Department of Agriculture September 23, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is proposing to amend the Farm Loan Programs (FLP) loan making regulations to implement four provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The first proposed amendment renames, expands, and makes the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Pilot Program permanent. The next two proposed amendments change the farm experience requirements in the regulations for direct Farm Operating Loans (OL) and direct Farm Ownership Loans (FO). The fourth proposed amendment makes some equine farmers and certain equine losses eligible for Emergency Loans (EM).

We are proposing a change related to our proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2009, that would amend the regulations to provide for the importation of wooden handicrafts from China under certain conditions. One of those conditions would have required that, unless the handicrafts are under 6 inches in diameter and treated with methyl bromide, they must be treated with heat treatment or heat treatment with moisture reduction that raises the temperature at the center of the handicraft to at least 71.1 [deg]C and maintains the handicraft at that center temperature for at least 75 minutes. Based on a recently published article, in this supplemental proposed rule we are proposing measures that would modify this requirement to a temperature at the center of at least 60 [deg]C for a duration of at least 60 minutes.

The National Urban and Community Foresty Advisory Council, (NUCFAC), is charged, by law, to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on urban forestry related issues and opportunities. Part of the Council's role is to recommend the criteria for the Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry, (U&CF) Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. The NUCFAC has revised the criteria for the Forest Service's U&CF Challenge Cost Share Grant Program for 2011. The 2011 U&CF Challenge Cost Share Grant Program will solicit innovative grant proposals. A total anticipated amount of $855,000 would be available in 2011 for Innovation Grants.