🌾USDA Amends Rural Development Funding Opportunities in 2025
The United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD), which is comprised of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and Rural Housing Service (RHS), announces that it is amending 14 program funding opportunities to remove references to the prior Administration's key priorities and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)-related scoring criteria to bring them into compliance with the Executive Order, "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing", issued on January 20, 2025. This notice also confirms that previous Administration key priorities and discretionary points will not be considered during application scoring and makes clear that applicants who already have applied need not reapply. This notice also corrects the Rural Energy for America funding notice to include an omitted funding source.
Learn More🌱Notice of Withdrawal for Greater Sage-Grouse Environmental Impact Statement
The Forest Service is withdrawing its notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the greater sage-grouse plan amendment to the Dakota Prairie Grasslands Land and Resource Management Plan.
Learn More✈️Delay on User Fees for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Services
On May 7, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register a final rule amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection program. The final rule went into effect on October 1, 2024, with the exception of the removal of an exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft, which was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2025. In this document, we are issuing a postponement of the effective date of the removal of the exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft for 60 days, from April 1, 2025, to June 2, 2025.
Learn More🌾Proclamation of National Agriculture Day
The proclamation by the President of the United States honors National Agriculture Day, recognizing the essential role of farmers and agricultural workers. It commits to fortifying the agricultural community and ensuring the sustainability of America's farming practices, with an emphasis on promoting fair trade and improving market access for American agricultural products.
Learn More🌲Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee Public Meeting Notice
The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with title II of the Act, as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest within Shasta County, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
Learn More🐎Horse Protection Amendments
On May 8, 2024, we published a final rule amending the horse protection regulations. The amendments to the final rule initially scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025, were delayed until April 2, 2025. In this document, we are further delaying the effective date of the amendments effective April 2, 2025, to February 1, 2026. We are also seeking comment on whether the length of this postponement should be extended and soliciting any supplemental information that may help inform a decision regarding an appropriate length of postponement.
Learn More🌱New Pyridate Pesticide Tolerances Established by EPA
This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of pyridate in or on Pea, field, forage; Pea, field, hay; Soybean, forage; Soybean, hay; Soybean, seed; and Vegetable, legume, pulse, pea, dried shelled, subgroup 6-22F. Belchim Crop Protection US Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).
Learn More🌾USDA Seeks Comments on Measurement Service Record Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently approved information collection request associated with the Measurement Service Record.
Learn More🌾USDA Grain Inspection Regulations and Compliance Overview
The Department of Agriculture's notice outlines the information collection requirements for grain and commodity inspections under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA). It emphasizes the importance of official services for ensuring quality and compliance, detailing the responsibilities of agencies and business operators in maintaining records for inspections.
Learn More🌾USDA Submission for OMB Review
The Department of Agriculture is submitting an information collection requirement for OMB review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This involves gathering data on fruit, nuts, and specialty crops, which supports essential agricultural statistics for growers and processors, ensuring accurate assessments for crop production and marketing decisions.
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