USDA Opens Annual U.S. Grain Exporter Registration for 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) opens the annual requirement for U.S. Grain Exporter Registration and waiver requests for the 2022 calendar year October 1. The United States Grain Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. 87f-1, requires registration for anyone engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. In addition, individuals who handle, weigh, or transport grain for sale in foreign commerce must also register.

USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting (November 2021)

The two-day virtual meeting is being convened to examine draft recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. Discussion topics comprises labor and production; food safety; climate and infrastructure; and consumption.

Meeting Information:

Millers and Bakers Seek to Establish a Wheat Flour Foods Promotion, Research, and Information Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is posting a draft proposal from the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) requesting the formation of a national promotion, research, and information program for wheat flour used to produce grain foods.  USDA is currently analyzing the proposed order and, if warranted, may publish a proposed rule with request for public comments in the Federal Register. Interested parties can view the draft proposal and justification on the Proposed Research and Promotion Programs webpage.

USDA to Issue Specialty Crops Inspection Certificates, Audit Report in New Formats to Support Transition to SCION

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will begin issuing inspection certificates and audit reports in several formats as the agency deploys the Specialty Crops Integrated Operating Network (SCION), a new web-based platform that will modernize USDA specialty crops inspection and audit services.

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for the (FDPIR) Purchase of Frozen Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Frozen Vegetables for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of FDPIR of the Act of August 24, 1935, with the purpose to encourage the continued domestic consumption of these products by diverting them from the normal channels of trade and commerce.

Offers may be solicited in the following forms:

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USDA Announces Moratorium on Mandatory Inspections Required by the Walnut Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a six-month moratorium on the enforcement of mandatory inspection requirements under the federal marketing order for California walnuts. This moratorium, which began Sept. 1, 2021, includes inspection requirements on walnuts imported into the United States under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

USDA Proposes to Reapportion Membership for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board

The USDA is seeking comments about a proposed rule to amend the makeup of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The proposal would modify the number of Dairy Board members in two of the board’s 12 geographic regions. If adopted, the proposal will increase Region 8 (Idaho) representation from two members to three members and will decrease Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) representation from two members to one member.

Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the publication of a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Seafood Processor Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program. The SPRS grant program will provide approximately $50 million in assistance to seafood processing facilities and processing vessels through block grants to State agencies. USDA allocated funding to certain U.S.

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