§ 2266. Congressional reaffirmation of policy to foster and encourage family farms

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1977

   Food and Agriculture Act of 1977

   Pub. L. 95–113 title I § 102 · 91 Stat. 913

   Enacted · 7 U.S.C. § 2266

   Pub. L. 95–113, title I, § 102, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 918

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Pub. L. 95–113, title I, § 102, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 918

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   Sec. 102. family farms (a) Congress hereby specifically reaffirms the historical policy of the United States to foster and encourage the family farm system of agriculture in this country. Congress firmly believes that the maintenance of the family farm system of agriculture is essential to the social well-being of the Nation and the. competitive production of adequate supplies of food and fiber. Congress further believes that any significant expansion of nonfamily owned large-scale corporate farming enterprises will be detrimental to the national welfare. It is neither the policy nor the intent of Congress that agricultural and agriculture-related programs be administered exclusively for family farm operations, but it is the policy and the express intent of Congress that no such program be administered in a manner that will place the family farm operation at an unfair economic disadvantage. (b) In order that Congress may be better informed regarding the status of the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress, not later than July 1 of each year, a written report containing current information on trends in family farm operations and comprehensive national and State-by-State data on nonfamily farm operations in the United States. The Secretary shall also include in each such report (1) information on how existing agricultural and agriculture-related programs are being administered to enhance and strengthen the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, (2) an assessment of how Federal laws may encourage the growth of nonfamily farm operations, and (3) such other information as the Secretary deems appropriate or determines would aid Congress in protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family farm system of agriculture in the United States.

2. 1981

   Agriculture and Food Act of 1981

   Pub. L. 97–98 title XVI § 1608 · 95 Stat. 1213

   Inserted · 7 U.S.C. § 2266

   Pub. L. 97–98 substantially reenacted existing provisions, and inserted reference to tax and credit laws, and investment in agriculture by nonfamily farm interests, foreign and domestic

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 97–98 substantially reenacted existing provisions, and inserted reference to tax and credit laws, and investment in agriculture by nonfamily farm interests, foreign and domestic.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   Sec. 1608. united states policy on family farms Section 102 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 is 7 USC 2266. amended to read as follows: “Sec. 102. “family farms (a) Congress reaffirms the historical policy of the United States to foster and encourage the family farm system of agriculture in this country. Congress believes that the maintenance of the family farm system of agriculture is essential to the social well being of the Nation and the competitive production of adequate supplies of food and fiber. Congress further believes that any significant expansion of nonfamily owned large-scale corporate farming enterprises will be detrimental to the national welfare. It is neither the policy nor the intent of Congress that agricultural and agriculture-related programs be administered exclusively for family farm operations, but it is the policy and the express intent of Congress that no such program be administered in a manner that will place the family farm operation at an unfair economic disadvantage. “(b) In order that Congress may be better informed regarding the Report to Congress. status of the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress, by July 1 of each year, a written report containing current information on trends in family farm operations and comprehensive national and State-by-State data on nonfamily farm operations in the United States. The Secretary shall also include in each such report (1) information on how existing agricultural and agriculture-related programs are being administered to enhance and strengthen the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, (2) an assessment of how tax, credit, and other Federal laws may encourage the growth of nonfamily farm operations and investment in agriculture by nonfamily farm interests, both foreign and domestic, and (3) such other information as the Secretary deems appropriate or determines would aid Congress in protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family farm system of agriculture in the United States.”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4301 of this title.

3. 1985

   National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985

   Pub. L. 99–198 title XIV § 1441 · 99 Stat. 1354

   1. Amended · 7 U.S.C. § 2266(b)

      Pub. L. 99–198 designated first and second sentences as pars. (1) and (2), respectively

   2. Redesignated · 7 U.S.C. § 2266(b)

      Pub. L. 99–198 amended par. (2), as so designated, generally. Prior to redesignation and amendment, second sentence read as follows: “The Secretary shall also include in each such report (1) information on how existing agricultural and agriculture-related programs are being administered to enhance and strengthen the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, (2) an assessment of how tax, credit, and other Federal laws may encourage the growth of nonfamily farm operations and investment in agriculture by nonfamily farm interests, both foreign and domestic, and (3) such other information as the Secretary deems appropriate or determines would aid Congress in protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family farm system of agriculture in the United States.”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–198 designated first and second sentences as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, and amended par. (2), as so designated, generally. Prior to redesignation and amendment, second sentence read as follows: “The Secretary shall also include in each such report (1) information on how existing agricultural and agriculture-related programs are being administered to enhance and strengthen the family farm system of agriculture in the United States, (2) an assessment of how tax, credit, and other Federal laws may encourage the growth of nonfamily farm operations and investment in agriculture by nonfamily farm interests, both foreign and domestic, and (3) such other information as the Secretary deems appropriate or determines would aid Congress in protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family farm system of agriculture in the United States.”

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   Sec. 1441. annual report on family farms Section 102(b) of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2266(b)) is amended by— (1) designating the first and second sentences as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and (2) amending paragraph (2) (as so designated) to read as follows: “(2) The Secretary shall also include in each such report— “(A) information on how existing agricultural and agriculture-related programs are being administered to enhance and strengthen the family farm system of agriculture in the United States; “(B) an assessment of how tax, credit, and other current Federal income, excise, estate, and other tax laws, and proposed changes in such laws, may affect the structure and organization of, returns to, and investment opportunities by family and nonfamily farm owners and operators, both foreign and domestic; “(C) identification and analysis of new food and agricultural production and processing technological developments, espe-cially in the area of biotechnology, and evaluation of the potential effect of such developments on— “(i) the economic structure of the family farm system; “(ii) the competitive status of domestically-produced agricultural commodities and foods in foreign markets; and “(iii) the achievement of Federal agricultural program objectives; “(D) an assessment of the credit needs of family farms and the extent to which those needs are being met, and an analysis of the effects of the farm credit situation on the economic structure of the family farm system; “(E) an assessment of how economic policies and trade policies of the United States affect the financial operation of, and prospects for, family farm operations; “(F) an assessment of the effect of Federal farm programs and policies on family farms and non-family farms that— “(i) derive the majority of their income from non-farm sources; and “(ii) derive the majority of their income from farming operations; and “(G) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate or determines would aid Congress in protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family farm system of agriculture in the United States.”.

4 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision