Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Request for Comments To Be Used in a Review of 1990 Amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act, 13807-13808 [E6-3925]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 52 / Friday, March 17, 2006 / Notices
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sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Report of School Program
Operations.
OMB Control Number: 0584–0002.
Summary of Collection: The Food and
Nutrition Service administers the
National School Lunch Program, the
School Breakfast Program, and the
Special Milk Program as mandated by
the National School Lunch Act, as
amended, and the Child Nutrition Act of
1966, as amended. Information on
school program operations is collected
from state agencies on a monthly basis
to monitor and make adjustments to
State agency funding requirements. FNS
uses form FNS–10 to collect data
although 98 percent of the information
is collected through electronic means.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS
collects quantity information from State
agencies on the number of meals served
under the various food programs.
Information is categorized in a number
of areas and States are asked to provide
their estimates along with actual data.
FNS uses the information collected on
school operations to assess the progress
of the various programs and to make
monthly adjustments to State agency
funding requirements. If the information
was not collected, FNS would be unable
to monitor the proper use of program
funds.
Description of Respondents: State,
Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 62.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Monthly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 95,232.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Report of the Child and Adult
Care Food Program.
OMB Control Number: 0584–0078.
Summary of Collection: Section 17 of
the National School Lunch Act, as
amended, mandates the Child and Adult
Care Food Program. Program
implementation is contained in 7 CFR
part 226. The Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) collections information
using Form FNS–44 to use in managing
the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
This report is vital since it is the only
means by which FNS can obtain current
information necessary to make
payments to State agency letters of
credit, and to plan for future levels of
program funding.
Need and Use of the Information: FNS
will collect information in order to
analyze progress in the program and to
make monthly adjustments to State
agency funding requirements. If data is
not collected FNS would be unable to
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:52 Mar 16, 2006
Jkt 208001
monitor the proper use of program
funds.
Description of Respondents: State,
Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 53.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Quarterly; Semi-annually; Monthly.
Total Burden Hours: 5,724.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–3923 Filed 3–16–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. CN–06–004]
Cotton Research and Promotion
Program: Request for Comments To
Be Used in a Review of 1990
Amendments to the Cotton Research
and Promotion Act
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: As provided for by the Cotton
Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990, the Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing
its intention to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is
needed to determine whether producers
and importers favor continuation of
amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Order. This notice invites all
interested parties to submit written
comments to the Department of
Agriculture (USDA). USDA will
consider these comments in
determining whether a referendum is
warranted. USDA should announce
review results sometime during the
latter part of September 2006.
DATES: Comments must be received by
June 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice to Darryl W.
Earnest, Deputy Administrator, Cotton
Program, Agricultural Marketing
Service, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room
2641–S South Building, Washington, DC
20250–0224. Comments should be
submitted in triplicate and will be made
available for public inspection at the
above address during regular business
hours. Comments may also be submitted
electronically to:
cottoncomments@usda.gov. All
comments should reference the docket
number and the date and page number
of this issue of the Federal Register. A
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
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13807
copy of this notice may be found at:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/
rulemaking.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Darryl W. Earnest, Deputy
Administrator, Cotton Program, AMS,
USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–
0224, telephone (202) 720–2259,
facsimile (202) 690–1718 or e-mail at
darryl.earnest@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Cotton Research and Promotion Act of
1966 (7 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) authorized
a national Cotton Research and
Promotion Program which is industry
operated and funded, with oversight by
USDA. The program’s objective is to
enable cotton growers and importers to
establish, finance, and carry out a
coordinated program of research and
promotion to improve the competitive
position of, and to expand markets for
cotton.
The program became effective on
December 31, 1966, when the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR
Part 1205) was issued. Assessments
began with the 1967 cotton crop. The
Order was amended and a supplemental
assessment initiated, not to exceed one
percent of the value of each bale,
effective January 26, 1977.
The program is currently financed
through assessments levied on domestic
and imported cotton and cottoncontaining products. Assessments under
this program are used to fund
promotional campaigns and to conduct
research in the areas of U.S. marketing,
international marketing, cotton
production and processing, and textile
research and implementation.
The program is administered by the
Cotton Board, which has thirty-six
members, thirty-six alternate members
and one consumer advisor. The Cotton
Board is composed of representatives of
cotton producers and cotton importers,
each of whom has an alternate selected
by the Secretary of Agriculture from
nominations submitted by eligible
producer and importer organizations.
All members and their alternates serve
terms of three years. The Cotton Board’s
responsibility is to administer the
provisions of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Order issued pursuant to the
Act. These responsibilities include
collecting, holding and safeguarding
funds; making refunds when refunds are
a provision of the Order; contracting
with an organization for the
development and implementation of
programs of research and promotion;
reviewing and making
recommendations to the Secretary of
Agriculture on proposed programs and
E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM
17MRN1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
13808
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 52 / Friday, March 17, 2006 / Notices
budgets; and making funds available for
such programs when approved. The
objective of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program is to strengthen
cotton’s competitive position and to
maintain and expand domestic and
foreign markets and uses for cotton. The
Cotton Board is prohibited from
participating in any matters influencing
governmental policies or action except
recommendations for amendments to
the Order.
Amendments to the Act were enacted
under subtitle G of title XIX of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–624, 104 stat.
3909, November 28, 1990). These
amendments provided for: (1) Importer
representation on the Cotton Board; (2)
the assessment of imported cotton and
cotton products; (3) increasing the
amount the Secretary of Agriculture can
be reimbursed for conduct of a
referendum from $200,000 to $300,000;
(4) reimbursing government agencies
who assist in administering the
collection of assessments on imported
cotton and cotton products; and (5)
terminating the right of a producer to
demand a refund of assessments. The
Act Amendments of 1990 were
approved by a majority (60 percent) of
importers and producers of cotton
voting in a referendum conducted July
17–26, 1991, as required by the Act.
Results of this referendum were
announced in a nationally distributed
press release dated August 2, 1991.
The Cotton Research and Promotion
Act Amendment of 1990, Section 8(c)
provides that once every five years after
the July 1991 referendum, the Secretary
of Agriculture is to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is
needed. In such a referendum,
producers and importers would
determine whether they favor
continuation of the amendments to the
Order provided for in the Cotton
Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990. These
amendments to the Order were
promulgated in final rules published in
the Federal Register on December 10,
1991 (56 FR 64470), corrected at (56 FR
66670).
The results of the most recent review
report of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program were issued on
January 14, 2002. USDA announced its
view (67 FR 1714) not to conduct a
referendum regarding the 1991
amendments to the Order. In accordance
with Section 8(c)(2) of the Act, USDA
provided an opportunity for all eligible
persons to request a continuance
referendum on the 1991 amendments by
making such a request during a sign-up
period. During the period of June 3
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:52 Mar 16, 2006
Jkt 208001
through August 30, 2002, the
Department conducted a sign-up period
for all eligible persons to request a
continuance referendum on the 1990
Act amendments. The results of the
sign-up period did not meet the criteria
established for a continuance
referendum by the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act and therefore, a
referendum was not conducted.
In 2006, in accordance with the
provisions of the Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture will conduct its third
review of the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program Act amendments to
ascertain whether a referendum is
needed to determine whether producers
and importers support continuation of
the amendments to the Order, as
provided for by the 1990 Act
amendments. The Secretary of
Agriculture should make a public
announcement of the results of the
review on September 24, 2006 (60 days
after each fifth anniversary date of the
referendum). If the Secretary of
Agriculture determines that a
referendum is needed, the Secretary of
Agriculture should conduct the
referendum by September 24, 2007
(within 12 months after a public
announcement of the determination to
conduct the referendum).
If the Secretary determines that a
referendum is not warranted, a sign-up
period to request such a referendum
will be made available to cotton
producers and importers. A referendum
will be held if requested by 10 percent
or more of those voting in the most
recent referendum as long as not more
than 20 percent are from any one State
or importers of cotton. This sign-up
period would begin approximately
November 25, 2006, and would be
announced in the Federal Register. If
the requisite number of people request
a referendum, it will be held not later
than February 2008. A ninety-day
comment period is provided for
interested persons to provide comments
to be used by USDA in its review. All
interested persons are invited to submit
written comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101–2118.
Dated: March 14, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Program.
[FR Doc. E6–3925 Filed 3–16–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
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Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Extension and
Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to
request an extension and revision to a
currently approved information
collection procedure for the Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Farmers
program as described in 7 CFR Part
1580.
Comments should be received on
or before May 16, 2006 to be assured
consideration.
DATES:
Mail or deliver comments to
Robert H. Curtis, Director, Import
Policies and Programs Division, Foreign
Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 1021, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1021, (202) 720–
2916.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert H. Curtis, at the address above,
or telephone at (202) 720–2916, or email at robert.curtis@fas.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance
for Farmers.
OMB Number: 0551–0040.
Expiration Date of Approval: August
31, 2006.
Type of Request: Revision to and
extension of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Trade Act of 2002
established the Trade Adjustment
Assistance for Farmers (TAA) program.
Under this program, the Department of
Agriculture provides technical
assistance and cash benefits to eligible
producers of raw agricultural
commodities when the Administrator,
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS),
determines that increased imports have
contributed importantly to a specific
price decline over 5 preceding
marketing years. The regulation 7 CFR
Part 1580 established the procedure by
which producers of raw agricultural
commodities can petition (form FAS–
930 or a reasonable substitute) for
certification of eligibility and apply for
technical assistance and adjustment
payments. To receive consideration for
TAA certification, petitioners must
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM
17MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13807-13808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3925]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. CN-06-004]
Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Request for Comments To Be
Used in a Review of 1990 Amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As provided for by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
announcing its intention to conduct a review to ascertain whether a
referendum is needed to determine whether producers and importers favor
continuation of amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order.
This notice invites all interested parties to submit written comments
to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA will consider these
comments in determining whether a referendum is warranted. USDA should
announce review results sometime during the latter part of September
2006.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice to Darryl W. Earnest, Deputy Administrator,
Cotton Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2641-S South Building, Washington, DC
20250-0224. Comments should be submitted in triplicate and will be made
available for public inspection at the above address during regular
business hours. Comments may also be submitted electronically to:
cottoncomments@usda.gov. All comments should reference the docket
number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal
Register. A copy of this notice may be found at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darryl W. Earnest, Deputy
Administrator, Cotton Program, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0224, telephone (202) 720-2259,
facsimile (202) 690-1718 or e-mail at darryl.earnest@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cotton Research and Promotion Act of
1966 (7 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) authorized a national Cotton Research and
Promotion Program which is industry operated and funded, with oversight
by USDA. The program's objective is to enable cotton growers and
importers to establish, finance, and carry out a coordinated program of
research and promotion to improve the competitive position of, and to
expand markets for cotton.
The program became effective on December 31, 1966, when the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR Part 1205) was issued. Assessments
began with the 1967 cotton crop. The Order was amended and a
supplemental assessment initiated, not to exceed one percent of the
value of each bale, effective January 26, 1977.
The program is currently financed through assessments levied on
domestic and imported cotton and cotton-containing products.
Assessments under this program are used to fund promotional campaigns
and to conduct research in the areas of U.S. marketing, international
marketing, cotton production and processing, and textile research and
implementation.
The program is administered by the Cotton Board, which has thirty-
six members, thirty-six alternate members and one consumer advisor. The
Cotton Board is composed of representatives of cotton producers and
cotton importers, each of whom has an alternate selected by the
Secretary of Agriculture from nominations submitted by eligible
producer and importer organizations. All members and their alternates
serve terms of three years. The Cotton Board's responsibility is to
administer the provisions of the Cotton Research and Promotion Order
issued pursuant to the Act. These responsibilities include collecting,
holding and safeguarding funds; making refunds when refunds are a
provision of the Order; contracting with an organization for the
development and implementation of programs of research and promotion;
reviewing and making recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on
proposed programs and
[[Page 13808]]
budgets; and making funds available for such programs when approved.
The objective of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program is to
strengthen cotton's competitive position and to maintain and expand
domestic and foreign markets and uses for cotton. The Cotton Board is
prohibited from participating in any matters influencing governmental
policies or action except recommendations for amendments to the Order.
Amendments to the Act were enacted under subtitle G of title XIX of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L.
101-624, 104 stat. 3909, November 28, 1990). These amendments provided
for: (1) Importer representation on the Cotton Board; (2) the
assessment of imported cotton and cotton products; (3) increasing the
amount the Secretary of Agriculture can be reimbursed for conduct of a
referendum from $200,000 to $300,000; (4) reimbursing government
agencies who assist in administering the collection of assessments on
imported cotton and cotton products; and (5) terminating the right of a
producer to demand a refund of assessments. The Act Amendments of 1990
were approved by a majority (60 percent) of importers and producers of
cotton voting in a referendum conducted July 17-26, 1991, as required
by the Act. Results of this referendum were announced in a nationally
distributed press release dated August 2, 1991.
The Cotton Research and Promotion Act Amendment of 1990, Section
8(c) provides that once every five years after the July 1991
referendum, the Secretary of Agriculture is to conduct a review to
ascertain whether a referendum is needed. In such a referendum,
producers and importers would determine whether they favor continuation
of the amendments to the Order provided for in the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act Amendments of 1990. These amendments to the Order were
promulgated in final rules published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 1991 (56 FR 64470), corrected at (56 FR 66670).
The results of the most recent review report of the Cotton Research
and Promotion Program were issued on January 14, 2002. USDA announced
its view (67 FR 1714) not to conduct a referendum regarding the 1991
amendments to the Order. In accordance with Section 8(c)(2) of the Act,
USDA provided an opportunity for all eligible persons to request a
continuance referendum on the 1991 amendments by making such a request
during a sign-up period. During the period of June 3 through August 30,
2002, the Department conducted a sign-up period for all eligible
persons to request a continuance referendum on the 1990 Act amendments.
The results of the sign-up period did not meet the criteria established
for a continuance referendum by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
and therefore, a referendum was not conducted.
In 2006, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture will conduct its third review of the Cotton
Research and Promotion Program Act amendments to ascertain whether a
referendum is needed to determine whether producers and importers
support continuation of the amendments to the Order, as provided for by
the 1990 Act amendments. The Secretary of Agriculture should make a
public announcement of the results of the review on September 24, 2006
(60 days after each fifth anniversary date of the referendum). If the
Secretary of Agriculture determines that a referendum is needed, the
Secretary of Agriculture should conduct the referendum by September 24,
2007 (within 12 months after a public announcement of the determination
to conduct the referendum).
If the Secretary determines that a referendum is not warranted, a
sign-up period to request such a referendum will be made available to
cotton producers and importers. A referendum will be held if requested
by 10 percent or more of those voting in the most recent referendum as
long as not more than 20 percent are from any one State or importers of
cotton. This sign-up period would begin approximately November 25,
2006, and would be announced in the Federal Register. If the requisite
number of people request a referendum, it will be held not later than
February 2008. A ninety-day comment period is provided for interested
persons to provide comments to be used by USDA in its review. All
interested persons are invited to submit written comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118.
Dated: March 14, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Program.
[FR Doc. E6-3925 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
