7 U.S.C. § 6995 — Informal hearings

(a) In general If an officer, employee, or committee of an agency^* makes an adverse decision^*, the agency must hold, at the request of the participant, an informal hearing on the decision.

(b) Farm Service Agency With respect to programs carried out through the Farm Service Agency (or other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department^* assigned to carry out the programs authorized for the Farm Service Agency under section 6932 of this title ), the Secretary^* must maintain the informal appeals process applicable to that programs, as in effect on October 13, 1994 .

(c) Mediation If a mediation program is available under title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 ( 7 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) as a part of the informal hearing process, the participant shall—
(1) be offered the right to choose that mediation; and
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, be allowed to use both informal agency review and mediation to resolve disputes under that title.