---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 8791"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "8791"
heading: "Information gathering"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/8791"
units:
  - "Chapter 113 — Agricultural Commodity Support Programs"
  - "Subchapter V — Administration"
---

# §8791. Information gathering

- (a) **Geospatial systems—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall ensure that all the geospatial data of the agencies of the Department of Agriculture are portable and standardized.
- (b) **Limitation on disclosures—**
  - (1) **Definition of agricultural operation—** In this subsection, the term “agricultural operation” includes the production and marketing of agricultural commodities and livestock.
  - (2) **Prohibition—** Except as provided in paragraphs [(3)](#b-3) and [(4)](#b-4), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2), any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture, or any contractor or cooperator of the Department, shall not disclose—
    - (A) information provided by an agricultural [producer](/usc/7/8702.md?p=13-A) or owner of agricultural land concerning the agricultural operation, farming or conservation practices, or the land itself, in order to participate in programs of the Department; or
    - (B) geospatial information otherwise maintained by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) about agricultural land or operations for which information described in [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A) is provided.
  - (3) **Authorized disclosures—**
    - (A) **Limited release of information—** If the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) determines that the information described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) will not be subsequently disclosed except in accordance with [paragraph (4)](#b-4), the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may release or disclose the information to a [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) or Federal, [State](/usc/7/8702.md?p=15), local, or tribal agency working in cooperation with the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) in any Department program—
      - (i) when providing technical or financial assistance with respect to the agricultural operation, agricultural land, or farming or conservation practices; or
      - (ii) when responding to a disease or pest threat to agricultural operations, if the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) determines that a threat to agricultural operations exists and the disclosure of information to a [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) or cooperating government entity is necessary to assist the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) in responding to the disease or pest threat as authorized by law.
  - (4) **Exceptions—** Nothing in this subsection affects—
    - (A) the disclosure of payment information (including payment information and the names and addresses of recipients of payments) under any Department program that is otherwise authorized by law;
    - (B) the disclosure of information described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) if the information has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form without naming any—
      - (i) individual owner, operator, or [producer](/usc/7/8702.md?p=13-A); or
      - (ii) specific data gathering site; or
    - (C) the disclosure of information described in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) pursuant to the consent of the agricultural [producer](/usc/7/8702.md?p=13-A) or owner of agricultural land.
  - (5) **Condition of other programs—** The participation of the agricultural [producer](/usc/7/8702.md?p=13-A) or owner of agricultural land in, or receipt of any benefit under, any program administered by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) may not be conditioned on the consent of the agricultural [producer](/usc/7/8702.md?p=13-A) or owner of agricultural land under [paragraph (4)(C)](#b-4-C).
  - (6) **Waiver of privilege or protection—** The disclosure of information under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) shall not constitute a waiver of any applicable privilege or protection under Federal law, including trade secret protection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–234, title I, § 1619, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1022; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title I, § 1619, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1750.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.