---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4202"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4202"
heading: "Identifying effects of Federal programs on conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4202"
units:
  - "Chapter 73 — Farmland Protection Policy"
---

# §4202. Identifying effects of Federal programs on conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses

- (a) **Development of criteria to identify—** The Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments, agencies, independent [commissions](/usc/7/1a.md?p=8), and other units of the Federal Government, shall develop criteria for identifying the effects of [Federal programs](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-4) on the conversion of [farmland](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-1) to nonagricultural uses.
- (b) **Use of criteria to identify—** Departments, agencies, independent [commissions](/usc/7/1a.md?p=8), and other units of the Federal Government shall use the criteria established under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, to identify the quantity of [farmland](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-1) actually converted by [Federal programs](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-4), and to identify and take into account the adverse effects of [Federal programs](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-4) on the preservation of [farmland](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-1); consider alternative actions, as appropriate, that could lessen such adverse effects; and assure that such [Federal programs](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-4), to the extent practicable, are compatible with [State](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-2), [unit of local government](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-3), and private programs and policies to protect [farmland](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-1).
- (c) **Availability of restorative, etc., information—** The Department of Agriculture may make available to [States](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-2), units of local government, individuals, organizations, and other units of the Federal Government information useful in restoring, maintaining, and improving the quantity and quality of [farmland](/usc/7/4201.md?p=c-1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–98, title XV, § 1541, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1342; Pub. L. 101–624, title XIV, § 1454, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3614.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–624 inserted “to identify the quantity of farmland actually converted by Federal programs, and” after “of this section,”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective six months after Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1549 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 4201 of this title.