Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961

{{Short description|United States federal law}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox U.S. legislation

| shorttitle = Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961

| othershorttitles = {{unbulleted list|Agricultural Act of 1961|Agricultural Enabling Amendments Act of 1961|Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961|Omnibus Agricultural Bill}}

| longtitle = 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.

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| enacted by = 87th

| effective date = August 8, 1961

| public law url = http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-75/pdf/STATUTE-75-Pg294.pdf

| cite public law = 87-128

| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|75|294}}

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| title amended = 7 U.S.C.: Agriculture

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| sections amended = {{unbulleted list|{{Usc-title-chap|7|41}} § 1707|{{Usc-title-chap|7|35}} §§ 1334 & 1340}}

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| introducedin = Senate

| introducedbill = {{USbill|87|S.|1643}}

| introducedby = Orville Freeman (D–MN)

| introduceddate = April 10, 1961

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| passedbody1 = Senate

| passeddate1 = July 26, 1961

| passedvote1 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1961/s103 41-37]

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| conferencedate = August 3, 1961

| passedbody3 = House

| passeddate3 = August 3, 1961

| passedvote3 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1961/h66 224-170]

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| passedbody4 = Senate

| passeddate4 = August 3, 1961

| passedvote4 = agreed to

| signedpresident = John F. Kennedy

| signeddate = August 8, 1961

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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 The legislation was originally enacted as the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961.

The S. 1643 legislation was signed into law by the thirty-fifth President of the United States John F. Kennedy on August 8, 1961.{{cite web |url=http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-1961-08-08-A.aspx |title=Bill signing, S. 1643 Public Law 87-128, Agricultural Act of 1961, 9:45 AM |publisher=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-035-035.aspx |title=Remarks on signing Agricultural Act of 1961, 8 August 1961 |publisher=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum}}

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.