Summary:
All articles in House section
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2854
(House of Representatives - March 25, 1996)
Text of this article available as:
[Pages H2716-H2841]
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2854
Mr. ROBERTS submitted the following conference report and statement
on the bill (H.R. 2854), to modify the operation of certain
agricultural programs:
Conference Report (H. Rept. 104-494)
The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the
two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R.
2854), to modify the operation of certain agricultural
programs, having met, after full and free conference, have
agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective
Houses as follows:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an
amendment as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate
amendment, insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION ACT
Subtitle A--Short Title, Purpose, and Definitions
Sec. 101. Short title and purpose.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Subtitle B--Production Flexibility Contracts
Sec. 111. Authorization for use of production flexibility contracts.
Sec. 112. Elements of contracts.
Sec. 113. Amounts available for contract payments.
Sec. 114. Determination of contract payments under contracts.
Sec. 115. Payment limitations.
Sec. 116. Violations of contract.
Sec. 117. Transfer or change of interest in lands subject to contract.
Sec. 118. Planting flexibility.
Subtitle C--Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments
Sec. 131. Availability of nonrecourse marketing assistance loans.
Sec. 132. Loan rates for marketing assistance loans.
Sec. 133. Term of loans.
Sec. 134. Repayment of loans.
Sec. 135. Loan deficiency payments.
Sec. 136. Special marketing loan provisions for upland cotton.
Sec. 137. Availability of recourse loans for high moisture feed grains
and seed cotton.
Subtitle D--Other Commodities
Chapter 1--Dairy
Sec. 141. Milk price support program.
Sec. 142. Recourse loan program for commercial processors of dairy
products.
Sec. 143. Consolidation and reform of Federal milk marketing orders.
Sec. 144. Effect on fluid milk standards in State of California.
Sec. 145. Milk manufacturing marketing adjustment.
Sec. 146. Promotion.
Sec. 147. Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.
Sec. 148. Dairy export incentive program.
Sec. 149. Authority to assist in establishment and maintenance of one
or more export trading companies.
Sec. 150. Standby authority to indicate entity best suited to provide
international market development and export services.
Sec. 151. Study and report regarding potential impact of Uruguay Round
on prices, income, and Government purchases.
Sec. 152. Promotion of United States dairy products in international
markets through dairy promotion program.
Chapter 2--Peanuts and Sugar
Sec. 155. Peanut program.
Sec. 156. Sugar program.
Subtitle E--Administration
Sec. 161. Administration.
Sec. 162. Adjustments of loans.
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Sec. 163. Commodity Credit Corporation interest rate.
Sec. 164. Personal liability of producers for deficiencies.
Sec. 165. Commodity Credit Corporation sales price restrictions.
Subtitle F--Permanent Price Support Authority
Sec. 171. Suspension and repeal of permanent price support authority.
Sec. 172. Effect of amendments.
Subtitle G--Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture
Sec. 181. Establishment.
Sec. 182. Composition.
Sec. 183. Comprehensive review of past and future of production
agriculture.
Sec. 184. Reports.
Sec. 185. Powers.
Sec. 186. Commission procedures.
Sec. 187. Personnel matters.
Sec. 188. Termination of Commission.
Subtitle H--Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions
Sec. 191. Options pilot program.
Sec. 192. Risk management education.
Sec. 193. Crop insurance.
Sec. 194. Establishment of Office of Risk Management.
Sec. 195. Revenue insurance.
Sec. 196. Administration and operation of noninsured crop assistance
program.
TITLE II--AGRICULTURAL TRADE
Subtitle A--Amendments to Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954 and Related Statutes
Sec. 201. Food aid to developing countries.
Sec. 202. Trade and development assistance.
Sec. 203. Agreements regarding eligible countries and private entities.
Sec. 204. Terms and conditions of sales.
Sec. 205. Use of local currency payment.
Sec. 206. Value-added foods.
Sec. 207. Eligible organizations.
Sec. 208. Generation and use of foreign currencies.
Sec. 209. General levels of assistance under Public Law 480.
Sec. 210. Food Aid Consultative Group.
Sec. 211. Support of nongovernmental organizations.
Sec. 212. Commodity determinations.
Sec. 213. General provisions.
Sec. 214. Agreements.
Sec. 215. Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 216. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 217. Expiration date.
Sec. 218. Regulations.
Sec. 219. Independent evaluation of programs.
Sec. 220. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 221. Coordination of foreign assistance programs.
Sec. 222. Micronutrient fortification pilot program.
Sec. 223. Use of certain local currency.
Sec. 224. Farmer-to-farmer program.
Sec. 225. Food security commodity reserve.
Sec. 226. Protein byproducts derived from alcohol fuel production.
Sec. 227. Food for progress program.
Sec. 228. Use of foreign currency proceeds from export sales financing.
Sec. 229. Stimulation of foreign production.
Subtitle B--Amendments to Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
Sec. 241. Agricultural export promotion strategy.
Sec. 242. Implementation of commitments under Uruguay Round Agreements.
Sec. 243. Export credits.
Sec. 244. Market access program.
Sec. 245. Export enhancement program.
Sec. 246. Arrival certification.
Sec. 247. Compliance.
Sec. 248. Regulations.
Sec. 249. Trade compensation and assistance programs.
Sec. 250. Foreign Agricultural Service.
Sec. 251. Reports.
Sec. 252. Foreign market development cooperator program.
Subtitle C--Miscellaneous Agricultural Trade Provisions
Sec. 261. Edward R. Madigan United States Agricultural Export
Excellence Award.
Sec. 262. Reporting requirements relating to tobacco.
Sec. 263. Triggered export enhancement.
Sec. 264. Disposition of commodities to prevent waste.
Sec. 265. Debt-for-health-and-protection swap.
Sec. 266. Policy on expansion of international markets.
Sec. 267. Policy on maintenance and development of export markets.
Sec. 268. Policy on trade liberalization.
Sec. 269. Agricultural trade negotiations.
Sec. 270. Policy on unfair trade practices.
Sec. 271. Agricultural aid and trade missions.
Sec. 272. Annual reports by agricultural attaches.
Sec. 273. World livestock market price information.
Sec. 274. Orderly liquidation of stocks.
Sec. 275. Sales of extra long staple cotton.
Sec. 276. Regulations.
Sec. 277. Emerging markets.
Sec. 278. Reimbursement for overhead expenses.
Sec. 279. Labeling of domestic and imported lamb and mutton.
Sec. 280. Import assistance for CBI beneficiary countries and the
Philippines.
Sec. 281. Studies, reports, and other provisions.
Sec. 282. Sense of Congress concerning multilateral disciplines on
credit guarantees.
Sec. 283. International Cotton Advisory Committee.
TITLE III--CONSERVATION
Subtitle A--Definitions
Sec. 301. Definitions applicable to highly erodible cropland
conservation.
Subtitle B--Highly Erodible Land Conservation
Sec. 311. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 312. Conservation reserve lands.
Sec. 313. Good faith exemption.
Sec. 314. Expedited procedures for granting variances from conservation
plans.
Sec. 315. Development and implementation of conservation plans and
conservation systems.
Sec. 316. Investigation of possible compliance deficiencies.
Sec. 317. Wind erosion estimation pilot project.
Subtitle C--Wetland Conservation
Sec. 321. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 322. Delineation of wetlands; exemptions to program ineligibility.
Sec. 323. Consultation and cooperation requirements.
Sec. 324. Application of program ineligibility to affiliated persons.
Sec. 325. Clarification of definition of agricultural lands in
memorandum of agreement.
Sec. 326. Effective date.
Subtitle D--Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program
Sec. 331. Environmental conservation acreage reserve program.
Sec. 332. Conservation reserve program.
Sec. 333. Wetlands reserve program.
Sec. 334. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 335. Conservation farm option.
Sec. 336. Repeal of superseded authorities.
Subtitle E--Conservation Funding and Administration
Sec. 341. Conservation funding and administration.
Sec. 342. State technical committees.
Sec. 343. Public notice and comment for revisions to certain State
technical guides.
Subtitle F--National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation
Sec. 351. Short title.
Sec. 352. Definitions.
Sec. 353. National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation.
Sec. 354. Composition and operation.
Sec. 355. Officers and employees.
Sec. 356. Corporate powers and obligations of the Foundation.
Sec. 357. Administrative services and support.
Sec. 358. Audits and petition of Attorney General for equitable relief.
Sec. 359. Release from liability.
Sec. 360. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle G--Forestry
Sec. 371. Office of International Forestry.
Sec. 372. Cooperative work for protection, management, and improvement
of National Forest System.
Sec. 373. Forestry incentives program.
Sec. 374. Optional State grants for forest legacy program.
Subtitle H--Miscellaneous Conservation Provisions
Sec. 381. Conservation activities of Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 382. Floodplain easements.
Sec. 383. Resource conservation and development program.
Sec. 384. Repeal of report requirement.
Sec. 385. Flood risk reduction.
Sec. 386. Conservation of private grazing land.
Sec. 387. Wildlife habitat incentives program.
Sec. 388. Farmland protection program.
Sec. 389. Interim moratorium on bypass flows.
Sec. 390. Everglades ecosystem restoration.
Sec. 391. Agricultural air quality research oversight.
TITLE IV--NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 401. Food stamp program.
Sec. 402. Commodity distribution program; commodity supplemental food
program.
Sec. 403. Emergency food assistance program.
Sec. 404. Soup kitchen and food bank program.
Sec. 405. National commodity processing.
TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION
Subtitle A--Commodity Promotion and Evaluation
Sec. 501. Commodity promotion and evaluation.
Subtitle B--Issuance of Orders for Promotion, Research, and Information
Activities Regarding Agricultural Commodities
Sec. 511. Short title.
Sec. 512. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 513. Definitions.
Sec. 514. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 515. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 516. Permissive terms in orders.
Sec. 517. Assessments.
Sec. 518. Referenda.
Sec. 519. Petition and review of orders.
Sec. 520. Enforcement.
Sec. 521. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 522. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 523. Amendments to orders.
Sec. 524. Effect on other laws.
Sec. 525. Regulations.
Sec. 526. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C--Canola and Rapeseed
Sec. 531. Short title.
Sec. 532. Findings and declaration of policy.
Sec. 533. Definitions.
Sec. 534. Issuance and amendment of orders.
Sec. 535. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 536. Assessments.
Sec. 537. Referenda.
Sec. 538. Petition and review.
Sec. 539. Enforcement.
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Sec. 540. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 541. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 542. Regulations.
Sec. 543. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle D--Kiwifruit
Sec. 551. Short title.
Sec. 552. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 553. Definitions.
Sec. 554. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 555. National Kiwifruit Board.
Sec. 556. Required terms in order.
Sec. 557. Permissive terms in order.
Sec. 558. Petition and review.
Sec. 559. Enforcement.
Sec. 560. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 561. Referenda.
Sec. 562. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 563. Regulations.
Sec. 564. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle E--Popcorn
Sec. 571. Short title.
Sec. 572. Findings and declaration of policy.
Sec. 573. Definitions.
Sec. 574. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 575. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 576. Referenda.
Sec. 577. Petition and review.
Sec. 578. Enforcement.
Sec. 579. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 580. Relation to other programs.
Sec. 581. Regulations.
Sec. 582. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle F--Miscellaneous
Sec. 591. Maintenance of records for honey promotion program.
TITLE VI--CREDIT
Subtitle A--Farm Ownership Loans
Sec. 601. Limitation on direct farm ownership loans.
Sec. 602. Purposes of loans.
Sec. 603. Soil and water conservation and protection.
Sec. 604. Interest rate requirements.
Sec. 605. Insurance of loans.
Sec. 606. Loans guaranteed.
Subtitle B--Operating Loans
Sec. 611. Limitation on direct operating loans.
Sec. 612. Purposes of operating loans.
Sec. 613. Participation in loans.
Sec. 614. Line-of-credit loans.
Sec. 615. Insurance of operating loans.
Sec. 616. Special assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Sec. 617. Limitation on period for which borrowers are eligible for
guaranteed assistance.
Subtitle C--Emergency Loans
Sec. 621. Hazard insurance requirement.
Sec. 622. Narrowing of authority to waive application of the credit
elsewhere test.
Sec. 623. Linking of emergency loans for crop or livestock changes to
natural disasters.
Sec. 624. Maximum emergency loan indebtedness.
Sec. 625. Establishment of date for emergency loan asset valuation.
Sec. 626. Insurance of emergency loans.
Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions
Sec. 631. Temporary authority to enter into contracts.
Sec. 632. Use of collection agencies.
Sec. 633. Notice of loan service programs.
Sec. 634. Clarification of written statement required of borrowers.
Sec. 635. Annual review of the credit history, business operation, and
continued eligibility of a borrower.
Sec. 636. Extension of veterans preference.
Sec. 637. Verification of the credit elsewhere test.
Sec. 638. Sale of property.
Sec. 639. Easements on inventoried property.
Sec. 640. Definitions.
Sec. 641. Authorization for loans.
Sec. 642. Contracts on loan security properties.
Sec. 643. List of certified lenders and inventory property
demonstration project.
Sec. 644. Homestead property.
Sec. 645. Restructuring.
Sec. 646. Transfer of inventory land for conservation purposes.
Sec. 647. Implementation of target participation rates.
Sec. 648. Delinquent borrowers.
Sec. 649. Short form certification of farm program borrower compliance.
Sec. 650. Credit study.
Subtitle E--General Provisions
Sec. 661. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 662. Electronic filing of effective financing statements under the
clear title provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
Sec. 663. Effective date.
TITLE VII--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Subtitle A--Amendments to the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990
Chapter 1--General Provisions
Sec. 701. Rural investment partnerships.
Sec. 702. Water and waste facility financing.
Sec. 703. Rural wastewater circuit rider program.
Sec. 704. Telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.
Sec. 705. Limitation on authorization of appropriations for rural
technology grants.
Sec. 706. Demonstration projects.
Sec. 707. Monitoring the economic progress of rural America.
Sec. 708. Analysis by Office of Technology Assessment.
Sec. 709. Rural health infrastructure improvement.
Sec. 710. Census of agriculture.
Sec. 711. Study of the transportation of fertilizer and agricultural
chemicals to farmers.
Chapter 2--Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Sec. 721. Definitions.
Sec. 722. Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Corporation.
Sec. 723. Board of directors, employees, and facilities.
Sec. 724. Research and development grants, contracts, and agreements.
Sec. 725. Commercialization assistance.
Sec. 726. General rules regarding the provision of assistance.
Sec. 727. Regional centers.
Sec. 728. Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Revolving Fund.
Sec. 729. Procurement preferences for products receiving Corporation
assistance.
Sec. 730. Business plan and feasibility study and report.
Subtitle B--Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act
Chapter 1--General Provisions
Sec. 741. Water and waste facility loans and grants.
Sec. 742. Emergency community water assistance grant program for small
communities.
Sec. 743. Emergency community water assistance grant program for
smallest communities.
Sec. 744. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund.
Sec. 745. Rural Development Insurance Fund.
Sec. 746. Insured watershed and resource conservation and development
loans.
Sec. 747. Rural industrialization assistance.
Sec. 748. Administration.
Sec. 749. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 750. Testimony before congressional committees.
Sec. 751. Prohibition on use of loans for certain purposes.
Sec. 752. Rural development certified lenders program.
Sec. 753. System for delivery of certain rural development programs.
Sec. 754. State rural economic development review panel.
Sec. 755. Limited transfer authority of loan amounts.
Sec. 756. Allocation and transfer of loan guarantee authority.
Sec. 757. Water systems for rural and Native villages in Alaska.
Sec. 758. Application requirements relating to water and waste disposal
loan and grant programs.
Sec. 759. National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
Sec. 759A. Cooperative agreements.
Sec. 759B. Eligibility for grants to broadcasting systems.
Chapter 2--Rural Community Advancement Program
Sec. 761. Rural community advancement program.
Sec. 762. Simplified, uniform application for assistance from all
Federal rural development programs.
Sec. 763. Community facilities grant program.
Subtitle C--Amendments to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936
Sec. 771. Purposes; investigations and reports.
Sec. 772. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 773. Loans for electrical plants and transmission lines.
Sec. 774. Loans for electrical and plumbing equipment.
Sec. 775. Testimony on budget requests.
Sec. 776. Transfer of functions of administration created by Executive
order.
Sec. 777. Annual report.
Sec. 778. Prohibition on restricting water and waste facility services
to electric customers.
Sec. 779. Telephone loan terms and conditions.
Sec. 780. Privatization program.
Sec. 781. Rural Business Incubator Fund.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Rural Development Provisions
Sec. 791. Interest rate formula.
Sec. 792. Grants for financially stressed farmers, dislocated farmers,
and rural families.
Sec. 793. Fund for Rural America.
Sec. 794. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and
Community Development renamed the Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Rural Development.
TITLE VIII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
Subtitle A--Modification and Extension of Activities Under 1977 Act
Sec. 801. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education.
Sec. 802. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board.
Sec. 803. Federal Advisory Committee Act exemption for Federal-State
cooperative programs.
Sec. 804. Coordination and planning of agricultural research,
extension, and education.
Sec. 805. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences
education.
Sec. 806. Grants for research on the production and marketing of
alcohols and industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural
commodities and forest products.
Sec. 807. Policy research centers.
Sec. 808. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research
program.
[[Page H2719]]
Sec. 809. Food and nutrition education program.
Sec. 810. Purposes and findings relating to animal health and disease
research.
Sec. 811. Animal health and disease continuing research.
Sec. 812. Animal health and disease national or regional research.
Sec. 813. Grant program to upgrade agricultural and food sciences
facilities at 1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 814. National research and training centennial centers.
Sec. 815. Programs for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sec. 816. International agricultural research and extension.
Sec. 817. Authorization of appropriations for agricultural research
programs.
Sec. 818. Authorization of appropriations for extension education.
Sec. 819. Supplemental and alternative crops research.
Sec. 820. Aquaculture assistance programs.
Sec. 821. Authorization of appropriations for rangeland research.
Subtitle B--Modification and Extension of Activities Under 1990 Act
Sec. 831. Water quality research, education, and coordination.
Sec. 832. National genetics resources program.
Sec. 833. National agricultural weather information system.
Sec. 834. Livestock product safety and inspection program.
Sec. 835. Plant genome mapping program.
Sec. 836. Certain specialized research programs.
Sec. 837. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 838. National centers for agricultural product quality research.
Sec. 839. Red meat safety research center.
Sec. 840. Indian reservation extension agent program.
Sec. 841. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
Sec. 842. National rural information center clearinghouse.
Sec. 843. Global climate change.
Subtitle C--Repeal of Certain Activities and Authorities
Sec. 851. Subcommittee on Food, Agricultural, and Forestry Research.
Sec. 852. Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Sec. 853. Agricultural Science and Technology Review Board.
Sec. 854. Animal Health Science Research Advisory Board.
Sec. 855. Resident instruction program at 1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 856. Grants to States for international trade development centers.
Sec. 857. Rangeland research.
Sec. 858. Composting research and extension program.
Sec. 859. Education program regarding handling of agricultural
chemicals and agricultural chemical containers.
Sec. 860. Program administration regarding sustainable agriculture
research and education.
Sec. 861. Research regarding production, preparation, processing,
handling, and storage of agricultural products.
Sec. 862. Plant and animal pest and disease control program.
Sec. 863. Certain specialized research programs.
Sec. 864. Commission on agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 865. Special grant to study constraints on agricultural trade.
Sec. 866. Pilot project to coordinate food and nutrition education
programs.
Sec. 867. Demonstration areas for rural economic development.
Sec. 868. Technical advisory committee regarding global climate change.
Sec. 869. Committee of nine under Hatch Act of 1887.
Sec. 870. Cotton crop reports.
Sec. 871. Rural economic and business development and additional
research grants under title V of Rural Development Act of
1972.
Sec. 872. Human nutrition research.
Sec. 873. Grants to upgrade 1890 land-grant college extension
facilities.
Sec. 874. Indian subsistence farming demonstration grant program.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Research Provisions
Sec. 881. Critical agricultural materials research.
Sec. 882. Memorandum of agreement regarding 1994 Institutions.
Sec. 883. Smith-Lever Act funding for 1890 land-grant colleges,
including Tuskegee University.
Sec. 884. Agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 885. National competitive research initiative.
Sec. 886. Rural development research and education.
Sec. 887. Dairy goat research program.
Sec. 888. Competitive grants for research to eradicate and control
brown citrus aphid and citrus tristeza virus.
Sec. 889. Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center.
Sec. 890. Expansion of authorities related to National Arboretum.
Sec. 891. Transfer of aquacultural research center.
Sec. 892. Use of remote sensing data and other data to anticipate
potential food, feed, and fiber shortages or excesses and
to provide timely information to assist farmers with
planting decisions.
Sec. 893. Sense of Senate regarding methyl bromide alternative research
and extension activities.
Subtitle E--Research Authority After Fiscal Year 1997
Sec. 897. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 898. Activities subject to availability of appropriations.
TITLE IX--MISCELLANEOUS
Subtitle A--Commercial Transportation of Equine for Slaughter
Sec. 901. Findings.
Sec. 902. Definitions.
Sec. 903. Regulation of commercial transportation of equine for
slaughter.
Sec. 904. Limitation of authority to equine for slaughter.
Sec. 905. Effective date.
Subtitle B--General Provisions
Sec. 911. Interstate quarantine.
Sec. 912. Cotton classification services.
Sec. 913. Plant variety protection for certain tuber propagated plant
varieties.
Sec. 914. Swine health protection.
Sec. 915. Designation of Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area.
Sec. 916. Pseudorabies eradication program.
Sec. 917. Collection and use of agricultural quarantine and inspection
fees.
Sec. 918. Meat and poultry inspection.
Sec. 919. Reimbursable agreements.
Sec. 920. Overseas tort claims.
Sec. 921. Operation of Graduate School of Department of Agriculture as
nonappropriated fund instrumentality.
Sec. 922. Student internship programs.
Sec. 923. Conveyance of excess Federal personal property.
Sec. 924. Conveyance of land to White Oak Cemetery.
Sec. 925. Sale of land by the University of Arkansas.
Sec. 926. Designation of Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center.
Sec. 927. Department of Agriculture Washington Area Strategic Space
Plan.
Sec. 928. Severability.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION ACT
Subtitle A--Short Title, Purpose, and Definitions
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE AND PURPOSE.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the
``Agricultural Market Transition Act''.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title--
(1) to authorize the use of binding production flexibility
contracts between the United States and agricultural
producers to support farming certainty and flexibility while
ensuring continued compliance with farm conservation and
wetland protection requirements;
(2) to make nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan
deficiency payments available for certain crops;
(3) to improve the operation of farm programs for milk,
peanuts, and sugar; and
(4) to establish a commission to undertake a comprehensive
review of past and future production agriculture in the
United States.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Agricultural act of 1949.--Except in section 171, the
term ``Agricultural Act of 1949'' means the Agricultural Act
of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as in effect prior to the
suspensions under section 171(b)(1).
(2) Considered planted.--The term ``considered planted''
means acreage that is considered planted under title V of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) and such
other acreage as the Secretary considers fair and equitable.
(3) Contract.--The terms ``contract'' and ``production
flexibility contract'' mean a production flexibility contract
entered into under section 111.
(4) Contract acreage.--The term ``contract acreage'' means
1 or more crop acreage bases established for contract
commodities under title V of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7
U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) that would have been in effect for the
1996 crop (but for suspension under section 171(b)(1)).
(5) Contract commodity.--The term ``contract commodity''
means wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland
cotton, and rice.
(6) Contract payment.--The term ``contract payment'' means
a payment made under this subtitle pursuant to a contract.
(7) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Agriculture.
(8) Extra long staple cotton.--The term ``extra long staple
cotton'' means cotton that--
(A) is produced from pure strain varieties of the
Barbadense species or any hybrid thereof, or other similar
types of extra long staple cotton, designated by the
Secretary, having characteristics needed for various end uses
for which United States upland cotton is not suitable and
grown in irrigated cotton-growing regions of the United
States designated by the Secretary or other areas designated
by the Secretary as suitable for the production of the
varieties or types; and
(B) is ginned on a roller-type gin or, if authorized by the
Secretary, ginned on another type gin for experimental
purposes.
(9) Farm program payment yield.--The term ``farm program
payment yield'' means the farm program payment yield
established for the 1995 crop of a contract commodity under
section 505 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1465).
The Secretary shall adjust the farm program payment yield for
the 1995 crop of a contract commodity to account for any
additional yield payments made with respect to that crop
under subsection (b)(2) of the section.
[[Page H2720]]
(10) Loan commodity.--The term ``loan commodity'' means
each contract commodity, extra long staple cotton, and
oilseed.
(11) Oilseed.--The term ``oilseed'' means a crop of
soybeans, sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower,
flaxseed, mustard seed, or, if designated by the Secretary,
other oilseeds.
(12) Producer.--The term ``producer'' means an owner,
operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who shares in the
risk of producing a crop and who is entitled to share in the
crop available for marketing from the farm, or would have
shared had the crop been produced. In determining whether a
grower of hybrid seed is a producer, the Secretary shall not
take into consideration the existence of a hybrid seed
contract.
(13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(14) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or
possession of the United States.
(15) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used
in a geographical sense, means all of the States.
Subtitle B--Production Flexibility Contracts
SEC. 111. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY
CONTRACTS.
(a) Offer and Terms.--The Secretary shall offer to enter
into a production flexibility contract with an eligible owner
or producer described in subsection (b) on a farm containing
eligible cropland. Under the terms of a contract, the owner
or producer shall agree, in exchange for annual contract
payments, to--
(1) 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.);
(2) comply with applicable wetland protection requirements
under subtitle C of title XII of the Act (16 U.S.C. 3821 et
seq.);
(3) comply with the planting flexibility requirements of
section 118; and
(4) use the land subject to the contract for an
agricultural or related activity, but not for a
nonagricultural commercial or industrial use, as determined
by the Secretary.
(b) Eligible Owners and Producers Described.--The following
producers and owners shall be eligible to enter into a
contract:
(1) An owner of eligible cropland who assumes all or a part
of the risk of producing a crop.
(2) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
with a share-rent lease of the eligible cropland, regardless
of the length of the lease, if the owner enters into the same
contract.
(3) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
who cash rents the eligible cropland under a lease expiring
on or after September 30, 2002, in which case the owner is
not required to enter into the contract.
(4) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
who cash rents the eligible cropland under a lease expiring
before September 30, 2002. The owner of the eligible cropland
may also enter into the same contract. If the producer elects
to enroll less than 100 percent of the eligible cropland in
the contract, the consent of the owner is required.
(5) An owner of eligible cropland who cash rents the
eligible cropland and the lease term expires before September
30, 2002, if the tenant declines to enter into a contract. In
the case of an owner covered by this paragraph, contract
payments shall not begin under a contract until the lease
held by the tenant ends.
(6) An owner or producer described in any preceding
paragraph regardless of whether the owner or producer
purchased catastrophic risk protection for a 1996 crop under
section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(b)).
(c) Tenants and Sharecroppers.--In carrying out this
subtitle, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to
protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers.
(d) Eligible Cropland Described.--Land shall be considered
to be cropland eligible for coverage under a contract only if
the land has contract acreage attributable to the land and--
(1) for at least 1 of the 1991 through 1995 crops, at least
a portion of the land was enrolled in the acreage reduction
program authorized for a crop of a contract commodity under
section 101B, 103B, 105B, or 107B of the Agricultural Act of
1949 or was considered planted;
(2) was subject to a conservation reserve contract under
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831) whose term expired, or was voluntarily terminated, on
or after January 1, 1995; or
(3) is released from coverage under a conservation reserve
contract by the Secretary during the period beginning on
January 1, 1995, and ending on the date specified in section
112(a)(2).
(e) Quantity of Eligible Cropland Covered by Contract.--
Subject to subsection (b)(4), an owner or producer may enroll
as contract acreage all or a portion of the eligible cropland
on the farm.
(f) Voluntary Reduction in Contract Acreage.--Subject to
subsection (b)(4), an owner or producer who enters into a
contract may subsequently reduce the quantity of contract
acreage covered by the contract.
SEC. 112. ELEMENTS OF CONTRACTS.
(a) Time for Contracting.--
(1) Commencement.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary
shall commence entering into contracts not later than 45 days
after the date of enactment of this title.
(2) Deadline.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the
Secretary may not enter into a contract after August 1, 1996.
(3) Conservation reserve lands.--
(A) In general.--At the beginning of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall allow an eligible owner or producer on a farm
covered by a conservation reserve contract entered into under
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831) that terminates after the date specified in paragraph
(2) to enter into or expand a production flexibility contract
to cover the contract acreage of the farm that was subject to
the former conservation reserve contract.
(B) Amount.--Contract payments made for contract acreage
under this paragraph shall be made at the rate and amount
applicable to the annual contract payment level for the
applicable crop. For the fiscal year in which the
conservation reserve contract is terminated, the owner or
producer subject to the production flexibility contract may
elect to receive either contract payments or a prorated
payment under the conservation reserve contract, but not
both.
(b) Duration of Contract.--
(1) Beginning date.--The term of a contract shall begin
with--
(A) the 1996 crop of a contract commodity; or
(B) in the case of acreage that was subject to a
conservation reserve contract described in subsection (a)(3),
the date the production flexibility contract was entered into
or expanded to cover the acreage.
(2) Ending date.--The term of a contract shall extend
through the 2002 crop, unless earlier terminated by the owner
or producer.
(c) Estimation of Contract Payments.--At the time the
Secretary enters into a contract, the Secretary shall provide
an estimate of the minimum contract payments anticipated to
be made during at least the first fiscal year for which
contract payments will be made.
(d) Time for Payment.--
(1) In general.--An annual contract payment shall be made
not later than September 30 of each of fiscal years 1996
through 2002.
(2) Advance payments.--
(A) Fiscal year 1996.--At the option of the owner or
producer, 50 percent of the contract payment for fiscal year
1996 shall be made not later than 30 days after the date on
which the contract is entered into and approved by the
Secretary and the owner or producer.
(B) Subsequent fiscal years.--At the option of the owner or
producer for fiscal year 1997 and each subsequent fiscal
year, 50 percent of the annual contract payment shall be made
on December 15 or January 15 of the fiscal year. The owner or
producer may change the date selected under this subparagraph
for a subsequent fiscal year by providing advance notice to
the Secretary.
SEC. 113. AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR CONTRACT PAYMENTS.
(a) Fiscal Year Amounts.--The Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, expend the following amounts to
satisfy the obligations of the Secretary under all contracts:
(1) For fiscal year 1996, $5,570,000,000.
(2) For fiscal year 1997, $5,385,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 1998, $5,800,000,000.
(4) For fiscal year 1999, $5,603,000,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2000, $5,130,000,000.
(6) For fiscal year 2001, $4,130,000,000.
(7) For fiscal year 2002, $4,008,000,000.
(b) Allocation.--The amount made available for a fiscal
year under subsection (a) shall be allocated as follows:
(1) For wheat, 26.26 percent.
(2) For corn, 46.22 percent.
(3) For grain sorghum, 5.11 percent.
(4) For barley, 2.16 percent.
(5) For oats, 0.15 percent.
(6) For upland cotton, 11.63 percent.
(7) For rice, 8.47 percent.
(c) Adjustment.--The Secretary shall adjust the amounts
allocated for each contract commodity under subsection (b)
for a particular fiscal year by--
(1) adding an amount equal to the sum of all repayments of
deficiency payments required under section 114(a)(2) of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445j(a)(2)) for the
commodity;
(2) adding an amount equal to the sum of all refunds of
contract payments received during the preceding fiscal year
under section 116 for the commodity; and
(3) subtracting an amount equal to the amount, if any,
necessary during that fiscal year to satisfy payment
requirements for the commodity under sections 103B, 105B, or
107B of the Agricultural Act of 1949 for the 1994 and 1995
crop years.
(d) Additional Rice Allocation.--In addition to the
adjustments required under subsection (c), the amount
allocated under subsection (b) for rice contract payments
shall be increased by $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years
1997 through 2002.
(e) Exclusion of Certain Amounts From Contract Payments.--
Any amount added pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (c) to the amount available under subsection (a)
for a fiscal year and paid to owners and producers under a
contract shall not be treated as a contract payment for
purposes of section 115(a) of this title or section 1001(1)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)). However,
the amount of a payment covered by this subsection may not
exceed $50,000 per person.
(f) Effect of Payment Limitation.--The amount available
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the total amount of contract payments for the
fiscal year that owners and producers forgo as a result of
operation of the payment limitation under section 1001(1) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)).
SEC. 114. DETERMINATION OF CONTRACT PAYMENTS UNDER CONTRACTS.
(a) Individual Payment Quantity of Contract Commodities.--
For each contract, the payment quantity of a contract
commodity for each fiscal year shall be equal to the product
of--
(1) 85 percent of the contract acreage; and
[[Page H2721]]
(2) the farm program payment yield.
(b) Annual Payment Quantity of Contract Commodities.--The
payment quantity of each contract commodity covered by all
contracts for each fiscal year shall be equal to the sum of
the amounts calculated under subsection (a) for each
individual contract.
(c) Annual Payment Rate.--The payment rate for a contract
commodity for each fiscal year shall be equal to--
(1) the amount made available under section 113 for the
contract commodity for the fiscal year; divided by
(2) the amount determined under subsection (b) for the
fiscal year.
(d) Annual Payment Amount.--The amount to be paid under a
contract in effect for each fiscal year with respect to all
contract commodities covered by the contract shall be equal
to the sum of the products of--
(1) the payment quantity determined under subsection (a)
for each of the contract commodities covered by the contract;
and
(2) the corresponding payment rate for the contract
commodity in effect under subsection (c).
(e) Reduction in Payment Amount.--The contract payment
determined under subsection (d) for an owner or producer for
a fiscal year shall be immediately reduced by the amount of
any repayment of deficiency payments that is required under
section 114(a)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1445j(a)(2)) and is not repaid as of the date the contract
payment is determined. The Secretary shall be required to
collect the required repayment, or any claim based on the
required repayment, as soon as the contract payment is
determined.
(f) Assignment of Contract Payments.--The provisions of
section 8(g) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment
Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) (relating to assignment of payments)
shall apply to contract payments under this section. The
owner or producer making the assignment, or the assignee,
shall provide the Secretary with notice, in such manner as
the Secretary may require in the contract, of any assignment
made under this subsection.
(g) Sharing of Contract Payments.--The Secretary shall
provide for the sharing of contract payments among the owners
and producers subject to the contract on a fair and equitable
basis.
SEC. 115. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.
(a) Applicability of Payment Limitations.--Sections 1001
through 1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308
through 1308-3), as amended by this section, shall be
applicable to contract payments made under this subtitle.
(b) Payment Limitations.--Section 1001 of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended by striking paragraphs
(1) through (4) and inserting the following:
``(1) Limitation on payments under production flexibility
contracts.--The total amount of contract payments made under
the Agricultural Market Transition Act to a person under 1 or
more production flexibility contracts during any fiscal year
may not exceed $40,000.
``(2) Limitation on marketing loan gains and loan
deficiency payments.--The total amount of the payments
specified in paragraph (3) that a person shall be entitled to
receive under the Agricultural Market Transition Act for 1 or
more contract commodities and oilseeds during any crop year
may not exceed $75,000.
``(3) Description of payments subject to limitation.--The
payments referred to in paragraph (2) are the following:
``(A) Any gain realized by a producer from repaying a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 of the
Agricultural Market Transition Act for a crop of any loan
commodity at a lower level than the original loan rate
established for the loan commodity under section 132 of the
Act.
``(B) Any loan deficiency payment received for a loan
commodity under section 135 of the Act.
``(4) Definitions.--In this title, the terms `contract
commodity', `contract payment', `loan commodity', `oilseed',
and `production flexibility contract' have the meaning given
those terms in section 102 of the Agricultural Market
Transition Act.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-1) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``under the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.)''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``under the
Agricultural Act of 1949''.
(2) Section 1001C(a) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 1308-3(a)) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``For each of the 1991 through 1997 crops,
any'' and inserting ``Any'';
(B) by striking ``production adjustment payments, price
support program loans, payments, or benefits made available
under the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.),''
and inserting ``loans or payments made available under the
Agricultural Market Transition Act,''; and
(C) by striking ``during the 1989 through 1997 crop
years''.
SEC. 116. VIOLATIONS OF CONTRACT.
(a) Termination of Contract For Violation.--Except as
provided in subsection (b), if an owner or producer subject
to a contract violates a requirement of the contract
specified in section 111(a), the Secretary shall terminate
the contract with respect to the owner or producer on each
farm in which the owner or producer has an interest. On the
termination, the owner or producer shall forfeit all rights
to receive future contract payments on each farm in which the
owner or producer has an interest and shall refund to the
Secretary all contract payments received by the owner or
producer during the period of the violation, together with
interest on the contract payments as determined by the
Secretary.
(b) Refund or Adjustment.--If the Secretary determines that
a violation does not warrant termination of the contract
under subsection (a), the Secretary may require the owner or
producer subject to the contract--
(1) to refund to the Secretary that part of the contract
payments received by the owner or producer during the period
of the violation, together with interest on the contract
payments as determined by the Secretary; or
(2) to accept a reduction in the amount of future contract
payments that is proportionate to the severity of the
violation, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Foreclosure.--
(1) Effect of foreclosure.--An owner or producer subject to
a contract may not be required to make repayments to the
Secretary of amounts received under the contract if the
contract acreage has been foreclosed on and the Secretary
determines that forgiving the repayments is appropriate to
provide fair and equitable treatment.
(2) Resumption of operation.--This subsection shall not
void the responsibilities of the owner or producer under the
contract if the owner or producer continues or resumes
operation, or control, of the contract acreage. On the
resumption of operation or control over the contract acreage
by the owner or producer, the provisions of the contract in
effect on the date of the foreclosure shall apply.
(d) Review.--A determination of the Secretary under this
section shall be considered to be an adverse decision for
purposes of the availability of administrative review of the
determination.
SEC. 117. TRANSFER OR CHANGE OF INTEREST IN LANDS SUBJECT TO
CONTRACT.
(a) Termination.--Except as provided in subsection (c), a
transfer of (or change in) the interest of an owner or
producer subject to a contract in the contract acreage
covered by the contract shall result in the termination of
the contract with respect to the acreage, unless the
transferee or owner of the acreage agrees to assume all
obligations under the contract. The termination shall be
effective on the date of the transfer or change.
(b) Modification.--At the request of the transferee or
owner, the Secretary may modify the contract if the
modifications are consistent with the objectives of this
subtitle, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Exception.--If an owner or producer who is entitled to
a contract payment dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise
unable to receive the contract payment, the Secretary shall
make the payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed
by the Secretary.
SEC. 118. PLANTING FLEXIBILITY.
(a) Permitted Crops.--Subject to subsection (b), any
commodity or crop may be planted on contract acreage on a
farm.
(b) Limitations and Exceptions Regarding Fruits and
Vegetables.--
(1) Limitations.--The planting of fruits and vegetables
(other than lentils, mung beans, and dry peas) shall be
prohibited on contract acreage.
(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not limit the planting
of a fruit or vegetable--
(A) in any region in which there is a history of double-
cropping of contract commodities with fruits or vegetables,
as determined by the Secretary, in which case the double-
cropping shall be permitted;
(B) on a farm that the Secretary determines has a history
of planting fruits or vegetables on contract acreage, except
that a contract payment shall be reduced by an acre for each
acre planted to the fruit or vegetable; or
(C) by a producer who the Secretary determines has an
established planting history of a specific fruit or
vegetable, except that--
(i) the quantity planted may not exceed the producer's
average annual planting history of the fruit or vegetable in
the 1991 through 1995 crop years (excluding any crop year in
which no plantings were made), as determined by the
Secretary; and
(ii) a contract payment shall be reduced by an acre for
each acre planted to the fruit or vegetable.
Subtitle C--Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments
SEC. 131. AVAILABILITY OF NONRECOURSE MARKETING ASSISTANCE
LOANS.
(a) Nonrecourse Loans Available.--For each of the 1996
through 2002 crops of each loan commodity, the Secretary
shall make available to producers on a farm nonrecourse
marketing assistance loans for loan commodities produced on
the farm. The loans shall be made under terms and conditions
that are prescribed by the Secretary and at the loan rate
established under section 132 for the loan commodity.
(b) Eligible Production.--The following production shall be
eligible for a marketing assistance loan under subsection
(a):
(1) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for a
contract commodity, any production by a producer on a farm
containing eligible cropland covered by a production
flexibility contract.
(2) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for extra
long staple cotton and oilseeds, any production.
(c) Compliance With Conservation and Wetlands
Requirements.--As a condition of the receipt of a marketing
assistance loan under subsection (a), the producer shall
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.) and applicable wetland protection
requirements under subtitle C of title XII of the Act (16
U.S.C. 3821 et seq.) during the term of the loan.
(d) Additional Outlays Prohibited.--The Secretary shall
carry out this subtitle in such a manner that there are no
additional outlays under this subtitle as a result of the
reconstitution of a farm that occurs as a result of the
combination of another farm that does not contain
[[Page H2722]]
eligible cropland covered by a production flexibility
contract.
SEC. 132. LOAN RATES FOR MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS.
(a) Wheat.--
(1) Loan rate.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan rate for
a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for wheat shall
be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of wheat, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of wheat, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not more than $2.58 per bushel.
(2) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the Secretary
estimates for any marketing year that the ratio of ending
stocks of wheat to total use for the marketing year will be--
(A) equal to or greater than 30 percent, the Secretary may
reduce the loan rate for wheat for the corresponding crop by
an amount not to exceed 10 percent in any year;
(B) less than 30 percent but not less than 15 percent, the
Secretary may reduce the loan rate for wheat for the
corresponding crop by an amount not to exceed 5 percent in
any year; or
(C) less than 15 percent, the Secretary may not reduce the
loan rate for wheat for the corresponding crop.
(b) Feed Grains.--
(1) Loan rate for corn.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan
rate for a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for
corn shall be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of corn, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of corn, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not more than $1.89 per bushel.
(2) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the Secretary
estimates for any marketing year that the ratio of ending
stocks of corn to total use for the marketing year will be--
(A) equal to or greater than 25 percent, the Secretary may
reduce the loan rate for corn for the corresponding crop by
an amount not to exceed 10 percent in any year;
(B) less than 25 percent but not less than 12.5 percent,
the Secretary may reduce the loan rate for corn for the
corresponding crop by an amount not to exceed 5 percent in
any year; or
(C) less than 12.5 percent, the Secretary may not reduce
the loan rate for corn for the corresponding crop.
(3) Other feed grains.--The loan rate for a marketing
assistance loan under section 131 for grain sorghum, barley,
and oats, respectively, shall be established at such level as
the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable in relation
to the rate that loans are made available for corn, taking
into consideration the feeding value of the commodity in
relation to corn.
(c) Upland Cotton.--
(1) Loan rate.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan rate for
a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for upland
cotton shall be established by the Secretary at such loan
rate, per pound, as will reflect for the base quality of
upland cotton, as determined by the Secretary, at average
locations in the United States a rate that is not less than
the smaller of--
(A) 85 percent of the average price (weighted by market and
month) of the base quality of cotton as quoted in the
designated United States spot markets during 3 years of the
5-year period ending July 31 of the year preceding the year
in which the crop is planted, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; or
(B) 90 percent of the average, for the 15-week period
beginning July 1 of the year preceding the year in which the
crop is planted, of the 5 lowest-priced growths of the
growths quoted for Middling 13/32-inch cotton C.I.F.
Northern Europe (adjusted downward by the average difference
during the period April 15 through October 15 of the year
preceding the year in which the crop is planted between the
average Northern European price quotation of such quality of
cotton and the market quotations in the designated United
States spot markets for the base quality of upland cotton),
as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Limitations.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan for upland cotton shall not be less than $0.50 per pound
or more than $0.5192 per pound.
(d) Extra Long Staple Cotton.--The loan rate for a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 for extra long
staple cotton shall be--
(1) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of extra long staple cotton, as
determined by the Secretary, during 3 years of the 5-year
period ending July 31 of the year preceding the year in which
the crop is planted, excluding the year in which the average
price was the highest and the year in which the average price
was the lowest in the period; but
(2) not more than $0.7965 per pound.
(e) Rice.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance loan
under section 131 for rice shall be $6.50 per hundredweight.
(f) Oilseeds.--
(1) Soybeans.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan under section 131 for soybeans shall be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of soybeans, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of soybeans, excluding the year in which
the average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not less than $4.92 or more than $5.26 per bushel.
(2) Sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard
seed, and flaxseed.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan under section 131 for sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed,
safflower, mustard seed, and flaxseed, individually, shall
be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of sunflower seed, individually, as
determined by the Secretary, during the marketing years for
the immediately preceding 5 crops of sunflower seed,
individually, excluding the year in which the average price
was the highest and the year in which the average price was
the lowest in the period; but
(B) not less than $0.087 or more than $0.093 per pound.
(3) Other oilseeds.--The loan rates for a marketing
assistance loan under section 131 for other oilseeds shall be
established at such level as the Secretary determines is fair
and reasonable in relation to the loan rate available for
soybeans, except in no event shall the rate for the oilseeds
(other than cottonseed) be less than the rate established for
soybeans on a per-pound basis for the same crop.
SEC. 133. TERM OF LOANS.
(a) Term of Loan.--In the case of each loan commodity
(other than upland cotton or extra long staple cotton), a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 shall have a term
of 9 months beginning on the first day of the first month
after the month in which the loan is made.
(b) Special Rule for Cotton.--A marketing assistance loan
for upland cotton or extra long staple
Major Actions:
All articles in House section
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2854
(House of Representatives - March 25, 1996)
Text of this article available as:
[Pages H2716-H2841]
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2854
Mr. ROBERTS submitted the following conference report and statement
on the bill (H.R. 2854), to modify the operation of certain
agricultural programs:
Conference Report (H. Rept. 104-494)
The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the
two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R.
2854), to modify the operation of certain agricultural
programs, having met, after full and free conference, have
agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective
Houses as follows:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an
amendment as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate
amendment, insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION ACT
Subtitle A--Short Title, Purpose, and Definitions
Sec. 101. Short title and purpose.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Subtitle B--Production Flexibility Contracts
Sec. 111. Authorization for use of production flexibility contracts.
Sec. 112. Elements of contracts.
Sec. 113. Amounts available for contract payments.
Sec. 114. Determination of contract payments under contracts.
Sec. 115. Payment limitations.
Sec. 116. Violations of contract.
Sec. 117. Transfer or change of interest in lands subject to contract.
Sec. 118. Planting flexibility.
Subtitle C--Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments
Sec. 131. Availability of nonrecourse marketing assistance loans.
Sec. 132. Loan rates for marketing assistance loans.
Sec. 133. Term of loans.
Sec. 134. Repayment of loans.
Sec. 135. Loan deficiency payments.
Sec. 136. Special marketing loan provisions for upland cotton.
Sec. 137. Availability of recourse loans for high moisture feed grains
and seed cotton.
Subtitle D--Other Commodities
Chapter 1--Dairy
Sec. 141. Milk price support program.
Sec. 142. Recourse loan program for commercial processors of dairy
products.
Sec. 143. Consolidation and reform of Federal milk marketing orders.
Sec. 144. Effect on fluid milk standards in State of California.
Sec. 145. Milk manufacturing marketing adjustment.
Sec. 146. Promotion.
Sec. 147. Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.
Sec. 148. Dairy export incentive program.
Sec. 149. Authority to assist in establishment and maintenance of one
or more export trading companies.
Sec. 150. Standby authority to indicate entity best suited to provide
international market development and export services.
Sec. 151. Study and report regarding potential impact of Uruguay Round
on prices, income, and Government purchases.
Sec. 152. Promotion of United States dairy products in international
markets through dairy promotion program.
Chapter 2--Peanuts and Sugar
Sec. 155. Peanut program.
Sec. 156. Sugar program.
Subtitle E--Administration
Sec. 161. Administration.
Sec. 162. Adjustments of loans.
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Sec. 163. Commodity Credit Corporation interest rate.
Sec. 164. Personal liability of producers for deficiencies.
Sec. 165. Commodity Credit Corporation sales price restrictions.
Subtitle F--Permanent Price Support Authority
Sec. 171. Suspension and repeal of permanent price support authority.
Sec. 172. Effect of amendments.
Subtitle G--Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture
Sec. 181. Establishment.
Sec. 182. Composition.
Sec. 183. Comprehensive review of past and future of production
agriculture.
Sec. 184. Reports.
Sec. 185. Powers.
Sec. 186. Commission procedures.
Sec. 187. Personnel matters.
Sec. 188. Termination of Commission.
Subtitle H--Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions
Sec. 191. Options pilot program.
Sec. 192. Risk management education.
Sec. 193. Crop insurance.
Sec. 194. Establishment of Office of Risk Management.
Sec. 195. Revenue insurance.
Sec. 196. Administration and operation of noninsured crop assistance
program.
TITLE II--AGRICULTURAL TRADE
Subtitle A--Amendments to Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954 and Related Statutes
Sec. 201. Food aid to developing countries.
Sec. 202. Trade and development assistance.
Sec. 203. Agreements regarding eligible countries and private entities.
Sec. 204. Terms and conditions of sales.
Sec. 205. Use of local currency payment.
Sec. 206. Value-added foods.
Sec. 207. Eligible organizations.
Sec. 208. Generation and use of foreign currencies.
Sec. 209. General levels of assistance under Public Law 480.
Sec. 210. Food Aid Consultative Group.
Sec. 211. Support of nongovernmental organizations.
Sec. 212. Commodity determinations.
Sec. 213. General provisions.
Sec. 214. Agreements.
Sec. 215. Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 216. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 217. Expiration date.
Sec. 218. Regulations.
Sec. 219. Independent evaluation of programs.
Sec. 220. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 221. Coordination of foreign assistance programs.
Sec. 222. Micronutrient fortification pilot program.
Sec. 223. Use of certain local currency.
Sec. 224. Farmer-to-farmer program.
Sec. 225. Food security commodity reserve.
Sec. 226. Protein byproducts derived from alcohol fuel production.
Sec. 227. Food for progress program.
Sec. 228. Use of foreign currency proceeds from export sales financing.
Sec. 229. Stimulation of foreign production.
Subtitle B--Amendments to Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
Sec. 241. Agricultural export promotion strategy.
Sec. 242. Implementation of commitments under Uruguay Round Agreements.
Sec. 243. Export credits.
Sec. 244. Market access program.
Sec. 245. Export enhancement program.
Sec. 246. Arrival certification.
Sec. 247. Compliance.
Sec. 248. Regulations.
Sec. 249. Trade compensation and assistance programs.
Sec. 250. Foreign Agricultural Service.
Sec. 251. Reports.
Sec. 252. Foreign market development cooperator program.
Subtitle C--Miscellaneous Agricultural Trade Provisions
Sec. 261. Edward R. Madigan United States Agricultural Export
Excellence Award.
Sec. 262. Reporting requirements relating to tobacco.
Sec. 263. Triggered export enhancement.
Sec. 264. Disposition of commodities to prevent waste.
Sec. 265. Debt-for-health-and-protection swap.
Sec. 266. Policy on expansion of international markets.
Sec. 267. Policy on maintenance and development of export markets.
Sec. 268. Policy on trade liberalization.
Sec. 269. Agricultural trade negotiations.
Sec. 270. Policy on unfair trade practices.
Sec. 271. Agricultural aid and trade missions.
Sec. 272. Annual reports by agricultural attaches.
Sec. 273. World livestock market price information.
Sec. 274. Orderly liquidation of stocks.
Sec. 275. Sales of extra long staple cotton.
Sec. 276. Regulations.
Sec. 277. Emerging markets.
Sec. 278. Reimbursement for overhead expenses.
Sec. 279. Labeling of domestic and imported lamb and mutton.
Sec. 280. Import assistance for CBI beneficiary countries and the
Philippines.
Sec. 281. Studies, reports, and other provisions.
Sec. 282. Sense of Congress concerning multilateral disciplines on
credit guarantees.
Sec. 283. International Cotton Advisory Committee.
TITLE III--CONSERVATION
Subtitle A--Definitions
Sec. 301. Definitions applicable to highly erodible cropland
conservation.
Subtitle B--Highly Erodible Land Conservation
Sec. 311. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 312. Conservation reserve lands.
Sec. 313. Good faith exemption.
Sec. 314. Expedited procedures for granting variances from conservation
plans.
Sec. 315. Development and implementation of conservation plans and
conservation systems.
Sec. 316. Investigation of possible compliance deficiencies.
Sec. 317. Wind erosion estimation pilot project.
Subtitle C--Wetland Conservation
Sec. 321. Program ineligibility.
Sec. 322. Delineation of wetlands; exemptions to program ineligibility.
Sec. 323. Consultation and cooperation requirements.
Sec. 324. Application of program ineligibility to affiliated persons.
Sec. 325. Clarification of definition of agricultural lands in
memorandum of agreement.
Sec. 326. Effective date.
Subtitle D--Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program
Sec. 331. Environmental conservation acreage reserve program.
Sec. 332. Conservation reserve program.
Sec. 333. Wetlands reserve program.
Sec. 334. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 335. Conservation farm option.
Sec. 336. Repeal of superseded authorities.
Subtitle E--Conservation Funding and Administration
Sec. 341. Conservation funding and administration.
Sec. 342. State technical committees.
Sec. 343. Public notice and comment for revisions to certain State
technical guides.
Subtitle F--National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation
Sec. 351. Short title.
Sec. 352. Definitions.
Sec. 353. National Natural Resources Conservation Foundation.
Sec. 354. Composition and operation.
Sec. 355. Officers and employees.
Sec. 356. Corporate powers and obligations of the Foundation.
Sec. 357. Administrative services and support.
Sec. 358. Audits and petition of Attorney General for equitable relief.
Sec. 359. Release from liability.
Sec. 360. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle G--Forestry
Sec. 371. Office of International Forestry.
Sec. 372. Cooperative work for protection, management, and improvement
of National Forest System.
Sec. 373. Forestry incentives program.
Sec. 374. Optional State grants for forest legacy program.
Subtitle H--Miscellaneous Conservation Provisions
Sec. 381. Conservation activities of Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 382. Floodplain easements.
Sec. 383. Resource conservation and development program.
Sec. 384. Repeal of report requirement.
Sec. 385. Flood risk reduction.
Sec. 386. Conservation of private grazing land.
Sec. 387. Wildlife habitat incentives program.
Sec. 388. Farmland protection program.
Sec. 389. Interim moratorium on bypass flows.
Sec. 390. Everglades ecosystem restoration.
Sec. 391. Agricultural air quality research oversight.
TITLE IV--NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 401. Food stamp program.
Sec. 402. Commodity distribution program; commodity supplemental food
program.
Sec. 403. Emergency food assistance program.
Sec. 404. Soup kitchen and food bank program.
Sec. 405. National commodity processing.
TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION
Subtitle A--Commodity Promotion and Evaluation
Sec. 501. Commodity promotion and evaluation.
Subtitle B--Issuance of Orders for Promotion, Research, and Information
Activities Regarding Agricultural Commodities
Sec. 511. Short title.
Sec. 512. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 513. Definitions.
Sec. 514. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 515. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 516. Permissive terms in orders.
Sec. 517. Assessments.
Sec. 518. Referenda.
Sec. 519. Petition and review of orders.
Sec. 520. Enforcement.
Sec. 521. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 522. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 523. Amendments to orders.
Sec. 524. Effect on other laws.
Sec. 525. Regulations.
Sec. 526. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C--Canola and Rapeseed
Sec. 531. Short title.
Sec. 532. Findings and declaration of policy.
Sec. 533. Definitions.
Sec. 534. Issuance and amendment of orders.
Sec. 535. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 536. Assessments.
Sec. 537. Referenda.
Sec. 538. Petition and review.
Sec. 539. Enforcement.
[[Page H2718]]
Sec. 540. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 541. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 542. Regulations.
Sec. 543. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle D--Kiwifruit
Sec. 551. Short title.
Sec. 552. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 553. Definitions.
Sec. 554. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 555. National Kiwifruit Board.
Sec. 556. Required terms in order.
Sec. 557. Permissive terms in order.
Sec. 558. Petition and review.
Sec. 559. Enforcement.
Sec. 560. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 561. Referenda.
Sec. 562. Suspension or termination.
Sec. 563. Regulations.
Sec. 564. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle E--Popcorn
Sec. 571. Short title.
Sec. 572. Findings and declaration of policy.
Sec. 573. Definitions.
Sec. 574. Issuance of orders.
Sec. 575. Required terms in orders.
Sec. 576. Referenda.
Sec. 577. Petition and review.
Sec. 578. Enforcement.
Sec. 579. Investigations and power to subpoena.
Sec. 580. Relation to other programs.
Sec. 581. Regulations.
Sec. 582. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle F--Miscellaneous
Sec. 591. Maintenance of records for honey promotion program.
TITLE VI--CREDIT
Subtitle A--Farm Ownership Loans
Sec. 601. Limitation on direct farm ownership loans.
Sec. 602. Purposes of loans.
Sec. 603. Soil and water conservation and protection.
Sec. 604. Interest rate requirements.
Sec. 605. Insurance of loans.
Sec. 606. Loans guaranteed.
Subtitle B--Operating Loans
Sec. 611. Limitation on direct operating loans.
Sec. 612. Purposes of operating loans.
Sec. 613. Participation in loans.
Sec. 614. Line-of-credit loans.
Sec. 615. Insurance of operating loans.
Sec. 616. Special assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Sec. 617. Limitation on period for which borrowers are eligible for
guaranteed assistance.
Subtitle C--Emergency Loans
Sec. 621. Hazard insurance requirement.
Sec. 622. Narrowing of authority to waive application of the credit
elsewhere test.
Sec. 623. Linking of emergency loans for crop or livestock changes to
natural disasters.
Sec. 624. Maximum emergency loan indebtedness.
Sec. 625. Establishment of date for emergency loan asset valuation.
Sec. 626. Insurance of emergency loans.
Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions
Sec. 631. Temporary authority to enter into contracts.
Sec. 632. Use of collection agencies.
Sec. 633. Notice of loan service programs.
Sec. 634. Clarification of written statement required of borrowers.
Sec. 635. Annual review of the credit history, business operation, and
continued eligibility of a borrower.
Sec. 636. Extension of veterans preference.
Sec. 637. Verification of the credit elsewhere test.
Sec. 638. Sale of property.
Sec. 639. Easements on inventoried property.
Sec. 640. Definitions.
Sec. 641. Authorization for loans.
Sec. 642. Contracts on loan security properties.
Sec. 643. List of certified lenders and inventory property
demonstration project.
Sec. 644. Homestead property.
Sec. 645. Restructuring.
Sec. 646. Transfer of inventory land for conservation purposes.
Sec. 647. Implementation of target participation rates.
Sec. 648. Delinquent borrowers.
Sec. 649. Short form certification of farm program borrower compliance.
Sec. 650. Credit study.
Subtitle E--General Provisions
Sec. 661. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 662. Electronic filing of effective financing statements under the
clear title provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985.
Sec. 663. Effective date.
TITLE VII--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Subtitle A--Amendments to the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990
Chapter 1--General Provisions
Sec. 701. Rural investment partnerships.
Sec. 702. Water and waste facility financing.
Sec. 703. Rural wastewater circuit rider program.
Sec. 704. Telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.
Sec. 705. Limitation on authorization of appropriations for rural
technology grants.
Sec. 706. Demonstration projects.
Sec. 707. Monitoring the economic progress of rural America.
Sec. 708. Analysis by Office of Technology Assessment.
Sec. 709. Rural health infrastructure improvement.
Sec. 710. Census of agriculture.
Sec. 711. Study of the transportation of fertilizer and agricultural
chemicals to farmers.
Chapter 2--Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Sec. 721. Definitions.
Sec. 722. Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Corporation.
Sec. 723. Board of directors, employees, and facilities.
Sec. 724. Research and development grants, contracts, and agreements.
Sec. 725. Commercialization assistance.
Sec. 726. General rules regarding the provision of assistance.
Sec. 727. Regional centers.
Sec. 728. Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization
Revolving Fund.
Sec. 729. Procurement preferences for products receiving Corporation
assistance.
Sec. 730. Business plan and feasibility study and report.
Subtitle B--Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act
Chapter 1--General Provisions
Sec. 741. Water and waste facility loans and grants.
Sec. 742. Emergency community water assistance grant program for small
communities.
Sec. 743. Emergency community water assistance grant program for
smallest communities.
Sec. 744. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund.
Sec. 745. Rural Development Insurance Fund.
Sec. 746. Insured watershed and resource conservation and development
loans.
Sec. 747. Rural industrialization assistance.
Sec. 748. Administration.
Sec. 749. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 750. Testimony before congressional committees.
Sec. 751. Prohibition on use of loans for certain purposes.
Sec. 752. Rural development certified lenders program.
Sec. 753. System for delivery of certain rural development programs.
Sec. 754. State rural economic development review panel.
Sec. 755. Limited transfer authority of loan amounts.
Sec. 756. Allocation and transfer of loan guarantee authority.
Sec. 757. Water systems for rural and Native villages in Alaska.
Sec. 758. Application requirements relating to water and waste disposal
loan and grant programs.
Sec. 759. National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
Sec. 759A. Cooperative agreements.
Sec. 759B. Eligibility for grants to broadcasting systems.
Chapter 2--Rural Community Advancement Program
Sec. 761. Rural community advancement program.
Sec. 762. Simplified, uniform application for assistance from all
Federal rural development programs.
Sec. 763. Community facilities grant program.
Subtitle C--Amendments to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936
Sec. 771. Purposes; investigations and reports.
Sec. 772. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 773. Loans for electrical plants and transmission lines.
Sec. 774. Loans for electrical and plumbing equipment.
Sec. 775. Testimony on budget requests.
Sec. 776. Transfer of functions of administration created by Executive
order.
Sec. 777. Annual report.
Sec. 778. Prohibition on restricting water and waste facility services
to electric customers.
Sec. 779. Telephone loan terms and conditions.
Sec. 780. Privatization program.
Sec. 781. Rural Business Incubator Fund.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Rural Development Provisions
Sec. 791. Interest rate formula.
Sec. 792. Grants for financially stressed farmers, dislocated farmers,
and rural families.
Sec. 793. Fund for Rural America.
Sec. 794. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Economic and
Community Development renamed the Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Rural Development.
TITLE VIII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
Subtitle A--Modification and Extension of Activities Under 1977 Act
Sec. 801. Purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education.
Sec. 802. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board.
Sec. 803. Federal Advisory Committee Act exemption for Federal-State
cooperative programs.
Sec. 804. Coordination and planning of agricultural research,
extension, and education.
Sec. 805. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences
education.
Sec. 806. Grants for research on the production and marketing of
alcohols and industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural
commodities and forest products.
Sec. 807. Policy research centers.
Sec. 808. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research
program.
[[Page H2719]]
Sec. 809. Food and nutrition education program.
Sec. 810. Purposes and findings relating to animal health and disease
research.
Sec. 811. Animal health and disease continuing research.
Sec. 812. Animal health and disease national or regional research.
Sec. 813. Grant program to upgrade agricultural and food sciences
facilities at 1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 814. National research and training centennial centers.
Sec. 815. Programs for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sec. 816. International agricultural research and extension.
Sec. 817. Authorization of appropriations for agricultural research
programs.
Sec. 818. Authorization of appropriations for extension education.
Sec. 819. Supplemental and alternative crops research.
Sec. 820. Aquaculture assistance programs.
Sec. 821. Authorization of appropriations for rangeland research.
Subtitle B--Modification and Extension of Activities Under 1990 Act
Sec. 831. Water quality research, education, and coordination.
Sec. 832. National genetics resources program.
Sec. 833. National agricultural weather information system.
Sec. 834. Livestock product safety and inspection program.
Sec. 835. Plant genome mapping program.
Sec. 836. Certain specialized research programs.
Sec. 837. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 838. National centers for agricultural product quality research.
Sec. 839. Red meat safety research center.
Sec. 840. Indian reservation extension agent program.
Sec. 841. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
Sec. 842. National rural information center clearinghouse.
Sec. 843. Global climate change.
Subtitle C--Repeal of Certain Activities and Authorities
Sec. 851. Subcommittee on Food, Agricultural, and Forestry Research.
Sec. 852. Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Sec. 853. Agricultural Science and Technology Review Board.
Sec. 854. Animal Health Science Research Advisory Board.
Sec. 855. Resident instruction program at 1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 856. Grants to States for international trade development centers.
Sec. 857. Rangeland research.
Sec. 858. Composting research and extension program.
Sec. 859. Education program regarding handling of agricultural
chemicals and agricultural chemical containers.
Sec. 860. Program administration regarding sustainable agriculture
research and education.
Sec. 861. Research regarding production, preparation, processing,
handling, and storage of agricultural products.
Sec. 862. Plant and animal pest and disease control program.
Sec. 863. Certain specialized research programs.
Sec. 864. Commission on agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 865. Special grant to study constraints on agricultural trade.
Sec. 866. Pilot project to coordinate food and nutrition education
programs.
Sec. 867. Demonstration areas for rural economic development.
Sec. 868. Technical advisory committee regarding global climate change.
Sec. 869. Committee of nine under Hatch Act of 1887.
Sec. 870. Cotton crop reports.
Sec. 871. Rural economic and business development and additional
research grants under title V of Rural Development Act of
1972.
Sec. 872. Human nutrition research.
Sec. 873. Grants to upgrade 1890 land-grant college extension
facilities.
Sec. 874. Indian subsistence farming demonstration grant program.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Research Provisions
Sec. 881. Critical agricultural materials research.
Sec. 882. Memorandum of agreement regarding 1994 Institutions.
Sec. 883. Smith-Lever Act funding for 1890 land-grant colleges,
including Tuskegee University.
Sec. 884. Agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 885. National competitive research initiative.
Sec. 886. Rural development research and education.
Sec. 887. Dairy goat research program.
Sec. 888. Competitive grants for research to eradicate and control
brown citrus aphid and citrus tristeza virus.
Sec. 889. Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center.
Sec. 890. Expansion of authorities related to National Arboretum.
Sec. 891. Transfer of aquacultural research center.
Sec. 892. Use of remote sensing data and other data to anticipate
potential food, feed, and fiber shortages or excesses and
to provide timely information to assist farmers with
planting decisions.
Sec. 893. Sense of Senate regarding methyl bromide alternative research
and extension activities.
Subtitle E--Research Authority After Fiscal Year 1997
Sec. 897. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 898. Activities subject to availability of appropriations.
TITLE IX--MISCELLANEOUS
Subtitle A--Commercial Transportation of Equine for Slaughter
Sec. 901. Findings.
Sec. 902. Definitions.
Sec. 903. Regulation of commercial transportation of equine for
slaughter.
Sec. 904. Limitation of authority to equine for slaughter.
Sec. 905. Effective date.
Subtitle B--General Provisions
Sec. 911. Interstate quarantine.
Sec. 912. Cotton classification services.
Sec. 913. Plant variety protection for certain tuber propagated plant
varieties.
Sec. 914. Swine health protection.
Sec. 915. Designation of Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area.
Sec. 916. Pseudorabies eradication program.
Sec. 917. Collection and use of agricultural quarantine and inspection
fees.
Sec. 918. Meat and poultry inspection.
Sec. 919. Reimbursable agreements.
Sec. 920. Overseas tort claims.
Sec. 921. Operation of Graduate School of Department of Agriculture as
nonappropriated fund instrumentality.
Sec. 922. Student internship programs.
Sec. 923. Conveyance of excess Federal personal property.
Sec. 924. Conveyance of land to White Oak Cemetery.
Sec. 925. Sale of land by the University of Arkansas.
Sec. 926. Designation of Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center.
Sec. 927. Department of Agriculture Washington Area Strategic Space
Plan.
Sec. 928. Severability.
TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION ACT
Subtitle A--Short Title, Purpose, and Definitions
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE AND PURPOSE.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the
``Agricultural Market Transition Act''.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title--
(1) to authorize the use of binding production flexibility
contracts between the United States and agricultural
producers to support farming certainty and flexibility while
ensuring continued compliance with farm conservation and
wetland protection requirements;
(2) to make nonrecourse marketing assistance loans and loan
deficiency payments available for certain crops;
(3) to improve the operation of farm programs for milk,
peanuts, and sugar; and
(4) to establish a commission to undertake a comprehensive
review of past and future production agriculture in the
United States.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Agricultural act of 1949.--Except in section 171, the
term ``Agricultural Act of 1949'' means the Agricultural Act
of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as in effect prior to the
suspensions under section 171(b)(1).
(2) Considered planted.--The term ``considered planted''
means acreage that is considered planted under title V of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) and such
other acreage as the Secretary considers fair and equitable.
(3) Contract.--The terms ``contract'' and ``production
flexibility contract'' mean a production flexibility contract
entered into under section 111.
(4) Contract acreage.--The term ``contract acreage'' means
1 or more crop acreage bases established for contract
commodities under title V of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7
U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) that would have been in effect for the
1996 crop (but for suspension under section 171(b)(1)).
(5) Contract commodity.--The term ``contract commodity''
means wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland
cotton, and rice.
(6) Contract payment.--The term ``contract payment'' means
a payment made under this subtitle pursuant to a contract.
(7) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Agriculture.
(8) Extra long staple cotton.--The term ``extra long staple
cotton'' means cotton that--
(A) is produced from pure strain varieties of the
Barbadense species or any hybrid thereof, or other similar
types of extra long staple cotton, designated by the
Secretary, having characteristics needed for various end uses
for which United States upland cotton is not suitable and
grown in irrigated cotton-growing regions of the United
States designated by the Secretary or other areas designated
by the Secretary as suitable for the production of the
varieties or types; and
(B) is ginned on a roller-type gin or, if authorized by the
Secretary, ginned on another type gin for experimental
purposes.
(9) Farm program payment yield.--The term ``farm program
payment yield'' means the farm program payment yield
established for the 1995 crop of a contract commodity under
section 505 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1465).
The Secretary shall adjust the farm program payment yield for
the 1995 crop of a contract commodity to account for any
additional yield payments made with respect to that crop
under subsection (b)(2) of the section.
[[Page H2720]]
(10) Loan commodity.--The term ``loan commodity'' means
each contract commodity, extra long staple cotton, and
oilseed.
(11) Oilseed.--The term ``oilseed'' means a crop of
soybeans, sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower,
flaxseed, mustard seed, or, if designated by the Secretary,
other oilseeds.
(12) Producer.--The term ``producer'' means an owner,
operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who shares in the
risk of producing a crop and who is entitled to share in the
crop available for marketing from the farm, or would have
shared had the crop been produced. In determining whether a
grower of hybrid seed is a producer, the Secretary shall not
take into consideration the existence of a hybrid seed
contract.
(13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(14) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or
possession of the United States.
(15) United states.--The term ``United States'', when used
in a geographical sense, means all of the States.
Subtitle B--Production Flexibility Contracts
SEC. 111. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY
CONTRACTS.
(a) Offer and Terms.--The Secretary shall offer to enter
into a production flexibility contract with an eligible owner
or producer described in subsection (b) on a farm containing
eligible cropland. Under the terms of a contract, the owner
or producer shall agree, in exchange for annual contract
payments, to--
(1) 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.);
(2) comply with applicable wetland protection requirements
under subtitle C of title XII of the Act (16 U.S.C. 3821 et
seq.);
(3) comply with the planting flexibility requirements of
section 118; and
(4) use the land subject to the contract for an
agricultural or related activity, but not for a
nonagricultural commercial or industrial use, as determined
by the Secretary.
(b) Eligible Owners and Producers Described.--The following
producers and owners shall be eligible to enter into a
contract:
(1) An owner of eligible cropland who assumes all or a part
of the risk of producing a crop.
(2) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
with a share-rent lease of the eligible cropland, regardless
of the length of the lease, if the owner enters into the same
contract.
(3) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
who cash rents the eligible cropland under a lease expiring
on or after September 30, 2002, in which case the owner is
not required to enter into the contract.
(4) A producer (other than an owner) on eligible cropland
who cash rents the eligible cropland under a lease expiring
before September 30, 2002. The owner of the eligible cropland
may also enter into the same contract. If the producer elects
to enroll less than 100 percent of the eligible cropland in
the contract, the consent of the owner is required.
(5) An owner of eligible cropland who cash rents the
eligible cropland and the lease term expires before September
30, 2002, if the tenant declines to enter into a contract. In
the case of an owner covered by this paragraph, contract
payments shall not begin under a contract until the lease
held by the tenant ends.
(6) An owner or producer described in any preceding
paragraph regardless of whether the owner or producer
purchased catastrophic risk protection for a 1996 crop under
section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(b)).
(c) Tenants and Sharecroppers.--In carrying out this
subtitle, the Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to
protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers.
(d) Eligible Cropland Described.--Land shall be considered
to be cropland eligible for coverage under a contract only if
the land has contract acreage attributable to the land and--
(1) for at least 1 of the 1991 through 1995 crops, at least
a portion of the land was enrolled in the acreage reduction
program authorized for a crop of a contract commodity under
section 101B, 103B, 105B, or 107B of the Agricultural Act of
1949 or was considered planted;
(2) was subject to a conservation reserve contract under
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831) whose term expired, or was voluntarily terminated, on
or after January 1, 1995; or
(3) is released from coverage under a conservation reserve
contract by the Secretary during the period beginning on
January 1, 1995, and ending on the date specified in section
112(a)(2).
(e) Quantity of Eligible Cropland Covered by Contract.--
Subject to subsection (b)(4), an owner or producer may enroll
as contract acreage all or a portion of the eligible cropland
on the farm.
(f) Voluntary Reduction in Contract Acreage.--Subject to
subsection (b)(4), an owner or producer who enters into a
contract may subsequently reduce the quantity of contract
acreage covered by the contract.
SEC. 112. ELEMENTS OF CONTRACTS.
(a) Time for Contracting.--
(1) Commencement.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary
shall commence entering into contracts not later than 45 days
after the date of enactment of this title.
(2) Deadline.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the
Secretary may not enter into a contract after August 1, 1996.
(3) Conservation reserve lands.--
(A) In general.--At the beginning of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall allow an eligible owner or producer on a farm
covered by a conservation reserve contract entered into under
section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831) that terminates after the date specified in paragraph
(2) to enter into or expand a production flexibility contract
to cover the contract acreage of the farm that was subject to
the former conservation reserve contract.
(B) Amount.--Contract payments made for contract acreage
under this paragraph shall be made at the rate and amount
applicable to the annual contract payment level for the
applicable crop. For the fiscal year in which the
conservation reserve contract is terminated, the owner or
producer subject to the production flexibility contract may
elect to receive either contract payments or a prorated
payment under the conservation reserve contract, but not
both.
(b) Duration of Contract.--
(1) Beginning date.--The term of a contract shall begin
with--
(A) the 1996 crop of a contract commodity; or
(B) in the case of acreage that was subject to a
conservation reserve contract described in subsection (a)(3),
the date the production flexibility contract was entered into
or expanded to cover the acreage.
(2) Ending date.--The term of a contract shall extend
through the 2002 crop, unless earlier terminated by the owner
or producer.
(c) Estimation of Contract Payments.--At the time the
Secretary enters into a contract, the Secretary shall provide
an estimate of the minimum contract payments anticipated to
be made during at least the first fiscal year for which
contract payments will be made.
(d) Time for Payment.--
(1) In general.--An annual contract payment shall be made
not later than September 30 of each of fiscal years 1996
through 2002.
(2) Advance payments.--
(A) Fiscal year 1996.--At the option of the owner or
producer, 50 percent of the contract payment for fiscal year
1996 shall be made not later than 30 days after the date on
which the contract is entered into and approved by the
Secretary and the owner or producer.
(B) Subsequent fiscal years.--At the option of the owner or
producer for fiscal year 1997 and each subsequent fiscal
year, 50 percent of the annual contract payment shall be made
on December 15 or January 15 of the fiscal year. The owner or
producer may change the date selected under this subparagraph
for a subsequent fiscal year by providing advance notice to
the Secretary.
SEC. 113. AMOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR CONTRACT PAYMENTS.
(a) Fiscal Year Amounts.--The Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, expend the following amounts to
satisfy the obligations of the Secretary under all contracts:
(1) For fiscal year 1996, $5,570,000,000.
(2) For fiscal year 1997, $5,385,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 1998, $5,800,000,000.
(4) For fiscal year 1999, $5,603,000,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2000, $5,130,000,000.
(6) For fiscal year 2001, $4,130,000,000.
(7) For fiscal year 2002, $4,008,000,000.
(b) Allocation.--The amount made available for a fiscal
year under subsection (a) shall be allocated as follows:
(1) For wheat, 26.26 percent.
(2) For corn, 46.22 percent.
(3) For grain sorghum, 5.11 percent.
(4) For barley, 2.16 percent.
(5) For oats, 0.15 percent.
(6) For upland cotton, 11.63 percent.
(7) For rice, 8.47 percent.
(c) Adjustment.--The Secretary shall adjust the amounts
allocated for each contract commodity under subsection (b)
for a particular fiscal year by--
(1) adding an amount equal to the sum of all repayments of
deficiency payments required under section 114(a)(2) of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445j(a)(2)) for the
commodity;
(2) adding an amount equal to the sum of all refunds of
contract payments received during the preceding fiscal year
under section 116 for the commodity; and
(3) subtracting an amount equal to the amount, if any,
necessary during that fiscal year to satisfy payment
requirements for the commodity under sections 103B, 105B, or
107B of the Agricultural Act of 1949 for the 1994 and 1995
crop years.
(d) Additional Rice Allocation.--In addition to the
adjustments required under subsection (c), the amount
allocated under subsection (b) for rice contract payments
shall be increased by $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years
1997 through 2002.
(e) Exclusion of Certain Amounts From Contract Payments.--
Any amount added pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (c) to the amount available under subsection (a)
for a fiscal year and paid to owners and producers under a
contract shall not be treated as a contract payment for
purposes of section 115(a) of this title or section 1001(1)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)). However,
the amount of a payment covered by this subsection may not
exceed $50,000 per person.
(f) Effect of Payment Limitation.--The amount available
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the total amount of contract payments for the
fiscal year that owners and producers forgo as a result of
operation of the payment limitation under section 1001(1) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)).
SEC. 114. DETERMINATION OF CONTRACT PAYMENTS UNDER CONTRACTS.
(a) Individual Payment Quantity of Contract Commodities.--
For each contract, the payment quantity of a contract
commodity for each fiscal year shall be equal to the product
of--
(1) 85 percent of the contract acreage; and
[[Page H2721]]
(2) the farm program payment yield.
(b) Annual Payment Quantity of Contract Commodities.--The
payment quantity of each contract commodity covered by all
contracts for each fiscal year shall be equal to the sum of
the amounts calculated under subsection (a) for each
individual contract.
(c) Annual Payment Rate.--The payment rate for a contract
commodity for each fiscal year shall be equal to--
(1) the amount made available under section 113 for the
contract commodity for the fiscal year; divided by
(2) the amount determined under subsection (b) for the
fiscal year.
(d) Annual Payment Amount.--The amount to be paid under a
contract in effect for each fiscal year with respect to all
contract commodities covered by the contract shall be equal
to the sum of the products of--
(1) the payment quantity determined under subsection (a)
for each of the contract commodities covered by the contract;
and
(2) the corresponding payment rate for the contract
commodity in effect under subsection (c).
(e) Reduction in Payment Amount.--The contract payment
determined under subsection (d) for an owner or producer for
a fiscal year shall be immediately reduced by the amount of
any repayment of deficiency payments that is required under
section 114(a)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1445j(a)(2)) and is not repaid as of the date the contract
payment is determined. The Secretary shall be required to
collect the required repayment, or any claim based on the
required repayment, as soon as the contract payment is
determined.
(f) Assignment of Contract Payments.--The provisions of
section 8(g) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment
Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(g)) (relating to assignment of payments)
shall apply to contract payments under this section. The
owner or producer making the assignment, or the assignee,
shall provide the Secretary with notice, in such manner as
the Secretary may require in the contract, of any assignment
made under this subsection.
(g) Sharing of Contract Payments.--The Secretary shall
provide for the sharing of contract payments among the owners
and producers subject to the contract on a fair and equitable
basis.
SEC. 115. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.
(a) Applicability of Payment Limitations.--Sections 1001
through 1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308
through 1308-3), as amended by this section, shall be
applicable to contract payments made under this subtitle.
(b) Payment Limitations.--Section 1001 of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is amended by striking paragraphs
(1) through (4) and inserting the following:
``(1) Limitation on payments under production flexibility
contracts.--The total amount of contract payments made under
the Agricultural Market Transition Act to a person under 1 or
more production flexibility contracts during any fiscal year
may not exceed $40,000.
``(2) Limitation on marketing loan gains and loan
deficiency payments.--The total amount of the payments
specified in paragraph (3) that a person shall be entitled to
receive under the Agricultural Market Transition Act for 1 or
more contract commodities and oilseeds during any crop year
may not exceed $75,000.
``(3) Description of payments subject to limitation.--The
payments referred to in paragraph (2) are the following:
``(A) Any gain realized by a producer from repaying a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 of the
Agricultural Market Transition Act for a crop of any loan
commodity at a lower level than the original loan rate
established for the loan commodity under section 132 of the
Act.
``(B) Any loan deficiency payment received for a loan
commodity under section 135 of the Act.
``(4) Definitions.--In this title, the terms `contract
commodity', `contract payment', `loan commodity', `oilseed',
and `production flexibility contract' have the meaning given
those terms in section 102 of the Agricultural Market
Transition Act.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1001A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-1) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``under the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.)''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``under the
Agricultural Act of 1949''.
(2) Section 1001C(a) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 1308-3(a)) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``For each of the 1991 through 1997 crops,
any'' and inserting ``Any'';
(B) by striking ``production adjustment payments, price
support program loans, payments, or benefits made available
under the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.),''
and inserting ``loans or payments made available under the
Agricultural Market Transition Act,''; and
(C) by striking ``during the 1989 through 1997 crop
years''.
SEC. 116. VIOLATIONS OF CONTRACT.
(a) Termination of Contract For Violation.--Except as
provided in subsection (b), if an owner or producer subject
to a contract violates a requirement of the contract
specified in section 111(a), the Secretary shall terminate
the contract with respect to the owner or producer on each
farm in which the owner or producer has an interest. On the
termination, the owner or producer shall forfeit all rights
to receive future contract payments on each farm in which the
owner or producer has an interest and shall refund to the
Secretary all contract payments received by the owner or
producer during the period of the violation, together with
interest on the contract payments as determined by the
Secretary.
(b) Refund or Adjustment.--If the Secretary determines that
a violation does not warrant termination of the contract
under subsection (a), the Secretary may require the owner or
producer subject to the contract--
(1) to refund to the Secretary that part of the contract
payments received by the owner or producer during the period
of the violation, together with interest on the contract
payments as determined by the Secretary; or
(2) to accept a reduction in the amount of future contract
payments that is proportionate to the severity of the
violation, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Foreclosure.--
(1) Effect of foreclosure.--An owner or producer subject to
a contract may not be required to make repayments to the
Secretary of amounts received under the contract if the
contract acreage has been foreclosed on and the Secretary
determines that forgiving the repayments is appropriate to
provide fair and equitable treatment.
(2) Resumption of operation.--This subsection shall not
void the responsibilities of the owner or producer under the
contract if the owner or producer continues or resumes
operation, or control, of the contract acreage. On the
resumption of operation or control over the contract acreage
by the owner or producer, the provisions of the contract in
effect on the date of the foreclosure shall apply.
(d) Review.--A determination of the Secretary under this
section shall be considered to be an adverse decision for
purposes of the availability of administrative review of the
determination.
SEC. 117. TRANSFER OR CHANGE OF INTEREST IN LANDS SUBJECT TO
CONTRACT.
(a) Termination.--Except as provided in subsection (c), a
transfer of (or change in) the interest of an owner or
producer subject to a contract in the contract acreage
covered by the contract shall result in the termination of
the contract with respect to the acreage, unless the
transferee or owner of the acreage agrees to assume all
obligations under the contract. The termination shall be
effective on the date of the transfer or change.
(b) Modification.--At the request of the transferee or
owner, the Secretary may modify the contract if the
modifications are consistent with the objectives of this
subtitle, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Exception.--If an owner or producer who is entitled to
a contract payment dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise
unable to receive the contract payment, the Secretary shall
make the payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed
by the Secretary.
SEC. 118. PLANTING FLEXIBILITY.
(a) Permitted Crops.--Subject to subsection (b), any
commodity or crop may be planted on contract acreage on a
farm.
(b) Limitations and Exceptions Regarding Fruits and
Vegetables.--
(1) Limitations.--The planting of fruits and vegetables
(other than lentils, mung beans, and dry peas) shall be
prohibited on contract acreage.
(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not limit the planting
of a fruit or vegetable--
(A) in any region in which there is a history of double-
cropping of contract commodities with fruits or vegetables,
as determined by the Secretary, in which case the double-
cropping shall be permitted;
(B) on a farm that the Secretary determines has a history
of planting fruits or vegetables on contract acreage, except
that a contract payment shall be reduced by an acre for each
acre planted to the fruit or vegetable; or
(C) by a producer who the Secretary determines has an
established planting history of a specific fruit or
vegetable, except that--
(i) the quantity planted may not exceed the producer's
average annual planting history of the fruit or vegetable in
the 1991 through 1995 crop years (excluding any crop year in
which no plantings were made), as determined by the
Secretary; and
(ii) a contract payment shall be reduced by an acre for
each acre planted to the fruit or vegetable.
Subtitle C--Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency
Payments
SEC. 131. AVAILABILITY OF NONRECOURSE MARKETING ASSISTANCE
LOANS.
(a) Nonrecourse Loans Available.--For each of the 1996
through 2002 crops of each loan commodity, the Secretary
shall make available to producers on a farm nonrecourse
marketing assistance loans for loan commodities produced on
the farm. The loans shall be made under terms and conditions
that are prescribed by the Secretary and at the loan rate
established under section 132 for the loan commodity.
(b) Eligible Production.--The following production shall be
eligible for a marketing assistance loan under subsection
(a):
(1) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for a
contract commodity, any production by a producer on a farm
containing eligible cropland covered by a production
flexibility contract.
(2) In the case of a marketing assistance loan for extra
long staple cotton and oilseeds, any production.
(c) Compliance With Conservation and Wetlands
Requirements.--As a condition of the receipt of a marketing
assistance loan under subsection (a), the producer shall
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.) and applicable wetland protection
requirements under subtitle C of title XII of the Act (16
U.S.C. 3821 et seq.) during the term of the loan.
(d) Additional Outlays Prohibited.--The Secretary shall
carry out this subtitle in such a manner that there are no
additional outlays under this subtitle as a result of the
reconstitution of a farm that occurs as a result of the
combination of another farm that does not contain
[[Page H2722]]
eligible cropland covered by a production flexibility
contract.
SEC. 132. LOAN RATES FOR MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS.
(a) Wheat.--
(1) Loan rate.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan rate for
a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for wheat shall
be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of wheat, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of wheat, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not more than $2.58 per bushel.
(2) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the Secretary
estimates for any marketing year that the ratio of ending
stocks of wheat to total use for the marketing year will be--
(A) equal to or greater than 30 percent, the Secretary may
reduce the loan rate for wheat for the corresponding crop by
an amount not to exceed 10 percent in any year;
(B) less than 30 percent but not less than 15 percent, the
Secretary may reduce the loan rate for wheat for the
corresponding crop by an amount not to exceed 5 percent in
any year; or
(C) less than 15 percent, the Secretary may not reduce the
loan rate for wheat for the corresponding crop.
(b) Feed Grains.--
(1) Loan rate for corn.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan
rate for a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for
corn shall be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of corn, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of corn, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not more than $1.89 per bushel.
(2) Stocks to use ratio adjustment.--If the Secretary
estimates for any marketing year that the ratio of ending
stocks of corn to total use for the marketing year will be--
(A) equal to or greater than 25 percent, the Secretary may
reduce the loan rate for corn for the corresponding crop by
an amount not to exceed 10 percent in any year;
(B) less than 25 percent but not less than 12.5 percent,
the Secretary may reduce the loan rate for corn for the
corresponding crop by an amount not to exceed 5 percent in
any year; or
(C) less than 12.5 percent, the Secretary may not reduce
the loan rate for corn for the corresponding crop.
(3) Other feed grains.--The loan rate for a marketing
assistance loan under section 131 for grain sorghum, barley,
and oats, respectively, shall be established at such level as
the Secretary determines is fair and reasonable in relation
to the rate that loans are made available for corn, taking
into consideration the feeding value of the commodity in
relation to corn.
(c) Upland Cotton.--
(1) Loan rate.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan rate for
a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for upland
cotton shall be established by the Secretary at such loan
rate, per pound, as will reflect for the base quality of
upland cotton, as determined by the Secretary, at average
locations in the United States a rate that is not less than
the smaller of--
(A) 85 percent of the average price (weighted by market and
month) of the base quality of cotton as quoted in the
designated United States spot markets during 3 years of the
5-year period ending July 31 of the year preceding the year
in which the crop is planted, excluding the year in which the
average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; or
(B) 90 percent of the average, for the 15-week period
beginning July 1 of the year preceding the year in which the
crop is planted, of the 5 lowest-priced growths of the
growths quoted for Middling 13/32-inch cotton C.I.F.
Northern Europe (adjusted downward by the average difference
during the period April 15 through October 15 of the year
preceding the year in which the crop is planted between the
average Northern European price quotation of such quality of
cotton and the market quotations in the designated United
States spot markets for the base quality of upland cotton),
as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Limitations.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan for upland cotton shall not be less than $0.50 per pound
or more than $0.5192 per pound.
(d) Extra Long Staple Cotton.--The loan rate for a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 for extra long
staple cotton shall be--
(1) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of extra long staple cotton, as
determined by the Secretary, during 3 years of the 5-year
period ending July 31 of the year preceding the year in which
the crop is planted, excluding the year in which the average
price was the highest and the year in which the average price
was the lowest in the period; but
(2) not more than $0.7965 per pound.
(e) Rice.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance loan
under section 131 for rice shall be $6.50 per hundredweight.
(f) Oilseeds.--
(1) Soybeans.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan under section 131 for soybeans shall be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of soybeans, as determined by the
Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately
preceding 5 crops of soybeans, excluding the year in which
the average price was the highest and the year in which the
average price was the lowest in the period; but
(B) not less than $4.92 or more than $5.26 per bushel.
(2) Sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard
seed, and flaxseed.--The loan rate for a marketing assistance
loan under section 131 for sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed,
safflower, mustard seed, and flaxseed, individually, shall
be--
(A) not less than 85 percent of the simple average price
received by producers of sunflower seed, individually, as
determined by the Secretary, during the marketing years for
the immediately preceding 5 crops of sunflower seed,
individually, excluding the year in which the average price
was the highest and the year in which the average price was
the lowest in the period; but
(B) not less than $0.087 or more than $0.093 per pound.
(3) Other oilseeds.--The loan rates for a marketing
assistance loan under section 131 for other oilseeds shall be
established at such level as the Secretary determines is fair
and reasonable in relation to the loan rate available for
soybeans, except in no event shall the rate for the oilseeds
(other than cottonseed) be less than the rate established for
soybeans on a per-pound basis for the same crop.
SEC. 133. TERM OF LOANS.
(a) Term of Loan.--In the case of each loan commodity
(other than upland cotton or extra long staple cotton), a
marketing assistance loan under section 131 shall have a term
of 9 months beginning on the first day of the first month
after the month in which the loan is made.
(b) Special Rule for Cotton.--A marketing assistance loan
for upland cotton or extra lo