--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 5811" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "5811" heading: "Research and extension projects" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/5811" units: - "Chapter 88 — Research" - "Subchapter I — Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education" - "Part A — Best Utilization of Biological Applications" --- # §5811. Research and extension projects - (a) **Projects required—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall conduct research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) projects to obtain data, develop conclusions, demonstrate technologies, and conduct educational [programs](/usc/7/5844.md?p=a-1) that promote the purposes of this part, including research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) projects that— - (1) facilitate and increase scientific investigation and education in order to— - (A) reduce, to the extent feasible and practicable, the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and toxic natural materials in agricultural production; - (B) improve low-input farm management to enhance agricultural productivity, profitability, and competitiveness; and - (C) promote crop, livestock, and enterprise diversification; and - (2) facilitate the conduct of projects in order to— - (A) study, to the extent practicable, agricultural production systems that are located in areas that possess various soil, climate, and physical characteristics; - (B) study farms that have been, and will continue to be, managed using farm production practices that rely on low-input and conservation practices; - (C) take advantage of the experience and expertise of farmers and ranchers through their direct participation and leadership in projects; - (D) transfer practical, reliable and timely information to farmers and ranchers concerning low-input sustainable farming practices and systems; and - (E) promote a partnership between farmers, [nonprofit organizations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-9), [agribusiness](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-4), and public and private research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) institutions. - (b) **Agreements—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall carry out this section through agreements entered into with land-grant colleges or universities, other universities, [State agricultural experiment stations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-8), the [State](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-7) cooperative [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) services, [nonprofit organizations](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-9) with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or [State](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-7) governmental entities. - (c) **Selection of projects—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall select research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) projects to be conducted under this section on the basis of— - (A) the relevance of the project to the purposes of this part; - (B) the appropriateness of the design of the project; - (C) the likelihood of obtaining the objectives of the project; and - (D) the national or regional applicability of the findings and outcomes of the proposed project. - (2) **Priority—** In conducting projects under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall give priority to projects that— - (A) closely coordinate research and [extension](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-5) activities; - (B) indicate the manner in which the findings of the project will be made readily usable by farmers; - (C) maximize the involvement and cooperation of farmers, including projects involving on-farm research and demonstration; - (D) involve a multidisciplinary systems approach; and - (E) involve cooperation between farms, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and government agencies. - (d) **Diversification of research—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall conduct projects and studies under this section in areas that are broadly representative of the diversity of United States agricultural production, including production on family farms, mixed-crop livestock farms and dairy operations. - (e) **On-farm research—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) may conduct projects and activities that involve on-farm research and demonstration in carrying out this section. - (f) **Impact studies—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) may approve study projects concerning the national and regional economic, global competitiveness, social and environmental implications of the adoption of low-input sustainable agricultural practices and systems. - (g) **Project duration—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) may approve projects to be conducted under this section that have a duration of more than one fiscal year. - (2) **Sequence planting—** In the case of a research project conducted under this section that involves the planting of a sequence of crops or crop rotations, the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall approve such projects for a term that is appropriate to the sequence or rotation being studied. - (h) **Public access—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) shall ensure that research projects conducted under this section are open for public observation at specified times. - (i) **Indemnification—** - (1) **In general—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#i-2), the [Secretary](/usc/7/5801.md?p=b-6) may indemnify the operator of a project conducted under this section for damage incurred or undue losses sustained as a result of a rigid requirement of research or demonstration under such project that is not experienced in normal farming operations. - (2) **Subject to agreement—** An indemnity payment under [paragraph (1)](#i-1) shall be subject to any agreement between a project grantee and operator entered into prior to the initiation of such project. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1621, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3734; Pub. L. 104–127, title VIII, § 860(c)(2), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1173.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1996—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–127, § 860(c)(2)(A), redesignated subpars. (B) to (E) as (A) to (D), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “the recommendations of the Advisory Council;”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–127, § 860(c)(2)(B), redesignated subpars. (B) to (F) as (A) to (E), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “are recommended by the Advisory Council;”.