---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3711"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3711"
heading: "Management of Indian rangelands and farmlands"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3711"
units:
  - "Chapter 39 — American Indian Agricultural Resource Management"
  - "Subchapter I — Rangeland and Farmland Enhancement"
---

# §3711. Management of Indian rangelands and farmlands

- (a) **Management objectives—** Consistent with the provisions of the [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [[25 U.S.C. 5301](/usc/25/5301.md) et seq.], the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) shall provide for the management of [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1) to achieve the following objectives:
  - (1) To protect, conserve, utilize, and maintain the highest productive potential on [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1) through the application of sound conservation practices and techniques. These practices and techniques shall be applied to planning, development, inventorying, classification, and management of [agricultural resources](/usc/25/3703.md?p=3).
  - (2) To increase production and expand the diversity and availability of [agricultural products](/usc/25/3703.md?p=2) for subsistence, income, and employment of [Indians](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) and Alaska Natives, through the development of [agricultural resources](/usc/25/3703.md?p=3) on [Indian lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=9).
  - (3) To manage [agricultural resources](/usc/25/3703.md?p=3) consistent with [integrated resource management plans](/usc/25/3703.md?p=11) in order to protect and maintain other values such as wildlife, fisheries, cultural resources, recreation and to regulate water runoff and minimize soil erosion.
  - (4) To enable [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) farmers and ranchers to maximize the potential benefits available to them through their land by providing technical assistance, training, and education in conservation practices, management and economics of agribusiness, sources and use of credit and marketing of [agricultural products](/usc/25/3703.md?p=2), and other applicable subject areas.
  - (5) To develop [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1) and associated value-added industries of [Indians](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) and [Indian tribes](/usc/25/3703.md?p=10) to promote self-sustaining communities.
  - (6) To assist trust and restricted [Indian landowners](/usc/25/3703.md?p=13) in leasing their agricultural lands for a reasonable annual return, consistent with prudent management and conservation practices, and community goals as expressed in the tribal management plans and appropriate tribal ordinances.
- (b) **Indian agricultural resource management planning program—**
  - (1) To meet the management objectives of this section, a 10-year [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) agriculture resource management and monitoring plan shall be developed and implemented as follows:
    - (A) Pursuant to a self-determination contract or self-governance compact, an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3703.md?p=10) may develop or implement an [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) agriculture resource plan. Subject to the provisions of [subparagraph (C)](#b-1-C), the tribe shall have broad discretion in designing and carrying out the planning process.
    - (B) If a tribe chooses not to contract the development or implementation of the plan, the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15) shall develop or implement, as appropriate, the plan in close consultation with the affected tribe.
    - (C) Whether developed directly by the tribe or by the [Secretary](/usc/25/3703.md?p=15), the plan shall—
      - (i) determine available agriculture resources;
      - (ii) identify specific tribal [agricultural resource](/usc/25/3703.md?p=3) goals and objectives;
      - (iii) establish management objectives for the resources;
      - (iv) define critical values of the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/3703.md?p=10) and its members and provide identified holistic management objectives;
      - (v) identify actions to be taken to reach established objectives;
      - (vi) be developed through public meetings;
      - (vii) use the public meeting records, existing survey documents, reports, and other research from Federal agencies, tribal community colleges, and land grant universities; and
      - (viii) be completed within three years of the initiation of activity to establish the plan.
  - (2) [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) agriculture resource management plans developed and approved under this section shall govern the management and administration of [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) [agricultural resources](/usc/25/3703.md?p=3) and [Indian agricultural lands](/usc/25/3703.md?p=1) by the [Bureau](/usc/25/3703.md?p=5) and the [Indian](/usc/25/3703.md?p=8) tribal government.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–177, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 1993, 107 Stat. 2014.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which is classified principally to chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.