Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 49 Part 1.djvu/1195

 1150 Exceptions. Specified powers of Secretary. Payments to agri- cultural producers, etc. Amount of payment. Administrative re- quirements and limita- tions. Conditions imposed. Surveys, etc ., author- ized. "Agricultural co m- modity" defined. Allotments of funds to Government agen- c ies . Post, pp. 1183, 1915 . 74TH C ONGRESS. SESS. IL CH. 104. FEBRUARY 29, 1936 . thereafter, the Secretary sha ll exercise the powers conferred in this section during the period prior to January 1, 1938, except with respect to farming op erations co mmenced in any State a fter the ef fective date of a State plan for such State approved pursuant to section 7. N o such powers shall be exercised after December 31, 1937, except with resp ect t o pay ments or g rants in conne ction with farm ing o pera - tions carried out prior to Ja nuary 1, 1938. " (b) Subject to t he limitations provided in subsec tion (a) of this section, the Secretary shall have power to carry out the purposes specif ied in clauses (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section 7 (a) by making payme nts or gr ants of ot her a id to agr icult ural produ cers, incl udin g tenants and share-croppers, in amounts, determined by the Secretary to be fair and reasonable in connection with the effectuation of such purposes during the year with respect to which such payments or grants are made, and measured by, (1) their treatment or use of their land, or a part thereof, for soil restoration, soil conservation, or the prevention of erosion, (2) changes in the use of their land, (3) a percentage of their normal production of any one or more agricultural commodities designated by the Secretary which equals that percentage of the normal national production of such com- modity or commodities required for domestic consumption, or (4) any combination of the above. In determining the amount of any payment or grant meas ured by (1) or (2) the Secretary shall take into consideration the productivity of the land affected by the farming practices adopted during the year with respect to which su ch payment is made. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall, as far as practicable, protect the interests of tenants and share-croppers. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary is authorized to utilize county and com- munity com mittees of agricultura l producers and the a gricultural extension service, or other approved agencies. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall not have power to enter into any contract binding upon any producer or to acquire any land or any right or interest therein. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall, in every practicable manner, protect the interests of smal l producers. The Se cretary in adminis- tering this section shall in every practical way encourage and provide for soil conserving and soil rebuilding practices rather than the growing of soil depleting commercial crops. "(c) Any payment or grant of aid made under subsection (b) shall be conditi oned upon t he utilizat ion of the land, with respect to which such payment is made, in c onformity w ith farmin g practices which the Secretary finds tend to effectuate the purposes specified in clause (1), (2), (3), or (4) of section 7 (a) . " SEC. 9. The Secr etary is authorized to conduct su rveys, investiga- tions, and research relating to the conditions and factors aff ecting, and methods of accomplishing most effectively, the policy and purposes of section 7 (a). Notwithstanding any provision of existing law, the Secretary is authorized to make public such information as he deems necessary to carry o ut the provisions of this Act. "SEC. 10 . The term `agricultural commodity' as used in this Act means any such commodity and any regional or market classification, type or grade thereof . "gEC. 11. All funds available for carrying out this Act shall be avail able for allot ment to th e bur eaus and offic es of the Depar tmen t of Agriculture and for transfer to such other agenc ies of the Federal or State Governments as the Secretary may request to cooperate or assist in carrying out this Act.