Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961 (P.L. 87-128) authorized a major expansion of USDA lending activities, which at the time were administered by Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), but now through the Farm Service Agency. The legislation was originally enacted as the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961.

Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961

Other short titles	Agricultural Act of 1961 Agricultural Enabling Amendments Act of 1961 Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961 Omnibus Agricultural Bill
Long title	An Act to improve and protect farm prices and farm income, to increase farmer participation in the development of farm programs, to adjust supplies of agricultural commodities in line with the requirements therefore, to improve distribution and expand exports of agricultural commodities, to liberalize and extend farm credit services, to protect the interest of consumers, and for other purposes.
Enacted by	the 87th United States Congress
Effective	August 8, 1961
Citations
Public law	87-128
Statutes at Large	75 Stat. 294
Codification
Titles amended	7 U.S.C.: Agriculture
U.S.C. sections amended	7 U.S.C. ch. 41 § 1707 7 U.S.C. ch. 35 §§ 1334 & 1340
Legislative history
Introduced in the Senate as S. 1643 by Orville Freeman (D–MN) on April 10, 1961 Passed the Senate on July 26, 1961 (41-37) Reported by the joint conference committee on August 3, 1961; agreed to by the House on August 3, 1961 (224-170) and by the Senate on August 3, 1961 (agreed to) Signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on August 8, 1961

The S. 1643 legislation was signed into law by the thirty-fifth President of the United States John F. Kennedy on August 8, 1961.[1][2]

In 1972, this title was changed to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and is often referred to as the Con Act. The Con Act, as amended, currently serves as the authorizing statute for USDA’s agricultural and rural development lending programs. Titles in the Act include current authority for the following three major FSA farm loan programs: farm ownership, farm operating and emergency disaster loans. Title III of the Con Act is the Rural Development Act of 1972 (P.L.92-419) authorizing rural development loans and grants.

Amendments to 1961 Act

Chronological amendments and revisions to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961.

Date of Enactment	Public Law Number	U.S. Statute Citation	U.S. Legislative Bill	U.S. Presidential Administration
April 20, 1973	Pub.L. 93–24	87 Stat. 24	H.R. 1975	Richard M. Nixon
August 5, 1975	Pub.L. 94–68	89 Stat. 381	S. 555	Gerald R. Ford
August 4, 1978	Pub.L. 95–334	92 Stat. 420	H.R. 11504	Jimmy E. Carter
September 25, 1980	Pub.L. 96–358	94 Stat. 1184	S. 261	Jimmy E. Carter
October 13, 1980	Pub.L. 96–438	94 Stat. 1871	S. 985	Jimmy E. Carter
October 28, 1992	Pub.L. 102–554	106 Stat. 4142	H.R. 6129	George H.W. Bush
May 11, 1994	Pub.L. 103–248	108 Stat. 619	S. 1930	William J. Clinton

See also

• Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972

References

1. "Bill signing, S. 1643 Public Law 87-128, Agricultural Act of 1961, 9:45 AM". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
2. "Remarks on signing Agricultural Act of 1961, 8 August 1961". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

External links

• Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Statement by the President Upon Receiving fifth Annual Report on the Rural Development Program.," October 13, 1960". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Congressional Research Service document: Jasper Womach. "Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition" (PDF).