A bill to authorize special payment-in-kind land conservation programs, to provide authority for activities to develop and expand markets for U.S. agricultural commodities, and for other purposes.
Agricultural Act of 1983 - Title I: Special Payment-In-Kind Land Conservation Program - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a payment-in-kind land conservation program for 1983 and 1984. Uses Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) stocks to compensate participating farmers.
Requires that not more than 50 percent of a county's acreage be diverted in order to minimize the adverse effect on local economies.
Requires that all producers of a particular crop have an equal opportunity to participate in 1983. Authorizes future participation through bids or otherwise as the Secretary determines.
Permits base acreage consolidation to encourage program participation.
Sets forth payment provisions, including a requirement that the value of a commodity received by a producer be at least 75 percent of the basic county loan rate for such commodity.
Requires safeguards to protect affected tenants and sharecroppers.
Title II: Expansion of Markets For United States Agricultural Commodities - Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to authorize the Secretary to give excess CCC stocks free to U.S. processors and exporters, and to foreign nations to encourage U.S. commodity exports.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) aid domestic industries hurt by imports made in whole or in part from such commodities; (2) use such commodities to increase use and to avoid displacing existing U.S. overseas markets; and (3) prevent the resale or transshipment of such commodities.
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to permit CCC commodity and dairy stock to be donated abroad through foreign governments and humanitarian organizations. Coordinates such donations through the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (P.L. 480). Permits the use of such stocks to expand the foreign exports under such Act.
Directs the Secretary to donate abroad at least 50,000 metric tons of CCC dairy stocks during each of FY 1983 through 1985. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress semiannually during such period.
Permits the Secretary to sell CCC stocks of long staple cotton for unrestricted use at appropriate price levels.
Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to provide that whenever a commodity is made available without charge or credit, the Secretary shall encourage its consumption through agreements with private companies under which the commodity is processed into end products for use by eligible recipients, with the expense to be borne by the recipients.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Subcommittee on Agricultural Production. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-54.
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