REGULATORY:
Notice of availability: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; We are advising the public that proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program Standards are available for review and comment. Info HERE
Notice and request for comments: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA; 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 conduct a new survey. The Irrigation Organizations Survey will be conducted in early 2020 referencing 2019 as the target year. A similar survey was last conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1978. The new survey supports the call for Federal research and data on drought resiliency under the National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) initiative, providing valuable input to Federal agencies and other stakeholders involved in resource assessment, conservation, and analysis. This survey will be conducted through a cooperative agreement between the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the Economic Research Service (ERS). Info HERE
Proposed rule: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA; This proposal invites comments on changing the membership and nomination procedures of the Paper and Packaging Board (Board). The Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order) is administered by the Board with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This proposal would also make administrative changes to other provisions of the Order. Info HERE
Proposed rule: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA; The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to remove lists of foreign countries eligible to export meat, poultry, and egg products to the United States from its regulations and, instead, utilize lists posted on FSIS’ website. A reference to the web address would be included in FSIS’ regulations. This change would allow FSIS to more efficiently provide the public with more accurate and up-to-date information. The criteria FSIS uses to evaluate whether a foreign country is eligible to export meat, poultry, or egg products would remain in the regulations and would not change. FSIS would continue to provide an opportunity for public comment when proposing to list new countries as eligible to export these products to the United States. Info HERE
Notice; amendment to Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications and program updates; Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and solicitation of applications in the Federal Registeron Friday, December 14, 2018, announcing its general policy and application procedures for funding under the broadband pilot program (ReConnect) established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 which provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Since the publication of the FOA, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 (2019 Appropriations Act) became law on February 15, 2019. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of changes made to the ReConnect Program, specifically the updated service area eligibility policies, pursuant to the 2019 Appropriations Act, and other program updates. Info HERE
Final rule: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of fenazaquin in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. Gowan Company, LLC, requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Info HERE
LEGISLATION:
H.R. 2141: To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention. Info HERE