APHIS seeking comments on ag coexistence

Dear Stakeholder: In November, USDA published a notice in the Federal Register to solicit public comments on how agricultural coexistence in the United States can be strengthened. USDA is extending the comment period for this notice by 60 days to allow interested parties additional time to provide input. The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) made recommendations in five major areas regarding agricultural coexistence. In the area of education and outreach, the committee recommended that USDA foster communication and collaboration to strengthen coexistence. The notice seeks public comment to identify ways to foster communication and collaboration among those involved in all sectors of agriculture production. Coexistence is defined as the concurrent cultivation of crops produced through diverse agricultural systems including traditionally produced, organic, identity preserved, and genetically engineered crops. USDA supports all forms of agriculture and wants each sector to be as successful as possible providing products to markets in the United States and abroad. For more information on coexistence, visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=AC21Main.xml&contentidonly=true. This extension will be published in the Federal Register next week. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before March 4, 2014. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet go to the Federal eRulemaking portal http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0047-0001. Please send your postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2013-0047, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov website and may also be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call 202-799-7039.