---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 1444a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "1444a"
heading: "Corn and feed grains and cotton programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/1444a"
units:
  - "Chapter 35A — Price Support of Agricultural Commodities"
  - "Subchapter II — Basic Agricultural Commodities"
---

# §1444a. Corn and feed grains and cotton programs

- (a) **Referendum of 1958 corn producers—** Not later than December 15, 1958, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall conduct a referendum of producers of corn in 1958 in the commercial corn-producing area for 1958 to determine whether such producers favor a [price support program](/usc/7/1428.md?p=k-2) as provided in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section for the 1959 and subsequent crops in lieu of acreage allotments as provided in the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended [[7 U.S.C. 1281](/usc/7/1281.md) et seq.], and [price support](/usc/7/1428.md?p=k-2) as provided in [section 1441 of this title](/usc/7/1441.md).
- (b) **Operative status of certain provisions—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if less than a majority of the producers voting in the referendum conducted pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) favor a [price support program](/usc/7/1428.md?p=k-2) as provided in this [subsection (b)](#b), the following provisions of law shall become inoperative:
  - (1) **Section enacted section 1329a of this title.**
  - (2) **Section enacted section 1444b of this title.**
  - (3) **Section repealed section 1441(d)(4) of this title.**
- (c) **Cotton research program—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a special cotton research program designed to reduce the cost of producing upland cotton in the United States at the earliest practicable date. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $10,000,000 annually, as may be necessary for the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) to carry out this special research program. The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall report annually to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate with respect to the results of such research.
- (d) **Cotton insect eradication—** In order to reduce cotton production costs, to prevent the movement of certain cotton plant insects to areas not now infested, and to enhance the quality of the environment, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) is authorized and directed to carry out programs to destroy and eliminate cotton boll weevils in infested areas of the United States as provided herein and to carry out similar programs with respect to pink bollworms or any other major cotton insect if the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) determines that methods and systems have been developed to the point that success in eradication of such insects is assured. The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall carry out the eradication programs authorized by this subsection through the Commodity Credit Corporation. In carrying out insect eradication projects, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall utilize the technical and related services of appropriate Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), private agencies, and cotton organizations. Producers and landowners in an eradication zone, established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2), who are receiving benefits from any program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, shall, as a condition of receiving or continuing any such benefits, participate in and cooperate with the eradication project, as specified in regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2).

  The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may issue such regulations as he deems necessary to enforce the provisions of this subsection with respect to achieving the compliance of producers and landowners who are not receiving benefits from any program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. Any [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) who knowingly violates any such regulation promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) under this subsection may be assessed a civil penalty of not to exceed $5,000 for each offense. No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) shall have been given notice and opportunity for a hearing on such charge in the county, parish, or incorporated city of the residence of the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) charged. In determining the amount of the penalty the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of the business of the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) charged, the effect on the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1)’s ability to continue in business, and the gravity of the violation. Where special measures deemed essential to achievement of the eradication objective are taken by the project and result in a loss of production and income to the producer, the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall provide reasonable and equitable indemnification from funds available for the project and also provide for appropriate protection of the allotment, acreage history, and average yield for the farm. The cost of the program in each eradication zone shall be determined, and cotton producers in the zone shall be required to pay up to one-half thereof, with the exact share in each zone area to be specified by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) upon his finding that such share is reasonable and equitable based on population levels of the target insect and the degree of control measures normally required. Each producer’s pro rata share shall be deducted from his cotton payment under this Act or otherwise collected, as provided in regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2). Insofar as practicable, cotton producers and other [persons](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) engaged in cotton production in the eradication zone shall be employed to participate in the work of the project in such zone. Funding of the program shall be terminated at such time as the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) determines and reports to the Congress that complete eradication of the insects for which programs are undertaken pursuant to this subsection has been accomplished. Funds in custody of agencies carrying out the program shall, upon termination of such program, be accounted for to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) for appropriate disposition.

  The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) is authorized to cooperate with the Government of Mexico in carrying out operations or measures in Mexico which he deems necessary and feasible to prevent the movement into the United States from Mexico of any insects eradicated under the provisions of this subsection. The measure and character of cooperation carried out under this subsection on the part of the United States and on the part of the Government of Mexico, including the expenditure or use of funds made available by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) under this subsection, shall be such as may be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2). Arrangements for the cooperations authorized by this subsection shall be made through and in consultation with the Secretary of State. The Commodity Credit Corporation shall not make any expenditures for carrying out the purposes of this subsection unless the Corporation has received funds to cover such expenditures from appropriations made to carry out the purposes of this subsection. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Commodity Credit Corporation such sums as the Congress may from time to time determine to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.


## Source credit

(Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, title I, § 104, as added Pub. L. 85–835, title II, § 201, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 993; amended Pub. L. 88–297, title I, § 103(a), Apr. 11, 1964, 78 Stat. 174; Pub. L. 91–524, title VI, § 611, Nov. 30, 1970, as added Pub. L. 93–86, § 1(24), Aug. 10, 1973, 87 Stat. 235; Pub. L. 103–437, § 4(a)(6), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4581.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, referred to in subsec. (a), is act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, 52 Stat. 31, which is classified principally to chapter 35 (§ 1281 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1281 of this title and Tables.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051, known as the Agricultural Act of 1949, which is classified principally to this chapter (§ 1421 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1421 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Subsec. (b)(1) of this section, as added by section 201 of Pub. L. 85–835, enacted section 330 of Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, which is classified as section 1329a of this title.

Subsec. (b)(2) of this section, as added by section 201 of Pub. L. 85–835, enacted section 105 of Agricultural Act of 1949, which is classified as section 1444b of this title.

Subsec. (b)(3) of this section, as added by section 201 of Pub. L. 85–835, repealed section 101(d)(4) of Agricultural Act of 1949, and was executed to text in the repeal of section 1441(d)(4) of this title.

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry” for “Committee on Agriculture and Forestry”.

1973—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 91–524, § 611, as added Pub. L. 93–86, § 1(24), added subsec. (d).

1964—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 88–297 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### 1958 Referendum for Selection of Alternative Corn Program; Operative Status of Certain Provisions

Corn producers voted for adoption of price support program as provided in subsec. (b) of this section (254,262) rather than alternative corn acreage allotment and price support program (102,907), the ballot making operative sections 1329a and 1444b and repeal of section 1441(d)(4) of this title.