R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-5-3

The department is authorized, empowered, and directed to formulate and submit to the secretary of agriculture in conformity with the provisions of the soil conservation and domestic allotment act, a state plan. It shall be the purpose of each plan and each plan shall be designed to promote any utilization of land and any farming practices that the department finds will tend, in conjunction with the operation of any other plans that may be approved for other states by the secretary of agriculture, to preserve and improve soil fertility; to promote the economic use and conservation of land; to diminish exploitation and wasteful and unscientific use of natural soil resources; to protect rivers and waterways against the results of soil erosion and aid in flood control; and to perform any other functions as may be defined in subsection (a) of § 7 of the soil conservation and domestic allotment act, 16 U.S.C. § 590g. Each plan shall provide for adjustments and utilization of land, and in farming practices through agreements with producers or through other voluntary methods, and for benefit payments in connection with these agreements or voluntary methods, and for any reports the secretary of agriculture finds necessary for the effective administration of the plan, and for ascertaining whether the plan is being carried out according to its terms.