diff --git a/.github/workflows/push-to-develop.yml b/.github/workflows/push-to-develop.yml
index fd525b2a..8660f551 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/push-to-develop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/push-to-develop.yml
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3.3.0
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
+          filter: blob:none
       - name: Run the action
         uses: devops-infra/action-pull-request@v0.5.5
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate_yaml_files.yml b/.github/workflows/validate_yaml_files.yml
index 86df2bb0..4b4c1167 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate_yaml_files.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate_yaml_files.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ jobs:
   validate-YAML:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3.3.0
+      - name: Checkout repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          filter: blob:none
       - id: yaml-lint
         name: yaml-lint
         uses: ibiqlik/action-yamllint@v3
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
           format: colored
           config_file: .yamllint.yml
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         if: always()
         with:
           name: yamllint-logfile
diff --git a/HISTORY.rc.tmpl b/HISTORY.rc.tmpl
index d8ee14cf..7c3d8f5d 100644
--- a/HISTORY.rc.tmpl
+++ b/HISTORY.rc.tmpl
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ COLLECTIONS: 'inst3_3d_asm_Np-'
              'bkg.eta'
              'bkg.sfc'
              'cbkg.eta'
+             'bkg.inst1_2d_lfo'
+             'bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo'
              'vtx.mix'
 #            'vtx.prs'
 #            'prog.sfc+-'
@@ -986,7 +988,6 @@ COLLECTIONS: 'inst3_3d_asm_Np-'
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx-.end_date:       >>>IOEDATE<<< ,
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx-.end_time:       >>>IOETIME<<< ,
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx-.fields:        'SLRSF'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'SWGDN'    ,
-                                  'SWLAND'  , 'SURFACE'  ,
                                   'LWS'     , 'IRRAD'    , 'LWGAB'    ,
                                   'PCU'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECCU'   ,
                                   'PLS'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECLS'   ,
@@ -1011,6 +1012,7 @@ COLLECTIONS: 'inst3_3d_asm_Np-'
                                   'SPEED'  , 'DYN'  , 'SPEEDLML'  ,
                                   'PS'     , 'DYN'  ,
                                    ::
+  
 
   tavg1_2d_ocn_Nx-.format:        'CFIO' ,
   tavg1_2d_ocn_Nx-.descr:         '2d,1-Hourly,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Ocean Surface' ,
@@ -1285,6 +1287,47 @@ COLLECTIONS: 'inst3_3d_asm_Np-'
                                   'GOCART::CO2'  , 'GOCART'   , 'CO2'  ,
                                    ::
 
+#######################################################################
+#                    Ldas bkg forcing 
+#######################################################################
+
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.format:   'CFIO' ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.descr:      '2d,1-Hourly,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Land Surface Forcings' , 
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.template:   '%y4%m2%d2_%h2%n2z.>>>NCSUFFIX<<<' ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.mode:       'time-averaged' ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.frequency:  010000 ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.duration:   010000 ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.ref_date:   >>>IOBBKGD<<< ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.ref_time:   >>>IOBBKGT<<< ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.end_date:   >>>IOEBKGD<<< ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.end_time:   >>>IOEBKGT<<< ,
+  bkg.tavg1_2d_lfo.fields:     'SLRSF'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'SWGDN'    ,
+                                'LWS'     , 'IRRAD'    , 'LWGAB'    ,
+                                'PCU'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECCU'   ,
+                                'PLS'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECLS'   ,
+                                'SNO'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECSNO'  ,
+                                'DFPAR'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'PARDF'    ,
+                                'DRPAR'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'PARDR'    ,
+                               ::
+
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.format:     'CFIO' ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.descr:      '2d,1-Hourly,Instantaneous,Single-Level,Land Surface Forcings' ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.template:   '%y4%m2%d2_%h2%n2z.>>>NCSUFFIX<<<' ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.mode:       'instantaneous' ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.frequency:  010000 ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.duration:   010000 ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.ref_date:   >>>IOBBKGD<<< ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.ref_time:   >>>IOBBKGT<<< ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.end_date:   >>>IOEBKGD<<< ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.end_time:   >>>IOEBKGT<<< ,
+  bkg.inst1_2d_lfo.fields:     'DZ'     , 'DYN'  , 'HLML'      ,
+                                'TA'     , 'DYN'  , 'TLML'      ,
+                                'QA'     , 'DYN'  , 'QLML'      ,
+                                'SPEED'  , 'DYN'  , 'SPEEDLML'  ,
+                                'PS'     , 'DYN'  ,
+                               ::
+
+
 #######################################################################
 #                     Aerosols/Constituents
 #######################################################################
@@ -2034,8 +2077,7 @@ COLLECTIONS: 'inst3_3d_asm_Np-'
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx+-.ref_time:    >>>IOBBKGT<<< ,
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx+-.end_date:    >>>IOEBKGD<<< ,
   tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx+-.end_time:    >>>IOEBKGT<<< ,
-  tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx.fields:      'SLRSF'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'SWGDN'    ,
-                               'SWLAND'  , 'SURFACE'  ,
+  tavg1_2d_lfo_Nx+-.fields:      'SLRSF'   , 'SOLAR'    , 'SWGDN'    ,
                                'LWS'     , 'IRRAD'    , 'LWGAB'    ,
                                'PCU'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECCU'   ,
                                'PLS'     , 'SURFACE'  , 'PRECLS'   ,