July 29, 2022

Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending July 22, 2022

Antitrust:  Federal Poultry Processing Wage Suppression Suit Alleging National Conspiracy Survives Motions to Dismiss 🌾
On July 19, 2022, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued an opinion on five motions to dismiss the third amended complaint in this 2019 putative class action case titled Judy Jein, et al. v. Perdue Farms, Inc., et al. No. 19-2521 (USDC MD), based upon Sherman Act antitrust violations on behalf of workers at various poultry processing plants. The class action alleges that the defendant manufacturers conspired to depress wages and share compensation data in order to do so. The twenty-six named defendants are a virtual roster of the U.S. poultry industry, including Perdue, Tyson, Sanderson, Wayne, Jennie-O Mountaire, Butterball, Mar-Jac, Koch, Fieldale, Foster and many others.  The Court denied all motions to dismiss, and challenges to Plaintiff’s standing and personal jurisdiction over defendants, except for motions to dismiss by Defendants Jennie-O Turkey and Mountaire claiming insufficient allegations of their participation in a conspiracy to suppress wages. The litigation will now continue towards trial on all remaining allegations.

Water Quality: Bell & Evans Subsidiary Settles Suit Over Six Years of Unpermitted Nitrogen Discharges into Chesapeake Tributaries
On July 21, 2022, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association announced a settlement by Consent Decree of its 2019 federal lawsuit against Keystone Protein as a result of six years of Clean Water Act and NPDES Permit violations from unpermitted nitrogen discharges between 2014 – 2020 into Chesapeake Bay tributaries from its Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania rendering operation. Susquehanna Riverkeeper et al v. Keystone Protein Company, No. 1:19-cv-01307.  The plant is wholly owned and operated by the national organic poultry industry leader Sechler Family Foods, Inc. and the Bell & Evans poultry brand. The violation and liability for them had not been in doubts since the federal court had granted summary judgment against Keystone Protein in February 2021. The lawsuit remained pending to address damages only.  For details on the lawsuit, see Agricultural Law Weekly Review—Week Ending February 26, 2021, “Federal Judge Grants Summary Judgment Against Keystone Protein for Years of Violating Nitrogen Discharge Permit Levels.”  Terms of the settlement are outlined in the Consent Decree and include funding of multiple water quality restoration and remediation efforts and projects totaling $1 million and attorneys’ fees.

Antitrust: Poultry Price-Fixing Defendant Additionally Indicted for Obstruction and Witness Tampering during Grand Jury Proceeding
On July 13, 2022, the United States Justice Department (DOJ) supplemented the criminal price-fixing charges against a former Pilgrim’s Pride general manager Timothy Stiller with a superseding indictment alleging that he attempted to obstruct a grand jury investigation by tampering with a witness. United States v. Timothy Stiller, et al., 1:21-cr-00246-DDD.  Stiller, as well as three other Pilgrim’s Pride executives, were charged by the DOJ in a July 2021 criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The original charges included conspiring to suppress competition, rig bids, and fix prices for broiler chicken, and the new charges allege that Stiller attempted to alter or destroy phones he had in his possession and that he told a witness to review and withhold documents from a grand jury investigation.

International Trade: International Trade Commission Votes Against Fertilizer Ingredient Tariffs
On July 18, 2022, The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted against imposing tariffs on urea ammonium nitrate imports from Russia, Trinidad, and Tobago based upon alleged price-dumping. The USITC determined that the import of urea ammonium nitrate from these countries does not injure or threaten U.S. industry, and therefore tariffs are not necessary. According to the USITC, 14% of UAN consumed in the U.S. in 2021 for fertilizer manufacturing was imported by the three counties at issue, valued at $700 million. Its use was articulated by USITC as follows: “Urea ammonium nitrate solutions (UAN) are a class of nitrogen fertilizers primarily composed of urea, ammonium nitrate, and water. The production of UAN uses natural gas as the primary input to manufacture ammonia, which is subsequently and separately transformed into urea and ammonium nitrate. These two kinds of nitrogen fertilizers are then mixed in roughly equal amounts with water to yield a solution with 28-32 percent nitrogen content. Urea and ammonium nitrate provide crop nutrition at different stages of plant growth. As a liquid, UAN can easily be blended with other fertilizers and pesticides during application.”

Biofuels: Petition for Review Filed Challenging Recently Set RFS Standards
On July 20, 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity announced the filing of a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent annual Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020, 2021, and 2022 contained at 87 F.R. 39600.

Food Labeling: Petition for Review Challenges FSIS Approval of Animal Handling Claims
On June 27, 2022, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a petition for rulemaking with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) requesting that FSIS begin rulemaking procedures to eliminate from its label-approval process any labeling regarding animal handling or confinement conditions in animal production because FSIS has no jurisdiction to regulate those practices and cannot inspect for compliance.

Food Safety: FDA Proposes Revised FSMA Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Requirement Compliance Dates
On July 18, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule for compliance dates with FSMA’s pre-harvest agricultural water provisions for covered produce (other than sprouts). The FDA proposed to amend the agricultural water provisions in December of 2021 to allow for pre-harvest testing requirements to be easier to implement and more adaptable to future conditions. The proposed compliance dates are:

  • 2 years and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for very small businesses;
  • 1 year and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for small businesses; and
  • 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses.

The comment period for the proposed pre-harvest compliance dates will be open until September 19, 2022. Comments can be submitted on the proposed rule on the website of the Federal Register.

Animal Health: Swine Hemorrhagic Fevers Surveillance Plan Updated
On July 15, 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released an update to their surveillance plan for swine hemorrhagic fevers. USDA updated their Surveillance Plan for African Swine Fever (AFS) in 2021 when cases were confirmed in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This update reflects those changes.

Agricultural Finance:  Farm Credit Administration Solicits Public Comment
On July 14, 2022, the Farm Credit Administration issued a notice of intent and a request for comment regarding the appropriateness of FCA’s regulatory requirements on the Farm Credit System. The notice seeks comment on all FCA regulations that became effective before January 1, 2022. The public has 90 days to submit comments, and they can be submitted through e-mail to reg-comm@fca.gov or through the public comment form.

Water Quality: Pennsylvania Submits Final Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan
On July 19, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an amended Pennsylvania Phase 3 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan, Final August 2019, AMENDED July 2022 reflecting, among other things, the new programs and funding contained in the Pennsylvania FY 2022-23 Budget bills, most notably the creation of the Clean Streams Fund providing funding of approximately $154 million to the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to implement new Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program grants for the purpose of “preventing nutrient and sediment pollution” in impaired waters, including those including within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

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PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

Agricultural Law Podcasts:

219. PA General Assembly Passes Increased Ag and Chesapeake Bay Budget, Federal Court Holds FIFRA Does Not Preempt State Glyphosate Claims (July 27, 2022)
218. EPA Releases Latest Bay Progress Modeling & Bader Farms Remanded on Punitive Damages Only (July 22, 2022)
217. Raw Butter, Ammonia Air Emissions & NPDES Permits, and PA’s Biodiesel Mandate (July 15. 2022)
216. SCOTUS Declines to Hear Bayer Roundup Verdict Appeals (July 6, 202)
215 SCOTUS Update: Sackett v. EPA (June 28, 2022)
214. SCOTUS Update: National Pork Producers Council v. Ross (June 23, 2022)
213. New HPAI Cases Nearly Zero and Renewable Fuel Standards Volume Set (June 15, 2022)

Events:

Webinar Series: Understanding Agricultural Law. A free monthly webinar series via Zoom for general practice attorneys and business advisors of all kinds representing agricultural and rural clients. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania licensed attorneys at no charge. More info and Registration. Recordings and materials of prior webinars in the series:

Webinar Series: Legal Planning for Specialty Crop Producers. A free periodic webinar series via Zoom. Register at any time to watch recordings of past, and attend all future, sessions, as well as access the webinar materials. Prior webinars in the series:

Webinar Series: Dairy Quarterly Legal Webinar. A free quarterly webinar series via Zoom covering legal and regulatory developments in the U.S. dairy industry from the preceding quarter, plus an in-depth look at a single focus topic of law, regulation, or government policy of interest to dairy professionals. One hour of substantive CLE credit available for Pennsylvania licensed attorneys at no charge. More info and registration.

  • Upcoming:
    • July 26, 2022, noon ET. 2nd Quarter of 2022—In addition to a round-up of quarterly legal developments, the focus topic will be labeling of plant-based foods and beverages being manufactured and sold as substitutes for milk and dairy.
    • October 25, 2022, noon ET. 3rd Quarter of 2022—In addition to a round-up of quarterly legal developments, the focus topic will be the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill and the potential implications for the dairy industry.

Webinar: July 21, 2022, 3:00 ET. The Business of Farming and Ranching presented by USDA and SBA. Free. Presented by the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center (SBDC) who state, “Learn about online tools available from the USDA and SBA to help you start, grow and succeed in your farming, ranching or related business. Topics covered will include how to access funding, developing business acumen, where to find local assistance & basics of selling to the government. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about federal programs and services during this session.” Register.

Webinar: August 9, 2022, 10 am – 2 pm ET. Why Isn’t Hemp in Animal Feed?  A Discussion an Overcoming Challenges & Gaining Approval. Free.  Presented by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC), who state, “Fifteen leading experts from feed manufacturing, hemp production, scientific research and regulatory oversight will come together for a three-part panel discussion, Q&A and complex conversation around: Scientific research and data; Ingredient review and approval; Interests and concerns everyone is facing. The goal is to connect with industry peers and share meaningful dialog around overcoming the challenges and moving forward together so hemp can become a safe and beneficial feed ingredient.”  Register.

In-person workshop: August 16, 2022, 1 – 5 pm ET. Business Planning for Veteran Agribusinesses, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery, New Tripoli, PA. Free. Presented by the PA Veteran Farming Project network, who state “Workshop registration is free and open to eligible veterans, AD, Guard/Reserve and spouses of these. Be prepared to present proof of service.” Register.

Agricultural Law & Policy Resources of Interest:  

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., Environmental Law Highlight: Developments From the First Half of 2022, Brigit Rollins (July 21, 2022).

Nat’l Agric. Law Ctr., The Legality of Food Labeling Claims: Claims Brought by Competitors and Consumers, Jana Caracciolo (July 19, 2022).

Univ. Md. Risk Mgmt. Educ. Blog, OSHA Inspections Of Farms To Include Heat Preparedness, Nicole Cook (July 19, 2022).

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, Using Multiple Entities for Transition of Farming Operation, Robert Moore, (July 21, 2022).

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, New lease termination law applies to farm lease landlords, Peggy Kirk Hall (July 19, 2022).

Ohio St. Univ. Ext. Farm Off. Blog, Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2022, Barry Ward, F. John Barker, Eric Richer (July 18, 2022).

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, July 22, 2022 Weekly Round Up, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet
(July 22, 2022).

Tex. A&M Agric. Law Blog, Direct Beef Sales Handbook Available!, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet (July 18, 2022).

Hoard’s Dairyman, New FDA residue testing project coming soon (July 18, 2022).

New York Times, A North Dakota City Attracted a Corn Mill. Then Came Questions About Its Chinese Owners. Mitch Smith (July 17, 2022).

Eater, Meet Alaska’s Last Milk Man, Julia O’Malley (July 13, 2022).

NPR, The Senate is nearing a deal on immigration that could also lower food prices, Ximena Bustillo (July 18, 2022).

CNN, The truth, and strategy, of food expiration dates, Daniele Wiener-Bronner (July 17, 2022).

Nat’l Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PAYMENT CAPS ON CROP INSURANCE SUBSIDIES, Eric J. Belasco (June 2022).

Am. Farm Bur. Fed. Market Intel, What is the (Food and) Farm Bill and Why Does It Matter?

(July 20, 2022).

Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI, Ag Interrupted Podcast Series, Cheese Changes Everything (June 29, 2022).

Progressive Farmer, Beginning Farmers and Taxes: Five Things New Farmers Should Know About Taxes, Chris Clayton (July 22, 2022).

Progressive Farmer, NC Ag on Labor and H-2A Overhaul: Year-Round H-2A Reforms in Senate Stuck on Farmworker Protection Provisions, Chris Clayton (July 20, 2022).

Progressive Farmer, Groups: Repair.org, PIRG Allege John Deere Repair Practices May Violate Clean Air Act, Todd Neeley (July 21, 2022).

Washington Post, Suit against Organic Valley calls separating cows from calves inhumane, Tim Carman (July 19, 2022).

Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Carbon farming takes root at Land O’ Lakes subsidiary, Christopher Vondracek (July 14, 2022).

Southern Ag Today, Fixtures and Farm Leases,  Christopher Clark (July 22, 2022).

Top #AgLaw HotLinks July 18 – July 22, 2022:

EU reviews dairy safety controls in Poland and Netherlands, (Food Safety Network)

Farm Bill hearing examines the state of credit for beginning, underserved producers, (Morning Ag Clips)

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Proposition 12 Case, (Southern Ag Today)

Lawmakers propose single food safety agency, (Meat+Poultry)

Enriched Milk Powder Market to Grow by Nearly 80% – Forecast, (Dairy Reporter)

Penn State News, Research & Resources:

PSU Ext., First 2022 Corn Tar Spot in Pennsylvania Found, (July 21, 2022).

PSU Ext., Northeast SARE 2023 Grant Webinar Recording Available, (July 20, 2022).

PSU Ext., Short-lived Forage Trial Results With Long-view Potential, (July 20, 2022).

PSU Ext., Will Penn State’s Enology Extension Educator Be Visiting Your Winery Soon?, (July 20, 2022).

PSU Ext., Governor Wolf Signs Turfgrass Fertilizer Bill into Law, (July 20, 2022).

PSU Ext., Blue Mold Found Growing in Tobacco Field in Lancaster County, (July 19, 2022).

PSU Ext., Fungicide Considerations for Corn and Soybean, (July 19, 2022).

‘Produce Pointers’ podcast delivers timely information for growers (July 22, 2022).

Ag Progress Days tours cover livestock, forest management, water quality (July 21, 2022).

Torrey pine genetic research may benefit efforts to save chestnut, ash trees (July 20, 2022).

Agricultural engineers design early step for robotic, green-fruit thinning (July 18, 2022).

Water community introduces new council members, director of research (July 18, 2022).

Agriculture-Related Legislative Hearings & Reports:

U.S. House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, An Examination of the USDA Hemp Production Program, July 28, 2022, 10 am ET.

U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Environment, Regenerative Agriculture: How Farmers and Ranchers are Essential to Solving Climate Change and Increasing Food Production, July 19, 2022, 2 pm ET. Webcast.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Farm Commodities and Risk Management, A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Stakeholder Perspectives on Title XI Crop Insurance, July 20, 2022, 10 am ET.  Webcast.

Pennsylvania Farm/Food Employers’ Listserv (PFEL) is a human resources networking group exclusively for farm and food employers. Subscribe by email with “subscribe” in the subject line to pfel-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu.

___________________________________________________________________

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PRESS RELEASES

USDA Announces Increased Funding for School Meals, Child and Adult Care Meals (July 22, 2022).

Forest Service Taking Emergency Action to Protect Giant Sequoias (July 22, 2022).

Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (July 20, 2022).

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Strengthen Infant Formula Access Resiliency in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (July 18, 2022).

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) PRESS RELEASES

EPA Regional Administrator visits Two Urban Agriculture Sites in Metro Atlanta (July 21, 2022).

EPA Awards Nearly $100,000 to University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Team for Drinking Water Research (July 20, 2022).

EPA announces unprecedented $29 million for San Francisco Bay watershed restoration grants (July 20, 2022).

EPA Proposes Interim Cleanup Plans for Groundwater at Washington County Lead District Superfund Sites in Missouri (July 19, 2022).

EPA Awards $25K Research Grant to University of Missouri Students to Address PFAS in Drinking Water (July 19, 2022).

Commission for Environmental Cooperation Launches Second Round of $2 Million Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience Grant Program (July 18, 2022).

USDA AGENCY PRESS RELEASES:

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

USDA Announces Idaho Signs Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (July 22, 2022).

USDA Restricts PACA Violators in Florida, New York and Texas from Operating in the Produce Industry (July 20, 2022).

USDA Announces Montana State Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (July 19, 2022).

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

New ARS Food and Nutrition Research Briefs Issued (July 18, 2022).

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Florida (July 22, 2022).

Solutions through Science: Exploring Emerging Genetic Technologies (July 20, 2022).

Economic Research Service (ERS)

Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industries (July 19, 2022).

Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (July 20, 2022).

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

USDA Announces Increased Funding for School Meals, Child and Adult Care Meals (July 22, 2022).

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Strengthen Infant Formula Access Resiliency in WIC (July 18, 2022).

USDA Partners with 30 States and Territories to Issue Child Food Benefits for Summer (July 18, 2022).

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

Ukraine Agricultural Production and Trade (July 22, 2022).

Export Sales to China (July 20, 2022).

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Whitley Kicks Off Philippines Trade Mission (July 18, 2022).

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Diversity and Inclusion in Agriculture: The Case for Missouri Latino Farmers and Ranchers (July 19, 2022).

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

United States cattle inventory down 2% (July 22, 2022).

National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (July 20, 2022).

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register  July 18 – 22, 2022):            

Agricultural Marketing Service

87 FR 43751 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “2020 Annual Updates to List of Bioengineered Foods” (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43222 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order-Decrease in Assessment Rate and Importer Assessments” (July 20, 2022).

Agriculture Department   

87 FR 43780 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Agricultural Resource Management and Chemical Use Surveys—Substantive Change]” (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43492 Notice: “Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Secure Rural Schools Act.]” (July 21, 2022).

Environmental Protection Agency

87 FR 43214 Rule: “Spiropidion; Pesticide Tolerances” (July 20, 2022).

87 FR 43231 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various June 2022” (July 20, 2022).

87 FR 43263 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Uses (June 2022)” (July 20, 2022).

87 FR 43028 Notice—Comment Period: “Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Treatment of Indian Tribes in a Similar Manner as States for Purposes of Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (Renewal)” (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 43029 Notice—Comment Period: “Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; National Water Quality Inventory Reports (Renewal)” (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 43035 Notice—Comment Period: “Pesticide Experimental Use Permit; Receipt of Application; Comment Request June 2022” (July 19, 2022).

Food and Drug Administration

87 FR 43872 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards” (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43274 Notice—Comment Period: “Fluorinated Polyethylene Containers for Food Contact Use; Request for Information” (July 20, 2022).

87 FR 43273 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packaging, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” (july 20, 2022).

87 FR 42973 Proposed Rule—Comment Period: “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Relating to Agricultural Water” (July 19, 2022).

Food Safety and Inspection Service

87 FR 42990 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Industry Responses to Noncompliance Records” (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 42991 Notice—Comment Period: “Notice of Request To Revise an Approved Information Collection: Certificates of Medical Examination” (July 19, 2022).

Food and Nutrition Service

87 FR 43450 Proposed Rule: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Revision of Civil Rights Data Collection Methods” (July 21, 2022).

87 FR 43492 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities: Summer Food Site Locations for State Agencies” (July 21, 2022).

Forest Service

87 FR 43494 Notice—Comment Period: “Superior National Forest; Minnesota; Rainy River Withdrawal Environmental Assessment” (July 21, 2022).

87 FR 42992 Notice: “Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee” (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 42993 Notice: “Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board” (July 19, 2022).

Geological Survey

87 FR 43547 Notice—Comment Period: “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Earthquake Hazards Program Research and Monitoring” (July 21, 2022).

International Trade Administration

87 FR 43786 Notice: “Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Colombia: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2020-2021″ (July 22, 2022).

Land Management Bureau

87 FR 43893 Notice: “Filing of Plats of Survey: Alaska” (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43894 Notice: “Public Land Order No. 7910; Extension of Public Land Order No. 7533; Withdrawal of National Forest System Land for the Holden Mine Reclamation Project, Washington” (July 22, 2022).

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

87 FR 43235 Rule: “Notice of Intent To Extend and Revise a Currently Approved Information Collection” (July 20, 2022).

87 FR 42949 Rule: “Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) Certification Process” July 19, 2022).

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

87 FR 43236 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant; OMB Control No.: 0570-0052″ (July 20, 2022).

Rural Housing Service

87 FR 43780 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Debt Settlement, Community and Business Programs; OMB Control No.: 0575-0124″ (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43781 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Analyzing Credit Needs and Graduation of Borrowers; OMB Control No.: 0575-0093″ (July 22, 2022).

87 FR 43782 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form RD 410-8 “Applicant Reference Letter” (A Request for Credit References); OMB Control No.: 0575-0091″ (July 22, 2022).

Rural Housing and Community Development Service

66 FR 37637 Notice: “Request for Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information Collection” (July 19, 2022).

Rural Utilities Service

87 FR 42994 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Request for Approval To Sell Capital Assets; OMB Control No. 0572-0020″ (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 42995 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants; OMB Control No. 0572-0110″ (July 19, 2022).

87 FR 42996 Notice—Comment Period: “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Wholesale Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Electric Power; OMB Control No. 0572-0089″ (July 19, 2022).

U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE:

H.R.8475 “To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide emergency relief to producers of livestock with herds adversely affected by Mexican gray wolves, and for other purposes” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (July 21, 2022).

H.R.8449 “To establish and maintain a coordinated program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that improves wildfire, fire weather, fire risk, and smoke related forecasting, detection, modeling, observations, and service delivery, and to address growing needs in the wildland-urban interface, and for other purposes” Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (July 21, 2022).

H.R.8432 “To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, and for other purposes” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (July 20, 2022).

H.R.6337 “Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act” Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (July 20, 2022).

H.R.8425 “To amend the Food, Agriculture, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish a grant program for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (July 19, 2022).

H.R.8168 “Save Our Sequoias Act” Sponsor introductory remarks on measure (July 19, 2022).

H.Res.1234 “Expressing support for regenerative agriculture and other conservation practices to support more sustainable and resilient agriculture, and compensating farmers for providing environmental services” Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (July 19, 2022).

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY:

S.4585 “A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to modify the pesticide registration process, and for other purposes” Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (July 21, 2022).

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PRESS RELEASES:           

Secretary Of Agriculture: Agriculture Is Strengthening Food Access In Urban Centers, Growing Resilient Communities (July 19, 2022).

Round-Up: Agriculture Secretary’s Weeklong Urban Ag Tour Highlights Critical Community Partnerships Feeding Pennsylvanians (July 19, 2022).

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 52, No. 30—July 23, 2022): 

Department of Agriculture

52 Pa.B. 4141 “Program Requirements for the Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program”

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

52 Pa.B. 4144 “Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council Public Meeting”

52 Pa.B. 4144 “Grant Funding for ATV or Snowmobile Projects and Programs”

52 Pa.B. 4145 “Wild Resource Conservation Program; Public Hearing”

Department of Environmental Protection 

52 Pa.B. 4145 “Applications, Actions and Special Notices”

52 Pa.B. 4204 “Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board Meeting Rescheduled”

Milk Marketing Board

52 Pa.B. 4210 “Hearing and Presubmission Schedule for All Milk Marketing Areas; Over-Order Premium”

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION

52 Pa.B. 4214 “Grandfathering Registration Notice”

52 Pa.B. 4214 “Projects Approved for Consumptive Uses of Water”

52 Pa.B. 4216 “Projects Approved for Minor Modifications”

52 Pa.B. 4216 “Public Hearing”

Written by:
Kendal Ashman—Research Assistant
Dillon Lightfoot—Research Assistant
Brook Duer—Staff Attorney