The Secretary of Agriculture shall utilize to the maximum extent practicable State, regional, district, county, local, or other Department of Agriculture offices to enhance rural development, and shall to the maximum extent practicable provide directly, or, in the case of agencies outside of the Department of Agriculture, through arrangements with the heads of such agencies, for—

1. (1) the location of all field units of the Federal Government concerned with rural development in the appropriate Department of Agriculture offices covering the geographical areas most similar to those covered by such field units, and
2. (2) the interchange of personnel and facilities in each such office to the extent necessary or desirable to achieve the most efficient utilization of such personnel and facilities and provide the most effective assistance in the development of rural areas in accordance with State rural development plans.

(Pub. L. 92–419, title VI, § 603(c), Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 675; Pub. L. 96–355, § 4(5), Sept. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 1174.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1980—Pub. L. 96–355 struck out designation for former par. (1) and, in such par., redesignated former subpars. (A) and (B) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, and struck out former par. (2) which related to contents of report submitted under section 2204(b) of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–355 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10 of Pub. L. 96–355, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2204b of this title.

Transfer of Functions

Powers, duties, and assets of agencies, offices, and other entities within Department of Agriculture relating to rural development functions transferred to Rural Development Administration by section 2302(b) of Pub. L. 101–624.