Department of Agriculture July 30, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the July 9, 2008, Federal Register notice (73 FR 39278), which was published in error, announcing the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Today's notice announces the availability of approximately $10 million in grant funds, less USDA administrative costs, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The funds announced under this program (SCBGP-FB) are separate from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds announced by AMS on March 5, 2008. SCBGP-FB funds are authorized by the recently enacted Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill). The application process to apply for the SCBGP-FB funds will parallel those currently found in 7 CFR Part 1290. Regulations to implement the amendments made in the 2008 Farm Bill will be published in the near future. State departments of agriculture are encouraged to develop their grant applications promptly. The 2008 Farm Bill makes the SCBGP-FB funds available only through the end of this fiscal year (September 30, 2008). This necessitates a short application period. State departments of agriculture interested in obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply. State departments of agriculture are encouraged to involve industry groups, academia, and community- based organizations in the development of applications and the administration of projects.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with health certificates for the export of live crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and related products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of clementines from Spain.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces three stakeholder listening sessions of the Specialty Crop Committee, under the auspices of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

This document invites comments on a proposed amendment to the Dairy Promotion and Research Order (Dairy Order). The proposal would modify the composition of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (Dairy Board) by changing the number of member seats in six of the 13 geographic regions. This modification was requested by the Dairy Board, which administers the Dairy Order, to better reflect the geographic distribution of milk production in the 48 contiguous States. The Department will issue a final rule once public comments have been received and considered.