CFAP still on hold

On day one, the Biden Administration halted the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to conduct a review. The February 26 deadline was eliminated, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has continued to accept applications during the evaluation period. Interested farmers will have an additional 30 days to sign up after the decision is announced.

FSIS to Host Webinar on Egg Products Final Rule’s Impact on Imports and Exports

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will host a webinar on the impact of the Egg Products Inspection Regulations final rule on import and export programs from 2 to 4 p.m. ET on Monday, March 22. Participants must register in advance. Confirmation, with a unique Attendee ID and webinar link, will be emailed after registration.

AMS check-in meeting

On March 11, UEP met with AMS for the first virtual check-in meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The meeting was limited to the UEP executive committee and covered activities concerning USDA egg purchases, Market News egg reporting opportunities, COVID-19 policies for Shell Egg Graders, and AMS certified shell egg exports. AMS has promised to work with UEP to adjust participation and topics for future check-ins to best suit the egg industry's current interests.

USDA AMS seeking comments

AMS requests comments on a new draft specification for Hard Cooked Eggs. Please submit comments to anjeanette.johnson@usda.gov by Wednesday, March 31.

USDA Seeks Comments on Coronavirus Response Grants, Will Host Listening Session

USDA Seeks Comments on Food Purchase Program, Will Host Listening Session

AMS schedules webinar on organic rule and India

The National Organic Program (NOP) is changing its rules for organic imports from India, and has scheduled a webinar to explain the changes, several of which take effect in July. The same webinar will be offered twice on March 31, first at 1 p.m. Eastern, and again at 11 p.m. Eastern.

AMS Assistant National Shell Egg Supervisor Change

Victor Barajas retired from USDA AMS as Assistant National Shell Egg Supervisor at the end of 2020 after serving for more than 36 years. AMS has selected Jed Warnock to fill this position. Warnock joined AMS in 2010 as a poultry and shell egg grader. Previously, Warnock supervised the shell egg grading program in the CO, UT, AZ, MT areas for the past five years.