7 U.S.C. § 7955: Producer agreement required…

Summary

Producers must agree to follow certain rules before they can get direct payments or counter‑cyclical payments for a crop year. They must follow conservation rules (subtitle B of Title XII, 16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.), wetland protection rules (subtitle C of Title XII, 16 U.S.C. 3821 et seq.), the planting flexibility rules in section 7956, and use land equal to the farm’s peanut base acres and any other base acres only for farming or conservation, not for nonagricultural commercial or industrial use. If parts of that land are left uncultivated, they must control noxious weeds and care for the land using sound farming practices as the Secretary requires. The Secretary can make rules to enforce these conditions and may change them for a new owner if the change fits the rules’ goals. Payments stop if the interest in peanut base acres is transferred unless the new owner agrees to the obligations; the Secretary sets the stop date. If a producer dies, becomes incompetent, or cannot receive the payment, the Secretary will pay under rules the Secretary makes. Producers with peanut payment yields and base acres under section 7952 must file annual acreage reports for all cropland. The Secretary must protect tenants and sharecroppers and make sure payments are shared fairly among the farm’s producers.

Title 7, §7955

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Compliance with certain requirements

(1)Requirements

Before the producers on a farm may receive direct payments or counter-cyclical payments under this subchapter with respect to the farm, the producers shall agree, during the crop year for which the payments are made and in exchange for the payments—

(A)to comply with applicable conservation requirements under subtitle B of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.);

(B)to comply with applicable wetland protection requirements under subtitle C of title XII of that Act (16 U.S.C. 3821 et seq.);

(C)to comply with the planting flexibility requirements of section 7956 of this title;

(D)to use the land on the farm, in a quantity equal to the attributable base acres for peanuts and any base acres for the farm under subchapter I, for an agricultural or conserving use, and not for a nonagricultural commercial or industrial use, as determined by the Secretary; and

(E)to effectively control noxious weeds and otherwise maintain the land in accordance with sound agricultural practices, as determined by the Secretary, if the agricultural or conserving use involves the noncultivation of any portion of the land referred to in subparagraph (D).

(2)Compliance

The Secretary may issue such rules as the Secretary considers necessary to ensure producer compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(3)Modification

At the request of the transferee or owner, the Secretary may modify the requirements of this subsection if the modifications are consistent with the objectives of this subsection, as determined by the Secretary.

(b)Transfer or change of interest in farm

(1)Termination

Except as provided in paragraph (2), a transfer of (or change in) the interest of the producers on a farm in the base acres for peanuts for which direct payments or counter-cyclical payments are made shall result in the termination of the payments with respect to those acres, unless the transferee or owner of the acreage agrees to assume all obligations under subsection (a). The termination shall take effect on the date determined by the Secretary.

(2)Exception

If a producer entitled to a direct payment or counter-cyclical payment dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise unable to receive the payment, the Secretary shall make the payment, in accordance with rules issued by the Secretary.

(c)Acreage reports

As a condition on the receipt of direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, marketing assistance loans, or loan deficiency payments under this subchapter, the Secretary shall require the producers on a farm to which a payment yield and base acres for peanuts are assigned under section 7952 of this title to submit to the Secretary annual acreage reports with respect to all cropland on the farm.

(d)Tenants and sharecroppers

In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers.

(e)Sharing of payments

The Secretary shall provide for the sharing of direct payments and counter-cyclical payments among the producers on a farm on a fair and equitable basis.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (c), and (d), was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle C (§§ 1301–1310) of Pub. L. 107–171, title I, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 166, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle C to the Code, see

References in Text

note set out under section 7951 of this title and Tables. The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A), (B), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Subtitles B and C of title XII of the Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§ 3811 et seq.) and III (§ 3821 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 58 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of this title and Tables.

§7955 Producer Agreement Required as Condition on Provision of Direct Payments and Counter-cyclical Payments

Summary

Title 7, §7955

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

References in Text

Short Title

Citations & Metadata