Commodity Credit Corporation July 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act) expanded the geographic scope of the AMA Program to include the State of Hawaii. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) administers AMA under the general supervision of the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is one of the vice presidents of CCC. CCC announces the availability of an additional $2.5 million of technical and financial assistance funds in fiscal year (FY) 2008 to participating States. AMA is available to States which have historically low participation in the Federal crop insurance program. These States are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Hawaii. Under AMA, a participant may use financial assistance to adopt conservation practices that will reduce or mitigate risks to their agricultural enterprises. AMA is authorized by Section 524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)), and administered under regulations found at 7 CFR part 1465. NRCS will, at a later date, formally amend the final rule located in 7 CFR part 1465 to add Hawaii as an area which is eligible for AMA assistance.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2009 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2008. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2009 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2008. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

As announced by this notice, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is implementing the provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) regarding payment limitation and payment eligibility provisions (including the average adjusted gross income limitation) for the 2008 crop, fiscal, or program year. The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes payment limitations and payment eligibility provisions that were previously authorized for preceding commodity and conservation programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill). As a result of this notice, CCC will be able to commence administration of payment limitation and payment eligibility provisions applicable to commodity and conservation programs for the 2008 crop, fiscal, or program year. Through a subsequent rule, CCC will implement payment limitation and payment eligibility provisions for 2009 through 2012.