Commodity Credit Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule revises the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program regulations to incorporate changes that conform the operation of the program to the requirements in the ``Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards'' (Uniform Guidance) and Federal grant-making best practices.

This rule revises the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program regulations to incorporate legislative changes introduced in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and to incorporate changes that conform the operation of the program to the requirements in the ``Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards'' (Uniform Guidance) and Federal grant-making best practices.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) made changes to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This interim rule makes conforming changes to EQIP policies and procedures in the regulations. NRCS has responsibility for administering EQIP using funding, facilities, and authorities of the CCC. EQIP helps agricultural producers conserve and enhance soil, water, air, plants, animals (including wildlife), energy, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, rangeland, pasture, wetlands, nonindustrial private forest land, and other agricultural land on which agricultural or forest- related products or livestock are produced and natural resource concerns may be addressed. Participation in the program is voluntary.

This interim rule with request for comment amends the existing regulation for CSP to incorporate programmatic changes as authorized by amendments in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is correcting a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 3, 2019, which revised the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Programs. That document inadvertently failed to include the relevant counties in Nebraska that have been established as having a history of double-cropping covered commodities or peanuts with fruits, vegetables, or wild rice and incorrectly listed the previous Regulation Identifier Number (RIN).

This rule establishes provisions for providing agricultural disaster assistance as authorized by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (Disaster Relief Act). The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered eligible crop, tree, bush, and vine losses resulting from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The On-Farm Storage Loss Program will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered uncompensated losses of harvested commodities stored in farm structures as a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) Milk Loss Program will provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, and wildfires that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and payment calculations for WHIP+, On-Farm Storage Loss Program, and WHIP Milk Loss Program. As required by the Disaster Relief Act, this rule also expands eligibility for 2017 WHIP to include losses incurred from Tropical Storm Cindy, losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017 due to extreme cold, and blueberry productivity losses in calendar year 2018 due to extreme cold and hurricane damage in calendar year 2017. This rule updates the regulations for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide assistance for eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers of pecan trees with a tree mortality rate that exceeds 7.5 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) and is less than 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) for losses incurred in calendar year 2018. Prevented planting supplemental disaster payments will provide support to producers who were prevented from planting eligible crops for the 2019 crop year due to excess precipitation, flood, storm surge, tornado, volcanic activity, tropical depressions, hurricanes, and cyclones in the 2019 calendar year. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations for prevented planting supplemental disaster payments.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the regulations governing the Food for Progress Program to include colleges and universities among the entities eligible for awards under the program, and to make other minor changes. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 added colleges and universities to the list of eligible entities in the Food for Progress Act of 1985. This amendment implements the statutory change to expand the types of entities that can receive awards under the program, and it makes other technical changes to update the regulations.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is revising the regulations to implement a Trade Mitigation Program (TMP) for producers of 2019 agricultural commodities that have been significantly impacted by trade actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of exports. As part of TMP, the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) regulation specifies the eligibility requirements, payment calculations, and application procedures. The details for specific commodities and the relevant application start dates will be announced in applicable notices of funds availability (NOFAs). As part of TMP, the Expanded Domestic Commodity Donation Program (EDCDP) regulation specifies disposition of surplus commodities through outlets not currently used in existing Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs, the application process, eligibility, and use of grants or cooperative agreements. The details for specific commodities and conditions will be announced in applicable notices of commodity availability (NOCAs). This rule adds new subparts to the TMP regulation to address the 2019 agricultural commodities.

This final rule implements the requirements of the dairy programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, as authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), replaces the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy) for dairy producers and retains much of the structure of MPP-Dairy. DMC is a margin-based support program for dairy producers that provides risk management coverage that will pay producers when the difference between the national price of milk and the national estimated cost of feed (the margin) falls below a certain level. The rule also extends the Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) through 2023 and amends the regulations to incorporate a specific period of time for which claims for the same loss will be eligible for indemnification under DIPP.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the CCC Facility Guarantee Program (FGP).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting applications for the 2020 Market Access Program (MAP). The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit proposals from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2020 and to set out the criteria for the awarding of funds under the program.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is announcing the availability of funding under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) for eligible certified organic producers and handlers. FSA is also announcing the opportunity for State Agencies to apply for grant agreements to administer the OCCSP program in fiscal year (FY) 2019. State Agencies that establish agreements for FY 2019 may be given the opportunity to extend their agreements and receive additional funds to administer the program in future years. Through this notice, FSA is providing the requirements for producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP payments, and for State Agencies to establish agreements to receive funds in order to provide cost share assistance to eligible producers and handlers.

This notice proposes to revise to the Privacy Act System of Records titled Farm Records File (Automated) USDA, which includes information for certain Farm Service Agency under (FSA) Farm Programs and certain Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) programs that are administered by FSA on behalf of CCC. The records include information about the majority of agricultural producers in the United States. In general, USDA is modifying the system of records to add three new routine uses and make updates to one routine use to comply with recent requirements.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request a revision from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a currently approved information collection process in support of the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program and the Market Access Program (MAP).

MFP provides payments to producers with commodities that have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports. This NOFA announces the new payment rates for selected commodities. On behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers MFP. MFP participants will receive an MFP payment, calculated based on the eligible production multiplied by the participant's share multiplied by the MFP payment rate.

MFP provides payments to producers with commodities that have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports. This NOFA announces the availability of MFP funds for eligible producers of shelled almonds and fresh sweet cherries and makes a correction to a previously issued NOFA published on August 30, 2018, with respect to MFP funds availability for hogs. On behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers MFP. MFP participants will receive an MFP payment, calculated based on the eligible production multiplied by the participant's share multiplied by the MFP payment rate.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing a new regulation to implement the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). MFP provides payments to producers with commodities that have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports. This rule specifies the eligibility requirements, payment calculations, and application procedures for MFP. The details for specific commodities and the relevant application start dates will be announced in subsequent notices of funds availability (NOFAs).

This rule revises the eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures, and payment calculation for ARC and PLC required to conform with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA). BBA amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) to add seed cotton as a covered commodity and remove generic base acres from ARC and PLC. This rule also amends provisions to include seed cotton yields, allocation of generic base acres, election of ARC-County Option (ARC-CO) or PLC for seed cotton base acres, and enrollment for 2018. This rule also makes some minor, clarifying changes to the administration section.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is announcing the availability of competitive grants to conduct a forest inventory analysis, forest management, and economic outcomes modelling, for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. The analysis is focused on lands enrolled in CRP for at least 8 years and located in areas with a substantial concentration of acres enrolled under the following conservation practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species: General tree planting, hardwood tree planting, vegetative cover on previously established tree stands, riparian buffers, bottomland timber establishments, and farmable and aquaculture wetlands. Qualified applicants must be non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry, and wildlife habitats that have experience in conducting accurate forest inventory analysis through the use of advanced, cost- effective technology, as determined by FSA.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to delegate functions, powers, and duties as the Secretary deems appropriate. This document amends the existing delegations of authority by adding and modifying certain delegations, as explained in the Supplementary Information section below. In addition, it repeals regulations governing meetings of the Commodity Credit Corporation Board of Directors.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2019 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit proposals from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019 and to set out the criteria for the awarding of funds under the program. Future announcements of funding availability for the QSP program will be made through the Grants.gov website.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2019 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) program. The Cooperator program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of CCC. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2019 and to set out criteria for the awarding of funds under the program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension with a revision of a currently approved information collection. The information collection is associated with assignment of payment, joint payment authorization, and request for a paper check (new). Certain services for FSA and the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are being merged to consolidate services. The information on the forms is used by FSA and NRCS employees in order to record the payment or contract being assigned, the amount of the assignment, the date of the assignment, and the name and address of the assignee and the assignor. This will enable FSA and NRCS employees to pay the proper party when payment becomes due. A new waiver request form to receive a paper check for program payments in lieu of electronic fund transfer is being added in the information collection request. In general, NRCS programs are exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on an extension and revision of a currently approved information collection that supports CCC and FSA loan programs. The information collection is necessary to gather data regarding the applicant which is required on a financing statement, and to obtain the applicant's permission to file a financing statement prior to the execution of a security agreement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has withdrawn support for the Farm-to-Fleet BPI Program, and is cancelling funding for the BPI payments to companies that are refining biofuel in the United States from certain domestically grown feedstocks converted to drop-in biofuel for delivery to supply biofuels to the Navy. USDA has reassessed how to best use limited available funds and has determined that the BPI is no longer a priority for CCC funding. The impact of this withdrawal is that suppliers of fuel containing a biofuel blend to the U.S. Navy are no longer eligible to receive a CCC incentive payment, through the Farm- to-Fleet BPI Program.