**1988**—Pub. L. 100–399, title VII, §702(c), Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1006, redesignated part H as G.

Pub. L. 100–233, title VIII, §805(u), Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1716, redesignated part F as H.

If real property is acquired by any institution of the Farm Credit System through foreclosure, no institution of the Farm Credit System shall sell the surface rights to that real property to any person unless the institution also sells all mineral rights to that real property to that person.

(Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, §4.35, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title III, §306, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1709.)

Section effective thirty days after Dec. 23, 1985, see section 401 of Pub. L. 99–205, set out as an Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note under section 2001 of this title.

Agricultural real estate that is acquired by an institution of the System as a result of a loan foreclosure or a voluntary conveyance by a borrower (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “previous owner”) who, as determined by the institution, does not have the financial resources to avoid foreclosure (hereinafter in this section referred to as “acquired real estate”) shall be subject to the right of first refusal of the previous owner to repurchase or lease the property, as provided in this section.

Within 15 days after an institution of the System first elects to sell acquired real estate, or any portion of such real estate, the institution shall notify the previous owner by certified mail of the owner's right—

(A) to purchase the property at the appraised fair market value of the property, as established by an accredited appraiser; or

(B) to offer to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value.

To be eligible to purchase the property under paragraph (1), the previous owner must, within 30 days after receiving the notice required by such paragraph, submit an offer to purchase the property.

An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at the appraised value shall, within 15 days after the receipt of such offer, accept such offer and sell the property to the previous owner.

An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value may accept such offer and sell the property to the previous owner. Notice shall be provided to the previous owner of the acceptance or rejection of such offer within 15 days after the receipt of such offer.

An institution of the System that rejects an offer from the previous owner to purchase the property at a price less than the appraised value may not sell the property to any other person—

(i) at a price equal to, or less than, that offered by the previous owner; or

(ii) on different terms and conditions than those that were extended to the previous owner,

without first affording the previous owner an opportunity to purchase the property at such price or under such terms and conditions.

Notice of the opportunity in subparagraph (A) shall be provided to the previous owner by certified mail, and the previous owner shall have 15 days in which to submit an offer to purchase the property at such price or under such terms and conditions.

Within 15 days after an institution of the System first elects to lease acquired real estate, or any portion of such real estate, the institution shall notify the previous owner by certified mail of the owner's right—

(A) to lease the property at a rate equivalent to the appraised rental value of the property, as established by an accredited appraiser; or

(B) to offer to lease the property at a rate that is less than the appraised rental value of the property.

To be eligible to lease the property under paragraph (1), the previous owner must, within 15 days after receiving the notice required by such paragraph, submit an offer to lease the property.

An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate equivalent to the appraised rental value of the property shall, within 15 days after the receipt of such offer, accept such offer and lease the property to the previous owner unless the institution determines that the previous owner—

(A) does not have the resources available to conduct a successful farming or ranching operation; or

(B) cannot meet all of the payments, terms, and conditions of such lease.

An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate that is less than the appraised rental value of the property may accept such offer and lease the property to the previous owner.

An institution of the System receiving an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate less than the appraised rental value of the property shall notify the previous owner of its acceptance or rejection of the offer within 15 days after the receipt of such offer.

An institution of the System rejecting an offer from the previous owner to lease the property at a rate less than the appraised rental value of the property may not lease the property to any other person—

(i) at a rate equal to or less than that offered by the previous owner; or

(ii) on different terms and conditions than those that were extended to the previous owner,

without first affording the previous owner an opportunity to lease the property at such rate or under such terms and conditions.

Notice of the opportunity described in subparagraph (A) shall be given to the previous owner by certified mail, and the previous owner shall have 15 days after the receipt of such notice in which to agree to lease the property at such rate or under such terms and conditions.

If an institution of the System elects to sell or lease acquired property or a portion thereof through a public auction, competitive bidding process, or other similar public offering, the institution shall notify the previous owner, by certified mail, of the availability of the property. Such notice shall contain the minimum amount, if any, required to qualify a bid as acceptable to the institution and any terms and conditions to which such sale or lease will be subject.

If two or more qualified bids in the same amount are received by the institution under paragraph (1), such bids are the highest received, and one of the qualified bids is offered by the previous owner, the institution shall accept the offer by the previous owner.

No institution of the System may discriminate against a previous owner in any public auction, competitive bidding process, or other similar public offering of property acquired by the institution from such person.

For the purposes of this section, financing by a System institution shall not be considered to be a term or condition of a sale of acquired real estate.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a System institution shall not be required to provide financing to the previous owner in connection with the sale of acquired real estate.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each certified mail notice requirement in this section shall be fully satisfied by mailing one certified mail notice to the last known address of the previous owner.

The rights provided in this section shall not diminish any such right of first refusal under the law of the State in which the property is located.

This section shall not apply to a bank for cooperatives.

(Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, §4.36, as added Pub. L. 99–205, title III, §306, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1709; amended Pub. L. 100–233, title I, §108, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1582; Pub. L. 100–399, title I, §104, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 990.)

**1988**—Pub. L. 100–233 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “No institution of the Farm Credit System shall sell any real property that previously served as security for a loan in a tract larger than a normal family size farm in the vicinity of the property for less than the amount it can receive from the Capital Corporation.”

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–399, §104(a), substituted “30” for “15”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–399, §104(b), substituted “15” for “30”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–399, §104(c), substituted “previous owner” for “former borrower”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–399 effective as if enacted immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–233, which was approved Jan. 6, 1988, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 100–399, set out as a note under section 2002 of this title.

Section effective thirty days after Dec. 23, 1985, see section 401 of Pub. L. 99–205, set out as an Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note under section 2001 of this title.

Money of a borrower held by a Farm Credit System institution in an uninsured voluntary or involuntary account as authorized under regulations issued by the Farm Credit Administration (as in effect immediately before January 6, 1988), including all such other accounts known as “advanced payment accounts” or “future prepayment accounts” shall, in the event the institution is placed in liquidation, be immediately applied as payment against the indebtedness of any outstanding loans of such borrower.

The Farm Credit Administration shall promulgate regulations—

(1) that define the term “uninsured voluntary or involuntary account”; and

(2) to otherwise effectively carry out this section.

(Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, §4.37, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title I, §110, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1585.)

Another section 4.37 of Pub. L. 92–181 was renumbered section 4.38 and is classified to section 2219c of this title.

The Assistance Board established under section 2278a of this title and all institutions of the Farm Credit System with more than 20 employees shall establish and maintain an affirmative action program plan that applies the affirmative action standards otherwise applied to contractors of the Federal Government.

(Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, §4.38, formerly §4.37, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, §427, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1657; renumbered §4.38, Pub. L. 100–399, title IV, §413, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1004.)

At the time a System institution or an agricultural mortgage loan originator (as defined in section 2279aa(7) of this title) approves a loan made to a borrower that, in the opinion of the institution or originator, would be ineligible for a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) by reason of subtitle B or C of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.), the institution or originator, as the case may be, shall encourage the borrower to contact the Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service to obtain information about soil conservation methods and practices.

(Pub. L. 92–181, title IV, §4.39, formerly §4.38, as added Pub. L. 100–233, title IV, §428, Jan. 6, 1988, 101 Stat. 1658; renumbered §4.39, Pub. L. 100–399, title IV, §413, Aug. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 1004.)

The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, referred to in text, is title III of Pub. L. 87–128, Aug. 8, 1961, 75 Stat. 307, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 50 (§1921 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1921 of Title 7 and Tables.

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354, as amended. Subtitles B and C of title XII of the Food Security Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§3811 et seq.) and III (§3821 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 58 of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of Title 7 and Tables.

Any institution of the Farm Credit System, or any director, officer, employee, or agent of a Farm Credit System institution, that discloses to a Government authority information proffered in good faith that may be relevant to a possible violation of any law or regulation shall not be liable to any person under any law of the United States or any State—

(1) for the disclosure; or

(2) for any failure to notify the person involved in the possible violation.

Any institution of the Farm Credit System, or any director, officer, employee, or agent of a Farm Credit System institution, may disclose information to a Government authority that may be relevant to a possible violation of any law or regulation.

(Pub. L. 104–105, title II, §221, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 184.)

Section was enacted as part of the Farm Credit System Reform Act of 1996, and not as part of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 which comprises this chapter.