Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976
Public Law 94-463 · H.R. 10339 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Oct 8, 1976 · Agriculture and Food
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph Vigorito (D-PA-24)
Cosponsors (23): Rep. Alvin Baldus, Rep. Robert Bergland,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act - States that it is the purpose of this Act to foster and promote, through appropriate means and on an economically sustainable basis, the development and expansion of both traditional and innovative approaches to direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers.
States that for purposes of this Act, the term "direct marketing from farmers to consumers" means the marketing of agricultural commodities at any market place (including, but not limited to, roadside stands, city markets, and vehicles used for house-to-house marketing of agricultural commodities) established and maintained for the purpose of enabling farmers to sell their agricultrual commodities directly to individual consumers, or organizations representing consumers.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through State agriculture departments and through the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture, to conduct and facilitate activities designed to foster methods of direct marketing from farmers to consumers.
Authorizes the appropriation of $1,500,000 to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years 1977 and 1978.
Requires, in carrying out any emergency hay program for farmers or ranchers, that the Secretary of Agriculture pay 80 percent of the cost of transporting hay (not to exceed $50 a ton) from areas in which hay is plentiful to disaster or emergency areas where such hay is needed.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Oct 8, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-463.
- Sep 28, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 27, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in certain House Amendments to Senate Amendments.
- Sep 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendment.
- Sep 15, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 13, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1516.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1516.
- Aug 25, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Aug 23, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 30, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 30, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 5, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Nov 4, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #664 (299-95).House roll call 664
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Nov 1, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
- Oct 22, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.