---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2279a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2279a"
heading: "Fair and equitable treatment of socially disadvantaged producers"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2279a"
units:
  - "Chapter 55 — Department of Agriculture"
---

# §2279a. Fair and equitable treatment of socially disadvantaged producers

- (a) **Fair crop acreage bases and farm program payment yields—** If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that crop acreage bases or farm program [payment yields](/usc/7/7901.md?p=11-A) established for farms owned or operated by [socially disadvantaged producers](#d) are not established in accordance with title V of the [Agricultural Act of 1949](/usc/7/7202.md?p=1) ([7 U.S.C. 1461](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t7/s1461)) et seq.), the Secretary shall adjust the bases and yields to conform to the requirements of such title and make available any appropriate [commodity](/usc/7/1a.md?p=9) program benefits.
- (b) **Fair application of Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act—** If the Secretary of Agriculture determines that application of the Consolidated Farm and [Rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) Development Act ([7 U.S.C. 1921](/usc/7/1921.md) et seq.) with respect to [socially disadvantaged producers](#d) is not consistent with the requirements of such Act, the Secretary shall make such changes in the administration of such Act as the Secretary considers necessary to provide for the fair and equitable treatment of [socially disadvantaged producers](#d) under such Act.
- (c) **Report on treatment of socially disadvantaged producers—**
  - (1) **Report required—** The Comptroller General of the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) shall prepare a report to determine—
    - (A) whether [socially disadvantaged producers](#d) are underrepresented on [State](/usc/7/1359aa.md?p=5), county, [area](/usc/7/1471.md?p=5), or local [committees](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) established under [section 590h(b)(5) of title 16](/usc/16/590h.md?p=b-5) or local review [committees](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) established under [section 1363 of this title](/usc/7/1363.md) because of racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice; and
    - (B) if such underrepresentation exists, whether it inhibits or interferes with the participation of [socially disadvantaged producers](#d) in programs of the Department of Agriculture.
  - (2) **Submission of report—** Not later than February 1, 1995, the Comptroller General shall submit the report required by this subsection to the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
- (d) **“Socially disadvantaged producer” defined—** For purposes of this section, the term “socially disadvantaged producer” means a [producer](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-iii-III-bb) who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–354, title III, § 305, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3240.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Agricultural Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051. Title V of the Act, which was classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 1461 et seq.) of chapter 35A of this title, was omitted from the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1421 of this title and Tables.

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is title III of Pub. L. 87–128, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307, which is classified principally to chapter 50 (§ 1921 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1921 of this title and Tables.