[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47284-47286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18136]


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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.

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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
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/574045542162812683

    Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 
(EST) on https://www.regulations.gov.

ADDRESSES: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov 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 
Regulations.gov, 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 
[email protected].

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]]

https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, 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: [email protected].
    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