USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program

USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program

08/31/2018 02:04 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, August 31, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2018 (fiscal year 2019). The CCC is required by law to quarterly announce estimates of sugar to be purchased and sold under the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption forecasts.

VFD Drugs List

Antimicrobial drugs used in human medicine are no longer available to livestock producers over-the-counter. Instead they are now considered Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drugs, and the only time an animal producer can use VFD drugs in feed is when their use is ordered by a veterinarian. The reason for the change is to reduce the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance. Veterinarians have the training and experience to ensure judicious use of the drugs.

The change in status took place in 2017, and while the change has gone smoothly, we continue to receive questions.  Our approach to compliance with the VFD rule is to focus on outreach. The more animal producers know about the rule, the more likely they will comply with it.

Here is a reminder of the antimicrobial drugs that are now under VFD status. This list was published by FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. (Note: If this page does not display correctly, refer to the attached PDF version. That version is also available for further distribution.)

VFD drugs	Examples of proprietary drug names (Type A medicated articles used to manufacture medicated feed; all products might not be marketed as of 11/01/17)
apramycin
avilamycin – a VFD drug since approval	Kavault
chlortetracycline – CTC	Aureomycin, CLTC, CTC, Chloratet, Chlorachel, ChlorMax, Chlortetracycline, Deracin, Inchlor, Pennchlor, Pfichlor
chlortetracycline/sulfamethazine – a fixed ratio combination drug	Aureo S, Aureomix S, Pennchlor S
chlortetracycline/sulfamethazine/penicillin – a fixed ratio combination drug	Aureomix 500, Chlorachel/Pficlor SP, Pennchlor SP, ChlorMax SP
erythromycin
florfenicol – a VFD drug since approval	Aquaflor, Nuflor
hygromycin B	Hygromix
lincomycin	Lincomix
neomycin
oxytetracycline – OTC	TM, OXTC, Oxytetracycline, Pennox, Terramycin
oxytetracycline/neomycin – a fixed ratio combination drug	Neo-Oxy, Neo-Terramycin
penicillin	Penicillin, Penicillin G Procaine
sulfadimethoxine/ormetoprim – a fixed ratio combination drug	Rofenaid, Romet
sulfamerazine
sulfaquinoxaline
tilmicosin – a VFD drug since approval	Pulmotil, Tilmovet
tylosin	Tylan, Tylosin, Tylovet
tylosin/sulfamethazine – a fixed ratio combination drug	Tylan Sulfa G, Tylan Plus Sulfa G, Tylosin Plus Sulfamethazine
tylvalosin – a VFD drug since approval	Aivlosin
virginiamycin	Stafac, Virginiamycin, V-Max

Antimicrobial drugs that are not on this list and that are approved for use in or on animal feed with over-the-counter marketing status may continue to be used in feed without an order from a veterinarian.

If you have other questions about the VFD rule, look at our VFD webpage, https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm071807.htm.

The BLM Carlsbad Field Office would like to announce the release of the Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

The BLM Carlsbad Field Office would like to announce the release of the Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

The draft plan and supporting information are available at http://www.blm.gov/new-mexico/carlsbad-rmp.

The 90-day public comment period on the Draft RMP/EIS began August 3, 2018. The BLM will accept comments through November 5, 2018.

Please see attached Press Release for additional information.

--

Hector Gonzalez

Planning & Environmental Specialist + RMP Team Lead

BLM Carlsbad Field Office

620 E. Greene Street

Carlsbad, NM 88220

(575) 234-5968

USDA Launches Webpage Highlighting Resources to Help Rural Communities Bridge the Broadband e-Connectivity Infrastructure Gap

Release No. 0170.18

Contact:
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384

USDA Launches Webpage Highlighting Resources to Help Rural Communities Bridge the Broadband e-Connectivity Infrastructure Gap

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a new webpage featuring information about the importance of rural e-Connectivity and the ways the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing to help deploy high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural America.
“Rural high-speed broadband e-Connectivity is as important for economic development as rail, roads, bridges and airports – and as vital as the buildouts of rural telephone networks were decades ago,” Perdue said. “USDA is committed to being a strong partner with rural leaders in deploying this essential infrastructure.”
Reliable and affordable high-speed internet e-Connectivity acts as a catalyst for rural prosperity by enabling efficient, modern communications between rural American households, farms, ranches, businesses, schools and health care centers. Yet, according to the Federal Communications Commission, 80 percent of the 24 million Americans who lack broadband access live in rural areas and on tribal lands.
USDA plays an important role in helping rural communities bridge this infrastructure gap through program investment, strategic partnerships and best practice implementation by investing in rural telecommunications infrastructure. This new website will provide direct access to information on our decades-long programs that offer more than $700 million per year for modern broadband e-Connectivity in rural communities. In the coming months, USDA will almost double these longstanding programs with an additional $600 million to expand rural broadband infrastructure in unserved rural areas and tribal lands.
As we are working to set up the new pilot program, USDA wants to hear the thoughts and needs of Americans living and doing business in rural communities. The new website includes a feedback form for the general public and interested stakeholders to provide input on the design and requirements of the new pilot program.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump, which included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.