Compliance, Regulatory Requirements 13 Jan 2025 business operations, agriculture, usda, geographic boundaries, grain inspection, compliance

🌾Proposed Updates to Grain Inspection Geographic Areas and Compliance

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is issuing this notice to announce proposed updates to the boundaries of the geographic areas in which official service providers (OSP) perform official inspection and weighing services under a United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designation or delegation, and for purposes of cooperative service agreements under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). The proposed updates are necessary due to changes in natural and man- made landmarks, railroad lines, roads, and signs that were used in historical boundary descriptions.

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Compliance, Consumer Trends, Data Reporting 10 Jan 2025 compliance, agriculture, usda, data collection, information requirement, nass
Compliance, Regulatory Requirements 10 Jan 2025 compliance, agriculture, regulations, usda, privacy

⚖️USDA APHIS Modifies SNICAS System Under Privacy Act Regulations

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is modifying a system of records in its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The system of records being modified is the Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC) National Information Communication Activity System (SNICAS), USDA/APHIS-21. SNICAS maintains a record of activities conducted by the agency pursuant to its mission and authorized responsibilities. The purpose of the system is to record data and information about APHIS' SITC activities nationwide. We are modifying the system to exempt the system from certain provisions of the Privacy Act.

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Compliance, Regulatory Requirements 10 Jan 2025 compliance, agriculture, usda, administrative practice and procedure, privacy act, claims, business regulations, freedom of information, privacy, data protection, antitrust, concessions, federal buildings and facilities, cooperatives, lawyers, blind, equal access to justice

🔒USDA Revises Privacy Act Regulations Affecting Business Compliance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending its Privacy Act regulations to exempt a system of records, Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC) National Information Communication Activity System (SNICAS), USDA/APHIS-21, from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. USDA is further amending its 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.

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Grant Opportunities, Economic Development 10 Jan 2025 usda, financial assistance, grant program, rural broadband, community development

🌐Community Connect Grant Program Opportunity for FY 2025

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Community Connect Grant (CCG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2025. This notice is being issued prior to passage of an FY 2025 appropriations act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare their applications and give the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $26 million will be available, for FY 2025. These grant funds will be made available to eligible applicants to construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.

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Financial Assistance, Regulatory Changes 8 Jan 2025 agriculture, usda, financial assistance, funding opportunities, specialty crops

🌾USDA Extends Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Applications

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is announcing changes to the available funding, payment limitation, and application deadline for Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC).

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Regulatory Compliance, Financial Impact 6 Jan 2025 agriculture, penalties, user fees, fgis, exports, conflict of interests, grain inspection, administrative practice and procedure, intergovernmental relations, freedom of information, grains, compliance, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, usda

📊USDA FGIS Final Rule on User Fee Regulations for Grain Services

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS or Service) is amending its user fee regulations to establish standardized formulas the agency will use to calculate hourly and unit fees. The changes allow FGIS to charge reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing official services and re-establish a 3-to 6-month operating reserve, as required by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This final rule also makes specified conforming changes and minor technical changes to correct two typographical errors.

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Grant Opportunities, Economic Development 6 Jan 2025 funding, tribal lands, rural development, transportation, grants, technical assistance, usda

🚀Notice of Funding for Rural Business Development Grants

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this notice to invite applications for grants to provide technical assistance for passenger Rural Transportation (RT) systems under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and the terms for such funding. Grant funds will provide technical assistance for RT systems including designated funds to provide technical assistance to RT systems operating within Tribal lands of Federally Recognized Native American Tribes (FRNAT) (collectively "Programs"). This notice is being issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within fiscal year (FY) 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $750,000 will be made available for FY 2025. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.

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Regulatory Updates, Food and Agriculture 6 Jan 2025 agriculture, nutrition, snap, food, regulations, usda

🚫USDA Withdraws Proposed SNAP Quality Control Rule for 2025

This document informs the public that FNS is withdrawing the proposed rule titled, "Provisions to Improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Quality Control System," that published in the Federal Register on September 19, 2023, and its correction on December 19, 2023. This rule proposed amendments to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to strengthen and improve the integrity and accuracy of the SNAP quality control (QC) system as requested by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

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Grant Opportunities, Financial Assistance, Economic Development 6 Jan 2025 distance learning, telemedicine, rural development, grants, financial assistance, usda

💰Funding Opportunity for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2025, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2025 Appropriations Act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $40 million will be available for FY 2025. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.

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