7 U.S.C. § 2279a: Fair and equitable treatment…

Summary

The Agriculture Secretary must fix crop acreage bases and payment yields if they were not set correctly for farms owned or run by socially disadvantaged producers under the Agricultural Act of 1949. The Secretary must also change how the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is carried out if it treats socially disadvantaged producers unfairly so they receive fair treatment and the benefits they should get. The Comptroller General was required to study whether these producers are underrepresented on certain state or local committees because of racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice and whether that keeps them from using USDA programs. That report was due to the House and Senate Agriculture committees by February 1, 1995. socially disadvantaged producer — a producer who belongs to a group that has faced racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their group identity, not because of their individual qualities.

Title 7, §2279a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Fair crop acreage bases and farm program payment yields

If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that crop acreage bases or farm program payment yields established for farms owned or operated by socially disadvantaged producers are not established in accordance with title V of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.), the Secretary shall adjust the bases and yields to conform to the requirements of such title and make available any appropriate commodity program benefits.

(b)Fair application of Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that application of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) with respect to socially disadvantaged producers is not consistent with the requirements of such Act, the Secretary shall make such changes in the administration of such Act as the Secretary considers necessary to provide for the fair and equitable treatment of socially disadvantaged producers under such Act.

(c)Report on treatment of socially disadvantaged producers

(1)Report required

The Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare a report to determine—

(A)whether socially disadvantaged producers are underrepresented on State, county, area, or local committees established under section 590h(b)(5) of title 16 or local review committees established under section 1363 of this title because of racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice; and

(B)if such underrepresentation exists, whether it inhibits or interferes with the participation of socially disadvantaged producers in programs of the Department of Agriculture.

(2)Submission of report

Not later than February 1, 1995, the Comptroller General shall submit the report required by this subsection to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

(d)“Socially disadvantaged producer” defined

For purposes of this section, the term “socially disadvantaged producer” means a producer who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Agricultural Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051. Title V of the Act, which was classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 1461 et seq.) of chapter 35A of this title, was omitted from the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1421 of this title and Tables. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is title III of Pub. L. 87–128, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307, which is classified principally to chapter 50 (§ 1921 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables.

§2279a Fair and Equitable Treatment of Socially Disadvantaged Producers

Summary

Title 7, §2279a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

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