The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will conduct a referendum May 10 through June 10, 2024, for eligible domestic producers and importers of pecans to decide whether to continue their research and promotion program.

Current producers that have domestically produced 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans), and current importers that have imported 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans), during the representative period Oct. 1, 2022 through Sep. 30, 2023, are eligible to vote in the referendum.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting public input on potential regulatory amendments to the electronic or digital link disclosure option as it pertains to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (Standard).

Docket Number: AMS-FTPP-23-0019
Comments Due: June 10, 2024

Summary

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA is soliciting information about potential amendments to the electronic or digital link disclosure option as it pertains to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (Standard).

Submit Comments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Christmas Tree Promotion Board to fill seats for four members whose terms begin on Jan. 1, 2025, and end Dec. 31, 2027.

Eligible nominees must have produced domestically or imported more than 500 Christmas trees during the fiscal period of Aug. 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023.

The Christmas Tree Promotion Board is seeking nominees for the following seats:

Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0038
Effective Date: May 8, 2024

Summary

This final rule implements a recommendation from the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Contact

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for 10 grower members and 10 alternate members for the Citrus Administrative Committee. The committee is also accepting nominations for a public member and alternate. Nominations will be accepted through April 16. Voting will take place April 23 at a nomination meeting via Zoom.

Eligible nominees for the grower member positions include:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks public input on modifying the membership structure of the South Texas Onion Committee. The proposed action would consolidate the geographic districts under the marketing order from two districts to one and reapportion committee membership.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking subject matter experts to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate grant applications for the FY24 grant cycle.

Current Programs Seeking Peer Reviewers:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a webinar April 9, 2024, at noon ET, for livestock producers, poultry growers, and regulated entities to share information regarding the Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity under the Packers and Stockyards Act Final Rule.

Registration is required: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_dMcIs6UzQTuUq9J6KFqdng

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Paper and Packing Board to fill three member seats with terms expiring on Dec. 31, 2024. Appointed members will serve three-year terms. Nomination applications are due by May 24, 2024.

The board is seeking nominees for one member seat representing the South Region and two member seats representing the remainder of the U.S. region. Nominees must manufacture or import 100,000 short tons or more of paper and paper-based packaging in a marketing year.