Search Results for keywords:"2018 Farm Bill"

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Tribal Relations announced a public, hybrid meeting of the Tribal Advisory Committee. This meeting will take place on December 10th-11th, 2024, at the Palm's Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, with virtual options available. The Committee, established under the 2018 Farm Bill, advises the USDA on Tribal and Indian affairs. The public can register online to attend or provide comments, with written comments due by December 5th, 2024.

The Department of Agriculture has finalized a rule superseding the interim rule to establish the Domestic Hemp Production Program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule outlines regulations for State and Tribal plans and a Federal plan for hemp production where State or Tribal plans are not USDA-approved. The program details requirements for record-keeping, THC level testing, disposal of non-compliant plants, producer licensing, and overall compliance. The rule also specifies procedures for land use data collection and cooperation with law enforcement and other agricultural agencies.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is seeking approval to conduct a new information collection to gather data on hemp production. This initiative is in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and will help inform programs under the 2018 Farm Bill. The survey will target up to 20,000 farmers and ranchers, with an estimated burden of 15 minutes per response. Public comments on this proposed data collection must be submitted by April 26, 2021, to ensure consideration.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is implementing changes to the Biobased Markets Program, also known as the BioPreferred Program, following updates from the 2018 Farm Bill. The updated rule merges two previous sets of guidelines into one, streamlining the regulatory process for designating and labeling biobased products that qualify for federal procurement preferences. This final rule aims to make it easier for these products to qualify for federal use and merges federal guidelines for procurement and labeling into a single, simplified regulation effective January 8, 2025.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has re-authorized the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) priority through the 2018 Farm Bill. For FY 2021, the agency is reserving funds from certain development programs to prioritize projects that support multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. Applicants for these funds need to submit specific forms and meet eligibility requirements, with an emphasis on projects in rural areas. The notice also encourages projects that improve life in rural America, including areas designated as Opportunity Zones and efforts to combat substance use disorders.

The final rule, published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) within the Department of Agriculture, solidifies the interim rule from February 13, 2020, which was brought about by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule involves changes to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), making the provisions of the interim rule permanent and addressing public comments received. It involves various amendments concerning partnerships, funding, land eligibility, and program expectations aimed at enhancing conservation efforts across agricultural and forest lands. The rule also aims to ensure effective participation and support for historically underserved producers and guarantees that conservation projects are efficiently implemented and monitored.