Search Results for keywords:"Agriculture Department"

The Department of Agriculture has asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review a requirement for collecting information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are inviting public comments by January 15, 2025, about whether this information collection is necessary and how it might be improved. The focus is on the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps rural businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy costs with grants and loans. Comments can be submitted online, and there are specific rules about how the collected information must display a valid OMB control number.

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 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 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 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 Agriculture Department and Food and Nutrition Service issued a correction to a previously published proposed rule concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control Review Handbook. The original document, dated January 3, 2025, erroneously listed the date "March 4, 2024" under the DATES section. This has been corrected to read "March 4, 2025". This change ensures that readers have the correct information regarding important dates in the proposed rule.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a correction to a final rule regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) program. This correction modifies specific sections of the rule to help meet the program's goal of helping participants acquire the skills necessary for employment. It addresses errors in the previously published document and clarifies requirements for E&T participants who have completed high school or an equivalent before joining the program. The amended rule will take effect on January 17, 2025.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding 33 new varieties of black stem rust-resistant barberry plants to the list of regulated articles. This change allows these plant varieties to be moved between states without restrictions, as they don't pose a risk of spreading the disease that affects crops like wheat and oats. The update follows the discovery that one variety, previously omitted, should be included as resistant to black stem rust, correcting earlier oversight. The announcement was published in the Federal Register, marking the official addition and correction of barberry plant classifications.

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 U.S. Codex Office is hosting a public meeting on February 5, 2025, to discuss and gather feedback on topics for the 22nd Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, which will occur in Mexico City from February 25 to March 1, 2025. Participants can register to attend the meeting virtually via video conference and are encouraged to submit comments. The meeting will cover issues like fresh fruit and vegetable standards, draft standards for specific produce, and other related business. Information and documents for the upcoming session will be available online, and the meeting offers an opportunity for the public to understand and comment on U.S. positions for the upcoming discussions.