Notice2021-18136
Stakeholder Listening Session and Request for Information on the Value-Added Producer Grant Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 24, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Business-Cooperative Service
Abstract
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is hosting a listening session and opening a request for information for public input about the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. RBCS is currently considering how it can streamline the application process, clarify eligibility requirements concerning food safety, reduce the burden for meeting requirements, and implement such requirements.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47284-47286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18136]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket No. RBS-21-BUSINESS-019]
Stakeholder Listening Session and Request for Information on the
Value-Added Producer Grant Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) is hosting a
listening session and opening a request for information for public
input about the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The VAPG
program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities
related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of
this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing
opportunities, and increase producer income. RBCS is currently
considering how it can streamline the application process, clarify
eligibility requirements concerning food safety, reduce the burden for
meeting requirements, and implement such requirements.
DATES: The listening session will be held on:
October 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET
<a href="https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/574045542162812683">https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/574045542162812683</a>
Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(EST) on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
ADDRESSES: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and, in the ``Search'' box, type in the Docket No.
RBS-21-BUSINESS-0019. A link to the Notice will appear. You may submit
a comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you can access
the ``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the ``Browse &
Comment on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that have been
submitted as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, select the
``comment'' button, complete the required information, and select the
``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. Information on using
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, including instructions for accessing documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link at the
bottom. Comments on this information collection must be received by
October 25, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg York, Program Management
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3226, Room 5801--South,
Washington, DC 20250-3250, or call 202-720-1400, or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abc8dbccd9cac5dfd8ebdccfc885ded8cfca85ccc4dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abc8dbccd9cac5dfd8ebdccfc885ded8cfca85ccc4dd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview of VAPG
The VAPG program is authorized under section 231 of the Agriculture
Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-224), as amended by section
10102 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334) (see
7 U.S.C.
[[Page 47285]]
1627c). Applicants must adhere to the requirements contained in the
program regulation, 7 CFR 4284, subpart J. Terms you need to understand
are defined in 7 CFR 4284.902.
The objective of this grant program is to assist viable Independent
Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher
Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses in
starting or expanding value-added activities related to the processing
and/or marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products. Grants will be
awarded competitively for either planning or working capital projects
directly related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added
products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing
opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of the
program. All proposals must demonstrate economic viability and
sustainability to compete for funding.
Instructions
Response to this notice is voluntary. Each individual or
institution is requested to submit only one response as directed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Submission must not exceed 10 pages
and fonts must be 12 point or larger, with a page number on each page.
Responses should include the name of the person(s) or organization(s)
filing the comment. Comments containing references, studies, research,
and other empirical data that are not widely published should include
copies or electronic links of the referenced materials. Comments
containing profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate
language or content will not be considered. Comments submitted in
response to this notice are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). Responses to this notice may
also be posted, without change, on a Federal website.
Therefore, we request that no business proprietary information,
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be
submitted in response to this notice. In accordance with FAR 52-215-
3(b), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by
the Government to form a binding contract. Additionally, the U.S.
Government will not pay for response preparation or for the use of any
information contained in the response.
To inform the Federal government's decision-making process, RBCS
now seeks public input on the following questions.
1. The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) added
food safety and food safety equipment as eligible use of program funds.
RBCS is seeking feedback on applicant eligibility requirements as it
relates to food safety and food safety equipment.
a. The 2018 Farm Bill requires food safety to be an eligible
activity in 7 CFR part 4284 Subpart J. In defining food safety, what
can be included in the definition to further assist the applicants with
understanding what qualifies as food safety?
b. The 2018 Farm Bill requires food safety equipment to be an
eligible expense in 7 CFR part 4284 Subpart J. What can be included in
the definition of food safety equipment to further assist the
applicants with understanding what qualifies as food safety equipment?
c. The 2018 Farm Bill allows expenses relating to costs incurred in
obtaining food safety certifications. Given that eligible cost must be
related to post-harvest value-added activities for the VAPG program,
what type of food safety certifications should be included as eligible
expenses?
d. The 2018 Farm Bill allows for recipients to make changes and
upgrades to food safety practices. Given that eligible costs for the
VAPG program must be related to post-harvest value-added food safety
practices, what would you like to see as eligible uses of funds?
e. The 2018 Farm Bill further states that a recipient may use not
more than $6,500 of the amount of a grant to purchase or upgrade
equipment to improve food safety. Given that eligible cost for the VAPG
program must be related to post-harvest value-added activities, what
would you like to see included as eligible uses of funds as it relates
to food safety equipment?
f. The 2018 Farm Bill requires that a reserve be established for
food safety assistance of not more than 25 percent of the available
funds. However, other statutory reserved fund categories (set-aside)
such as Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Socially-Disadvantaged Farmer or
Rancher, and Mid-Tier Value Chain projects are each currently capped at
10 percent of program funds. Are there any compelling reasons to
establish a food safety set-aside higher than 10 percent?
2. RBCS is seeking feedback on the submission of a Business Plan
related to a VAPG project. Currently, the VAPG program requires the
Business Plan be completed by a Qualified Consultant and specifically
for the proposed value-added project. However, RBCS has considered
changing this requirement to allow applicants to prepare their own
Business Plan associated with the value-added project without the
assistance of a Qualified Consultant. Should an applicant be allowed to
prepare their own Business Plan without the assistance of a Qualified
Consultant? Are there any unforeseen issues with allowing the applicant
to prepare their own Business Plan?
3. RBCS is seeking feedback for evaluating and measuring the
economic impact of the program on new and existing market outcomes
related to the post-harvest value-added activities. Currently our
program measures the production of value-added products, job creation,
and increases in revenue return and customer base to the producer as a
result of the value-added project. Are there other outcomes related to
the value-added project that RBCS should be measuring?
4. RBCS seeks feedback on when the application deadline for the
program should be. It is our intention to have a consistent deadline
from year to year, rather than released at variable times through a
Federal Register Notice. In keeping with traditional agricultural
production cycles, we are trying to avoid an application deadline
during production season. What would be an appropriate application
deadline date for the VAPG program?
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived
from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at
[[Page 47286]]
<a href="https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027">https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027</a>, from any USDA office, by
calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The
letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number,
and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
(ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.
The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e090928f8792818dce898e94818b85a095938481ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7101031e1603101c5f181f05101a1431040215105f161e07">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18136 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 24, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.