Summary

• The Tribal Advisory Committee is hosting a two-day (Dec. 10-11) hybrid meeting during the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Participants must register to join the meeting in-person, through a virtual webinar, and by telephone.  

• Registration is open for the FDPIR Tribal Consultation on Dec. 9, 2024. In preparation for the consultation, ITOs and Tribal leaders will hold a Tribal briefing on Sunday, Dec. 8 in the early evening;email agpolicy@uark.edu for more information. An online Tribal briefing will be held on Dec. 4, 2024.  

• IFAI and the National Association of FDPIR programs created a draft comment letter for Tribes and Tribal Organizations to use for USDA FNS’s FDPIR participant study information request. 

• USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is requesting comments about information collection activities regarding the Food Delivery Portal.  

• IFAI analyzed Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s proposed Farm Bill text here.  

• Join IFAI at the upcoming IAC Annual Conference! Visit our table in the Exhibitor and Sponsor Hall and attend insightful sessions featuring IFAI staff throughout the event. 

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings

Title of Event: FDPIR Supply Chain Disruptions Follow-Up Consultation 

About: This event will be a continuation of the FDPIR Supply Chain Disruptions Follow-Up Consultation held on Oct. 9, 2024. Short, medium, and long-term response actions from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will form the basis for this consultation.  

Consultation Date(s):  

Dec. 9, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  

• In person attendance will be during the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Annual Conference at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

• • Virtual participation will be available through Zoom Link – use link below to register whether attending in-person or virtually,

Title of Event: Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting 

About: The Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) is hosting a two-day hybrid meeting (in-person, virtual webinar, and call-in options) for its fourth convening with the ongoing goal to provide advice and guidance to USDA on matters related to Tribal and Indian affairs. An agenda will be made available through this link. 

Meeting Date(s): 

• Dec. 10, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (approx.) pacific.  
  Room Madison C/D at the Palm’s Casino Resort 

• Dec. 11, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (approx.) pacific.  
  Room Kaos at the Palm’s Casino Resort  

Prospective participants must register to attend this meeting, including provide oral public comments. Members of the public may file written comments via email to Tribal.Relations@usda.gov by Dec. 5, 2024.

We will have a table in the Exhibitor and Sponsor Hall, as well as several sessions our staff are speaking at listed below:

• Dec. 8 and 9
  • FDPIR Caucus and Consultation
    • Email agpolicy@uark.edu for caucus or consultation information.
• Dec. 10
  • 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.—The Farm Bill and Indian Country’s Priorities with Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Executive Director of IFAI)
    • The Native Farm Bill Coalition — composed of Tribes and Tribal organizations across Indian Country — works to advance Native priorities in the Farm Bill, a critical piece of legislation that reauthorizes and establishes new USDA programs and offices, ranging from farm and ranch disaster, conservation and lending programs to nutrition programming like the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, rural development programs, the Office of Tribal Relations, Tribal self-determination authority, and more.
    • Join us to learn more about Tribal priorities included in the most recent Farm Bill text, ongoing advocacy efforts, and next steps for passing the Farm Bill. Be sure to bring your questions as well – there will be plenty of time for Q&A!
• 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.—Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Overview and Resource Highlight with Will Seeley (Tribal Enterprise Manager)
  • This session examines the critical role of meat and poultry processing in enhancing food sovereignty and economic resilience for Native producers in the coming year. Learn about the latest resources, partnerships, and innovative strategies that are supporting Tribal-led processing initiatives, empowering communities to capture greater value from their livestock and provide locally produced foods. We’ll discuss actionable steps toward building robust, Native-owned processing infrastructure.
• Dec. 11
  • 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.—Leveraging Nutrition Programs to Grow Tribal Food & Ag with John VanPool (Associate Director of Policy, Research, and Tribal Governance) and Kelli Case (Senior Staff Attorney)
    • Join us as we explore how the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative Staff and Diné/Navajo Dietitian, Denee Bex, are utilizing nutrition programs to foster growth in Native food and agriculture systems. This session combines policy, nutrition and hands-on knowledge to discuss how to access and optimize these programs. This session will highlight how to create opportunities to supply fresh, local, and traditional foods to communities and schools. These efforts are driving economic growth, promoting food sovereignty, and creating sustained positive health outcomes in Indian Country.
• Dec. 12
  • 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.—Tribal Food Safety with Steven Shedd (Director of Tribal Enterprise) and Will Seeley (Tribal Enterprise Manager)
    • This session will provide an overview of food safety within Tribal communities and its impact on public health and economic development in the new year. Participants will learn about best practices, regulatory updates, and resources available to enhance food safety protocols in Tribal food systems.

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

There were no hearings relevant to Indian Country Agriculture last week. 

Looking ahead:

There are no hearings relevant to Indian Country Agriculture this week. 

Nomination opportunities: 

• Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee– open nominations 

If you’re interested in seeking more information on nominations, reach out to agpolicy@uark.edu.

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

Title: Price Discovery and Competition in Markets for Fed Cattle – Extension of Comment Period 

• USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). 

• AMS seeks stakeholder comments on options about base prices in formula pricing agreements to encourage fare and competitive trading environments in fed cattle markets.  

• For more than 20 years, producers have complained about issues such as unfair prices they are paid for fed cattle, difficulty negotiating with packers, and predatory pricing strategies that favored only some players.  

• New comment submission deadline is Jan. 10, 2025 

Posted: Week of Nov. 25, 2024 

• USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking comments about collection of information in the web-based system called Food Delivery Portal (FDP). 

• FDP is a data collection system that enhances FNS’ data collection, storage, and reporting.  

• Indian Tribal Organizations are among the 33 non-geographic State agencies that administer the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) that uses the FDP.  

• FDP is part of the monitoring efforts that FNS undertakes to provide Congress, senior FNS officials, and the public.  

• Comments must be received by Jan. 2, 2025. 

Posted: Week of Dec. 2, 2024 

• USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service issued a final rule that will strengthen SNAP’s Employment and Training Program. 

• The final rule requirements include: 

• State agencies to develop reporting measures and report outcome data to the Department. 

• The Department is required to monitor and assess the effectiveness of State agencies’ E&T programs. 

• The final rule enables the Department to determine the overall effectiveness of the E&T program in assisting participants obtain skills and employment.  

• The effective date is Jan. 17, 2025 

Posted: Week of Nov. 18, 2024