This interim final rule amends the regulatory requirements for the Clingstone Peach Diversion Program (Program). The Program is voluntary, consists of payments for peach tree removal, and is implemented under clause (3) of section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935, as amended. The Program is expected to reestablish the purchasing power of clingstone peach growers by making payments to such growers to facilitate reductions in peach production capacity. This action will help to align the domestic supply of clingstone peaches with the market demand for those peaches and thus mitigate the economic effects of systemic oversupply. The parameters established herein will ensure that diversion under this Program is not part of a normal tree replacement cycle for orchard rejuvenation. This rule also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's intention to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget of new information collection requirements necessary to implement the Program.
Comments close Sep 29, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) for the 2026- 2027 marketing year.
Comments close Aug 24, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2026 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.030 to $0.025 per 18-pound lug for grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Aug 24, 2026
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to amend the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations to decrease the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. This amendment is required each year to ensure that assessments collected on imported cotton, and the cotton content of imported products, will be the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. In addition, AMS is updating the Import Assessment Table to account for changes since the last assessment adjustment in 2024.
Comments close Jul 23, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2025-2026 crop year and subsequent crop years from $0.05 to $0.25 per hundredweight for domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Jul 20, 2026
This interim final rule temporarily suspends the continuance referendum requirement under the Federal marketing order for South Texas onions. The continuance referendum scheduled for 2026 overlaps with the formal rulemaking process to amend the marketing order that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) commenced via a notice of hearing published on January 23, 2026. This suspension delays the enforcement of the continuance referendum requirement to give precedence to the formal rulemaking process, which may include a producer referendum. In addition, if the marketing order is amended, this temporary suspension provides industry time to operate under the amended marketing order before the next scheduled continuance referendum.
Comments close Jun 25, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2025-2026 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.04 to $0.07 per 7/10-bushel carton or equivalent of oranges and grapefruit grown in Texas. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close May 29, 2026
This proposed rule invites comments on changes to the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order). These changes include clarifying the assessment rate for softwood lumber imported into the United States and revising the membership of the Softwood Lumber Board (Board or SLB).
Comments close Apr 29, 2026
This proposed rule would amend the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic regulations related to organic crop and livestock production. The proposed rule would provide additional tools to organic producers, allowing carbon dioxide in organic crop production and meloxicam as a pain treatment in organic livestock production. Additionally, this rulemaking would remove overly burdensome restrictions for methionine, an amino acid, in organic poultry feed and would affirm that sodium nitrate may be used as a fertilizer in organic crop production, with certain conditions to protect soil quality.
Comments close May 22, 2026
This proposed rule invites comments on a proposed amendment to Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds grown in California. The proposed amendment would establish the authority to borrow funds from a commercial lending institution.
Comments close May 19, 2026
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is proposing to delay the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2025, to allow time for further consideration of possible actions that may be taken regarding the disposition of the rule. The current effective date is July 1, 2026. AMS is proposing to delay the effective date to December 31, 2027.
Comments close Apr 17, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Olive Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years from $28.00 to $24.00 per ton of assessable olives grown in California. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Apr 8, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Almond Board of California (Board) to extend the inedible disposition obligation deadline prescribed under the Federal marketing order for almonds grown in California (Order) from September 30 to November 30 indefinitely.
Comments close Apr 8, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Washington Cherry Marketing Committee (Committee) to update the handling regulations for sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington. The Committee's proposal seeks to increase the minimum size requirements for all sweet cherry varieties, except the Rainier, Royal Anne, and similar varieties, commonly referred to as "light sweet cherries." In addition, the proposal would remove one row count/row size designation, add two new row count/row size designations, and revise the title of the Marketing Order's pack requirements table.
Comments close Apr 8, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the National Honey Board to increase the assessment rate for first handlers and importers from 1.5 cents ($0.015) per pound of assessable honey and honey products to 2 cents ($0.02) per pound of assessable honey and honey products over two fiscal periods. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely until modified or terminated.
Comments close Apr 8, 2026
This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeks input from stakeholders on the development of mandatory surveys of dairy production cost and product yield information, as authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA). USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) seeks comments on the manufacturing cost and product yield data to be collected, the collection process, cost calculation methodologies, verification processes, and data reporting. Information received from public comments will inform USDA's approach to this legislative mandate.
Comments close Mar 30, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025-2026 and subsequent fiscal periods from $.07 to $.05 per hundredweight for onions grown in certain designated counties in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Mar 12, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee) to update the handling regulations for kiwifruit grown in California. Consistent with the Committee's proposal, this rulemaking seeks to amend the Size Designation and Size Variation chart located in the pack requirements of the Marketing Order and relax the minimum size requirements for all kiwifruit varieties, except for those of the Actinidia chinensis species. This rule also proposes to make a corresponding change to the size requirements under the kiwifruit import regulation, as required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
Comments close Apr 7, 2026
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations, decreasing the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. This amendment is required each year to ensure that assessments collected on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products will be the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. In addition, AMS is updating the Import Assessment Table to account for changes since the last assessment adjustment in 2024.
Comments close Jan 30, 2026
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to establish free market tonnage percentages (free percentages) and restricted percentages for the 2024-25 crop year under the Federal marketing order for tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. This action would establish the proportion of tart cherries from the 2024-25 crop which may be handled in commercial outlets. This action should stabilize marketing conditions by adjusting supply to meet market demand and help improve grower returns.
Comments close Dec 18, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to make changes to the administrative requirements prescribed under the Federal marketing order for walnuts grown in California (Order). This proposed rule would provide a schedule for required handler assessment payments, establish interest and late payment charges on overdue assessments owed, and modify the existing reporting requirements for handler acquisitions of walnuts.
Comments close Oct 31, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.02 to $0.025 per \4/5\-bushel carton or equivalent for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Oct 31, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.040 to $0.030 per 18-pound lug of grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Oct 31, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.20 to $0.17 per 50-pound bag or equivalent for sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Oct 31, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) for the 2025- 2026 marketing year.
Comments close Oct 27, 2025
This direct final rule stays the regulation governing imports of walnuts in order to align it with regulations prescribed under the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California. This action is required under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended.
Comments close Oct 22, 2025
This proposed rule invites comments on realigning the representation on the National Watermelon Promotion Board (Board) prescribed in the Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan (Plan) by adjusting several production districts and reducing the number of importers on the Board. This action would contribute to effective administration of the program.
Comments close Oct 20, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent crop years from $0.15 to $0.05 per hundredweight for domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Oct 14, 2025
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons by adding the term "seedless lemons." In addition, AMS proposes to incorporate marking requirements for lemons meeting the seedless definition.
Comments close Nov 10, 2025
This proposal invites comments on changes to the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). These changes include amending the Board's name from "Christmas Tree Promotion Board" to "Real Christmas Tree Board", increasing the administrative expenses cap from 10 to 15 percent, allowing importers to request refunds of assessments paid on trees that were shipped to the United States but were not sold, and increasing the mandatory period to maintain books and records relating to the Order. Many of these changes are administrative in nature. This action would also make several non- substantive clarifications and changes to modernize the Board's procedures.
Comments close Jul 14, 2025
This proposal invites comments on updates to the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order). This proposal would increase the mandatory assessment rate from 5 cents per hundredweight of popcorn to 6 cents to reflect the present rate which was administratively increased in 2001 and has been charged of processors since. Additionally, subpart C would be added to the Order prescribing late payment and interest charges on past due assessments.
Comments close Jul 10, 2025
This direct final rule amends regulations that govern tobacco price support services established under the Agricultural Act of 1949. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated the price support and quota system for tobacco produced in the United States. In alignment with Executive Order 14192, AMS is removing and, where appropriate, amending regulations that have expired authorizing statutes and govern non-operational programs.
Comments close Jun 30, 2025
This direct final rule rescinds the referendum procedures for the proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Sod Proposed Order), issued on December 10, 2024. The referendum failed and the Sod Proposed Order was not approved, therefore it is being withdrawn through a Notice which will also be published in the Federal Register. Therefore, the referendum procedures for the Sod Proposed Order are no longer necessary and AMS is rescinding the part in its entirety.
Comments close Jun 30, 2025
This action removes from AMS' regulations the implementing regulations for the Dairy Donation Program and makes conforming amendments to the implementing regulations for the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program. The Dairy Donation Program is no longer funded by Congress; therefore, AMS has no authority to take further action under the Dairy Donation Program and its implementing regulations are obsolete. Removing the regulations will provide transparency and may reduce confusion for dairy processors and other stakeholders.
Comments close Jun 30, 2025
This direct final rule amends regulations that govern the inspection of tobacco under the national marketing quota system established under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated the price support and quota system for tobacco produced in the United States. In alignment with E.O. 14192, AMS is removing and, where appropriate, amending regulations that have expired authorizing statutes and govern non- operational programs.
Comments close Jun 30, 2025
This direct final rule amends regulations that govern the mandatory inspection and pesticide testing for imported tobacco established under The Tobacco Adjustment Act of 1983. The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated mandatory inspection and pesticide testing for imported tobacco. In alignment with Executive Order 14192, AMS is amending and, where appropriate, removing regulations that have expired authorizing statutes or govern non- operational programs.
Comments close Jun 27, 2025
AMS is proposing to rescind the rule and regulations issued on December 23, 2024, titled, "National Organic Program; Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food."
Comments close Jun 11, 2025
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.03 to $0.04 per 7/10-bushel carton or equivalent of oranges and grapefruit grown in Texas. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Comments close Feb 14, 2025
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is delaying the effective date of the "Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems" final rule (Payment Systems rule or final rule), which was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2025, to allow time for further consideration of actions that may be taken regarding the disposition of the rule. The current effective date of the Payment Systems rule is July 1, 2026. With this action, AMS is delaying the effective date to December 31, 2027.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 crop year and subsequent crop years from $0.15 to $0.05 per hundredweight for domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding the National highbush blueberry research and promotion program.
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible California kiwifruit growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of kiwifruit grown in California.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) for the 2025-2026 marketing year.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.02 to $0.025 per 4/5-bushel carton or equivalent of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.040 to $0.030 per 18-pound lug for grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2025 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.20 to $0.17 per 50-pound bag or equivalent for sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely until modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements updates to the Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order). The updates increase the mandatory assessment rate from 5 cents per hundredweight of popcorn to 6 cents to reflect the present rate, which was administratively increased in 2001 and has been charged of processors ever since. Additionally, subpart C is added to the Order, which prescribes late payment and interest charges on past due assessments.
This final rule implements changes to the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). These changes include amending the Board's name from "Christmas Tree Promotion Board" to "Real Christmas Tree Board", increasing the administrative expenses cap from 10 to 15 percent, allowing importers to request refunds of assessments paid on trees that were shipped to the United States but not sold, and increasing the mandatory period to maintain books and records relating to the Order. This action also makes several non-substantive clarifications and changes to modernize the Board's procedures.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee) to change the maturity requirements under the marketing order for avocados grown in South Florida. This action updates the avocado maturity shipping schedule to allow certain sizes and weights of the Beta avocado variety to be shipped earlier than is currently allowed. This action also makes a corresponding change to the avocado import regulation, as required under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
This final rule terminates the Federal research and promotion program for paper and paper-based packaging and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. This action is necessary because termination of the program was favored by a majority of manufacturers and importers voting in the referendum who also represent a majority of the volume of paper and paper-based packaging represented in the referendum. This rulemaking also removes the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Due to receipt of a significant adverse comment, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the direct final rule, "Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental Assessment on Imports (2025 Amendments)," that published on December 31, 2025.
This final rule updates the Dairy Forward Pricing Program (DFPP) regulations in accordance with the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Continuing Extensions Act). The Continuing Extensions Act reauthorizes the DFPP program to allow handlers to enter into new contracts until September 30, 2026. Any forward contract entered prior to the September 30, 2026, deadline is subject to a September 30, 2029, expiration date.
The Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills (EAATM) program provides qualified domestic users of upland cotton financial assistance that can be used to acquire, construct, install, modernize, develop, convert, or expand land, plant, buildings, equipment, facilities, or machinery used in the manufacture of final cotton products. Under the program, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) makes payments to eligible domestic users who have entered into an Upland Cotton Domestic User Agreement with AMS to participate in the EAATM. In this final rule, AMS is revising the payment rate from three cents per pound to five cents per pound, applicable August 1, 2025, as provided for in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
This document announces the renewal of 56 substances listed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic regulations. This document reflects the outcome of the 2026 sunset review processes and addresses recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture, through the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, by the National Organic Standards Board.
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposals recommended by the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) to amend Federal Marketing Order No. 959 (Order). The proposed amendments would lower the threshold for continuance referenda; expand research and promotion authority to include marketing promotion and paid advertising; add authority to accept voluntary contributions; and increase committee size by one seat to include a public member. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) also proposes to make additional changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendatory changes that result from the hearing.
This decision proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 989 (Order), which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and provides producers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the proposed changes. The Raisin Administrative Committee, which locally administers the Order, recommended amendments that would reduce Committee size, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, lower quorum requirements, remove producer district representation, remove the requirement for separate member and alternate nominations for independent and small cooperative producers, remove factors for establishing marketing policy, add language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins, add authority to accept voluntary contributions, and add language regarding ownership of intellectual property. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service proposed to make any such changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing.
This rulemaking amends Marketing Order No. 930, which regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. The amendments modify the basis for calculating district representation on the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board), change the starting date for the term of office for Board members, simplify the way a Board member's sales constituency is determined, clarify how the sales constituency applies to alternate Board members, change the timeframe for submitting nominations, and clarify when districts are subject to volume regulation.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Idaho- Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.002 to $0.003 per hundredweight of potatoes handled under the marketing order. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent production years from $0.0007 to $0.0003 per pound of assessable pistachios handled under the marketing order. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Fresh Pear Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.468 to $0.516 per 44-pound standard box or equivalent for fresh "summer/fall" pears and fresh "winter" pears grown in Oregon and Washington. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2024-2025 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.03 to $0.04 per 7/10-bushel carton or equivalent of oranges and grapefruit grown in Texas. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to revise the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) for the 2024-2025 marketing year, which began on June 1, 2024. This action increases the 2024-2025 marketing year Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 678,980 pounds to 731,220 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 26 percent to 28 percent.
Abstract not supplied.
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national paper and paper-based packaging research and promotion program. AMS is also announcing an immediate moratorium on the collection of assessments under the program.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2024, that proposed a new grass sod research and promotion program under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The proposed Order was submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a group of natural grass sod producers. AMS conducted a referendum among eligible producers to determine whether they favor establishing a national promotion, research, and information program (Program). After reviewing the results of the producer referendum, a simple majority of industry producers who voted in the referendum are not in favor of establishing a Program, and therefore, the proposed rule is being withdrawn.
This action removes and reserves subpart D, titled "Orders of Designation of Tobacco Markets" from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The regulations subpart D are obsolete and unnecessary because The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 eliminated mandatory grading of types of tobacco eligible for price support programs and a referendum of eligible producers voted in favor of terminating the designations for tobacco auction markets in June of 2005.
This action rescinds regulations pertaining to Recordkeeping on Restricted Use Pesticides by Certified Applicators; Surveys and Reports.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Dairy Program published a final rule in the Federal Register of April 23, 2025, concerning the reauthorization of the Dairy Forward Pricing Program (DFPP) in accordance with the American Relief Act, 2025 (Relief Act). The Relief Act reauthorizes the DFPP program to allow handlers to enter into new contracts until September 30, 2025. This document will correct references to "E.O. 12415."
This final rule reauthorizes the Dairy Forward Pricing Program (DFPP) in accordance with the American Relief Act, 2025 (Relief Act). Establishing new contracts under the DFPP was prohibited between the expiration of the program on September 30, 2024, and publication of this final rule. The Relief Act reauthorizes the DFPP program to allow handlers to enter into new contracts until September 30, 2025. Any forward contract entered prior to the September 30, 2025, deadline is subject to a September 30, 2028, expiration date.
This document delays the effective date of the January 21, 2025, final rule revising the regulations related to the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The amendments included an added definition for partnership; clarification of the nominations process; clarification about in person and electronic voting for any Board meetings; an update of the timing of financial reporting; and a revision of requirements for when exemptions can be requested.
This document delays the effective date of the January 16, 2025, final rule that adopted amendments to the plant records requirement for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The amendments allow butterfat tests to be performed at an in-house or approved third party laboratory and add a requirement for plants to maintain and make such records available for examination by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector. These amendments increase efficiency by conforming to current industry practice.
This document delays the effective date of the December 23, 2024, final rule that amended USDA's organic regulations to clarify standards for organic mushrooms and organic pet food. The topics addressed by the rule include mushroom substrate composition and sourcing of mushroom spawn in organic mushroom production; composting requirements for organic mushroom production; composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food; and the use of certain synthetic substances, including taurine, in organic pet food.
This document delays the effective date of the December 30, 2024, final rule revising the regulations governing the inspection and certification for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products by amending certain fees charged for Section 8e import inspections. These revisions recover, as nearly as practicable, the costs of performing inspection services on imported commodities in accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
This final rule implements clarifying amendments to the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The amendments include an added definition for partnership; clarification of the nominations process; clarification about in person and electronic voting for any Board meetings; an update of the timing of financial reporting; and a revision of requirements for when exemptions can be requested. This final rule brings language in the Order up to date with current industry practices.
This final rule amends the pricing provisions in the 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). Separate producer referenda held in each of the 11 FMMOs obtained the necessary two-thirds vote in favor of adoption of the amendments as proposed. Accordingly, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is issuing this final rule amending all 11 FMMOs in accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (AMAA).
This final rule adopts amendments to the plant records requirement for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The amendments allow butterfat tests to be performed at an in-house or approved third party laboratory and add a requirement for plants to maintain and make such records available for examination by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector. These amendments increase efficiency by conforming to current industry practice.
The United States Department of Agriculture's ("USDA" or "the Department") Agricultural Marketing Service ("AMS" or "the Agency") is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking, the "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets" proposed rule.
This final rule by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA or the Department) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) amends the Agency's regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (P&S Act or Act). The Act protects fair trade, financial integrity, and competitive markets for poultry. The final rule prohibits certain payment practices under poultry grower ranking systems (commonly known as tournaments) in contract poultry production for broiler chickens, requires live poultry dealers (LPDs) to adopt policies and procedures for operating a fair ranking system for broiler growers, and requires LPDs to provide certain information to broiler growers when the LPD requests or requires the grower to make additional capital investments. These regulations will increase transparency and address deception and unfairness in broiler grower payments, tournament operations, and capital improvement systems.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS or Service) is amending its user fee regulations to establish standardized formulas the agency will use to calculate hourly and unit fees. The changes allow FGIS to charge reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing official services and re-establish a 3-to 6-month operating reserve, as required by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This final rule also makes specified conforming changes and minor technical changes to correct two typographical errors.
