Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§504a Sale of Forest-tree Seed and Nursery Stock to States and Political Subdivisions; Disposition of Moneys; Exchanges; Limitation

Title 16 › Chapter 2— NATIONAL FORESTS › Subchapter I— ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION › § 504a

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture may sell forest-tree seed and nursery stock to States, local governments, and public agencies in other countries. Sales must at least cover the United States’ actual or estimated cost to get or grow the seed or stock. Money from sales goes into the Forest Service fund used to buy or grow seed when the money is deposited. The Secretary may swap seed or stock if it helps the United States and what is given is not worth more than what is received. Nursery stock meant for ornamental or common landscape planting sold by commercial nurseries may not be sold or swapped under this rule.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §504a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, to sell forest-tree seed and nursery stock to States and political subdivisions thereof and to public agencies of other countries, at rates not less than the actual or estimated cost to the United States of procuring or producing such seed or nursery stock, moneys received from the sale thereof to be credited to the appropriation or appropriations of the Forest Service currently available for the procurement or production of seed or nursery stock at the time such moneys are deposited: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture may exchange with such public agencies forest-tree seed and nursery stock for forest-tree seed or nursery stock of the same or different species upon a determination that such exchange is in the interest of the United States and that the value of the property given in exchange does not exceed the value of the property received: Provided further, That no nursery stock shall be sold or exchanged under this section as ornamental or other stock for landscape planting of the types commonly grown by established commercial nurserymen.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 504a

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60