--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 9018" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "9018" heading: "Producer agreements" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/9018" units: - "Chapter 115 — Agricultural Commodity Policy and Programs" - "Subchapter I — Commodity Policy" --- # §9018. Producer agreements - (a) **Compliance with certain requirements—** - (1) **Requirements—** Before the [producers](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm may receive payments under this subchapter with respect to the farm, the [producers](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) 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 that Act ([16 U.S.C. 3821](/usc/16/3821.md) et seq.); - (C) to effectively control noxious weeds and otherwise maintain the land in accordance with sound agricultural practices, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20); and - (D) to use the land on the farm, in a quantity equal to the attributable [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for the farm and any [base acres](/usc/7/9011.md?p=4-A) for an agricultural or conserving use, and not for a nonagricultural commercial, industrial, or residential use, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20). - (2) **Compliance—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) may issue such rules as the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) considers necessary to ensure [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) compliance with the requirements of [paragraph (1)](#a-1). - (3) **Modification—** At the request of the transferee or owner, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) may modify the requirements of this subsection if the modifications are consistent with the objectives of this subsection, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20). - (b) **Transfer or change of interest in farm—** - (1) **Termination—** - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), a transfer of (or change in) the interest of the [producers](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm for which payments under this subchapter are provided shall result in the termination of the payments, unless the transferee or owner of the acreage agrees to assume all obligations under [subsection (a)](#a). - (B) **Effective date—** The termination shall take effect on the date determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20). - (2) **Exception—** If a [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) entitled to a payment under this subchapter dies, becomes incompetent, or is otherwise unable to receive the payment, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall make the payment in accordance with rules issued by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20). - (c) **Acreage reports—** As a condition on the receipt of any benefits under this subchapter or subchapter II, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall require [producers](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) annual acreage reports with respect to all cropland on the farm. - (d) **Production reports—** As an additional condition on receiving [agriculture risk coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=2) payments for [individual coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=11), the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall require a [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) annual production reports with respect to all [covered commodities](/usc/7/9011.md?p=6-A) produced on all farms in the same [State](/usc/7/9011.md?p=22)— - (1) in which the [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) has an interest; and - (2) for which [individual coverage](/usc/7/9011.md?p=11) has been selected. - (e) **Effect of inaccurate reports—** No penalty with respect to benefits under this subchapter or subchapter II shall be assessed against a [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm for an inaccurate acreage or production report unless the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) determines that the [producer](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on the farm knowingly and willfully falsified the acreage or production report. - (f) **Tenants and sharecroppers—** In carrying out this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall provide adequate safeguards to protect the interests of tenants and sharecroppers. - (g) **Sharing of payments—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall provide for the sharing of payments made under this subchapter among the [producers](/usc/7/9011.md?p=17-A) on a farm on a fair and equitable basis. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1118, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 672.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(1)(A), (2), (c), and (e) to (g), was in the original “this subtitle”, meaning subtitle A (§§ 1101–1109) of title I of Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 658, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables. 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.