Department of Agriculture 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that it is soliciting competitive pre-applications for Section 514 Off-Farm Labor Housing (Off-FLH) loans and Section 516 Off-FLH grants for the construction of new Off-FLH units for domestic farm laborers, retired domestic farm laborers, or disabled domestic farm laborers. The program objective is to increase the supply of affordable housing for farm laborers. This Notice describes the method used to distribute funds, the pre-application and final application process, and submission requirements.

The Ketchikan Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting. 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.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a public teleconference of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (ACMF) will be held to discuss USDA outreach, technical assistance, and capacity building for and with minority farmers; the implementation of the Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmer and Rancher Grant Program (2501 Program); and methods of maximizing the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and to plan mechanisms for best providing advice to the Secretary on the issues outlined above.

This notice lists all newspapers that will be used by the Ranger Districts, Grasslands, Forests and the Regional Office of the Southern Region to publish notices required under 36 CFR parts 218 and 219. The intended effect of this action is to inform members of the public which newspapers will be used by the Forest Service to publish legal notices regarding proposed actions, notices of decisions and notices indicating opportunities to file objections.

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 to prevent the introduction of gypsy moth from Canada into noninfested areas of the United States.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) provides assistance to agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Secretary of Agriculture implemented CFAP through two rounds of payments (CFAP 1 and CFAP 2). This rule amends the CFAP 1 provisions to provide additional assistance for swine producers who previously applied for assistance during the CFAP 1 application period. This rule also amends the CFAP 2 provisions to provide assistance for certain swine and poultry contract producers, clarify eligible sales-based commodities, add additional commodities that are eligible for payment, change the payment calculation for sales-based commodities, and change the yield used to calculate payment for price-trigger crops for certain applicants. The change to the payment calculation for sales-based commodities is being made to implement a change required by the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Other changes to CFAP in this rule are discretionary changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP and the need to provide additional assistance.

We are advising the public of our determination that the cotton event designated as MON 88702, which has been genetically engineered for resistance to certain insects, primarily Lygus spp., is no longer considered regulated under our regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms. Our determination is based on evaluation of information Monsanto Company submitted in its petition for a determination of nonregulated status, our analyses, and public comments received in response to previous notices announcing the availability of the petition for nonregulated status and our associated environmental assessment and plant pest risk assessment. This notice also announces the availability of our written determination and finding of no significant impact.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is soliciting proposals from eligible Tribal Organizations to participate in a demonstration project to purchase agricultural commodities for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This demonstration project is authorized under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Participation in this demonstration project is available to Tribal Organizations that administer FDPIR. Tribal organizations will be selected on a competitive basis and funding will be awarded through a self- determination contract.

The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a series virtual meetings. 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 the Act. RAC information can be found at the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/eldorado/ workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service provides this Second Notice of Intent to issue an order closing the Beattie Gulch Trailhead and McConnell Fishing Access areas north and west of Gardiner, Montana to the discharge of firearms. The purpose of the Second Notice is to provide a correct mailing address for comments submitted by mail and reopen the public comment period for this proposed forest order for an additional 60 days. All comments submitted electronically during the previous comment 60-day period beginning on June 24, 2020, remain valid and need not be resubmitted. All comments submitted by mail during the previous comment period should be resubmitted to ensure consideration.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to request an extension to a currently approved information collection for which RUS intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Rural Housing Service (Agency), an Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program for fiscal year (FY) 2021. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded from funds appropriated for the RCDI program. The Agency will publish the amount of funding on its website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation- applications-nosas.

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 its efforts to certify certain laboratories that conduct aquatic animal testing for export activities.

The Black Hills Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will conduct a virtual meeting. 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/detail/ blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=STELPRD380 7565.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), agencies of the Rural Development mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a document on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, announcing the Guarantee Fee rates, Guarantee percent for Guaranteed Loans, the Periodic Retention Fee, and Fee for Issuance of the Loan Note Guarantee Prior to Construction Completion for FY 2021, to be used when applying for guarantee loans under the aforementioned guarantee loan types. The document was missing a guarantee percentage specific to the State of Alaska and information regarding collection of the periodic guarantee retention fee.

The Secretary of USDA announces the establishment of the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (Urban Ag Advisory Committee). The Committee will advise the Secretary on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices; and other aspects of the implementation section of Subtitle A, Section 222 of the Reorganization Act of 1994. This notice also solicits nominations for membership on the Urban Ag Advisory Committee.

The final rule implements the changes made by section 4005 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Act) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pertaining to the Employment and Training (E&T) program and aspects of the work requirement for able- bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). In general, these changes are related to strengthening the SNAP E&T program, adding workforce partnerships as a way for SNAP participants to meet their work requirements, and modifying the work requirement for ABAWDs.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency), USDA published a notice in the Federal Register of December 21, 2020 regarding acceptance of applications for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. This document inadvertently listed two incorrect amounts of available funds and omitted the option for the applicants to submit applications via electronic mail. This notice corrects these errors.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved information collection request.