The Congress declares that a sound, efficient, and privately operated system for distributing and marketing agricultural products is essential to a prosperous agriculture and is indispensable to the maintenance of full employment and to the welfare, prosperity, and health of the Nation. It is further declared to be the policy of Congress to promote through research, study, experimentation, and through cooperation among Federal and State agencies, farm organizations, and private industry a scientific approach to the problems of marketing, transportation, and distribution of agricultural products similar to the scientific methods which have been utilized so successfully during the past eighty-four years in connection with the production of agricultural products so that such products capable of being produced in abundance may be marketed in an orderly manner and efficiently distributed. In order to attain these objectives, it is the intent of Congress to provide for (1) continuous research to improve the marketing, handling, storage, processing, transportation, and distribution of agricultural products; (2) cooperation among Federal and State agencies, producers, industry organizations, and others in the development and effectuation of research and marketing programs to improve the distribution processes; (3) an integrated administration of all laws enacted by Congress to aid the distribution of agricultural products through research, market aids and services, and regulatory activities, to the end that marketing methods and facilities may be improved, that distribution costs may be reduced and the price spread between the producer and consumer may be narrowed, that dietary and nutritional standards may be improved, that new and wider markets for American agricultural products may be developed, both in the United States and in other countries, with a view to making it possible for the full production of American farms to be disposed of usefully, economically, profitably, and in an orderly manner. In effectuating the purposes of this chapter, maximum use shall be made of existing research facilities owned or controlled by the Federal Government or by State agricultural experiment stations and of the facilities of the Federal and State extension services. To the maximum extent practicable marketing research work done under this chapter in cooperation with the States shall be done in cooperation with the State agricultural experiment stations; marketing educational and demonstrational work done under this chapter in cooperation with the States shall be done in cooperation with the State agricultural extension service; market information, inspection, regulatory work and other marketing service done under this chapter in cooperation with the State agencies shall be done in cooperation with the State departments of agriculture, and State bureaus and departments of markets.
Structure US Code
CHAPTER 38— DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
SUBCHAPTER I— GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 1621. Congressional declaration of purpose; use of existing facilities; cooperation with States
§ 1622. Duties of Secretary relating to agricultural products
§ 1622a. Authority to assist farmers and elevator operators
§ 1622b. Specialty crops market news allocation
§ 1623. Authorization of appropriations; allotments to States
§ 1625. Transfer and consolidation of functions, powers, bureaus, etc.
§ 1627. Appointment of personnel; compensation; employment of specialists
§ 1627a. Sheep production and marketing grant program
§ 1627b. National Sheep Industry Improvement Center
§ 1627c. Local agriculture market program
§ 1629. Establishment of committees to assist in research and service programs
§ 1631. Protection for purchasers of farm products
§ 1632a. Agricultural marketing resource center pilot project
§ 1632b. Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program
§ 1632c. Acer access and development program
§ 1632d. Dairy business innovation initiatives