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The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposed a rule affecting spearmint oil production in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah. For the 2024-2025 marketing year, which started on June 1, 2024, they plan to increase the allowable quantity of Native spearmint oil that can be sold from 678,980 pounds to 731,220 pounds, and to raise the allotment percentage from 26 percent to 28 percent. This change is intended to better match supply with estimated demand and maintain market stability. The public has until December 19, 2024, to comment on this proposed adjustment.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced changes to the funding and payment limits for the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC). The application deadline is extended to January 10, 2025, and the amount of available funding is increased by $650 million, bringing the total to $2.65 billion. Additionally, the payment limit has been raised from $125,000 to $900,000 per person or legal entity, in response to feedback about the high costs of marketing specialty crops. These adjustments are meant to better support specialty crop producers in marketing their products effectively.

The Lassen County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), under the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, will have public meetings on several dates in April 2025. These meetings will discuss funding and project proposals related to Lassen National Forest, as well as recreation fee suggestions. Participants can attend both in-person and virtually, but they must pre-register if they wish to make oral comments. For further details or to make accommodations for disabilities, contact the designated officials provided in the notice.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reopened the comment period for their draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) concerning the response to highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry. This EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of three different action plans. The public now has until January 17, 2025, to submit their comments. This extension provides additional time for interested individuals to review and contribute their feedback.

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 Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review a new information collection requirement. This collection is related to data security for accessing confidential data through a process established by the Evidence Act, called the Standard Application Process (SAP). The SAP permits various entities to apply for access to sensitive data for research purposes. The goal is to ensure that applicants understand the strict security and confidentiality rules they must follow when handling this data. Public comments on this initiative are invited until February 12, 2025.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the USDA issued a correction to their Farm Loan Programs Debt Settlement regulations. This amendment removes an incorrect word in the regulations that were previously updated on June 17, 2020. Specifically, the word “or” at the end of a sentence in 7 CFR 761.403(c)(3) is removed, and the sentence is corrected to end with a period. These changes are effective as of February 22, 2021.

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 Department of Agriculture has submitted a request for review of its information collection requirements related to two loan programs: the Community Facility Loans and the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. These programs provide financial assistance to develop rural communities by financing facilities and housing projects. The collected information helps the agency assess eligibility and ensure funds are used properly. Public comments on this request are being accepted until January 21, 2025.

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.