---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 1341"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "1341"
heading: "Legislative findings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/1341"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938"
  - "Subchapter II — Loans, Parity Payments, Consumer Safeguards, Marketing Quotas, and Marketing Certificates"
  - "Part B — Marketing Quotas"
  - "Subpart iv — marketing quotas—cotton"
---

# §1341. Legislative findings


American cotton is a basic source of clothing and industrial products used by every [person](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-8) in the [United States](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-5) and by substantial numbers of people in foreign countries. American cotton is sold on a world-wide [market](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) and moves from the places of production almost entirely in [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) to processing establishments located throughout the world at places outside the [State](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-6) where the cotton is produced.

Fluctuations in supplies of cotton and the [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) of excessive supplies of cotton in [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) disrupt the orderly [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) of cotton in such commerce with consequent injury to and destruction of such commerce. Excessive supplies of cotton directly and materially affect the volume of cotton moving in [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) and cause disparity in [prices](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-1-B) of cotton and industrial products moving in [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) with consequent diminution of the volume of such commerce in industrial products.

The conditions affecting the production and [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) of cotton are such that, without Federal assistance, farmers, individually or in cooperation, cannot effectively prevent the recurrence of excessive supplies of cotton and fluctuations in supplies, cannot prevent indiscriminate dumping of excessive supplies on the Nation-wide and foreign [markets](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B), cannot maintain normal carry-overs of cotton, and cannot provide for the orderly [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) of cotton in [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3).

It is in the interest of the general welfare that [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) in cotton be protected from the burdens caused by the [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) of excessive supplies of cotton in such commerce, that a supply of cotton be maintained which is adequate to meet domestic consumption and export requirements in years of drought, flood, and other adverse conditions as well as in years of plenty, and that the soil resources of the Nation be not wasted in the production of excessive supplies of cotton.

The provisions of this subpart affording a cooperative plan to cotton producers are necessary and appropriate to prevent the burdens on [interstate and foreign commerce](/usc/7/1301.md?p=a-3) caused by the [marketing](/usc/7/1301.md?p=b-6-B) in such commerce of excessive supplies, and to promote, foster, and maintain an orderly flow of an adequate supply of cotton in such commerce.


## Source credit

(Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title III, § 341, 52 Stat. 55.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Inapplicability of Section

Section inapplicable to 2014 through 2018 crops of covered commodities, cotton, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning Feb. 7, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2018, see section 9092(a)(1) of this title.

Section inapplicable to 2008 through 2012 crops of covered commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning June 18, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2012, see section 8782(a)(1) of this title.

Section inapplicable to 2002 through 2007 crops of covered commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning May 13, 2002, through Dec. 31, 2007, see section 7992(a)(1) of this title.

Section inapplicable to 1996 through 2001 crops of loan commodities, peanuts, and sugar and inapplicable to milk during period beginning Apr. 4, 1996, and ending Dec. 31, 2002, see section 7301(a)(1)(A) of this title.

### 1947 Marketing Quotas and Acreage Allotments

Joint Res. July 24, 1946, ch. 616, 60 Stat. 662, suspended marketing quotas and acreage allotments for 1947 in view of the critical shortage of fats and oils and protein feeds.