Department of Agriculture March 5, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) published a notice in the Federal Register on December 21, 2020 inviting applications for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Subsequently, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which provides $35 million in COVID-19 relief funds, was enacted. Accordingly, a total of $76 million in program funding is available. The agency is extending the application deadline, increasing available total funding for the program; allowing for application submission through email; eliminating the awarding of points for the Level of Commitment category specified in Section 1(c) of the original notice, and allowing for a reduced cost share match of 10 percent of the grant amount for the $35 million in COVID-19 relief funds. You should review this notice in its entirety for more specific information on changes that have been made to the original notice.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2020-21 and subsequent marketing years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the control of chronic wasting disease in farmed and captive cervid herds.