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
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending its regulations to ensure that wetland determinations issued after November 28, 1990, have been and will be certified as sufficient to serve as the basis for determining ineligibility for certain USDA program benefits under the Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. Certification requires notifying the affected person at the time of the determination and informing them of their appeal rights. This interim rule addresses inconsistencies in how wetland determinations certified and issued between November 28, 1990, and July 3, 1996, have been treated. It also responds to a February 22, 2024, Federal court ruling that determined that Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) did not fully meet procedural requirements in its 2020 final rule concerning certification of pre-1996 determinations. This interim rule aligns USDA's regulations with the governing statute, legislative history, and congressional intent.
Comments close Sep 28, 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 Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend the current regulation for the Direct Multifamily Housing (MFH) Loan and Grant Programs. The intent of this proposed rule is to include acquisition as an applicable form of assistance for direct MFH subsequent loans. This regulatory change would allow owners of MFH initially financed by the Agency to apply for Agency funds to help finance acquisition in preservation transactions, thereby reducing administrative and regulatory burden for both industry partners and the Agency.
Comments close Aug 31, 2026
The United States Department of Agriculture (Department) is proposing to amend regulations governing the Directive System for the United States Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency); the scope of notice and comment requirements for the formulation of standards, criteria, and guidelines applicable to Forest Service programs; and associated agency procedures. These amendments enhance Agency employees' discretion to allow innovation in program implementation to account for the unique ecological conditions of affected landscapes and changing social and economic needs.
Comments close Jul 31, 2026
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to update its regulations regarding the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (the AFIDA). The revisions would reflect Congressional directives to establish a streamlined process for electronic submission and retention of disclosures made under AFIDA, including the deployment of an internet database. It would also revise reporting requirements and strengthen enforcement measures. Through the implementation of modernization measures and expanded scope and depth of reporting, this proposed rule will help ensure the AFIDA regulations address foreign investment and ownership of American agricultural land, particularly as it might present a national security risk.
Comments close Aug 10, 2026
In response to Section 10106 of Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, this proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to codify the reduction of the amount of the Federal government's share of annual SNAP State administrative costs from 50 percent to 25 percent, effective beginning in fiscal year 2027.
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
On May 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published in the Federal Register (91 FR 27868) a Request for Information (RFI) on "Modified Organisms Subject to the Plant Protection Act," to solicit the public's input on regulatory considerations related to the review of modified organisms subject to the Plant Protection Act. The RFI provided for a 30-day comment period, which would have ended on June 15, 2026. USDA has determined that a 15- day extension on the comment period, until June 30, 2026, is appropriate. This extension will allow interested persons additional time to consider and prepare their comments.
Comments close Jun 30, 2026
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance to improve government- wide policies and requirements related to the management of grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance. OMB is proposing revisions that would improve transparency, accountability, and oversight for Federal awards across the Federal Government. This includes ensuring that American tax dollars are not wasted or misused, activities performed under Federal awards are consistent with law and policy, and recipients are held accountable when they fail to meet relevant standards. The revisions also aim to ensure that basic American principles of equality and equal opportunity are upheld throughout all stages of the award making process and that unlawful discrimination is no longer permitted. Proposed changes also include providing further clarification on the regulatory status of the OMB requirements and on the process for future updates to the government- wide requirements. Finally, OMB also proposes changes to reduce recipient burden. The listed Federal grant-making agencies propose conforming changes to their respective adopting regulations, or, in the case of some agencies and other entities, establishing new adopting regulations or policies. The proposed changes reflect the administration's commitment to transparency, accountability, and proper oversight for the Federal grantmaking process. The proposed regulations seek to ensure that American tax dollars are ultimately used to serve the needs of the American public.
Comments close Jul 13, 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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proffers this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit the public's input on regulatory considerations related to the review of modified organisms subject to the Plant Protection Act. The information provided will help identify factors for potential risk-based deregulation and could inform future rulemaking; input might also offer non-regulatory solutions.
Comments close Jun 15, 2026
The United States Department of Agriculture (Department), Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), is proposing to amend its land use regulations to exempt administrative site leases from the regulations for special uses. The purpose of this deregulatory action is to better align Forest Service leasing activities with private real estate market practices.
Comments close Jun 5, 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
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend the current Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation to specify that real estate commission fees are excluded from interested party limitations.
Comments close Jun 22, 2026
On March 9, 2026, FAS published in the Federal Register a notice of a proposed rule (91 FR 11174) entitled "Dairy Tariff-Rate Quota Import Licensing Program," proposing to amend the regulation that provides for the issuance of annual licenses to import certain dairy articles under tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) as set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. The proposed rule provided for a 30-day comment period, which would have ended on April 8, 2026. FAS has determined that a 15-day extension on the comment period, until April 23, 2026, is appropriate. This extension will allow interested persons additional time to analyze the proposal and prepare their comments.
Comments close Apr 23, 2026
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), an agency of the Rural Development mission area within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a proposed rule to amend the current Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation. These proposed changes are intended to allow the Agency to finance a single family home with a single or multiple income producing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). Additionally, we propose to clarify that borrowers can finance properties with features designed to accommodate home-based operations with non-commercial real estate features. The plain language summary of the proposal is available on Regulations.gov in the docket for rulemaking.
Comments close Jun 1, 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
FSIS is considering revising how it defines establishment sizes for purposes of its oversight of meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants. Since 1996, FSIS has used Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) size categories, which are based on employee count and annual sales, to analyze the impact of regulations and tailor assistance to small entities. More recently, FSIS has also applied volume-based thresholds to categorize establishments to analyze the impact of regulations and for establishing Agency sampling frequencies or setting sampling requirements for the regulated industry. This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) requests stakeholder input on whether FSIS should update its establishment size definitions and, if so, how.
Comments close May 26, 2026
We are reopening the comment period for a request for information soliciting comments regarding appropriate standards for the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the Animal Welfare Act. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Comments close Apr 20, 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 amend the regulation that provides for the issuance of annual licenses to import certain dairy articles under tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) as set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. FAS proposes changes to make the regulation more user friendly through updated language and clarification of some provisions. Among other changes, the proposed rule would replace the section on license transfers, strengthen the suspension and revocation provisions, and move forward the surrender date to permit earlier reallocation of surrendered quantities.
Comments close Apr 8, 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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Agency), is proposing to revise its regulations governing occupancy and use of the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with prospecting, exploration, development, mining, processing, and reclamation and reasonably incident uses authorized by U.S. mining laws and the Organic Administration Act of 1897. Regulatory revisions are needed to improve the efficiency and transparency of Forest Service regulation of locatable mineral operations conducted on National Forest System lands under the mining laws, and to minimize, to the fullest extent practicable, adverse impacts on surface resources. In addition, the revisions will support Federal policy to secure reliable and sustainable supplies of strategic and critical minerals in the United States.
Comments close Apr 21, 2026
FSIS is proposing to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to allow establishments operating under the NSIS to determine their own line speeds based on their ability to maintain process control. FSIS is also proposing to clarify that the FSIS inspector may reduce the rate of establishment operations at any point in the slaughter process when, in their judgement, there is a loss of process control, or a carcass-by-carcass inspection cannot be adequately performed within the time available due to the manner in which the swine are presented to the online carcass inspector or the health condition of the particular herd. Finally, FSIS is proposing to amend the regulations to remove the requirement that NSIS establishments submit an annual attestation to FSIS stating that they maintain a program to monitor and document work-related conditions of establishment workers. The proposed amendments would allow NSIS establishments to slaughter swine more efficiently while continuing to ensure food safety and effective online carcass inspection.
Comments close Apr 20, 2026
FSIS is proposing to amend the regulations to: allow young chicken establishments operating under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) to operate at line speeds up to 175 birds per minute (bpm); increase the maximum line speed prescribed for turkey establishments operating under the NPIS from 55 bpm to 60 bpm; define "maximum line speed" as the time it takes for an inspector to effectively perform online carcass inspection procedures; clarify when FSIS may direct establishments to operate at a reduced line speed; and remove requirements for NPIS establishments to submit to FSIS annual attestations on worker safety programs. The proposed amendments would allow poultry establishments to slaughter birds more efficiently while continuing to ensure food safety and effective online carcass inspection.
Comments close Apr 20, 2026
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is soliciting comments regarding appropriate standards for the care of breeding female dogs at dog breeding facilities and exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the Animal Welfare Act. Information obtained from public comments will help identify outdated standards, new science, and stakeholder interest.
Comments close Mar 19, 2026
This notice extends the public comment period for the review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program (Program) that was announced in the Federal Register on December 15, 2025. This extension provides additional time for stakeholders to submit comments.
Comments close Mar 30, 2026
This proposed rule would update regulations for fish and shellfish seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (the Board) is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence take of fish and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years and subsistence take of wildlife regulations in even-numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle and rural determinations every other fish and shellfish regulatory cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the existing subsistence fish and shellfish taking regulations. This proposed rule could also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife. During this rulemaking cycle, the Board will accept proposals for rural determinations that will be decided by the Board during the subsequent fish and shellfish regulatory cycle.
Comments close Apr 3, 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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is proposing to amend its Project-Level Predecisional Administrative Review Process regulations. These regulations establish the process by which the public may file objections seeking administrative review for projects and activities implementing land management plans on national forests. The Forest Service is amending these regulations to consolidate and streamline processes, increase efficiency, and better align with the Agency's statutory obligations and recent rescissions and revisions to National Environmental Policy Act regulations.
Comments close Mar 9, 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
The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) implementing regulations establish requirements under which foreign persons must report interests in U.S. agricultural lands to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). AFIDA regulations describe the type of interest in agricultural land a foreign person must have to trigger the reporting requirement, specific information that must be included in the report, and the mechanics of filing the report with USDA. AFIDA also requires some information about foreign persons who hold an interest in the agricultural land even though they may not own it directly, provided those foreign persons have "significant interest or substantial control" in the direct interest holder. USDA uses information from the filings to produce periodic reports to Congress on the effect that foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land has on family farms and rural communities, and for other purposes. AFIDA regulations were last updated in 2006. Since that time, national security attention to foreign ownership or substantial control of agricultural land has increased. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, use USDA information from AFIDA filings to identify and review transactions that may pose national security risks, such as the location of agricultural land near sensitive military bases. Recent analyses, including a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), have identified flaws in USDA's processes for collecting, tracking, and sharing AFIDA data. These deficiencies, combined with evolving national security concerns and a Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 requirement for USDA to develop a streamlined process for electronic submission and retention of AFIDA disclosures, lead USDA to examine AFIDA regulations and invite public input on changes that would improve information collection activities in a manner responsive to national security and the use of agricultural land.
Comments close Jan 28, 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
In response to section 765 of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2017 and subsequently enacted appropriations, this rule proposes to codify a new framework for determining distinct staple food varieties and accessory foods (such as snacks, desserts, and foods meant to complement or supplement meals, which do not themselves count as staple foods) for purposes of meeting the staple food requirements for retailer participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rulemaking is necessary to implement the codified stocking requirements of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which increased the minimum number of staple food varieties and perishables SNAP retailers must carry. A summary of this notice of proposed rulemaking is posted on regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FNS- 2025-0018.
Comments close Nov 24, 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
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this rule to implement the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (FW), which provides payments to eligible livestock producers for losses as a result of increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire (excluding wildfires on federally managed land) in calendar years 2023 and 2024. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. This rule also amends the regulation for ELRP 2023 and 2024, which provides assistance for qualifying drought and qualifying wildfire on federally managed land, to specify that it has a combined payment limitation with ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW and to provide program deadlines.
Comments close Oct 31, 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
FSIS is proposing to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS). Mandibular lymph nodes ("lymph nodes") incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is proposing to amend the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to "incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera" as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post-mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also proposing to amend the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change would allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
Comments close Oct 20, 2025
Due to a technical problem with the docket that prevented comments from being accepted during part of the initial comment period, FNS is reopening the comment period for the interim final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 6, 2025. The rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.
Comments close Sep 8, 2025
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), an agency of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a final rule with comment to update the accounting requirements for RUS Electric Program borrowers. These changes include adding new accounts to the Uniform System of Accounts (USoA), deleting obsolete accounts and clarifying instructions and definitions for the new and some existing accounts. In addition, new accounts and general instructions are being added for partially extinguished or forgiven debt.
Comments close Aug 18, 2025
This interim final rule modifies the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and removes various USDA agency regulations for implementing NEPA. USDA is taking this action in response to the Council on Environmental Quality's rescission of its NEPA implementing regulations (which USDA's NEPA regulations were designed to supplement), statutory changes to NEPA, executive orders, and case law. Comments are voluntarily requested on this action to inform USDA's decision-making.
Comments close Jul 30, 2025
FSIS is proposing to remove the standard of identity for canned "Tripe with Milk." Although some establishments may continue to produce canned tripe with milk products, FSIS has determined that the existing standard for the finished canned article is unnecessary. The preamble to the rule that established the standard in 1950 did not provide any explanation or justification for the standard. Removal of the standard would provide greater flexibility for establishments. FSIS' labeling requirements are sufficient to ensure that these products are not misbranded.
Comments close Jul 30, 2025
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), proposes to amend its regulation to implement changes related to income calculation and net family assets for properties that receive funding from the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and the Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing Direct Loan and Grant programs. These proposed changes are intended to align the Agency's annual income certification requirements with the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA).
Comments close Aug 29, 2025
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency of the Rural Development (RD), within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a proposed rule to amend its regulation that will require applicants (lenders) to submit a market study as part of the complete application for the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) loan guarantee. This change will require all applicants to use a market study when demonstrating market need for new construction.
Comments close Aug 29, 2025
We are proposing to remove the requirement that horses offered for importation to the United States be accompanied by documentation of pre-export examination occurring within 48 hours of departure from the port of embarkation endorsed by a salaried veterinary medical officer. We have found that logistical barriers prevent affected parties from meeting this requirement at this time, and that the other requirements of the regulations are sufficient to ensure that imported horses are free of diseases and pests of livestock.
Comments close Aug 19, 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 rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.
Comments close Jul 7, 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
On May 7, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register a final rule amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection program. The final rule went into effect on October 1, 2024, with the exception of the removal of an exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft, which was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2025. In this document, we are issuing a postponement of the effective date of the removal of the exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft for 60 days, from April 1, 2025, to June 2, 2025.
Comments close Apr 21, 2025
On May 8, 2024, we published a final rule amending the horse protection regulations. The amendments to the final rule initially scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025, were delayed until April 2, 2025. In this document, we are further delaying the effective date of the amendments effective April 2, 2025, to February 1, 2026. We are also seeking comment on whether the length of this postponement should be extended and soliciting any supplemental information that may help inform a decision regarding an appropriate length of postponement.
Comments close May 20, 2025
We are reopening the comment period for our interim rule that would amend the regulations pertaining to conditions for payment of indemnity for highly pathogenic avian influenza. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Comments close Apr 14, 2025
We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would create the regulations governing the US Swine Health Improvement Plan, a voluntary livestock improvement program aimed at improving biosecurity, traceability, and disease surveillance for swine health. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Comments close Mar 31, 2025
The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is reopening the comment period for 30 days to allow the public additional time to provide comments on our regulation that allowed revenue coverage for flax under the Small Grain Crop Insurance Provisions, combined written agreement deadlines in the Dry Bean Crop Insurance Provisions to match other insurance policies, expanded the availability of enterprise and optional units for some specialty and perennial crops, and made clarifications and corrections to the Area Risk Protection Insurance, Basic Provisions; Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions; and several Crop Provisions published on November 27, 2024 and effective on November 30, 2024.
Comments close Mar 12, 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (the Department) is issuing this proposed rule to formally incorporate by reference the FNS Handbook 310 into SNAP regulations. By doing so, the Department is ensuring that the public receives a notice and comment period prior to implementation of revisions to the Handbook, which is the standard operating procedure manual for conducting quality control (QC) reviews of SNAP cases. The Department also proposes to remove reference to FNS Handbook 311 until it can be incorporated by reference. The Department requests comment on these proposed provisions.
Comments close Mar 4, 2025
This rule revises the regulations of the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) Programs, and the Sugar Program to conform with provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Changes to the supplemental disaster assistance programs include ELAP assistance for losses due to bird depredation and a change to honeybee colony loss normal mortality; a lower drought threshold for LFP eligibility; LIP assistance for unborn death losses and changes to compensation for predation losses and the market values used in the LIP payment calculations; and changes to the TAP eligibility threshold and reimbursement percentage for certain costs. This rule increases the MAL and LDP loan rates for all eligible commodities for the 2026 through 2031 crop years as specified by OBBBA. Additional MAL and LDP changes for upland and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton required by OBBBA include revised formulas to calculate the prevailing world market price for upland cotton, the introduction of a prevailing world market price and adjusted world price for ELS cotton, and changes to the payment of cotton storage costs by area. Additionally, FSA is amending regulations to add provisions for a 30- day post-repayment loan review in which a refund for upland cotton repayment or an additional LDP disbursement could occur. Sugar Program changes are related to effective loan rates, storage rates, and sugar marketing allocation provisions. This rule also makes minor administrative changes to the Sugar Program regulations. Technical amendments are included for grains and similarly handled commodities, and honey. This rule also makes additional changes to the regulations for those programs to update eligibility and payment provisions, clarify program requirements, and improve program integrity. This rule also updates the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) provisions to indicate that 2026 is the final crop year covered by the program, and makes corrections to the regulations for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Programs and Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program.
The Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Program (also referred to as the Section 9003 program) provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. Collectively, Rural Development's guaranteed loan programs assist in building and maintaining sustainable rural communities. This final rule incorporates revisions intended to clarify, improve, and enhance the delivery of the loan guarantee program.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provides funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) for fiscal years 2025 through 2031, and, as a result, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this rule to establish OCCSP for 2025 and future program years. The rule specifies the eligibility criteria and payment calculation for OCCSP, which are consistent with how CCC has administered OCCSP in previous years by Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs). Prior NOFAs also established the opportunity for State agencies to enter into agreements to administer OCCSP; these provisions are also included in this rule. The rule also establishes the application process and deadlines for eligible producers and handlers who apply through FSA county offices.
This document corrects a technical error in the final rule that appeared in the April 3, 2026, Federal Register, titled "National Environmental Policy Act."
This final rule revises technical guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the carbon intensity of agricultural commodity crops used in the production of biofuels relative to an estimated national average that were established by a prior January 2025 interim rule. Specifically, the January 2025 interim rule established guidelines for the implementation, reporting, verification, and quantification of carbon intensity (CI) of certain agricultural commodities at the field-scale. This final rule makes revisions to the January 2025 interim rule that were requested by commenters or that are otherwise necessary because of intervening Executive action. The revised guidelines articulate an approach for farm producers to quantify the change in net emissions associated with crops produced using one or more authorized practices. The revised guidelines also articulate a framework for how information regarding emissions, resulting from the production of biofuel feedstock commodity crops, could be reported and tracked throughout the supply chain.
On April 18, 2024, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) published a final rule that revised the WIC food package regulations. The final rule contained incorrect table entries. This rule corrects those tables. In addition to the corrections, this rule extends the implementation date for WIC State agencies to meet the vitamin D fortification requirement for yogurts by 36 months. The extension is due to limited marketplace availability of acceptable yogurts, as described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
By this rule, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) amends its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (7 CFR part 15) to eliminate disparate-impact liability. These amendments align USDA's regulations with the original public meaning of this statute, avoid constitutional concerns, reduce compliance costs, and serve the public interest. In addition, these revisions conform to Executive Order 14281.
The final rule entitled Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program was published on June 1, 2026. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on June 1, 2026. This document announces approval of the ICR.
This rule revises the payment limitation and payment eligibility regulations to conform with provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This rule also makes additional changes to those regulations to improve program administration and clarify and update existing provisions.
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this rule to provide assistance to producers of eligible specialty crops through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. These one-time bridge payments will help address elevated input costs incurred by producers and market disruptions stemming from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede specialty crop exports.
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.
FSIS is amending its regulations to end mandatory mandibular lymph nodes ("lymph nodes") incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments (i.e., establishments operating under traditional swine slaughter inspection or the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS)). Mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses are not needed to ensure food safety, as FSIS swine condemnation rates are low and disease conditions that are condemnable defects can be detected visually through other pathological changes in the carcass and its parts. Therefore, FSIS is amending the meat inspection regulations to remove requirements for establishment sorters to "incise mandibular lymph nodes and palpate the viscera" as part of their sorting activities before FSIS post- mortem inspection in NSIS establishments. FSIS is also amending the post-mortem swine inspection staffing standards table applicable to swine slaughter establishments operating under traditional inspection. This change will allow FSIS more flexibility to assign inspection program personnel (IPP) based on the establishment's line configuration, other establishment operations, and FSIS staffing needs.
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 with comment period ("final rule") expands fluid milk options by allowing schools and child and adult care providers participating in Child Nutrition Programs to offer whole and reduced-fat milk to participants two years and older. This rule codifies milkfat requirements following enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and supports the statutory requirements for meals to align with the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. By removing previous fluid milkfat-content restrictions, this deregulatory rule restores flexibility to Program operators, allowing them to offer a greater variety of fluid milk options, including whole and reduced- fat milk, to meet the nutrition needs and preferences of the children and adults they serve.
This rule codifies a new framework for determining distinct staple food varieties for meeting staple food stocking requirements for retailer participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This rule is needed to implement the previously codified provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 which increased the minimum number of staple food varieties a SNAP retailer must carry from three to seven in each of four staple food categories and the number of food categories for which at least one perishable variety must be provided from two to three. These changes aim to ensure that SNAP retailers can effectively serve SNAP participants by offering a wider variety of staple foods.
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.
FSIS is removing the regulations for the standard of identity for canned "Tripe with Milk." Although some establishments may continue to produce canned tripe with milk products, FSIS has determined that the existing standard for the finished canned article is unnecessary. Removal of the standard will provide greater flexibility for establishments. FSIS' labeling requirements are sufficient to ensure that these products are not misbranded.
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.
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will implement changes related to insurance requirements under the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) Direct Loan and Grant programs. This final rule will align RD insurance coverage types, amounts, and deductibles with affordable housing industry standards to simplify the coverage amounts, deductible limits, and improve customer experience with updated and understandable insurance requirements.
The Office of the Secretary (OSEC) is in the process of reviewing regulations within its purview to reduce regulatory burdens and costs. Pursuant to this review, OSEC identified obsolete, unnecessary, and outdated provisions in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). OSEC is removing the provision identified in Part 15f to streamline and clarify the dictates of Title 7 of the CFR.
