Commodity Credit Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2014 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants for fiscal year 2014 and to set out the criteria for the award of funds under the program in October 2013. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the regulations for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to conform with policies implemented under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The amendments concern requirements for coverage of native sod, increases in service fees, the multiple benefits limitation of the program, payment and income limitations, and eligibility for aquaculture losses caused by drought. Also, the rule makes clarifying amendments regarding the eligibility of wheat, barley, oats, or triticale acreage used for grazing and regarding the eligibility of tropical crops for benefits. The rule also clarifies the eligibility requirements for coverage in tropical regions. The amendments in this rule have already been implemented administratively.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) extended the authorization of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) through the 2013 crop year, fiscal year (FY), or calendar year, as applicable, for certain Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodity and conservation programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This notice provides information about which programs have been extended for an additional year, which programs producers will need to enroll in through applications and contracts, and the dates for the submission of the required applications. The extended programs will be administered through their current terms and procedures for the applicable period of extension, except as provided in this notice.

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.

This notice announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed establishment and production of giant miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) as a dedicated energy crop to be grown in the REPREVE Renewables, LLC (project sponsor) proposed project areas in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). This notice provides a means for the public to voice any concerns they may have about the proposed BCAP project areas.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice to publish the fiscal year (FY) 2012 State sugar marketing allotments and company allocations to sugarcane and sugar beet processors, which apply to all domestic sugar marketed for human consumption in the United States from October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. Although CCC already has announced most of the information in this notice through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) news release, CCC is required to publish the determinations establishing, adjusting, or suspending sugar marketing allotments in the Federal Register.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is amending the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) regulation to provide specifically for prioritizing limited program funds in favor of the ``project area'' portion of BCAP. CCC is also correcting errors in the regulation.

This notice announces the final environmental assessment (EA) that includes a mitigated finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed establishment and production of giant miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) as a dedicated energy crop to be grown in the Aloterra Energy and MFA Oil Biomass Company (project sponsors) proposed project areas in Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). Based on comments received on the draft and in consultation with NRCS and ARS, FSA developed and included a finalized mitigation and monitoring plan as a part of the final EA.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2012 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 2012 and to award funds in October 2011. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2012 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from the private sector and from government agencies for FY 2012 and to award funds in October 2011. The EMP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces it is inviting proposals for the 2012 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and to award funds in October 2011. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

This document contains a correction to the Request for Comments titled ``Tobacco Transition Payment Program; Cigar and Cigarette Per Unit Assessments,'' which was published March 22, 2011. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is correcting an inaccurate statement about the possible consequences of an alternative assessment methodology.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is requesting comments about the calculation of assessments to fund the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP). Currently the cigar portion of the assessment uses a per unit calculation that treats all cigars, large and small, the same. That policy is under review as the result of a court decision. This review could also affect cigarettes, which are subject to similar provisions.

This rule implements the Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Assistance Payment (ALAP) Program authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The ALAP Program will compensate domestic asparagus producers for marketing losses resulting from imports during the 2004 through 2007 crop years. Payments will be calculated based on 2003 crop production. Through the ALAP Program, CCC is authorized to provide up to $15 million in direct payments to asparagus producers. This rule specifies eligibility requirements, payment application procedures, and the method for calculating individual payments.

This final rule amends the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) regulations for implementation of the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). This action is necessary to address the comments received on the interim final rule as published and to publish changes to the entity certification requirements. This document provides a 30 day public comment period on the entity certification requirements.

The purpose of this request for proposals is to solicit proposals from potential partners who seek to enter into partnership agreements with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through either the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) or the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) in order to provide assistance to producers who enroll in an eligible conservation program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for both AWEP and CCPI. For fiscal year (FY) 2011, applicants are strongly encouraged to use the proposal templates available for download at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AWEP/ for AWEP and https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CCPI/ for CCPI. To request a paper version of either proposal template, partners may send a written request to Gregory K. Johnson, Director, Financial Assistance Programs Division, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 5239 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. Both AWEP and CCPI were established by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act). AWEP and CCPI are voluntary conservation initiatives that enable the use of certain conservation programs, combined with resources from eligible partners who have entered into partnership agreements with NRCS, to provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. Through the FY 2011 AWEP, NRCS will make Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds available to eligible producers in approved AWEP project areas. Through the FY 2011 CCPI, NRCS will make EQIP, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) funds available to eligible producers in approved CCPI project areas consistent with the project proposal. CCPI opportunities concerning the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative will be announced through a separate notice.