Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 2.djvu/453

 PUBLIC LAW 99-198—DEC. 23, 1985

99 STAT. 1563

Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(7)). (2) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture. (3) The term "State" means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (4) The term "State agricultural experiment stations" shall have the meaning given to such term by section 1404(13) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101(13)). 7 USC 3103. FINDINGS

SEC. 1462. Congress finds that— (1) highly productive and efficient agricultural systems and sound conservation practices are essential to ensure the longterm agricultural viability and profitability of farms and ranches in the United States; (2) agricultural research and technology transfer activities of the Secretary (including activities of the Extension Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the Cooperative State Research Service), State cooperative extension services, land-grant and other colleges and universities, and State agricultural experiment stations— (A) have contributed greatly to innovation in agriculture; and (B) have a continuing role to play in improving agricultural productivity; (3) the annual irretrievable loss of billions of tons of precious topsoil through wind and water erosion reduces agricultural productivity; (4) many farmers and ranchers are highly dependent on machines and energy resources for agricultural production; (5) public funding of a properly planned and balanced agricultural research program is essential to improving efficiency in agricultural production and conservation practices; and (6) expanded agricultural research and extension efforts are needed to assist farmers and ranchers to— (A) improve agricultural productivity; and (B) implement soil, water, and energy conservation practices.

Conservation, '^ USC 4702. Schools and colleges.

Conservation.

PURPOSES

SEC. 1463. It is the purpose of this subtitle to— 7 USC 4703. (1) facilitate and promote scientific investigation in order to— (A) enhance agricultural productivity; (B) maint£dn the productivity of land; (C) reduce soil erosion and loss of water and plant nutrients; and (D) conserve energy and natural resources; and Conservation. (2) facilitate the conduct of research projects in order to study agricultural production systems that— (A) are located, to the extent practicable, in areas that possess various soil, climatic, and physical characteristics;

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