Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

7 U.S.C. § 2302

Definitions

In this chapter:
(1)

Agricultural products

The term “agricultural products” shall not include cotton or tobacco or their products.

(2)
1
1 So in original.
(2)  Association of producers
(A)

In general

section 1141j(a) of title 12section 291 of this titleThe term “association of producers” means any association of producers of agricultural products engaged in marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing as defined in , or in .

(B)

Inclusion

The term “association of producers” includes an organization whose membership is exclusively limited to agricultural producers and dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural products.

(3)
1(3)  Handler
(A)

In general

The term “handler” means any person engaged in the business or practice of (i) acquiring agricultural products from producers or associations of producers for processing or sale; or (ii) grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural products received from producers or associations of producers; or (iii) contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or marketing of any agricultural product; or (iv) acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii).

(B)

Exclusion

section 191 of this titleThe term “handler” does not include a person, other than a packer (as defined in ), that provides custom feeding services for a producer.

(4)

Producer

The term “producer” means a person engaged in the production of agricultural products as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.

Pub. L. 90–288, § 382 Stat. 94Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, § 11003122 Stat. 1354Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664(, , ; , , ; , title XI, § 11003, , , 2116.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–246, § 110032008—, in introductory provisions, substituted “In this chapter:” for “When used in this chapter—”, redesignated subsecs. (e), (c), (a), and (b) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively, inserted par. headings, in pars. (2) and (3), inserted duplicate par. designations, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B), in par. (3), redesignated cls. (1) to (4) as (i) to (iv), respectively, in cl. (iv), substituted “clause (i), (ii), or (iii)” for “clause (1), (2), or (3) of this paragraph”, and struck out subsec. (d) which read as follows: “The term ‘person’ includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of this titleAmendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .