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The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA announced in a notice the types of foods that will be available through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for Fiscal Year 2021. The notice details both surplus foods, which include items like dairy, grains, meats, and fruits, and purchased foods, supported by various legislative acts and additional funding due to COVID-19 impacts. These foods are distributed to states for helping individuals in need, with allocations based on factors like poverty and unemployment rates. The availability of specific foods can change due to agricultural market conditions.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), part of the USDA, has announced a funding opportunity under the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program for 2024. This program will help lenders provide loans to entities looking to build or improve sawmills and wood processing facilities near priority U.S. Forest Service lands. Over $200 million will be available starting in 2025, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The goal is to support ecological restoration efforts by using byproducts from these projects and to advance rural economic opportunities, while prioritizing climate change mitigation and racial equity.

The United States Department of Agriculture announced the launch of the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, which provides financial support to specialty crop producers to help them expand or develop markets. Applications for this assistance will be accepted from December 10, 2024, to January 8, 2025. To qualify, producers must be actively engaged in farming specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and floriculture, among others. The program aims to boost domestic market growth and address the challenges specialty crop producers face due to high costs and lower cash receipts.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA announced the benefit levels for 2025 in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program. These benefits, unchanged from 2024, are adjusted annually based on the Thrifty Food Plan and include regional modifications for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories. For most areas, the monthly benefit remains at $40, while Alaska and Hawaii have higher amounts due to cost differences. These adjustments comply with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA has issued a final rule revising the fee structure for Section 8e import inspections of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products. Inspections will now be charged on a per-pound basis instead of a per-carlot basis, with a significant reduction in additional sublot fees by 50%. This change aims to better reflect the actual inspection costs and reduce financial impact on smaller shipments. The rule is expected to result in equal or lower fees for about 77% of the inspections conducted over recent years and is designed to avoid disproportionately burdening small businesses.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting feedback on the development of Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects. These projects, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, will allow Tribes and Tribal organizations to take on roles traditionally held by State agencies in administering school meal programs. The USDA is seeking input from Tribes, Tribal organizations, State agencies, and others on topics like eligibility criteria and the selection process for these pilot projects. Written comments are being accepted until March 24, 2025, to help shape the application process and evaluate potential challenges and support needs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public feedback on a draft policy statement regarding biosafety for outdoor large animal studies involving the bacteria Brucella abortus and Brucella suis. This policy aims to guide the development of biosafety plans that comply with regulations set by both the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for research on these bacteria, which pose a threat to human and animal health. The draft policy is available for review, and public comments can be submitted until March 16, 2021, through the provided methods. The policy's goal is to enhance safety protocols for studies on the diseases caused by these bacteria, which affect several animal species and can be transmitted to humans.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (RD) division is changing its funding opportunities to remove references to the previous Administration's key priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria. This update follows an Executive Order titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing," issued in January 2025. Programs affected by this change will no longer consider these previous criteria for application scoring. Additionally, the Rural Energy for America Program's funding notice is corrected to include $50 million from the 2018 Farm Bill that was previously omitted.

The Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order has been amended to increase the assessment rate from $0.35 to $0.41 per thousand board feet. This rule is administered by the Softwood Lumber Board under the oversight of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA. The additional funds will support ongoing and new initiatives to promote softwood lumber. This change follows the review of past expenditures and revenues and aims to support the lumber industry's growth, addressing both current challenges and new opportunities.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule through its Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to amend the USDA organic regulations with new standards for organic mushroom production and pet food handling. This rule clarifies standards such as the composition and sourcing of materials used in organic mushroom production and the use of synthetic nutrients like taurine in organic pet food. These amendments aim to resolve inconsistencies in existing regulations to promote fair competition and market growth for both organic mushrooms and pet food. The rule is effective February 21, 2025, with compliance required by February 22, 2027.