
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC5811]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                          CHAPTER 88--RESEARCH
 
      SUBCHAPTER I--SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
 
           Part A--Best Utilization of Biological Applications
 
Sec. 5811. Research and extension projects


(a) Projects required

    The Secretary shall conduct research and extension projects to 
obtain data, develop conclusions, demonstrate technologies, and conduct 
educational programs that promote the purposes of this part, including 
research and extension projects that--
        (1) facilitate and increase scientific investigation and 
    education in order to--
            (A) reduce, to the extent feasible and practicable, the use 
        of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and toxic natural materials 
        in agricultural production;
            (B) improve low-input farm management to enhance 
        agricultural productivity, profitability, and competitiveness; 
        and
            (C) promote crop, livestock, and enterprise diversification; 
        and

        (2) facilitate the conduct of projects in order to--
            (A) study, to the extent practicable, agricultural 
        production systems that are located in areas that possess 
        various soil, climate, and physical characteristics;
            (B) study farms that have been, and will continue to be, 
        managed using farm production practices that rely on low-input 
        and conservation practices;
            (C) take advantage of the experience and expertise of 
        farmers and ranchers through their direct participation and 
        leadership in projects;
            (D) transfer practical, reliable and timely information to 
        farmers and ranchers concerning low-input sustainable farming 
        practices and systems; and
            (E) promote a partnership between farmers, nonprofit 
        organizations, agribusiness, and public and private research and 
        extension institutions.

(b) Agreements

    The Secretary shall carry out this section through agreements 
entered into with land-grant colleges or universities, other 
universities, State agricultural experiment stations, the State 
cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations with 
demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State governmental entities.

(c) Selection of projects

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary shall select research and extension projects to be 
    conducted under this section on the basis of--
            (A) the relevance of the project to the purposes of this 
        part;
            (B) the appropriateness of the design of the project;
            (C) the likelihood of obtaining the objectives of the 
        project; and
            (D) the national or regional applicability of the findings 
        and outcomes of the proposed project.

                            (2) Priority

        In conducting projects under this section, the Secretary shall 
    give priority to projects that--
            (A) closely coordinate research and extension activities;
            (B) indicate the manner in which the findings of the project 
        will be made readily usable by farmers;
            (C) maximize the involvement and cooperation of farmers, 
        including projects involving on-farm research and demonstration;
            (D) involve a multidisciplinary systems approach; and
            (E) involve cooperation between farms, non-profit 
        organizations, colleges and universities, and government 
        agencies.

(d) Diversification of research

    The Secretary shall conduct projects and studies under this section 
in areas that are broadly representative of the diversity of United 
States agricultural production, including production on family farms, 
mixed-crop livestock farms and dairy operations.

(e) On-farm research

    The Secretary may conduct projects and activities that involve on-
farm research and demonstration in carrying out this section.

(f) Impact studies

    The Secretary may approve study projects concerning the national and 
regional economic, global competitiveness, social and environmental 
implications of the adoption of low-input sustainable agricultural 
practices and systems.

(g) Project duration

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary may approve projects to be conducted under this 
    section that have a duration of more than one fiscal year.

                        (2) Sequence planting

        In the case of a research project conducted under this section 
    that involves the planting of a sequence of crops or crop rotations, 
    the Secretary shall approve such projects for a term that is 
    appropriate to the sequence or rotation being studied.

(h) Public access

    The Secretary shall ensure that research projects conducted under 
this section are open for public observation at specified times.

(i) Indemnification

                           (1) In general

        Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may indemnify the 
    operator of a project conducted under this section for damage 
    incurred or undue losses sustained as a result of a rigid 
    requirement of research or demonstration under such project that is 
    not experienced in normal farming operations.

                      (2) Subject to agreement

        An indemnity payment under paragraph (1) shall be subject to any 
    agreement between a project grantee and operator entered into prior 
    to the initiation of such project.

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XVI, Sec. 1621, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3734; 
Pub. L. 104-127, title VIII, Sec. 860(c)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 
1173.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 860(c)(2)(A), 
redesignated subpars. (B) to (E) as (A) to (D), respectively, and struck 
out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: ``the recommendations of 
the Advisory Council;''.
    Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 860(c)(2)(B), redesignated 
subpars. (B) to (F) as (A) to (E), respectively, and struck out former 
subpar. (A) which read as follows: ``are recommended by the Advisory 
Council;''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 5812, 5814 of this title.
