Commodity Credit Corporation 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a revision of a currently approved information collection associated with the report of acreage for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The Report of Acreage form is being revised for more efficient data entry in Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS). The producer will also no longer be required to provide certain additional information with the form that will likely result in a reduction in the burden hours in this information collection. This information collection is needed to administer the program.

This final rule revises and amends the regulation used to administer the Market Access Program (MAP) by updating and merging the application requirements and the activity plan requirements to reflect the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system currently in place; clarifying the eligibility of activities designed to address international market access issues; modifying the list of eligible and ineligible contributions; revising the portions of the regulation regarding evaluations, contracting procedures, and the compliance review and appeals process; eliminating the Export Incentive Program/Market Access Program (EIP/MAP) as a separate subcomponent; and making other administrative changes for clarity and program integrity. This final rule adopts the substantive provisions of the proposed rule published September 8, 2009, revising and amending MAP regulations, with changes made to reflect public comments to the proposed rule.

The Foreign Agricultural Service published a document in the Federal Register of April 23, 2012, concerning funds availability and inviting applications for the Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The document contained incorrect dates.

The Foreign Agricultural Service published a document in the Federal Register of April 23, 2012, concerning funds availability and inviting applications for the Quality Samples Program (QSP). The document contained incorrect dates.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2013 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and to set out criteria for the award of funds in October 2012. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The statutory authority for MAP expires at the end of fiscal year 2012. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2013, provided that the program is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2013 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2013 and to set out criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2012. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The statutory authority for EMP expires at the end of fiscal year 2012. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2013, provided that the program is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2013 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2013 and to set out criteria for the award of funds in October 2012. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The statutory authority for TASC expires at the end of fiscal year 2012. This notice is being published at this time to allow awards to be made early in fiscal year 2013, provided that the program is reauthorized prior to that time. In the event this program is not reauthorized, or is substantially modified, FAS will publish a notice in the Federal Register rescinding this Notice of Funds Availability.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) are requesting comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a new information collection request associated with the Economic Assessment of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Lands for Hunting.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the availability of financial assistance funds in fiscal year (FY) 2012 for up to $11.74 million in the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) and up to $25 million in the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP) through MRBI. These funding levels are available for new MRBI proposals only. However, CCPI and WREP will not be the only funding mechanisms for MRBI in FY 2012. The Chief of NRCS reserves discretion in utilizing other NRCS conservation program funds and mechanisms in support of the objectives of MRBI. Through agreements, partners and NRCS will provide assistance to eligible participants in the 54 designated focus areas (8-digit hydrologic unit codes (HUCs)) in the following 13 States: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The purpose of this notice is to solicit proposals from potential partners to enter into agreements with NRCS and to inform agricultural producers and landowners of the future availability of program funds through approved partnership projects. Proposals must be based on one or more 12-digit HUCs within the 54 designated focus areas. Partners who are currently involved in approved MRBI agreements through CCPI or WREP and want to work in other 12-digit watersheds must submit new proposals for a new project.