---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 389"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "389"
heading: "Transfer of certain dry land and irrigation field stations to States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/389"
units:
  - "Chapter 14 — Agricultural Experiment Stations"
  - "Subchapter II — Experiment Stations for Propagation of Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Vegetables"
---

# §389. Transfer of certain dry land and irrigation field stations to States


The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture is authorized, at such times as he deems appropriate, to convey by appropriate conveyances, without consideration, the interest of the United States in the lands, including water rights, buildings, and improvements presently comprising or appurtenant to the following dry land and irrigation field stations, to the [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) in which such stations are located, when, in the opinion of the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of Agriculture, the transfer of any such station will result in establishing a more effective program in the cooperative agricultural experimental work of the Department of Agriculture and the respective [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) and the furtherance of agricultural experimental work on a national or regional basis will be better served by such transfer: Huntley, Montana; Mitchell, Nebraska; Fallon, Nevada; Tucumcari, New Mexico; Hermiston, Oregon; Sheridan, Wyoming: Provided, That when any or all of the land, including water rights, comprising any such station is public-domain land, only the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of the Interior may by patent or other appropriate conveyance transfer such lands to the respective [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5): Provided further, That when any easement necessary to a station conveyed or patented hereunder is on public-domain lands, only the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) of the Interior may grant such easements to the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) to which the station has been conveyed.


## Source credit

(Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 1005, § 1, 64 Stat. 981.)

## Notes

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Agriculture transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.