The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of a final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG) program. The PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct the Soybean Request for Referendum May 6 through May 31, 2024, in county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.

The Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act requires USDA to conduct a Request for Referendum every five years to determine if producers want to vote on continuation of the Soybean Checkoff Program. The last Request for Referendum was conducted in 2019.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has posted Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on its website to provide an additional resource to assist stakeholders in complying with the Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments Final Rule by February 12, 2024.

Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0041
Comments Due: March 4, 2024

Summary

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023–2024 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.015 to $0.02 per 4/5-bushel carton or equivalent for Florida citrus handled under the marketing order. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that producers voted to amend the federal marketing order for almonds grown in California.

The referendum was held Oct. 30 to Nov. 20. To be accepted, the amendments had to be favored by two-thirds of the producers voting, or by two-thirds of the volume represented.

Following are the amendments voted on and the results for each: