Search Results for keywords:"Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018"

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided to withdraw a proposed rule aimed at improving the quality control system for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Initially published on September 19, 2023, this rule was designed to enhance SNAP's integrity and accuracy as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. FNS will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to explore new regulations and improve overall program oversight and state compliance. This withdrawal allows the FNS to consider additional strategies for enhancing SNAP's quality control efforts.

The Department of Agriculture will submit an information collection requirement to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act. This request is related to the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP), which aims to boost locally grown food quantities and quality in food-insecure communities. The program, funded by the Farm Bill, collects essential information from grant applicants, primarily from agricultural agencies or departments in various U.S. territories, to ensure compliance with program regulations. Responses are submitted voluntarily and have a total burden of about 318 hours.

The final rule permanently adopts changes to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) made by the interim rule published in January 2020. It responds to public comments and adjusts several program aspects, including clarifying definitions, addressing eligibility requirements for agricultural and wetland easements, and enhancing conservation and land management practices. The changes, based on the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, are intended to improve the program's efficiency, allowing for more flexible non-Federal cost-sharing and incorporating additional conservation planning. The rule emphasizes voluntary participation by landowners and seeks to enhance the conservation value of public investments.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Tribal Relations is hosting a virtual meeting for the Tribal Advisory Committee on February 18, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The committee, which is part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, advises the USDA on Tribal and Indian affairs. Public comments are invited and can be submitted until February 17, 2025, or shared during the meeting. Additional information and registration details can be found on the USDA's website.

The final rule published by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) modifies SNAP's Employment and Training (E&T) program following the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act. The rule aims to strengthen support systems for SNAP participants by introducing several changes: it replaces traditional job search activities with supervised job search, requires case management for all participants, adds apprenticeships and subsidized employment activities, and enforces a minimum period for job retention services. The rule also mandates more robust state accountability measures, including detailed participant notifications about their work requirements and better data collection on participant outcomes.

The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking proposals from eligible Tribal Organizations to participate in a demonstration project aimed at purchasing agricultural commodities for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This project is authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and will allow selected Tribal Organizations to enter self-determination contracts for food purchases. A total of $3 million is allocated for the project, with individual proposals not exceeding $1.5 million. Proposals should be submitted by March 15, 2021, and organizations will be selected based on various criteria, including their capacity to purchase and distribute locally grown foods.