🌾USDA Designation Award Notice for Grain Inspection Agencies
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the designations of Keokuk Grain Inspection Service and Ohio Valley Grain Inspection to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) in the geographic areas listed in Table 1, below.
Learn More🥦USDA Notice on Nutrition Education Message Development
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. The purpose of performing consumer research is to identify consumers' understanding of proposed nutrition education messages and obtain their reaction to prototypes of nutrition education products, including internet-based tools. The information collected will be used to refine messages and improve the usefulness of products as well as aid consumer understanding of Dietary Guidelines-grounded messages and related materials.
Learn More🌱Upcoming Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee Meetings by USDA
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold three public meetings for the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC). UAIPAC will discuss proposed recommendations for the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach for urban, indoor, and other emerging agriculture production practices. UAIPAC is authorized under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), as amended, and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended.
Learn More🏗️Notice on Seismic Safety Requirements for New Building Construction
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its' intention to request an extension of a currently approved information collection and invites comments on this information collection.
Learn More📄USDA Seeks Comments on Information Collection for Loan Program
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS) invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Learn More🌿Domestic Quarantine Changes and Business Compliance Implications
We are advising the public of the changes made to our lists of domestic quarantined areas in 2024. These changes may be viewed on the relevant plant pest programs' websites.
Learn More🌶️Public Meeting Notice for Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs
The U.S Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on September 11, 2025. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items to be discussed at the 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH8) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). CCSCH8 will be held in Guwahati, Assam, India, from October 13-17, 2025. The U.S. Manager for Codex Alimentarius and the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs recognize the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 8th Session of the CCSCH and to address items on the agenda.
Learn More🌾Designation Opportunities Under the US Grain Standards Act
The United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designations for seven official agencies, Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments, Inc. (Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection), Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection), Enid Grain Inspection Company, Inc. (Enid Grain Inspection), Fremont Grain Inspection Department, Inc. (Fremont Grain Inspection), Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Omaha Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Omaha Grain Inspection), will end on the dates listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting designation applications from private entities or state governmental agencies that would like to provide official inspection and weighing services for the areas presently served by these seven agencies. In addition to this request for applications, AMS seeks comments on the quality of services provided by the official agencies mentioned above.
Learn More🐖Proposed Changes to Swine Slaughter Inspection Regulations
FSIS is proposing to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS). Mandibular lymph nodes ("lymph nodes") incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is proposing to amend the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to "incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera" as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post-mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also proposing to amend the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change would allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
Learn More⚖️Notice of Intent to Terminate Agricultural Marketing Service Scale Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to terminate the master scale testing program effective September 30, 2025. Significantly reduced customer usage has led to insufficient collection of user fees that are required to cover program costs. AMS seeks public comment on this service termination from affected parties.
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