USDA Seeks OMB Review for Critical Information Collections Enhancing Livestock Reporting, Grain Export Waivers, and Organic Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA has formally presented three critical information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget OMB for review, as documented in the Federal Register on October 28, 2026. These submissions, issued under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, encompass essential updates to the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, the United States Grain Standards Act's export waiver for specialty grains, and the National Organic Program's Strengthening Organic Enforcement SOE final rule. These actions are designed to enhance market transparency, streamline trade, and fortify the integrity of organic agricultural products. Interested parties have until November 27, 2026, to submit their comments, offering a crucial window for public input on regulations that carry significant implications for producers, processors, and consumers across the agricultural landscape.

Enhancing Livestock Market Transparency

The first submission concerns the renewal of information collection requirements for the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, identified under OMB Control Number 0581-0186. This foundational legislation authorizes the collection and reporting of vital data on prices and quantities of livestock and livestock products. The Agricultural Marketing Service AMS of the USDA has administered the Livestock Mandatory Reporting LMR program since 2001, providing critical market intelligence.

The LMR program has seen multiple reauthorizations, extending its reach through legislative acts such as the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015, which initially extended it for five years. Subsequent extensions were enacted through the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2021 and 2022, securing the program's continuity through September 30, 2022. The program mandates reporting from specific entities: livestock packing plants that annually slaughter an average of 125,000 cattle, 100,000 barrows and gilts, or 200,000 sows and boars. Additionally, plants that slaughter or process an average of 35,000 lambs, along with importers bringing in an average of 1,000 metric tons of lamb meat products annually, are required to report.

This data is indispensable for AMS, which uses it to publish over 100 daily, weekly, and monthly reports covering transactions for fed cattle, swine, lamb, beef, lamb meat, and pork. These reports are crucial tools for producers, helping them make informed marketing decisions. The information collected, primarily through electronic means, supports the proper functioning of AMS in delivering timely market information. The estimated annual burden for the 118 respondents involved in this collection is 23,712 hours, reflecting the significant ongoing commitment to market transparency.

Streamlining Specialty Grain Exports

The second information collection request, under OMB Control Number 0581-0306, addresses the Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver for High-Quality Specialty Grains. This waiver operates under the authority of the United States Grain Standards Act USGSA, which generally mandates official certification for export grain by grade. In 2011, the Federal Grain Inspection Service FGIS finalized a rule making permanent a waiver for high-quality specialty grains exported in containers, exempting them from mandatory inspection and weighing requirements. This waiver, originally set to expire, is a measure to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining quality assurances.

To ensure compliance with this waiver, FGIS requires exporters to maintain records generated during their normal course of business related to these shipments. These documents must be made available to FGIS upon request. This recordkeeping requirement is deemed essential because FGIS has no other practical means to monitor adherence to the waiver's provisions. FGIS believes that existing grain contracts, which specify quality parameters agreed upon by buyers and sellers, provide sufficient information to verify compliance. FGIS intends to request copies of relevant documents annually and requires exporters to retain these records for a three-year period. This collection impacts 40 business respondents, with an estimated total burden of 240 hours, representing a targeted approach to oversight.

Bolstering Organic Integrity Across the Supply Chain

The third and most extensive information collection concerns the National Organic Program: Strengthening Organic Enforcement SOE final rule, designated OMB Control Number 0581-0321. This rule, built upon the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 OFPA, represents a significant update to the regulatory framework governing organically produced agricultural products. Administered by AMS, the NOP seeks to bolster oversight and enforcement following insights gained from complaint investigations, certifying agent audits, recommendations from a 2017 Office of Inspector General OIG audit, numerous recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board NOSB between 2002 and 2018, and extensive industry stakeholder feedback. It also incorporates amendments from the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

The SOE final rule introduces comprehensive amendments and new requirements to the USDA organic regulations, focusing on four primary objectives: strengthening organic control systems, improving organic import oversight, clarifying organic certification standards, and enhancing supply chain traceability. Specific provisions are wide-ranging and include mandating certification for new groups of handlers, brokers, and traders involved in organic product transactions. It also requires additional information on nonretail labels, new procedures to strengthen traceability, the use of federated organic certificates, and unannounced on-site inspections. Furthermore, the rule necessitates import certificates for all imported organic products, additional inspector training and qualifications, more rigorous review of foreign conformity systems, and the development of electronic data management systems for certification and trade traceability. Clarified compliance and appeals processes for certifying agents and organic operations are also integral to the rule.

The information collected under this rule is utilized by the USDA, state program officials, and certifying agents. It is generated by a broad spectrum of stakeholders including accredited certifying agents, certified organic producers and handlers, those seeking or maintaining accreditation or certification, organic inspectors, and state and foreign program officials. With an estimated 51,091 respondents, this collection carries a substantial total burden of 231,617 hours annually, reflecting the profound impact and increased regulatory diligence intended by the SOE rule.

Overall Implications and Next Steps

The USDA's requests for OMB review underscore a proactive stance in adapting federal regulations to evolving agricultural markets and public demands for transparency and integrity. The comment period, concluding November 27, 2026, is a critical phase for affected businesses and stakeholders to voice concerns or offer suggestions. The Paperwork Reduction Act mandates that agencies minimize the burden of information collection while ensuring its practical utility. Public feedback is specifically sought on the necessity and utility of the information, the accuracy of burden estimates, and ways to enhance clarity and minimize the reporting burden, including through technological solutions. These reviews are not mere formalities; they represent an opportunity for public engagement to shape the practical implementation of federal agricultural policy. The outcomes of these reviews will determine the final form of these information collection requirements, directly influencing operational practices, compliance costs, and market dynamics across the U.S. agricultural sector.