Search Results for agency_names:"Agriculture Department"

The Rural Housing Service of the USDA has issued a final rule to update smoke alarm requirements for housing funded through its Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing Direct Loan Programs. This rule aligns with the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which mandates that federally assisted housing units must have either hardwired smoke alarms or 10-year battery-powered alarms that are sealed and tamper-resistant, with additional notification systems for individuals with hearing loss. The changes aim to enhance safety in rural housing units by ensuring smoke alarms meet modern safety standards, and they apply from January 21, 2025. Feedback from the public was considered, but no changes were made to the final rule as a result.

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 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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service has approved a land management plan amendment for six national forests in Oregon and southeast Washington. This amendment focuses on replacing the previous 21-inch diameter tree standard with a new guideline highlighting the importance of preserving both old and large trees. The decision reflects input from a public comment period and results in no significant environmental impact. James Hubbard, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, signed the final decision, which is now effective immediately.

The Forest Service, part of the USDA, is asking for public input on the continuation of a form used to protect financial information, known as the Financial Information Security Request Form. They want to gather opinions on whether this form is necessary, accurate, and how the information collected can be made more useful and less burdensome to gather. Comments can be submitted in writing by April 12, 2021, and will become part of the public record. This form is mostly used by contractors who work with the Forest Service and need access to financial systems.

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 Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of an information collection requirement under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. They are asking for public comments by March 29, 2021, on whether the information is necessary and if the burden of collecting it can be minimized. This requirement involves the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, used by individuals who believe they have faced discrimination in a USDA program. The collected information helps the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights address such complaints, and respondents are typically USDA customers who report annually.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection focuses on monitoring antimicrobial use and resistance in U.S. broiler chicken production through the National Animal Health Monitoring System. The study, conducted with the University of Minnesota, aims to provide insights into how antimicrobial use and resistance affect animal health and production over time. Comments on this proposal are invited until January 15, 2025, and can be submitted online.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) of the USDA issued a correction to a rule published on January 3, 2025, related to amendments in the Single Family Housing Direct Loan and Guaranteed Loan Programs. Originally set to become effective on March 4, 2025, the rule's effective date has been delayed to May 5, 2025. This correction was published in the Federal Register and involves updates to improve and clarify the existing housing loan programs.