Summary
- Congress is in recess through this week, but check out our blog from last week on the recent anniversary of Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) and its impact in Tribal food and agriculture.
- The Food and Nutrition Service is requesting comments about the 2027 Farm to School Census by April 25, 2025. Make your voice heard by using this link.
- Mark your calendars for the upcoming USDA Tribal Advisory Committee’s hybrid meeting on May 7-8, 2025 that is taking place in Washington D.C.
- The Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs is holding a series of Tribal consultations from May 20 – June 6 with Tribes to receive input on departmental operational improvements in Executive Order 14210.
- USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seek public comments on Generic Clearance for Survey Research Studies and final programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Outbreak Response Activities for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Poultry, respectively.
Calendar
Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings
Title of Event: Indian Affairs Workforce Efficiency and Productivity – EO14210
About: The U.S. Department of Interior Indian Affairs will conduct a series of Tribal consultations
with federally recognized Tribes to receive formal input on how the Department and its agencies (including the Bureau of Indian Affairs) can implement operational improvements. The consultations vary in format: virtual and/or in-person.
Date(s), Time, and Location:
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- May 20, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time – Alaska Register Here
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- May 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time – California Register Here
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- May 27, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time – Albuquerque Register Here
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- May 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time – Minnesota Register Here
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- May 30, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time – Virtual Register Here
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- June 3, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time – Oklahoma Register Here
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- June 5, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time – Washington, DC Register Here
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- June 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time – Virtual Register Here
Written comments must be submitted by July 7, 2025 either by email to consultation@bia.gov or by mail to the Department of the Interior, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 229, Albuquerque, NM 87104.
Congressional Sessions:
Looking back:
Congress was on recess.
Looking ahead:
There are no hearings relevant to Indian Country Ag this week.
Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions
Title: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for ERS Generic Clearance for Survey Research Studies
- USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) is requesting comments about its request for generic clearance to conduct research improving the quality of data collection.
- The objective is to develop, test, and evaluate the agency’s survey instruments, methodologies, technology, interview processes, and respondent recruitment protocols.
- ERS provides research and analysis that inform policies related to agriculture, food, and the environment.
- Comments submitted within 30 days (May 18, 2025) of this publication will be considered.
Posted: Week of April 21, 2025
Title: Notice of Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Outbreak Response Activities for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Poultry
- USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks comments about a notice of the final programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) for outbreak response activities for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPIA) outbreaks in poultry in the U.S.
- HPIA is a serious livestock disease whose first outbreak after 20 years occurred in February 2004 in Texas.
- The final programmatic EIS offers three alternatives with the preferred being the Federal Operational Assistance with Biosecurity and Incentive Alternative.
- Under this alternative, poultry owners and producers are expected to resume business as quickly as possible.
- Comments submitted by May 19, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of April 21, 2025