Editorial Notes
References in Text

Section 2611(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i), is section 2611(a) of Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 762, which amended this section and sections 3811 and 3812a of this title.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(B), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XII of Pub. L. 99–198, which enacted this chapter and former section 2005a of this title and amended sections 590g, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009 of this title, sections 4207 and 4209 of Title 7, Agriculture, and provisions set out as a note under section 1981 of Title 7.

The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), is Pub. L. 101–624, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3359. Title X of the Act enacted section 1446h of Title 7 and amended section 1425a of Title 7. Title XII of the Act, known as the Forest Stewardship Act of 1990, is classified principally to amended chapter 41 (§ 2101 et seq.) of this title. Title XIII of the Act enacted sections 138 to 138i and 499b–1 of Title 7, amended sections 499c, 608c, and 608e–1 of Title 7, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 499a and 1622 of Title 7. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1990 Amendment note set out under section 1421 of Title 7 and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–79 inserted par. (2) heading, designated first sentence as subpar. (A) and inserted heading, designated second sentence as subpar. (B) and inserted heading, and added subpar. (C).

2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–246, § 2002, added subsec. (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) which related to graduated sanctions.

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(1), in first sentence, struck out “that documents the decisions of the person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation treatment measures and schedule and that is based on the local Soil Conservation Service technical guide and approved by the local soil conservation district, in consultation with the local committees established under section 590h(b) of this title and the Secretary, or by the Secretary” after “applying a conservation plan”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 104–127, § 312, substituted “shall only be required to apply a conservation plan established under this subchapter. The person shall not be required to meet a higher conservation standard than the standard applied to other highly erodible cropland located within the same area. If the person’s conservation plan requires structures to be constructed, the person shall” for “shall, if the conservation plan established under this subchapter for such land requires structures to be constructed,”.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(2), substituted “, in which case,” for “based on the local Soil Conservation Service technical guide and approved by the local soil conservation district, in consultation with the local committees established under section 590h(b) of this title and the Secretary,”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(3), substituted “conservation plan” for “conservation compliance plan”.

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 104–127, § 313(a), substituted “No person” for “Except to the extent provided in paragraph (2), no person” and substituted “the person has acted in good faith and without an intent to violate this subchapter. A person who meets the requirements of this paragraph shall be allowed a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed 1 year, during which to implement the measures and practices necessary to be considered to be actively applying the person’s conservation plan.” for “such person has—

“(A) not violated the provisions of section 3811 of this title within the previous 5 years on a farm; and

“(B) acted in good faith and without the intent to violate the provisions of this subchapter.”

Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(4)(A), struck out “that documents the decisions of such person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation treatment measures and schedules prepared under subsection (a) of this section” after “apply a conservation plan”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 104–127, § 313(b), substituted “with respect to highly erodible cropland that was not in production prior to December 23, 1985, and has acted in good faith and without an intent to violate the provisions” for “meets the requirements of paragraph (1)”.

Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(4)(B), struck out “prepared under subsection (a) of this section” after “a conservation plan”.

Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 104–127, § 313(c), struck out concluding sentence which read as follows: “A determination or the granting of a variance by the Secretary under this paragraph shall not be counted as a violation for the purposes of paragraph (1)(A).”

Pub. L. 104–127, § 301(d)(4)(C), in introductory provisions, struck out “that documents the decisions of such person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation treatment measures and schedules prepared under subsection (a) of this section” after “apply a conservation plan”.

Subsec. (f)(4)(C). Pub. L. 104–127, § 314(1), substituted “problem, including weather, pest, and disease problems” for “problem”.

Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 104–127, § 314(2), added par. (5).

1991—Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 102–237, § 204(2)(A), substituted “such violation” for “such violations” after “which”.

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 102–235, § 204(2)(B), struck out comma after “XIII”.

1990—Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(a), added pars. (3) and (4).

Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(1), (2), inserted “or” in par. (1) and substituted a period for a semicolon in par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(4), redesignated pars. (3) to (5) as pars. (1) to (3), respectively, of subsec. (c).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(3), (4), added subsec. (c) introductory provisions, and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(4), (5), redesignated par. (3) of subsec. (b) as par. (1) of subsec. (c) and in subpar. (B) inserted “for the protection of highly erodible land that has been set aside or” after “adequate”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(4), (6), redesignated par. (4) of subsec. (b) as par. (2) of subsec. (c) and inserted “or set aside” in two places.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(4), redesignated par. (5) of subsec. (b) as par. (3) of subsec. (c).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(b)(3), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d).

Subsecs. (e) to (h). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1412(c)–(f), added subsecs. (e) to (h).

1987—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–28, § 3, inserted “that documents the decisions of the person with respect to location, land use, tillage systems, and conservation treatment measures and schedule and that is” after “conservation plan”, and inserted at end “In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary, Soil Conservation Service, and local soil conservation districts shall minimize the quantity of documentation a person must submit to comply with this paragraph.”

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 100–28, § 2(b), added par. (5).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.