This chapter lays down rules and regulations regarding soil conservation. It is recognized that the wastage of soil and moisture resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands of the Nation, resulting from soil erosion, is a menace to the national welfare and that it is declared to be the policy of Congress to provide permanently for the control and prevention of soil erosion to preserve soil, water, and related resources, promote soil and water quality, control floods, prevent impairment of reservoirs, and maintain the navigability of rivers and harbors, protect public health, public lands and relieve unemployment, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall coordinate and direct all activities with relation to soil erosion and in order to effectuate this policy is authorized, from time to time— (1) To conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion and the preventive measures needed, to publish the results of any such surveys, investigations, or research, to disseminate information concerning such methods, and to conduct demonstrational projects in areas subject to erosion by wind or water; (2) To carry out preventive measures, including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, and changes in use of land; (3) To cooperate or enter into agreements with, or to furnish financial or other aid to, any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any person, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary, for the purposes of this chapter; and (4) To acquire lands, or rights or interests therein, by purchase, gift, condemnation, or otherwise, whenever necessary for the purposes of this chapter. The purposes of this chapter also include, (1) preservation and improvement of soil and water quality and related resources; (2) promotion of the economic use and conservation of land; (3) diminution of exploitation and wasteful and unscientific use of national soil resources; (4) the protection of rivers and harbors against the results of soil erosion in aid of maintaining the navigability of waters and water courses and in aid of flood control; (5) reestablishment of the ratio between the purchasing power of the net income per person on farms and that of the income per person not on farms that prevailed during the five-year period August 1909–July 1914, inclusive, as determined from statistics available in the United States Department of Agriculture, and the maintenance of such ratio; (6) prevention and abatement of agricultural-related pollution, and (7) the promotion of energy and water conservation through dry land farming. Specifically, the subchapter includes sections on lands on which preventive measures may be taken; conditions under which benefits of law extended to nongovernment controlled lands; cooperation of governmental agencies; officers and employees, appointment and compensation; authorization of appropriations and conservation technical assistance funds; payments and grants of aid. surveys and investigations; publication of information; availability of funds; expansion of domestic and foreign markets for agricultural commodities; advances for crop insurance; execution of powers of Secretary by Production and Marketing Administration; authorization of appropriations; distribution of appropriated funds; limitation on wetlands drainage assistance to aid wildlife preservation; termination of limitation; redetermination of need for assistance upon change of ownership of lands; voluntary relinquishment of allotments; and critical lands resource conservation program in Great Plains area.
United States of America · 1935-04-27