Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act
PL 94-463 (H.R.10339), enacted 10/08/1976

90 STAT. 1982 
PUBLIC LAW 94-463—OCT. 8, 1976 
Public Law 94-463 
94th Congress 
An Act 
Oct. 8, 1976 
[H.R. 10339] 
Farmer-to-
Consumer 
Direct 
Marketing Act 
of 1976. 
7 u s e 3001 
note. 
7 u s e 3001. 
7 u s e 3002. 
7 u s e 3003. 
To encourage the direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to 
consumers. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the ''Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976". 
PURPOSE 
SEC. 2. It is the purpose of this Act to promote, through appropriate 
means and on an economically sustainable basis, the development and 
expansion of direct marketing of agricultural commodities from 
farmers to consumers. To accomplish this objective, the Secretary of 
Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") shall initiate 
and coordinate a program designed to facilitate direct marketing 
from farmers to consumers for the mutual benefit of consumers and 
farmers. 
DEFINITION 
SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act, the term "direct marketing from 
farmers to consumers" shall mean the marketing of agricultural com-
modities at any marketplace (including, but not limited to, roadside 
stands, city markets, and vehicles used for house-to-house market-
ing of agricultural commodities) established and maintained for the 
purpose of enabling farmers to sell (either individually or through a 
farmers' organization directly representing the farmers who produced 
the commodities being sold) their agricultural commodities directly 
to individual consumers, or organizations representing consumers, in 
a manner calculated to lower the cost and increase the quality of food 
to such consumers while providing increased financial returns to the 
farmers. 
SURVEY 
SEC. 4. The Secretary shall provide, through the Economic Research 
Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, or whatever 
agency or agencies the Secretary considers appropriate, a continuing 
survey of existing methods of direct marketing from farmers to con-
sumers in each State. The initial survey, which shall be completed 
no later than one year following the date of enactment of this Act, 
shall include the number of types of such marketing methods in exist-
ence, the volume of business conducted through each such marketing 
method, and the impact of such marketing methods upon financial 
returns to farmers (including their impact upon improving the eco-
nomic viability of small farmers) and food quality and costs to 
consumers. 
Funds, 
utilization. 
7 use 3004. 
DIRECT MARKETING ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE STATES 
SEC. 5. (a) In order to promote the establishment and operation of 
direct marketing from farmers to consumers, the Secretary shall pro-
vide that funds appropriated to carry out this section be utilized by 
PUBLIC LAW 94-463—OCT. 8, 1976 
90 STAT. 1983 
State departments of agriculture and the Extension Service of the 
United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose of conduct-
ing or facilitating activities which will initiate, encourage, develop, 
or coordinate methods of direct marketing from farmers to consumers 
within or among the States. Such funds shall be allocated to a State 
on the basis of the feasibility of direct marketing from farmers to 
consumers within that State as compared to other States and shall 
be allocated within a State to the State department of agriculture and 
to the Extension Service on the basis of the types of activities which 
are needed in the State and on the basis of which of these two agencies, 
or combination thereof, can best perform these activities. The activities 
shall include, but shall not be limited to— 
(1) sponsoring conferences which are designed to facilitate the 
sharing of information (among farm producers, consumers, and 
other interested persons or groups) concerning the establishment 
and operation of direct marketing from farmers to consumers; 
(2) compiling laws and regulations relevant to the conduct of 
the various methods of such direct marketing within the State, 
formulating drafts of enabling legislation needed to facilitate such 
direct marketing, determining feasible locations for additional 
facilities for such direct marketing, and preparing and disseminat-
ing practical information on the establishment and operation of 
such direct marketing; and 
(3) providing technical assistance for the purpose of aiding 
interested individuals or groups in the establishment of arrange-
ments for direct marketing from farmers to consumers. 
(b) In the implementation of this section, the Secretary shall take 
into account consumer preferences and needs which may bear upon the 
establishment and operation of arrangements for direct marketing 
from farmers to consumers. 
Funds, 
allocation. 
Review; 
report to 
congressional 
committees. 
7 use 3005. 
ANNUAL REPORT 
SEC. 6. The Secretary shall periodically review the activities carried 
out under this Act and shall report to the Committee on Agriculture, 
United States House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agri-
culture and Forestry, United States Senate, within one year of the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, with respect to the 
effectiveness of this Act. The Secretary shall include in such report a 
State-by-State summary of the results of the survey conducted under 
this Act, and a summary of the activities and accomplishments of the 
Extension Service and the State departments of agriculture in the 
development of direct marketing from farmers to consumers during the 
previous year. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 7. (a) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of sections 4 7 USC 3006. 
and 6, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary. 
(b) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 5, there is 
authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 
ending September 30, 1977, and September 30, 1978. 
EMERGENCY HAY PROGRAM 
SEC. 8. In carrying out any emergency hay program for farmers or 
ranchers in any area of the United States under section 305 of the Dis-
aster Relief Act of 1974 because of an emergency or major disaster in 
Transportation 
costs, 
repayment. 
42 USC 5145 
note. 
42 USC 5145. 
90 STAT. 1984 
PUBLIC LAW 94-463—OCT. 8, 1976 
such area, the President shall direct the Secretary of Agriculture to 
pay 80 percent of the cost of transporting hay (not to exceed $50 per 
ton) from areas in which hay is in plentiful supply to the area in which 
Expiration and 
such farmers or ranchers are located. The provisions of this section 
effective 
shall expire on October 1,1977, and shall become effective on October 1, 
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1976, or on the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later. 
Approved October 8, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 94-612 (Comm. on Agriculture) and No. 94-1516 (Comm. of 
Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 94-1022 (Comm. on Agriculture and Forestry). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 121 (1975): Nov. 4, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 122 (1976): July 30, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 15, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Sept. 23, House receded and concurred in certain Senate amend-
ments; receded and concurred in certain others with amend-
ments. 
Sept. 27, Senate concurred in House amendments.