ment used to dry or cure farm crops or forest products, or to provide irrigation); and (2) uses of biomass derived from solar energy, including farm and forest products, byproducts, and residues, as substitutes for nonrenewable fuels and petrochemicals. PART 3-INFORMATION SYSTEM AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH INFORMATION SYSTEM 39 SEC. 1450. The Secretary shall, through the Cooperative State Research Service and other agencies within the Department of Agriculture which the Secretary considers appropriate, in consultation with the Energy Research and Development Administration, other appropriate United States Government agencies, the National Academy of Sciences, and private and nonprofit institutions involved in solar energy research projects, by June 1, 1978, and by June 1 in each year thereafter, make a compilation of solar energy research projects related to agriculture which are being carried out during such year by Federal, State, private, and nonprofit institutions and, where available, the results of such projects. Such compilations may include, but are not limited to, projects dealing with heating and cooling methods for farm structures and dwellings (such as greenhouses, curing barns, and livestock shelters), storage of power, operation of farm equipment (including irrigation pumps, crop dryers and curers, and electric vehicles), and the development of new technologies to be used on farms which are powered by other than fossil fuels or derivatives thereof. 40 ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEC. 1451. In order to assist the Secretary in carrying out functions assigned to the Secretary under part 4 of this subtitle, the Secretary is authorized to establish an advisory committee within the Department of Agriculture or utilize an existing advisory committee, if a suitable one exists, for such purposes. PART 4-MODEL FARMS AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS MODEL FARMS SEC. 1452." (a) In order to promote the establishment and operation of solar energy demonstration farms within each State, the Secretary shall distribute funds to carry out the activities described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section and section 1453 of this title to one or more of the following in each State: the State department of agriculture, the State cooperative extension service, the State agricultural experiment station, forestry schools eligible to receive funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (76 Stat. 806-807, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 582a, 582a-1582a-7), or colleges and universities eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417-419, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 321326 and 328), including Tuskegee Institute (hereinafter in this part 7 U.S.C. 3251. 7 U.S.C. 3252. 417 U.S.C. 3261. referred to as "eligible institutions"), in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. (b) The recipient or recipients in such State shall— (1) establish at least one large model farm which— (A) demonstrates all the solar energy projects determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the recipient or recipients, to be useful and beneficial to the State; (B) is located in the State on land owned or operated by that State and, if practicable, on the State agricultural experiment station farm land; and (C) includes other farming practices, such as raising livestock and crops, in order to provide a model of a farm which applies new and improved methods of agriculture through the use of solar energy as a means of heating, cooling, drying, or curing crops, and providing other farm needs: (2) sell the products of the model farm established under paragraph (1) of this subsection and pay to the Secretary that portion of the proceeds received through each such sale as bears the same proportion to the total proceeds as the grants under this section bear to the total cost of operating the farm. The Secretary shall deposit such funds into a fund which shall be available without fiscal year limitation for use in carrying out the provisions of this part; (3) provide tours of the model farm to farmers and other interested groups and individuals and, upon request, provide such farmers, groups, and individuals with information concerning the operation of such model farm and the demonstrations, if any, established by it under section 1453 of this title; (4) determine the costs of energy, the income, and the total cost of the model farm; and (5) annually compile a report concerning energy usage, income costs, operating difficulties, and farmer interest with respect to the model farm and the demonstrations, if any, established by it under section 1453 of this title, and submit the report to the Secretary along with any recommendations concerning project changes and specific needs of such farm or demonstrations. (c) The results obtained from each model farm established under subsection (b) of this section which prove to be economically practical shall be extended to other farms in each State through the State cooperative extension service as part of its ongoing energy management and conservation education programs. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS SEC. 1453.42 (a) During each calendar year after the first two calendar years for which eligible institutions in a State receive grants pursuant to section 1452 of this title the recipient or recipients of such grants in each State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish not less than ten demonstrations of solar energy projects which they shall select from among the projects demonstrated on the model farm established in the State pursuant to section 1452 of this title. Such 42 7 U.S.C. 3262. demonstrations shall be carried out on farms which are already operating in the State. (b) The recipient or recipients in each State shall enter into written agreements with persons who own farms and who are willing to carry out solar energy project demonstrations under this section. Such agreements shall include the following provisions concerning solar energy projects which the owners agree to demonstrate on such farms: (1) The owner shall carry out the projects on the farm for such period as the Secretary determines to be necessary to fairly demonstrate them. (2) Tools, equipment, seeds, seedlings, fertilizer, equipment, and other agricultural materials and technology which are necessary to carry out the projects and which, on the date of such agreement, are not commonly being used on farms in such State, shall be provided by the recipient or recipients. (3) During the demonstration period, the recipient or recipients, with the assistance of the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture, shall provide the owner with technical assistance concerning such projects. (4) During the demonstration period and for such other periods as the recipient or recipients deem necessary, the owner shall (A) keep a monthly record for the farm of changes, if any, in energy usage and costs, the amount of agricultural commodities produced, the costs of producing such amount, and the income derived from producing such amount, and of such other data concerning the projects as the recipient or recipients may require; and (B) transmit to the recipient or recipients such monthly records, along with a report containing his or her findings, conclusions, and recommendations concerning the projects. (5) During the demonstration period, the owner shall give tours of the farm to farmers and other interested groups and individuals and provide them with a summary of the costs of carrying out such projects. (6) All right, title, and interest to any agricultural commodity produced on the farm as a result of the projects shall be in the owner. (7) At the end of the demonstration period, the owner shall have all right, title, and interest to any materials and technology provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection. (8) Such other provisions as the Secretary may, by rule, require. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 1454. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for distribution to eligible institutions for use in establishing model farms and solar energy project demonstrations under the provisions of this part, $20,000,000 for the period beginning October 1, 1977, and ending September 30. 1981, and thereafter such cums as may subsequent to the date of enactment of this title be authorized by law for any subsequent fiscal year. 7 U.S.C. 3263. PART 5-REGIONAL SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS 44 SEC. 1455. In order to provide for agricultural research, development, and demonstration projects having a national or regional application, the Secretary shall establish in existing Federal facilities or in cooperation with State and local government agencies, including State departments of agriculture, colleges and universities, or other qualified persons and organizations, including local nonprofit research groups, not less than three nor more than five regional solar energy research, development, and demonstration centers in the United States for the performance of agricultural research, extension work, and demonstration projects relating to use of solar energy with respect to farm buildings, farm homes, and farm machinery (including equipment used to dry and cure crops and provide irrigation), to be variously located so as to reflect the unique solar characteristics of different latitudes and climatic regions within the United States. Funds used in the operation of such regional centers may be used for the rehabilitation of existing buildings or facilities to house such centers, but may not be used for the construction or acquisition of new buildings. PART 6-APPROPRIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS 45 AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 1456. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such funds as are necessary to carry out the provisions of parts 2, 3, and 5 of this subtitle. DEFINITIONS SEC. 1457. For purposes of this subtitle (1) the term "solar energy" means energy derived from sources (other than fossil fuels) and technologies included in the Federal Non-Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, as amended; and (2) the term "State" means any State of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. Subtitle I-International Agricultural Research and Extension SEC. 1458. The Secretary, subject to such coordination with other Federal officials, departments, and agencies as the President may direct, is authorized to (1) expand the operational coordination of the Department of Agriculture with institutions and other persons throughout the world performing agricultural research and extension activities by exchanging research materials and results with such institutions or persons and by conducting with such institutions or persons joint or coordinated research and extension on problems of significance to agriculture in the United States; 447 U.S.C. 3271. 47 U.S.C. 3281. 447 U.S.C. 3282. 47 7 U.S.C. 3291. (2) assist the Agency for International Development with agricultural research and extension programs in developing countries; (3) work with developed countries on agricultural research and extension, including the stationing of United States scientists at national and international institutions in such countries; (4) assist United States colleges and universities in strengthening their capabilities for agricultural research and extension relevant to agricultural development activities overseas; and (5) further develop within the Department of Agriculture highly qualified experienced scientists who specialize in international programs, to be available for the activities described in this section. Subtitle J-Studies EVALUATION OF THE EXTENSION SERVICE AND THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES SEC. 1459.48 The Secretary shall transmit to Congress, not later than March 31, 1979, an evaluation of the economic and social consequences of the programs of the Extension Service and the cooperative extension services, including those programs relating to agricultural production and distribution, home economics, nutrition education (including the Expanded Family and Nutrition Education Program), community development, and 4-H youth programs. 49 WEATHER AND WATER ALLOCATION STUDY SEC. 1460. The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of changing climate and weather on crop and livestock productivity and, within twelve months after the date of the enactment of this title, submit to the President and Congress a report together with pertinent recommendations, on this study. The study shall include (1) an assessment of current climate and weather conditions in the United States and the possible impact of changes in climate and weather conditions on the Nation's economy and future food and feed availability and prices: (2) a review of Federal and State water allocation policies; and (3) a consideration of strategies and techniques for dealing with water shortages in the United States that could occur if current climate and weather conditions continue or become more severe. ORGANIC FARMING STUDY SEC. 1461.50 The Secretary shall conduct, and, within twelve months after the date of enactment of this title, submit to the President and Congress a report containing the results of and the Secretary's recommendations concerning, an investigation and analysis of the practicability, desirability, and feasibility of collecting organic waste materials, including manure, crop and food wastes, industrial organic 7 U.S.C. 8801. 7 U.S.C. 8802. 7 U.S.C. 3803. |