Department of Agriculture

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.

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.

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 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.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights is correcting a final rule which appeared in the Federal Register on March 4, 2024. This final rule amends the USDA's regulations to clarify protections for beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries of federally funded social services and the rights and obligations of organizations providing such services. The overarching goal of the regulation noted the rule is intended to cover recipients and subrecipients of domestic social service programs. However, the regulatory language did not reference social service programs. The current regulatory text specifies the policy applies to all recipients and subrecipients of USDA assistance to which USDA uniform administrative requirements for recipients applies, and to recipients and subrecipients of Commodity Credit Corporation assistance that is administered by agencies of USDA. The amendment will specifically state the rule is intended to cover recipients and subrecipients of USDA domestic social service programs to which USDA uniform administrative requirements for recipients applies.

This document revises the delegations of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture and general officers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reflect changes and additions to the delegations, as described below.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), amends 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 changes are intended to align the Agency's annual income certification requirements with the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA).

We are removing 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. This action removes the requirement, while keeping in place other requirements of the regulations.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) has extended its Simple Transfer Pilot Program until December 31, 2027. This initiative streamlines transfers for certain USDA Section 514 Farm Labor Housing and 515 Rural Rental Housing properties. The program simplifies extensive application requirements, previously applied to all property ownership changes, for less complex transactions. This aims to reduce costs and improve processing times. RHS will evaluate the program's effectiveness, with successful changes potentially incorporated into permanent regulations to encourage property preservation and portfolio revitalization.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting the interim final rule (IFR) published on July 3, 2025, with minor changes, as final. The IFR revised departmental regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and removed various USDA agency regulations for implementing NEPA. The IFR was in response to the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) rescission of its NEPA implementing regulations (which USDA's NEPA regulations were designed to supplement), statutory changes to NEPA, executive orders, and case law. In the IFR, USDA provided a 30-day comment period for the public to review and make comments. This final rule addresses public comments and adopts as final the IFR, with certain substantive changes as explained herein.

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.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is amending its regulations regarding final agency determinations and interpretations of the Federal Crop Insurance Act and its associated regulations. This action is necessary to align agency procedures with Supreme Court precedent and the Administrative Procedure Act, ensuring that interpretive determinations are not improperly characterized as legislative rules. The effect of this rule is to clarify that final agency determinations are not matters of general applicability and are binding only on the parties requesting them. Furthermore, this rule removes provisions that previously attempted to make such determinations binding on independent adjudicators, such as Federal judges and the National Appeals Division. This final rule will also remove Federal crop insurance policy provisions from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This action modernizes program administration by discontinuing the practice of codifying detailed insurance contracts in regulation. Policy terms will continue to be published through official program materials and made available on the Risk Management Agency (RMA) website. This change does not affect the statutory authority of FCIC or the availability of crop insurance coverage.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency) is issuing a final rule revising the definition of a ski area in its special use regulations. The revised definition aligns more closely with the Forest Service's statutory authority for ski area administration and reduces burden on the agency and special use permit holders.

The United States Department of Agriculture (Department), Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), is issuing this final rule to update its special uses regulations on filming and still photography to be consistent with the new requirements in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act or Act). The technical revisions include adding a statutory reference to the EXPLORE Act and updating terminology and definitions to be consistent with the Act.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) Agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is amending its regulations to grant Delegated Lenders participating in the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) the authority to make loans and obtain Loan Note Guarantees after closing using automated loan underwriting and closing systems.

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.

The Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service Agency (FSA) are making technical corrections to the regulations for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) and the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program. The changes for SDRP correct the Stage 2 eligibility provisions for producers of sugar beets and some producers who had Federal crop insurance coverage under a Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage policy; the provisions related to calculation of the quality loss percentage for Stage 1 and Stage 2; and paragraph references and the order of steps for some Stage 2 payment calculations. The correction for DMC addresses eligibility of dairy operations that have stopped producing and marketing milk before or during the annual coverage election period.

The final rule entitled Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program was published on February 23, 2026. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on February 26, 2026. This document announces approval of the ICR.

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 Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), an agency of the Rural Development (RD) mission area within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this final rule to rescind the regulatory requirement of the minimum 30-day notice for nonpayment of rent before the start of eviction proceedings in Rural Housing Service (RHS) Section 515 and 514 Multi-Family Housing (MFH) properties, and the requirement for borrowers to provide Federal emergency funding information during a Presidentially declared national emergency. The final rule, "30-Day Notification of Nonpayment of Rent in Multi-Family Housing Direct Loan Programs" (30-Day Notice Final Rule), effective on April 24, 2024, introduced additional regulatory oversight for RHS MFH properties that proved unnecessary because compliance with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) 30 day notice is generally captured by MFH project management requirements. Additionally, the requirement for the borrower to disseminate information on Federal funding available during a Presidentially declared national emergency will be rescinded, as RHS will distribute the associated information during such circumstances.

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).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this rule to provide $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Payments under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program are intended in part to aid producers until assistance from provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), notably increases in reference prices to major covered commodities, reach eligible famers after October 1, 2026.

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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) is finalizing revisions to its regulations governing Federal oil and gas resources within the National Forest System (NFS). The Department is making these revisions to update and modernize its existing regulations. In addition, conforming technical amendments to other parts of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) affected by this rule are also being updated. The regulations revise the process for analyzing whether the USDA, Forest Service will consent to making certain lands available for oil and gas leasing by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The regulations also clarify requirements for conducting lease operations and revise procedures concerning monitoring operator compliance with all applicable terms and conditions of leasing. The revised regulations will apply to operations on both existing and future leases.

On May 8, 2024, we published a final rule amending the horse protection regulations. The provisions of the final rule, initially scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025, were delayed until April 2, 2025. On March 21, 2025, we published a further delay of the effective date to February 1, 2026, and a request for comment on whether the length of the postponement should be extended. In this document, based on intervening developments since the issuance of the March 21, 2025 delay of effective date, we are further delaying the effective date of the provisions effective February 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

This rule revises the provisions of the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC), and Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) programs to conform with provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). OBBBA authorized modifications to the 2025 crop year ARC and PLC programs and the continuation of the ARC and PLC programs for the 2026 through 2031 crop years. The modified provisions are related to the reference prices, the effective reference prices, base acres, program elections, and payment provisions. OBBBA also authorized DMC for calendar years 2026 through 2031, providing participating dairy operations with the ability to establish a new production history. In addition, the Tier 1 coverage level was increased by 1 million pounds of milk to a 6-million-pound limit and eligibility for multi-year (lock-in) contracts was maintained until December 30, 2031. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is also making minor administrative changes and updates to the ARC, PLC, and DMC regulations and the regulations that apply to multiple FSA programs.

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.

On December 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a final rule that went into effect on February 12, 2024. The rule amended the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) regulations to implement the provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 (ABFA) and make related amendments. In reviewing the resulting changes to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), FNS found that the final rule inadvertently omitted provisions from the CFR and contained several non-substantive errors. This document corrects those errors in the WIC regulations.

Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), collectively referred to as the Agency in this document, published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2024, a final rule with request for comments. Through this action, the agencies are confirming the final rule as it was published and providing responses to the public comments that were received.

On September 30, 2024, Rural Development's Rural Business- Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a final rule with comment for the OneRD Guarantee Loan Program (OneRD). The final rule made necessary revisions to the policy and procedures that strengthened the oversight and management of the growing Community Facilities, Water and Waste Disposal, Business and Industry, and Rural Energy for America guarantee portfolios. Following implementation of this final rule, the Agency found that corrections were necessary due to an incorrect definition of affiliate, and a section and sentence that were removed erroneously. This document corrects the final regulation.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is amending its regulations to implement changes required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and to update, streamline, and clarify several crop insurance policies. The changes include clarifying the harvest price methodology, deregulating regionalized program dates and moving that information to the Special Provisions, removing regulatory barriers to direct marketing, incorporating quality adjustment and claims processes, updating FCIC contact information used to request interpretations of policy, and making plain language clarifications and corrections to Subpart X--Interpretations of Statutory Provisions, Policy Provisions, and Procedures; the Area Risk Protection Insurance, Basic Provisions; the Common Crop Insurance Policy, Basic Provisions; and several Crop Provisions. In addition, the changes include removing buy-up coverage for prevented planting in the crop insurance program. The changes will be effective for the 2026 and succeeding crop years for crops with a contract change date on or after November 30, 2025. For all other crops, the changes to the policies made in this rule are applicable for the 2027 and succeeding crop years.

The final rule entitled Agricultural Disaster Indemnity Programs was published on November 18, 2025. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on November 17, 2025. This document announces approval of the ICR.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this rule to provide assistance for eligible quality losses under Stage 1 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) and to implement Stage 2 of SDRP, the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program (OFSCLP), and the Milk Loss Program (MLP), all of which will provide assistance using funding authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025. SDRP provides payments to eligible producers for losses of crops, trees, bushes, and vines due to qualifying disaster events that occurred in calendar year 2023 or 2024. SDRP Stage 1 uses a streamlined process for eligible crop, tree, and vine losses that were previously indemnified under Federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), while SDRP Stage 2 covers losses of eligible crops, trees, bushes, and vines for which a producer did not have crop insurance or NAP coverage, as well as losses that were insured or covered by NAP but not severe enough to trigger an indemnity. OFSCLP provides payments to eligible producers who suffered uncompensated losses of harvested commodities stored in on-farm structures as a result of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze, including a polar vortex, smoke exposure, qualifying drought, and related conditions that occurred in calendar year 2023 or 2024. MLP provides payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions that occurred in calendar year 2023 or 2024. This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations for these programs. It also announces deadlines and adds quality loss assistance provisions for SDRP Stage 1. This rule also extends the deadl

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 document corrects the Docket ID number that appeared in an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2025, that is seeking public comment for the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act: Revisions to Reporting Requirements. USDA is requesting a correction to the Docket ID Number FSA-2024-0005. Docket ID should be read as USDA-2026-0001.

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

Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA) requires a subsistence priority for rural Alaska residents on federal public lands in Alaska, currently administered jointly by Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretaries). The Office of the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaska Affairs and the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture are conducting a targeted review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program (Program) with joint recommendations for action to ensure the Program effectively and efficiently meets the needs of Alaska residents and the Secretaries' obligations under ANILCA. The focus of this review is on recent regulatory and organizational changes to the Program, along with discrete areas of interest. The scope of this review is intentionally targeted to build upon and evaluate the most recent Program review and changes with the benefit of the experience gained through implementation of those changes to date. A subsequent process is anticipated for any regulatory changes to the Program based on this review.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.