Summary
Although Congress remains on recess for this final week of August 2024, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative has curated a list of important dates, events, and policy-related information. Here are the highlights:
- USDA announced an emergency Tribal Consultation on September 12 regarding the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) disruptions. IFAI will facilitate a Tribal Caucus on September 5 in preparation for an emergency USDA consultation. Register for the Tribal Caucus at bit.ly/EMFDPIR24.
- The Tribal Advisory Committee will have its third meeting on September 5, set to take place virtually with a public comment period from 6 to 7 p.m. eastern. Find more information and how to attend at usda.gov/tribalrelations/advisory-committee.
- Registration is still open for the Department of Interior’s scheduled virtual consultations and listening session in September about a proposed rule on Federal acknowledgment of Indian Tribes.
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- There are Federal Register notices on the annual School Meals Operations Study, Tribal sponsorship for watershed projects, and the extended comment period regarding the fair and competitive livestock and poultry markets rule.
Key Policy-Related Dates
Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:
Title of Event: Proposed Rule: Federal Acknowledgment of Indian Tribes (25 CFR 83)
About: Groups petitioning for Federal acknowledgment as Indian Tribes and groups seeking to re-petition for Federal acknowledgment are invited to attend two virtual consultation sessions and one listening session
Consultation Date(s):
- September 3, 2024: 12:00 p.m. central.
Listening Session Date(s):
- September 5, 2024: 2:00 p.m. central.
Title of Event: Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
About: This is the third meeting of the Tribal Advisory Committee in its role to provide advice and guidance to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on issues pertaining to Tribal and Indian affairs. A copy of the agenda will be published once available.
Meeting Date(s):
- September 5, 2024: 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. eastern.
- Members of the public wanting to give oral comments to the Committee, must arrive by 5:00 p.m. eastern on September 5, 2024, and will be expected to limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes per person.
Title of Event: FDPIR Warehouse Issues – Tribal Consultation and Listening Session
About: USDA will meet with Tribal leaders about the recent Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) supply chain disruptions, which are affecting inventory levels at CSFP and FDPIR sites.
Consultation Date(s):
- September 12, 2024: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. eastern.
Title of Event: NAFDPIR Tribal Caucus
About: The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) will facilitate a Tribal Caucus in preparation for the USDA Tribal Consultation and Listening Sessions on the recent FDPIR warehouse issues. IFAI and NAFDPIR staff can provide attendees background on the national warehouse issue as well as proposed solutions and overviews of the consultation process happening on September 12.
Caucus Date(s):
- September 5, 2024: 1:30 p.m. central.
Congressional updates
Looking Back:
Congress was not in session last week.
Looking Ahead:
There are no Congressional Hearings relevant to Indian Country Agriculture this week.
Nomination Opportunities:
There are no nominations at this time.
Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions:
Title: Submission for OMB Review on the School Meals Operations Study
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting comments on the School Meals Operations Study, which helps the Agency answer annual research questions about child nutrition programs.
- Information collected informs the budget process, current policy interests, training and technical assistance for State agencies and school food authorities, as well as identify child nutrition program trends.
- Comments received by September 23, 2024 will be considered.
Posted: Week of August 26, 2024
Title: Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets – Extension of comment period
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a rule that would define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market.
- The purpose of this proposed rule is to promote fair and competitive markets in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.
- Comments must be received by September 11, 2024
Posted: Week of August 26, 2024
Title: Tribe or Tribal Organization Sponsor for Watershed Projects
- USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has issued a final rule on regulations, allowing Tribes or Tribal organizations to sponsor watershed projects.
- Effective August 14, 2024, federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, or Tribal organizations will be allowed to become watershed project sponsors.
- This rule increases Tribal ability to be a sponsor for watershed projects such as preventing damage and erosion as well as conservation efforts to develop, utilize, and dispose water.
- Comments submitted by September 13, 2024, will be considered.
Posted: Week of August 26
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities: CSFP Participant Characteristics and Program Operations Study.
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking written comments from the public, including Tribal governments.
- The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides USDA foods to low-income seniors aged 60 years and older.
- The main objective for this study is for FNS to better understand the characteristics of people participating in the program, how the program is operated, as well as success and challenges in CSFP.
- Comments submitted by October 4, 2024 will be considered.
Posted: Week of August 12
Title: Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency is requesting comments about a final rule effective September 25, 2024. The rule includes amendments to the Farm Loan Programs (FLP), implementation of the Distressed Borrower Set-Aside (DBSA) Program, and other changes.
- The DBSA will allow the borrower to defer one annual loan installment at a reduced interest rate.
- FLP will also amend its regulations to improve program access and delivery.
- Comments submitted by October 7, 2024, will be considered.
Posted: Week of August 12
Title: Submission for OMB Review; Information Collection regarding Assessing Equity in Work Requirements and SNAP Employment and Training
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is requesting comments about assessing equity in the administration of SNAP work requirements and Employment and Training services.
- Objectives for this study include:
- “Identify areas in the administration of work requirements in SNAP and in SNAP E&T program administration and access where equity issues could occur.”
- “Describe how State agencies address equity in administering work requirements in their SNAP and SNAP E&T programs.
- Comments submitted by September 9, 2024 will be considered.
Posted: Week of August 1