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The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its plans regarding directives within its Directive System, which includes manuals and handbooks. The agency invites public comments on new standards and guidelines applicable to its programs, although no directives were published for comment from January 1 to March 31, 2025. Additionally, there are no new proposed directives scheduled for public comment in the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. The notice also mentions that some final directives on forest monitoring and landscape restoration have already been issued in previous quarters.

The Department of Agriculture's Office of Property and Environmental Management plans to extend an existing information collection related to managing excess computers and technical equipment, as authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. They are seeking public comments on the necessity and effectiveness of this information collection process to ensure it serves its purpose and minimizes respondent burden. Public responses will be summarized and considered for OMB approval. Comments should be submitted within 60 days of the notice's publication to be considered.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has added Nicaragua to its list of regions affected by screwworm, a pest that can harm animals. This action was taken after screwworm was confirmed in Nicaragua in March 2024. As a result, animals such as horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs coming from Nicaragua must comply with specific import restrictions to prevent the pest from entering the United States. These measures include inspection and treatment requirements detailed in federal regulations.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation published a correcting amendment to a rule that changes certain insurance provisions for crops like sunflower seed and dry pea. Originally, the amendments were published on November 30, 2020, but some changes were not properly included in the official regulations. This document fixes those errors by correcting dates, removing a repetitive word, and updating phrases within the insurance provisions. The changes to the regulation are effective starting February 24, 2021.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture has issued a final rule confirming fee changes for official grain inspection and weighing services provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Originally set in an interim rule from June 2024, these fee revisions came into effect in July 2024 and have been finalized without changes. The fees aim to cover costs for mandatory services under the United States Grain Standards Act, which requires annual fee adjustments and maintaining a financial reserve. Despite acknowledging comments on the potential impact of these fees on grain marketing, AMS noted that the changes are necessary for the continued operation of inspection services, ultimately benefiting all participants by reflecting current service costs.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA is reopening the comment period for an interim rule regarding the payment of indemnity for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Originally, comments were to be submitted by March 3, 2025, but the new deadline is April 14, 2025. This extension allows more time for the public to review and provide feedback. People can submit comments online or via mail and can also view the supporting documents at Regulations.gov or in person at the USDA reading room in Washington, DC.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the USDA has reopened the comment period for changes to the mycotoxin test kit criteria. This extension is announced to ensure that interested individuals have sufficient time to review and comment on these proposed changes, with comments now due by March 24, 2021. This decision follows a request from four stakeholders to allow more time for feedback after the initial comment period ended on January 19, 2021. Participants are encouraged to submit their comments via the Federal e-rulemaking portal, with all submissions becoming public on the internet.

The Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order was established to help boost the pecan industry in the United States. It introduces a system to collect assessments from producers and importers to fund marketing campaigns and research aimed at increasing demand for pecans. The rule sets up a governing Board to oversee these activities and requires a referendum after three years to decide on the continuation of the order. While most of the industry supports this program, there are concerns about the financial burden on producers due to existing marketing orders.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing a rule to incorporate the FNS Handbook 310, a manual for conducting quality control reviews of SNAP cases, into SNAP regulations. This incorporation ensures public notice and comment before implementing any revisions to the handbook. The rule also seeks to remove references to another manual, the FNS Handbook 311, until it can be officially incorporated later. The Department is inviting public feedback on these changes until March 4, 2024.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA is reopening the comment period for a proposed rule regarding the US Swine Health Improvement Plan. This program aims to enhance biosecurity, traceability, and disease monitoring in swine health. The comment period will now extend until March 31, 2025, giving people more time to share their thoughts on the proposal. Individuals can submit their comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by postal mail.