Pub. L. 89-321, tit. VIII, sec. 801

Sec. 801. Section 353(c) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, is amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof: “(7) If the national acreage allotment for rice for 1966, 1967, 1968, or 1969 is less than the national acreage allotment for rice for 1965, the Secretary shall formulate and carry out an acreage diversion program for rice for such year designed to support the gross income of rice producers at a level not lower than that for 1965, minus any reduction in production costs resulting from the reduced rice acreage. Under such program conservation payments shall be made to producers who comply with their rice acreage allotments, devote to an approved conservation use an acreage of cropland on the farm equal to the number of acres determined by multiplying the farm acreage allotment by the diversion factor, and comply with such additional terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe. The diversion factor shall be determined by dividing the number of acres by which the national acreage allotment is reduced below the national acreage allotment for 1965 by the number of acres in the national acreage allotment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Secretary may permit all or any part of such diverted acreage to be devoted to the production of guar, sesame, safflower, sunflower, castor beans, mustard seed, crambe, plantago ovato, and flaxseed, if he determines that such production is not likely to increase the cost of the price-support, program and will not adversely affect farm income, subject to the condition that payment with respect to diverted acreage devoted to any such crops shall be at. a rate determined by the Secretary to be fair and reasonable, taking into consideration the use of such acreage for the production of such crops; but in no event shall the payment exceed one-half the rate which otherwise would be applicable, if such acreage were devoted to conservation uses. Such program shall require the producer to take such measures as the Secretary may deem appropriate to keep such diverted acreage free from erosion, insects, weeds, and rodents. The Secretary may make not to exceed 50 per centum of any payments to producers in advance of determination of performance. The Secretary shall provide for the sharing of payments under this paragraph among producers on the farm on a fair and equitable basis as determined by the Secretary. The Commodity Credit Corporation is authorized to utilize its capital funds and other assets for the purpose of making the payments authorized in this paragraph and to pay administrative expenses necessary in carrying out this paragraph.”