Administering the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 07/26/2021.

This final rule removes the regulations pertaining to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The regulations, which were established in 2006 as a matter of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, are duplicative of and in conflict with the recent revisions to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Federal Financial...

Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order; Change in Membership, Nomination Procedures and Term of Office

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 07/22/2021.

This proposal invites comments on changes in membership of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (Council) under the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order), by removing the first-handler member and alternate position and adding two exporter member and alternate positions. Conforming changes would be made to the nomination...

Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance Referendum

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 07/16/2021.

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's regulations regarding a national highbush blueberry research and promotion program.

Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California; Increased Assessment Rate

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 07/15/2021.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2021 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Continuance Referendum; Reopening of Voting Period

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 07/06/2021.

This document reopens the voting period for the referendum being conducted among eligible growers of pecans grown in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas to determine whether they favor continuance of the...

United States Standards for Beans

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/28/2021.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the method of interpretation for the determination of ``sample grade criteria'' in the Bean Inspection Handbook, pertaining to the class...

Tomatoes Grown in Florida; Reapportionment of Membership

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/28/2021.

This proposed rule would adjust the number of member seats apportioned to each district represented on the Florida Tomato Committee (Committee). The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking this action based on an amendatory change to the marketing order for tomatoes grown in Florida, which reduced the size of the Committee from 12 members to...

Opportunity for Designation in the West Lafayette, Indiana Area; Request for Comments on the Official Agency Servicing This Area

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/28/2021.

The designation of the official agency listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below will end on the prescribed date. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the area presently served by this agency to submit an application for designation. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) encourages...

National Organic Program: Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances per April 2019 NOSB Recommendations (Livestock and Handling)

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/25/2021.

This rule amends the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule adds the following allowed substances to...

Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order; Removal of Frozen Mangos

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/25/2021.

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule with minor changes, an interim final rule that amends the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order) by removing the provisions of frozen mangos as a covered commodity. The Order is administered by the National Mango Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S....

Request for Peanut Standards Board Nominations

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/25/2021.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) requires the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking...

Solicitation of Nominations for Members of the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/25/2021.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee meets no less than once annually to advise AMS on the programs and services it delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards Act...

Walnuts Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/23/2021.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2020-21 and subsequent marketing years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

United States Standards for Split Peas

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/15/2021.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the method of interpretation for the determination of whole peas in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook pertaining to the class...

United States Standards for Lentils

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/15/2021.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the method of interpretation for the determination of the special grade ``Green'' in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook pertaining...

Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board; Meeting

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 06/03/2021.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises the...

Meat and Poultry Interstate Shipment and Inspection Readiness Program; Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 05/28/2021.

Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 05/25/2021.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing our intention to request a 3-year extension and revision of a currently approved information collection for ``Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver for High Quality Specialty Grain Transported in Containers''.

Meat and Poultry Interstate Shipment and Inspection Readiness Program; Request for Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 05/19/2021.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection to administer the Meat and Poultry Interstate Shipment and Inspection...

Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products

by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 05/17/2021.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is providing an additional 30 days for public comments on the Notice on Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products published on April 21, 2021. During the first two weeks of the comment period, AMS received requests from stakeholders and organizations for additional...