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HR 1383 99th Congress House Agriculture and Food Agricultural credit Agricultural innovations Agricultural research Agriculture and Rural Affairs Biological pest control Conservation of natural resources Environmental Protection Government publicity Government records, documents, and information Information services Pest control Research and development Soil conservation

Agricultural Productivity Act of 1985

Introduced: February 28, 1985 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 15, 1985
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Jul 11, 1985
Passed House by Voice Vote.
Jul 11, 1985
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Voice Vote.
Jul 11, 1985
Committee Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Considered as an Original Bill for the Purpose of Amendment.
Jul 11, 1985
Called up by House by Rule.
Jul 11, 1985
Rule Passed House.
Jun 18, 1985
Rules Committee Resolution H.Res.201 Reported to House.
Jun 18, 1985
Rule Granted Providing an Open Rule with 1 Hour of Debate.
May 15, 1985
Placed on Union Calendar No: 80.
May 15, 1985
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Agriculture. Report No: 99-126.
May 15, 1985
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
May 15, 1985
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 15, 1985
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture Discharged.
May 15, 1985
Subcommittee on Conservation Credit and Rural Development Discharged.
May 10, 1985
Executive Comment Received From USDA.
Apr 15, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Mar 27, 1985
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 7, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture.
Mar 7, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Conservation Credit and Rural Development.
Feb 28, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Feb 28, 1985
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Agricultural Productivity Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) make an inventory of existing research and extension materials and recommend further areas of research regarding crop rotation, intercropping, biological pest control, and other related farming and soil conservation systems; and (2) make such information available to the public.

Directs the Secretary to conduct research on 24 pilot farms (having specified mixes of livestock and crops) to examine the effects of the transition from practices relying on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and traditional soil tillage to systems relying on organic and biological pest control, crop rotation, and conservation tillage. Requires such farms to be chosen within 120 days.

Directs the Secretary to make a parallel study of 12 farms which have been using such farm systems for at least five years.

Sets the term of such projects at five years each.

Sets forth on-farm study data, including soil profile changes, crop yields, energy and water use, and farm income.

Directs the Secretary to make payments to the owner of a pilot farm if the Secretary determines such payments are justified. Stipulates that these payments may be made only during a project's last four years.

Directs the Secretary to coordinate such pilot farms project with specified Federal and State agricultural services, colleges, and farmers.

Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) within 15 months regarding the information inventory; and (2) by April 1 of each year regarding the pilot farms, with a final project summary and recommendations by April 1 of the year following completion.

Provides for a five-year program of intercropping assistance under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act.

Authorizes appropriations.

What's happening now July 15, 1985

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4