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The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has issued a rule to postpone the effective date of changes to the organic standards for mushrooms and pet food. Initially set to take effect on December 23, 2024, the new regulations will now be effective from March 21, 2025, with compliance required by March 22, 2027. This delay follows a presidential directive for a regulatory review, addressing aspects like mushroom growing materials and the use of certain synthetic substances in organic pet food. The decision is immediate to allow more time for review and was made without public comment, as it was considered impractical and against public interest to delay this process until after additional comments.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on an information collection requirement related to rules and reporting for the livestock and poultry industries, as mandated by the Packers and Stockyards Act. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) collects this data to monitor practices in these industries and ensure fairness, preventing deceptive or anti-competitive actions. Public comments are invited until March 26, 2021, and interested individuals can submit feedback on the federal website indicated. The collection involves significant recordkeeping and affects businesses, with over 15,000 respondents expected to comply.

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has extended the comment period for proposed changes to the United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry. Initially announced on January 16, 2025, and set to end on March 17, 2025, the period now extends until May 16, 2025. This extension comes after receiving a request from a U.S. trade association advocating for the poultry industry, suggesting that more time is needed to gather feedback on the revisions that aim to align with industry advancements and consumer preferences.

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 Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The focus is on the Agricultural Marketing Service, which oversees standards for grains and other commodities. These requirements involve recordkeeping and reporting to ensure quality control and proper marketing, with associated burdens and procedures outlined for various stakeholders. Comments on these proposals are invited and should be submitted by April 21, 2025, to enhance quality and reduce unnecessary burdens.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule aiming to make payments to poultry growers fairer. This rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act prohibits certain unfair practices used by live poultry dealers, especially in the competitive systems that determine how much growers are paid. It also requires dealers to provide more information to growers before asking them to invest in expensive farm updates, helping to reduce confusion and unfair advantage. Overall, the rule strengthens transparency, fairness, and accountability in the industry.

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 Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has delayed the effective date of a rule regarding plant records for the Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. Originally set for January 16, 2025, the rule's new effective date is March 21, 2025. This rule allows butterfat tests to be conducted at either in-house or third-party labs and requires records to be available for USDA inspector review. The delay is part of a regulatory review to ensure compliance with a recent presidential memorandum.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is asking for public comments about updating the Poultry Standards, which help classify poultry based on quality. These standards were last significantly revised in 1998 and need to be modernized to include new technology and consumer preferences. AMS wants feedback on how to make these standards more relevant for current technologies, industry practices, and the needs of consumers, companies, and smaller poultry operations. The public can submit comments electronically or by mail by March 17, 2025.