7 USC 6932 - Farm Service Agency

View all text of Subchapter II [§ 6931 - § 6936]

§ 6932. Farm Service Agency

(a) Establishment

(b) Functions

If the Secretary establishes the Farm Service Agency under subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to assign to the Agency jurisdiction over the following functions:

(1) Agricultural price and income support programs, production adjustment programs, and related programs.

(2) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–127, title I, § 194(c), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 946.

(3) Agricultural credit programs assigned before October 13, 1994, by law to the Farmers Home Administration (including farm ownership and operating, emergency, and disaster loan programs) and other lending programs for agricultural producers and others engaged in the production of agricultural commodities.

(4) Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.].

(5) Such other functions as the Secretary considers appropriate, except for those programs assigned by the Secretary to the Natural Resources Conservation Service or another agency of the Department under section 6936(b) of this title.

In carrying out the programs specified in subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall—

(1) acting on the recommendations of the Farm Service Agency, with the concurrence of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, issue regulations to carry out such programs;

(2) ensure that the Farm Service Agency, in establishing policies, priorities, and guidelines for such programs, does so with the concurrence of the Natural Resources Conservation Service at national, State, and local levels;

(3) ensure that, in reaching such concurrence at the local level, the Natural Resources Conservation Service works in cooperation with Soil and Water Conservation Districts or similar organizations established under State law;

(4) ensure that officials of county and area committees established under section 590h(b)(5) of title 16 meet annually with officials of such Districts or similar organizations to consider local conservation priorities and guidelines; and

(5) take steps to ensure that the concurrence process does not interfere with the effective delivery of such programs.

(d) Jurisdiction over conservation program appeals

(1) In general

(2) Treatment of technical determination

(A) In general

(B) Economic hardship

(3) Reinstatement of program benefits

(e) Use of Federal and non-Federal employees

(1) Use authorized

(2) Exception

(f) Collocation

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall collocate county offices of the Farm Service Agency with county offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in order to—

(1) maximize savings from shared equipment, office space, and administrative support;

(2) simplify paperwork and regulatory requirements;

(3) provide improved services to agricultural producers and landowners affected by programs administered by the Agency and the Service; and

(4) achieve computer compatibility between the Agency and the Service to maximize efficiency and savings.

(g) Savings provision

For purposes of subsections (c) through (f) of this section:

(1) A reference to the “Farm Service Agency” includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Farm Service Agency under this section.

(2) A reference to the “Natural Resources Conservation Service” includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Natural Resources Conservation Service under section 6936(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 226, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3214; Pub. L. 104–127, title I, § 194(c), title III, §§ 315(b), 336(a)(2)(C), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 946, 985, 1005; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §§ 12404(a), 12410(c)(2)(A), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4974, 4978.)