Department of Agriculture 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amends the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Small Grains Crop Insurance Provisions and Malting Barley Price and Quality Endorsement. For the Small Grains Crop Insurance Provisions, the intended effect of this action is to allow enterprise units by type for wheat, to clarify policy provisions for consistency with other crop provisions that offer coverage on both winter and spring-planted acreage of the crop. For the Malting Barley Price and Quality Endorsement, the intended effect is to remove and reserve this section. The changes will be effective for the 2022 and succeeding crop years.

In accordance with Section 3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the USDA, Forest Service, Washington Office, is transmitting the final boundary to Congress for the Snake River Headwaters National Wild and Scenic River segments administered by the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a revision of a currently approved paperwork package associated with the Acreage and Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI).

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is removing from the Federal meat inspection regulations a requirement for the defibrination of livestock blood saved as an edible product. Defibrination is the process for removing the protein fibrin, which causes blood to clot. Removal of the defibrination requirement will not affect food safety, but it will allow the industry to meet a demand for non-defibrinated blood products.

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting input from the public on how it can advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities as part of its implementation of Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. USDA is requesting input to identify barriers that people of color and underserved communities and individuals may face in obtaining information from USDA. This includes accessing, enrolling, and participating in USDA programs and services, and engaging with USDA staff. USDA seeks to identify opportunities in current USDA policies, regulations, and guidance to address systemic inequities. USDA requests input on how to best engage external stakeholders and community members representing marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved communities in order to increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees and decision- making processes. In the months ahead, USDA will establish a Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission will focus specifically on addressing systemic impediments to equity in USDA programs. USDA is asking for comments on any and all interactions with USDA programs. All comments will be aggregated, summarized, and shared with USDA Leadership and the Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission may choose to seek additional input to meet its goals and objectives. USDA will continue to reach out to stakeholders and community members for the purposes of Executive Order 13985 and to fulfill its mission.

This notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2021 applications for the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program. The program funding level for FY 2021 is a total of $10 million. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to support job accelerator partnerships that improve the ability of distressed rural and energy communities to create high wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and maximize local assets.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the method of interpretation for the determination of the special grade ``Green'' in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook pertaining to the class ``Lentils,'' in the U.S. Standards for Lentils. Stakeholders in the lentil processing/handling industry requested that AMS amend the interpretation of the special grade ``Green'' in the Lentil inspection instructions by redefining the definition and including criteria for the inclusion of mottled lentils.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request the reinstatement of an information collection to conduct the National Animal Health Monitoring System Bison 2022 Study.

This Notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2021 applications for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. The program funding level for FY 2021 is a total of $5.8 million. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. Eligible applicants are non-profit corporations and institutions of higher education.

The Trinity County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet virtually via Microsoft Teams. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. RAC information can be found at the following website: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/stnf/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) intention to request a revision of a currently approved information collection package and invites comments.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a virtual meeting. The committee is authorized under Title IV of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) on the selection of collaborative forest landscape restoration proposals as provided in section 8629 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Committee information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/ CFLRP/advisory-panel.shtml.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), proposes to amend the current regulation for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) to update the requirements for Federally supervised lenders, minimum net worth and experience for non-supervised lenders, approved lender participation requirements, treatment of applicants with delinquent child support payments and builder credit requirements. These changes would promote an efficient and robust management and oversight structure of lenders in the SFHGLP, strengthen underwriting practices by denying loan guarantees for applicants who are subject to administrative offset to collect delinquent child support payments and streamline requirements for screening builder-contractors by lenders.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of a currently approved information collection, Community Forest and Open Space Program.

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 Emergency Management Response System.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service is proposing to issue a proposed directive to revise direction on workforce partnerships authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act as amended by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019. Directive revisions expand guidance regarding partnerships with non-profits, Tribes, universities and other organizations that offer community and national service, work experience and training to youth, young adults and veterans and help the Forest Service accomplish critical work; improve procedures and requirements to enroll young adults and veterans in work programs and on Forest Service units, using partnership agreements authorized by the Public Lands Corps and Resource Assistants Program statute; and, clarifies guidance about how young adults and others enrolled working with the Forest Service under these authorities can become eligible for special hiring pathways to Forest Service jobs.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Upper Price River Watershed Project within the Upper Price River Watershed in Carbon County, Utah. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS from all interested individuals. The EIS process will examine existing flood control measures and evaluate additional (new) alternatives identified during scoping.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) to request a renewal of a currently approved information collection. OASCR will use the information collected to collect the race, ethnicity, and gender (REG) of all program applicants and participants by county and State.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a Rural Development agency (Agency) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that it is soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. This action is taken to comply with Agency regulations which requires the Agency to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of pre-applications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. The Agency will publish the amount of funding on its website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ housing-preservation-grants. Expenses incurred in developing pre- applications will be at the applicant's risk.

This notice lists the newspapers that will be used by all Ranger Districts, Grasslands, Forests, and the Regional Office of the Southwestern Region to publish legal notices. The intended effect of this action is to inform interested members of the public which newspapers the Forest Service will use to publish notices of proposed actions, notices of decision, and notices of opportunity to file an objection. This will provide the public with constructive notice of Forest Service proposals and decisions, provide information on the procedures to comment or object, and establish the date that the Forest Service will use to determine if comments or objections were timely.