C-FARE Review of NASS Prices Program

A Review of the USDA NASS Agricultural Prices Program: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century
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Full Document updated 11.04.09
Errata sheet for documents printed prior to 11.04.09
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click here for Press Release
click here for Fact Sheet

C-FARE Review of the Census of Agriculture

"Improving Information About America's Farms & Ranches"
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"Improving Information About America's Farms & Ranches"
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Press Release for C-FARE Review of the Census of Agriculture
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Fact Sheet: C-FARE Review of the Census of Agriculture
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Regulatory and Legislative Action Updates

Consumer Concerns, Food, Health and Safety

HB 2751 - FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
Introduced by Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13)
Passed both Chambers in the 111th Congress

HB 6552 - Single Food Safety Agency Act of 2010
Introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3)

A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish in the Department of Agriculture a Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
SB 3986 Introduced by Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrandt (NY) and HB 6462 Introduced by Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13)

Cooperative Agreement with the World Health Organization for a Plan to Develop a Global Integrated Food Safety Information Platform
October 5, 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 192; Page 61503)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces its intention to accept and consider a single source application for awarding a cooperative agreement to the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses, to develop a plan for a global integrated food safety information system or platform in partnership with the WHO Secretariat and the Member States.

Future Technologies and Infrastructure Investments

SB 20 - Clean Energy Standard Act of 2010
Introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (SC)

Agriculture’s Global Competitiveness and Profitability

HB 6517 - Omnibus Trade Act of 2010
Introduced by Congressman Sander M. Levin (MI-12)

Change in Disease Status of Japan Because of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
October 25, 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 205; Pages 65431-65432)

USDA APHIS is amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products by removing Japan from the list of regions considered to be free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and also from the list of FMD-free regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with FMD- or rinderpest-affected countries. We are taking this action because the existence of FMD has been confirmed in Japan. This action restricts the importation of ruminants and swine and the fresh meat and other animal products of ruminants and swine from that country and is necessary to prevent the introduction of FMD into the United States.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program
October 27, 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 207; Page 65995-66007)

This document presents the Record of Decision (ROD) regarding FSA implementation of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) as provided for in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency (FSA) prepared a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for BCAP. A Notice of Availability (NOA) of that PEIS was published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2010. This decision record summarizes the reasons FSA has selected the Proposed Action Alternatives taking into account the program's expected environmental and socioeconomic impacts and benefits as documented in the PEIS, all of which were considered in this decision.

Economic Opportunities in Rural Areas

SB 4030 - A bill to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to establish a community-supported agriculture promotion program.
Introduced by Senator Bernard Sanders (VT)

HB 4785 - Rural Energy Savings Program Act
Introduced by Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-6)

Environmental and Natural Resource Issues

SB 787 - Clean Water Restoration Act
Introduced by Senator Russell D. Feingold (WI)

EPA Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: 2011 Renewable Fuel Standards
December 9, 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 236; Pages 76789-76830)

The Environmental Protection Agency is required to set the renewable fuel standards each November for the following year based on gasoline and diesel projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Additionally, EPA is required to set the cellulosic biofuel standard each year based on the volume projected to be available during the following year. This action establishes annual percentage standards under Clean Air Act section 211(o) for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuels that apply to all gasoline and diesel produced or imported in calendar year 2011. We have determined that the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel on which the percentage standard should be based is 6.0 million ethanol-equivalent gallons. We believe that available volumes of cellulosic biofuel could be significantly higher in 2012. This action also finalizes two changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program regulations: modifications to the delayed RINs provision which provides a temporary and limited means for certain renewable fuel producers to generate RINs after they have produced and sold renewable fuel, and a new process for parties to petition EPA to authorize use of an aggregate approach to compliance with the renewable biomass provision for foreign feedstocks akin to that applicable to the U.S. Finally, this action makes two administrative announcements, one regarding the price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits for 2011, and another regarding the status of the aggregate compliance provision for domestic crops.

Grassland Reserve Program
November 2, 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, Number 228; Pages 73911-73934)

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009, an interim final rule for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) with a 60-day public comment period. On August 21, 2009, the CCC published an amendment to the interim final rule and reopened the public comment period for an additional 60 days. The CCC is publishing a final rule that incorporates the changes associated with passage of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act) and addresses the comments received during the public comment periods.

Other Legislation and Regulations

To view the legislation visit http://thomas.loc.gov/, select the option that will allow you to search by "Bill Number".

America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
SB 3605 Introduced by Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV), and HB 5116 Introduced by Congressman Bart Gordon (TN-6)

HB 3082 - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
Introduced by Congressman Chet Edwards (TX-17)

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