), or a” for “In the case of a contract modification approved in order to facilitate the transfer, as described in subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii), of land to a beginning farmer or rancher or”. Subsec. (f)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(b)(1)(B), inserted “, including preparing to plant an agricultural crop” after “improvements”. Subsec. (f)(1)(D). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(b)(1)(C), substituted “the covered farmer or rancher” for “the farmer or rancher”. Subsec. (f)(1)(E). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(b)(1)(D), substituted “section 1308” for “section 1308–1(b)(3)(B)”. Subsec. (f)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(b)(2), substituted “option pursuant to section 3834(d)(2)(A)(ii)” for “requirement of section 3831(h)(4)(B)”. Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 113–79, § 2006(c), added subsecs. (g) and (h). 2008—Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2111(a), added cl. (iii) and redesignated former cl. (iii) as (iv). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2111(b), added subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture. Conservation Reserve Pub. L. 100–45, § 10, May 27, 1987, 101 Stat. 323, provided that: “section 1235(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 3835(a)] should be reviewed by the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that the provisions thereof relating to exceptions to the three-year ownership requirement with respect to eligibility for the conservation reserve are being implemented in a manner to encourage inclusion of producer-owned land in the conservation reserve. However, any such exception to the three-year requirement should be made only if the Secretary determines that the land involved (1) was not acquired for the purpose of placing the land in the conservation reserve or (2) otherwise meets the criteria for exceptions made under section 1235(a).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 3835
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110