Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§2302 Definitions

Title 7 › CHAPTER 56 — UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES AFFECTING PRODUCERS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS › § 2302

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. Agricultural products are farm goods but do not include cotton, tobacco, or their products. Association of producers is a group of agricultural producers that works on marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing (see 12 U.S.C. 1141j(a) and section 291 of this title) and includes organizations made up only of producers that promote their common interests. Handler is someone who buys farm goods from producers for sale or processing, or who grades, packs, stores, processes them, or makes contracts or acts as an agent or broker for those activities; it does not include a person (except a packer) who only provides custom feeding services. Producer is a person who produces agricultural products, such as a farmer, rancher, dairyman, or fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §2302

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:
(1)Agricultural products
The term “agricultural products” shall not include cotton or tobacco or their products.
(2)(2) Association of producers
(A)In general
The term “association of producers” means any association of producers of agricultural products engaged in marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing as defined in section 1141j(a) of title 12, or in section 291 of this title.
(B)Inclusion
The term “association of producers” includes an organization whose membership is exclusively limited to agricultural producers and dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural products.
(3)(3) 1 Handler
(A)In general
The term “handler” means any person engaged in the business or practice of (i) acquiring agricultural products from producers or associations of producers for processing or sale; or (ii) grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural products received from producers or associations of producers; or (iii) contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or marketing of any agricultural product; or (iv) acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii).
(B)Exclusion
The term “handler” does not include a person, other than a packer (as defined in section 191 of this title), that provides custom feeding services for a producer.
(4)Producer
The term “producer” means a person engaged in the production of agricultural products as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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.

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 11003, in introductory provisions, substituted “In this chapter:” for “When used in this chapter—”, redesignated subsecs. (e), (c), (a), and (b) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively, inserted par. headings, in pars. (2) and (3), inserted duplicate par. designations, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B), in par. (3), redesignated cls. (1) to (4) as (i) to (iv), respectively, in cl. (iv), substituted “clause (i), (ii), or (iii)” for “clause (1), (2), or (3) of this paragraph”, and struck out subsec. (d) which read as follows: “The term ‘person’ includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations.”

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 this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 2302

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110