Agricultural Land Retention Act

Agricultural Land Retention Act - Title I: Objectives - Declares that it is in the public interest to retain, protect and improve agricultural land, including land in and around urban areas, to reduce its conversion to nonagricultural uses, and to limit the encroachment of industrial activities.

Title II: Research Program - Establishes a three-year Agricultural Land Review Commission to study: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; and (4) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses.

Authorizes the Commission to make grants to public and private institutions to do research pursuant to its study. Requires the Commission to report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress.

Title III: Demonstration Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to pay up to 75 percent of the cost and to provide technical assistance to any State pilot project undertaken to demonstrate and test methods of reducing the amount of agricultural land, including land in and around urban areas, being converted to nonagricultural uses. Requires all such projects to be completed within four years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report his findings, conclusions and recommendations to the President and to Congress.

Title IV: General Provisions - Authorizes for Title II programs the appropriation of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982.

Authorizes for Title III programs the appropriation of $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1979 through 1982.