Department of Agriculture
Federal agency responsible for regulations under Department of Agriculture.
11 regulationsAgricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act: Revisions to Reporting Requirements; Correction
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is updating rules that require foreign investors to report when they buy or own agricultural land in America. This helps the government track foreign ownership of farmland and protect American agricultural interests.
Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act: Revisions to Reporting Requirements
The USDA is proposing changes to how foreign investors must report their purchases and ownership of American farmland. These reporting requirements help the government track foreign investment in U.S. agriculture and protect American farming interests.
National Environmental Policy Act; Technical Correction
The USDA is making a technical correction to how it follows the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to study environmental impacts before making decisions. This fix ensures the USDA properly evaluates how its actions affect the environment and keeps the public informed.
National Environmental Policy Act; Technical Correction
The USDA is making a technical correction to how it follows the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to study and disclose the environmental effects of their actions before making decisions. This fix ensures the USDA's environmental review process works correctly and consistently.
Removal of Unconstitutional Preferences Based on Race and Sex in Response to Court Ruling
The USDA is removing policies that gave special consideration to applicants based on race or sex in response to a court ruling that found such preferences unconstitutional. This affects USDA programs including loans, grants, and contracts that previously took these factors into account when making decisions about who receives benefits.
National Environmental Policy Act
The USDA is updating how federal projects involving agriculture and natural resources are evaluated for environmental impacts before approval. This rule ensures that farming projects, land management decisions, and food production activities are reviewed for effects on air, water, soil, and wildlife to protect the environment and public health.
Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment
The USDA is increasing the dollar amounts of fines it can impose on people and companies that violate its rules, adjusting them for inflation so penalties keep pace with rising costs. This means violations that were fined $1,000 a decade ago might now result in larger fines to maintain the same deterrent effect.
National Organic Program; Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards: Living Conditions, Transport, and Slaughter
This proposed rule would establish specific animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry under the USDA National Organic Program. It specifies minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements, enrichment standards, maximum transport durations, and requirements for humane handling during slaughter, addressing a longstanding gap in the organic certification program.
Privacy Act Regulations; Delay of Effective Date
The USDA is postponing when new privacy rules protecting your personal information will take effect. This delay gives the department more time to prepare systems and guidance before enforcing stricter rules about how it handles and shares data about farmers, program participants, and other people it interacts with.
Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is establishing new technical guidelines for crops grown using climate-smart farming practices that will be converted into biofuel (fuel made from plants). These guidelines help farmers understand which sustainable farming methods qualify for this program and set standards for how these crops should be grown and processed.
Privacy Act Regulations
The USDA has updated its Privacy Act regulations to clarify how the department collects, uses, and protects personal information about farmers, food producers, and people who interact with USDA programs. These rules ensure that your personal data is handled responsibly and that you have the right to know what information the USDA has about you.