Farm Service Agency 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action corrects a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, October 12, 2005.

This is a request by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for proposals for applications for cooperative agreements for FY 2006 to help underserved and limited resource farmers and ranchers become more efficient operators and more economically viable. FY 2005 funding for similar cooperative agreements was $2 million. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a final Department of Agriculture Appropriations Bill to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare and submit proposals and give FSA sufficient time to process applications within FY 2006. An additional Notice of Funding Availability will be published announcing the funding level for FY 2006 once an appropriations act has been enacted. FSA requests proposals from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, land grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, State governments, and Federally- Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, interested in competitively awarded cooperative agreements, to demonstrate innovative and unique approaches to equip underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers, to become more efficient and economically viable. Proposals should demonstrate innovative and unique ways to help underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers improve their economic viability through training, technical assistance, improved farming practices, and more effective marketing approaches. Underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers have different challenges to economic viability due to location, educational assets, age, and landownership. The need to properly address these challenges through education, training, technical assistance and the most creative ways of outreach is critical to the continued existence of the small farm. People in, or entering into, farming have an array of backgrounds and varied levels of current farm and farm business experience and knowledge. More and more qualified alien immigrants are entering American farming. Often, they are unfamiliar with productive marketing practices, acquisition of land, government assistance, and crop and animal production diversity. While there are no significant legal obstacles to becoming a farmer in the United States, many barriers to successful farming exist. Among those barriers are (1) increasing capital expenses, (2) progressive managerial requirements, and (3) competition with large-scale producers. Among limited-resource farmers, a subgroup, the underserved farmer, faces even more barriers to achieving success. In recognition of the dynamic needs of limited-resource and underserved farmers, FSA solicits proposals for innovative approaches to assisting the diverse limited- resource and underserved farm community.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to request an extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. This information collection is used to support payment eligibility and payment limitation determinations for multiple programs including the Conservation Reserve Program, Price Support Programs, the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is amending its regulations governing loans made under the guaranteed farm loan program to specifically allow lenders to use the loans as security for loans to the lenders, remove certain documentation and designation requirements for lenders, and modify security restrictions as to refinancing and junior liens.

This notice announces that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is adding California, Minnesota, and Nebraska as eligible states to its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Land Contract Guarantee Pilot Program. Expanding the Pilot Program is intended to facilitate land transfers to a greater number of beginning farmers and ranchers.

This action proposes several amendments to the regulations governing the Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteed farm loan program. First, this rule proposes to allow Preferred Lender Program (PLP) lenders, under certain conditions, to retain their PLP status for a period not to exceed one year after their loss ratio exceeds the standard established by the Agency, currently set at three percent. Secondly, FSA proposes to pay lenders additional interest on a final loss claim if a bankruptcy prevents the lender from taking liquidation action or a state's mandatory redemption law prevents the lender from disposing of property acquired through foreclosure. The changes proposed are intended to improve the services the Agency provides to its customers.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is amending the regulations for informal agency appeals to make conforming and clarifying changes regarding FSA procedures.

This Notice announces the availability of funds to be applied to accounts of Alaska dairy farmers. As provided by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005 (2005 Emergency Supplemental Act) (Pub. L. 109-13) $1 million made available by section 786 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations (2005 Appropriations Act)(Pub. L. 108-447) may be applied to accounts of Alaska dairy farmers owed to the Secretary.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a public meeting on re-enrollment and extension of certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The CRP is the Nation's largest conservation program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request an extension and revision of currently approved information collection used in support of the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intent of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request extension of the information collection currently used in support of the CCC and FSA Farm Loan Programs (FLP).

This document announces assistance under the Farm Service Agency's Tree Assistance Program (TAP) regulations in 7 CFR part 783 as authorized by the Military Construction and Appropriations Act, 2005. The first part of this notice announces the availability of assistance for claims under TAP related to Orchardists and Forest Land Owners. The second part proposes funding for special Tree Assistance Program benefits with respect to Pecan Tree Producers. The provisions in this notice for orchard and forest timber assistance are final. For pecan tree assistance, a period is allowed for comments since it is proposed that ``other appropriate activities'' allowed for assistance would only include those related to pruning and tree rehabilitation. This notice is intended to provide notice to those producers who may qualify for this assistance, and provide conditions for eligibility required by the Act under which it is funded.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) intention to request an extension from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection process currently in effect with respect to regulations, licensing and electronic provider agreements issued under the United States Warehouse Act (USWA).

This rule clarifies the Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Program (ITLAP) regulations for borrowers who apply for a rental value write- down. The rule clarifies the method for determining the rental value of security for purposes of a write-down, adds a definition of ``rental value,'' clarifies other write-down eligibility provisions, and limits new loan eligibility for borrowers who have received a write-down in the past. These clarifications are intended to reduce the borrower's costs of applying for a rental value write-down, and reduce the burden on Agency employees in processing requests.