Department of Agriculture April 25, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $3 million in competitive grant funds for the FY 2012 SSDPG program. See the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (2012 Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 112-55). We request proposals from applicants that will provide technical assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers in rural areas. Eligible applicants include Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers. The maximum award per grant is $175,000.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for the 1890 Land Grant Institutions Rural Entrepreneurial Outreach and Development Initiative Program.

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) must decide whether or not to consent to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) modifying the Federal Coal Leases COC-1362 and COC- 67232 by adding 800 and 922 acres, respectively, to them. If the GMUG does consent to lease, it will prescribe conditions (as stipulations) for the protection of non-mineral resources

This rule invites comments on proposed revisions to the primary inventory reserve capacity and the exemption provisions applicable to handler diversion activities prescribed under the marketing order for tart cherries (order). The order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin, and is administered locally by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board). This action would increase the volume of tart cherries that can be placed in the primary inventory reserve from 50 million pounds to 100 million pounds and would revise exemption provisions by limiting diversion credits for new market development and market expansion activities to one year. These changes are intended to facilitate sales and lessen the impact of market expansion activities on volume restriction calculations.