Pub. L. 87-703, tit. I, sec. 101

Sec. 101. The Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (49 Stat. 163), as amended, is further amended as follows: (1) by repealing subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of section 7; (2) by repealing subsection (a) of section 8; 76 Stat. 606 (3) by amending the first sentence of subsection (b) of section 8 of said Act, as amended, by striking out the language “Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (a) of this section, the” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “The”; and (4) by adding a new subsection at the end of section 16 of said Act to read as follows: “(e) (1) For the purpose of promoting the conservation and economic use of land, the Secretary, without regard to the foregoing provisions of this Act, except those relating to the use of the services of State and local committees, is authorized to enter into agreements, to be carried out during such period not to exceed ten years as he may determine, with farm and ranch owners and operators providing for changes in cropping systems and land uses and for practices or measures to be carried out primarily on any lands owned or operated by them and regularly used in the production of crops (including crops such as tame hay, alfalfa, and clovers, which do not require annual tillage, and including lands covered by conservation reserve contracts under subtitle B of the Soil Bank Act) for the purpose of conserving and developing soil, water, forest, wildlife, and recreation resources. Such agreements shall include such terms and conditions as the Secretary may deem desirable to effectuate the purposes of this subsection and may provide for payments, the furnishing of materials and services, and other assistance in amounts determined by the Secretary to be fair and reasonable, in consideration of the obligations undertaken by the farm and ranch owners and operators and the rights acquired by the Secretary: Provided, That agreements for the establishment of tree cover may not provide for annual payments with respect to such land for a period in excess of five years. “(2) No agreement shall be entered into under this subsection covering land with respect to which the ownership has changed in the two year period preceding the first year of the contract period unless (a) the new ownership was acquired by will or succession as a result of the death of the previous owner, (b) the land becomes a part of an existing farm or ranch, or (c) the land is combined with other land as a farming or ranching enterprise which the Secretary determines will effectuate the purposes of the program: Provided, That this provision shall not prohibit the continuation of an agreement by a new owner after an agreement has once been entered into under this subsection. “(3) The Secretary shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including provision for sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, in payments under this subsection. “(4) The Secretary may agree to such modification of agreements previously entered into as he may determine to be desirable to carry out the purposes of this subsection or to facilitate the practical administration of the program carried out pursuant to this subsection. “(5) The Secretary shall issue such regulations as he determines necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. 76 Stat. 607 “(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, to the extent he deems it desirable to carry out the purposes of this subsection, may provide in any agreement hereunder for (A) preservation for a period not to exceed the period covered by the agreement and an equal period thereafter of the cropland, crop acreage, and allotment history applicable to land covered by the agreement for the purpose of any Federal program under which such history is used as a basis for an allotment or other limitation on the production of such crop; or (B) surrender of any such history and allotments. “(7) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. The Secretary is authorized to utilize the facilities, services, authorities, and funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation in discharging his functions and responsibilities under this subsection including payment of costs of administration for the program authorized under this subsection: Provided, That after June 30, 1963, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not make any expenditures for carrying out the purposes of this subsection unless the Corporation has received funds to cover such expenditures from appropriations made to carry out the purposes of this subsection. The Secretary shall not enter into agreements hereunder which would require payments, the furnishing of materials and services, and other assistance, in amounts in excess of $10,000,000 for any calendar year, except that the Secretary may enter into agreements hereunder with respect to hinds previously covered by conservation reserve contracts which would require payments, the furnishing of materials and services, and other assistance, in an additional amount for the calendar year 1963 not exceeding $15,000,000.” (5) by adding a new subsection at the end of section 16 of said Act to read as follows: “(f) The Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities of Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making disbursements to producers under programs formulated pursuant to sections 8 and 16(e) of this Act: Provided, That no such disbursements shall be made by Commodity Credit Corporation unless it has received funds to cover the amount thereof from appropriations available for the purpose of carrying out such programs.”