---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7331"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7331"
heading: "Options pilot program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7331"
units:
  - "Chapter 100 — Agricultural Market Transition"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Miscellaneous Commodity Provisions"
---

# §7331. Options pilot program

- (a) **Pilot programs authorized—** Until December 31, 2002, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) of Agriculture may conduct a pilot program for 1 or more agricultural commodities supported under this chapter to ascertain whether futures and options [contracts](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3) can provide [producers](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) with reasonable protection from the financial risks of fluctuations in price, yield, and income inherent in the production and marketing of the commodities. The pilot program shall be an alternative to other related programs of the [Department](/usc/7/7202.md?p=7) of Agriculture.
- (b) **Distribution of pilot program—** For each agricultural commodity included in the pilot program, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) may operate the pilot program in not more than 300 counties, except that not more than 25 of the counties may be located in any 1 [State](/usc/7/7202.md?p=14). The pilot program for a commodity shall not be operated in any county for more than 3 of the 1996 through 2002 calendar years.
- (c) **Eligible participants—** In operating the pilot program, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) may enter into [contract](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3) with a [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) who—
  - (1) is eligible for a [production flexibility contract](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3), a marketing assistance loan, or other assistance under this chapter;
  - (2) volunteers to participate in the pilot program during any calendar year in which a county in which the farm of the [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) is located is included in the pilot program;
  - (3) operates a farm located in a county selected for the pilot program; and
  - (4) meets such other eligibility requirements as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) may establish.
- (d) **Notice to producers—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) shall provide notice to each [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) participating in the pilot program that—
  - (1) the participation of the [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) is voluntary; and
  - (2) neither the [United States](/usc/7/7202.md?p=15), the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the [Department](/usc/7/7202.md?p=7) of Agriculture, nor any other Federal agency is authorized to guarantee that participants in the pilot program will be better or worse off financially as a result of participation in the pilot program than the [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) would have been if the [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) had not participated in the pilot program.
- (e) **Contracts—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) shall set forth in each [contract](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3) under the pilot program the terms and conditions for participation in the pilot program and the notice required by [subsection (d)](#d).
- (f) **Eligible markets—** Trades for futures and options [contracts](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3) under the pilot program shall be carried out on commodity futures and options [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) designated as [contract](/usc/7/7202.md?p=3) [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) under the Commodity Exchange Act ([7 U.S.C. 1](/usc/7/1.md) et seq.).
- (g) **Recordkeeping—** A [producer](/usc/7/7202.md?p=12) participating in the pilot program shall compile, maintain, and submit (or authorize the compilation, maintenance, and submission) of such documentation as the regulations governing the pilot program require.
- (h) **Use of Commodity Credit Corporation—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) shall fund and operate the pilot program through the Commodity Credit Corporation, except that the amount of Commodity Credit Corporation funds used to carry out this section shall not exceed, to the maximum extent practicable, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2003. To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7202.md?p=13) shall operate the pilot program in a budget neutral manner.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–127, title I, § 191, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 941; Pub. L. 106–224, title I, § 134, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 388.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

For definition of “this chapter”, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), see note set out under section 7201 of this title.

The Commodity Exchange Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 998, which is classified generally to chapter 1 (§ 1 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 191 of Pub. L. 104–127. Subsec. (i) of section 191 of Pub. L. 104–127 repealed provisions set out as a note under section 1421 of this title.

### Amendments

2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–224, § 134(1), substituted “300 counties, except that not more than 25” for “100 counties, except that not more than 6” in first sentence.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 106–224, § 134(2), inserted before semicolon at end “during any calendar year in which a county in which the farm of the producer is located is included in the pilot program”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–224, § 134(3), inserted before period at end of first sentence “, except that the amount of Commodity Credit Corporation funds used to carry out this section shall not exceed, to the maximum extent practicable, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2003”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–224 effective Oct. 1, 2000, see section 171(b)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 106–224, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.