---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7915"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7915"
heading: "Producer agreement required as condition of provision of direct payments and counter-cyclical payments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7915"
units:
  - "Chapter 106 — Commodity Programs"
  - "Subchapter I — Direct Payments and Counter-Cyclical Payments"
---

# §7915. Producer agreement required as condition of provision of direct payments and counter-cyclical payments

- (a) **Compliance with certain requirements—**
  - (1) **Requirements—** Before the [producers](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) on a farm may receive [direct payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=5) or [counter-cyclical payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=3) with respect to the farm, the [producers](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) shall agree, during the crop year for which the payments are made and in exchange for the payments—
    - (A) to comply with applicable conservation requirements under subtitle B of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ([16 U.S.C. 3811](/usc/16/3811.md) et seq.);
    - (B) to comply with applicable wetland protection requirements under subtitle C of title XII of the Act ([16 U.S.C. 3821](/usc/16/3821.md) et seq.);
    - (C) to comply with the planting flexibility requirements of [section 7916 of this title](/usc/7/7916.md);
    - (D) to use the land on the farm, in a quantity equal to the attributable [base acres](/usc/7/7901.md?p=2) for the farm and any [base acres](/usc/7/7901.md?p=2) for peanuts for the farm under subchapter III for an agricultural or conserving use, and not for a nonagricultural commercial or industrial use, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13); and
    - (E) to effectively control noxious weeds and otherwise maintain the land in accordance with sound agricultural practices, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13), if the agricultural or conserving use involves the noncultivation of any portion of the land referred to in [subparagraph (D)](#a-1-D).
  - (2) **Compliance—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) may issue such rules as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) considers necessary to ensure [producer](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) compliance with the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
  - (3) **Modification—** At the request of the transferee or owner, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) may modify the requirements of this subsection if the modifications are consistent with the objectives of this subsection, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13).
- (b) **Transfer or change of interest in farm—**
  - (1) **Termination—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), a transfer of (or change in) the interest of the [producers](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) on a farm in [base acres](/usc/7/7901.md?p=2) for which [direct payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=5) or [counter-cyclical payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=3) are made shall result in the termination of the payments with respect to the [base acres](/usc/7/7901.md?p=2), unless the transferee or owner of the acreage agrees to assume all obligations under [subsection (a)](#a). The termination shall take effect on the date determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13).
  - (2) **Exception—** If a [producer](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) entitled to a [direct payment](/usc/7/7901.md?p=5) or [counter-cyclical payment](/usc/7/7901.md?p=3) dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise unable to receive the payment, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) shall make the payment, in accordance with rules issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13).
- (c) **Acreage reports—** As a condition on the receipt of any benefits under this subchapter or subchapter II, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) shall require [producers](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) on a farm to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) annual acreage reports with respect to all cropland on the farm.
- (d) **Tenants and sharecroppers—** In carrying out this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers.
- (e) **Sharing of payments—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7901.md?p=13) shall provide for the sharing of [direct payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=5) and [counter-cyclical payments](/usc/7/7901.md?p=3) among the [producers](/usc/7/7901.md?p=12) on a farm on a fair and equitable basis.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–171, title I, § 1105, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 152.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A), (B), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Subtitles B and C of title XII of the Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§ 3811 et seq.) and III (§ 3821 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 58 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of this title and Tables.

Subchapter III, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(D), was in the original “subtitle C”, meaning subtitle C (§§ 1301–1310) of title I of Pub. L. 107–171, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 166, which is classified principally to subchapter III of this chapter. For complete classification of subtitle C to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 7951 of this title and Tables.

Subchapter II, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “subtitle B”, meaning subtitle B (§§ 1201–1209) of title I of Pub. L. 107–171, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat, 155, which is classified principally to subchapter II of this chapter. For complete classification of subtitle B to the Code, see Tables.