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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§3847 Data on Conservation Practices

Title 16 › Chapter 58— ERODIBLE LAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESERVE PROGRAM › Subchapter V— FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION › § 3847

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must find USDA data on how conservation practices affect farm and ranch profits, including effects on crop yields, soil health, and other risk factors. Within 1 year after December 20, 2018, the Secretary must send a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. The report must describe the data found; explain how university researchers could get access, noting technical, privacy, and admin issues; outline safeguards and procedures to protect privacy while boosting research benefits; and recommend any legal changes needed to allow access.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §3847

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall identify available data sets within the Department of Agriculture regarding the use of conservation practices and the effect of such practices on farm and ranch profitability (including such effects relating to crop yields, soil health, and other risk-related factors).
(b)Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes—
(1)a summary of the data sets identified under subsection (a);
(2)a summary of the steps the Secretary would have to take to provide access to such data sets by university researchers, including taking into account any technical, privacy, or administrative considerations;
(3)a summary of safeguards the Secretary employs when providing access to data to university researchers;
(4)a summary of appropriate procedures to maximize the potential for research benefits while preventing any violations of privacy or confidentiality; and
(5)recommendations for any necessary authorizations or clarifications of Federal law to allow access to such data sets to maximize the potential for research benefits.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3847, Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1247, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1445, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3603; amended Pub. L. 102–237, title II, § 204(8), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1855, which related to assistance for control of spread of weeds and pests, was omitted in the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–127.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 3847

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60