📜Delay of Effective Date for Privacy Act Regulations Affecting Trade
On January 10, 2025, we published a final rule that exempted a system of records, titled "Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC) National Information Communication Activity System (SNICAS), USDA/APHIS-21," from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. In addition, it also amended the Privacy Act regulations to reflect an administrative change to the list of system of records that are exempt from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. The final rule was scheduled to go into effect on February 10, 2025. This document delays the effective date until April 11, 2025.
Learn More🌾Flax Revenue and Crop Insurance Regulatory Update
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is reopening the comment period for 30 days to allow the public additional time to provide comments on our regulation that allowed revenue coverage for flax under the Small Grain Crop Insurance Provisions, combined written agreement deadlines in the Dry Bean Crop Insurance Provisions to match other insurance policies, expanded the availability of enterprise and optional units for some specialty and perennial crops, and made clarifications and corrections to the Area Risk Protection Insurance, Basic Provisions; Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions; and several Crop Provisions published on November 27, 2024 and effective on November 30, 2024.
Learn More🍄Delay of Organic Mushroom and Pet Food Regulations Effective Date
This document delays the effective date of the December 23, 2024, final rule that amended USDA's organic regulations to clarify standards for organic mushrooms and organic pet food. The topics addressed by the rule include mushroom substrate composition and sourcing of mushroom spawn in organic mushroom production; composting requirements for organic mushroom production; composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food; and the use of certain synthetic substances, including taurine, in organic pet food.
Learn More🧈Plant Records To Include Testing for Grade Label Butterfat
This document delays the effective date of the January 16, 2025, final rule that adopted amendments to the plant records requirement for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The amendments allow butterfat tests to be performed at an in-house or approved third party laboratory and add a requirement for plants to maintain and make such records available for examination by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector. These amendments increase efficiency by conforming to current industry practice.
Learn More📦Delayed Effective Date for Paper Packaging Regulation Changes
This document delays the effective date of the January 21, 2025, final rule revising the regulations related to the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The amendments included an added definition for partnership; clarification of the nominations process; clarification about in person and electronic voting for any Board meetings; an update of the timing of financial reporting; and a revision of requirements for when exemptions can be requested.
Learn More🦠EPA Announces Emergency Exemption for Potassium Chloride Use
EPA is announcing a quarantine exemption request from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) to use the pesticide potassium chloride (CAS No. 7440-09-7) to treat up to 1.26 acres to control Quagga mussels. The applicant proposes the use of a new chemical which has not been registered by EPA. Due to the urgent nature of the emergency and the very narrow and limited use being requested EPA has eliminated the public comment period. Nonetheless, interested parties may still contact the Agency with information about this notice and treatment program.
Learn More🌍EPA Extends Comment Periods on Key Regulatory Notices
This document extends the comment period for three notices published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on December 3, 2024 and December 13, 2024.
Learn More🌾USDA Notice on Local Food Marketing Practices Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to reinstate an information collection to gather data related to the production and marketing of foods directly from farm producers to consumers or retailers. In addition, NASS will collect some whole-farm data to be used to classify and group operations for summarizing and publication of results.
Learn More💧Memorandum on Enhancing Water Supply in Southern California
The memorandum emphasizes the urgent need for a reliable water supply in Southern California, advocating for the resumption of water routing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It highlights challenges posed by environmental regulations and ongoing water waste, while underscoring the critical impacts of wildfires and water scarcity on the state's residents and businesses.
Learn More🌱USDA Notice on Annual Organic Survey
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Annual Organic Survey. USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) typically funds an organic production and practices survey in years where the Census of Agriculture Special Study for Organics is not conducted. The next Special Study is planned for 2025 (enumerated in early 2026). With the completion of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, NASS will conduct the Special Study again, return it to its' original scope of questions and the mandatory reporting requirement. This request will also include the 2026 and 2027 voluntary surveys that are funded by USDA-RMA. A minor revision to burden hours will be needed to account for the anticipated data collection plan for the upcoming surveys along with adding some cognitive interviews to test requested changes to the annual surveys.
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