A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions to: camarigg at uark.edu
ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us next Wednesday, September 21, at 12 noon (ET) for a free webinar: CRISPR: A Biotechnology Breakthrough and an Inventorship Quandary. Details and sign-in information here.
LEGISLATIVE:
S. 2848: Water Resources Development Act of 2016. Bill Passed 95/3.
S. 3316: A bill to maximize land management efficiencies, promote land conservation, generate education funding, and for other purposes. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the Senate. The bill’s text is available here. Sponsor: Sen. Martin Heinrich [D-NM].
S. 3319: A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to appoint a harmful algal bloom coordinator. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works which will consider it before sending it to the Senate. Sponsor: Sen. Sherrod Brown [D-OH].
H.R. 2494: Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016. This bill’s text for status passed the Senate with an Amendment (Sep 15, 2016).
H.R. 6004: MGT Act. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which will consider it before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Will Hurd [R-TX23].
H.R. 6022: To authorize a pilot project for an innovative water project financing program, and for other purposes. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Denham [R-CA10].
H.R. 6029: To require State and local government approval of prescribed burns on Federal land during conditions of drought or fire danger. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Kristi Noem [R-SD0].
H.R. 6031: To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to allow the District of Columbia to receive Federal funding under such Act, and for other purposes. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources which will consider it before sending it to the House. Sponsor: Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC0].
MEETING: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Meeting. Hearings to examine the Department of Agriculture and the current state of the farm economy. September 21 at 10:00 a.m. Location: SR-328A.
MEETING: Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Hearings to examine prioritizing public health, focusing on the Food and Drug Administration’s role in the generic drug marketplace. September 21 at 2:30 p.m. Location: SD-192.
MEETING: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. An oversight hearing to examine the proposed revisions to the Fish and Wildlife Service mitigation policy. September 21 at 2:30 p.m. Location: SD-406.
MEETING: House Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. Rehabilitation of the Chesapeake Bay: Healing the Bay the Voluntary Way. September 22 at 10 a.m. Location: LHOB 1300.
REGULATORY: Includes AMS, APHIS, ERS, FDA, NOAA, and RHS rules and notices.
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE:
Rule This rule implements a recommendation from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios for a decrease in the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent production years from $0.0035 to $0.0010 per pound of assessed weight pistachios handled under the marketing order. Info here.
Rule implements recommendations from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board to add inventory release procedures and revise optimum supply provisions under the marketing order for tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Info here.
Rule AMS will amend the Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs to clarify the definition of “condition” and revise the prerequisite requirement for shell eggs eligible for voluntary USDA grading and certification. Info here.
Rule implementing a recommendation from the California Walnut Board to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0379 to $0.0465 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. Details here.
Rule invites comments on a recommendation by the Raisin Administrative Committee to the remove the term “midget” from the minimum grade standards of the California raisin marketing order. Info here.
Rule invites public comments on a proposed amendment to Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. Details here.
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE:
Notice advising public that APHIS made changes to the areas in the State of Idaho quarantined to prevent the spread of pale cyst nematode. Info here.
Notice advising public APHIS has determined it is warranted to amend cold treatment schedule T107-d-3 in the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual to extend the applicability of the treatment to grapefruit from Australia. Details here.
ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE: Notice ERS invites comment on a proposed new information collection for a study of “Risk Preferences and Demand for Crop Insurance and Cover Crop Programs.” Info here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:
Rule establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of ammonium persulfate when used as a preservative in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw agricultural commodities at a concentration not to exceed 0.05% by weight. Info here.
Rule establishing temporary exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Aspergillus flavus strains TC16F, TC35C, TC38B, and TC46G in food and feed commodities of corn, field; corn, pop; and corn, sweet when used in accordance with the terms of Experimental Use Permit No. 91163-EUP-1. Details here.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION: Notice FDA announces a third public meeting to discuss menu labeling requirements. Info here.
FOREST SERVICE: Notice FS will prepare a SEIS for the Johnson Bar Fire Salvage Project on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Moose Creek Ranger District, Idaho. Details here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:
Rule NMFS is exchanging allocations of Amendment 80 cooperative quota for Amendment 80 acceptable biological catch reserves. Info here.
Notice the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Reef Fish Advisory Panel. Details here.
Notice the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council and its Committees. Info here.
Notice the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. Info here.
Notice the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 124th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting, Fishing Industry Advisory Committee and its 168th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. Details here.
RURAL HOUSING SERVICE: Notice USDA has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Title: 7 CFR 1956-C, Debt Settlement—Community and Business Programs. Details here.