United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions, 52131-52132 [2013-20480]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2013 / Notices burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov. Comments also may be sent to Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406. All comments received will be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address or through www.regulations.gov. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Dated: August 16, 2013. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Services. [FR Doc. 2013–20438 Filed 8–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS–NOP–13–0061; NOP–13–05] Notice of Funds Availability: Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share Program Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability: Inviting Grant Applications from State Departments of Agriculture for the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. AGENCY: This Notice invites the following 16 eligible States: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, to submit a Grant Application (Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424) to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for organic certification cost-share funds. A total of $1,352,850 is available to the 16 designated States for this program in Fiscal Year 2013. Funds will provide cost-share assistance to organic crop and livestock producers certified under the USDA Organic Standards (7 CFR 205). Eligible States interested in obtaining cost-share funds for their organic tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Aug 21, 2013 Jkt 229001 producers must submit a grant application via https://www.grants.gov. DATES: Grant applications must be received by the National Organic Program (NOP) no later than Friday, August 30, 2013. ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be submitted via Grants.Gov. Paper applications will not be accepted. Instructions and additional information are available on the National Organic Program’s Web site at https:// www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita Meade, Cost Share Coordinator, National Organic Program, USDA/AMS/ NOP, Room 2648-South, Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–0268; Telephone: (202) 720–3252. Email: Rita.Meade@ams.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Organic Certification Cost-Share Program is part of the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1524). Under the applicable FCIA provisions, the Department is authorized to provide cost-share assistance to organic producers in the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The AMS has allocated $1,352,850 for this organic certification cost-share program in Fiscal Year 2013. This program provides financial assistance to organic producers certified under the USDA Organic Regulations (7 CFR part 205), which were authorized under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.). To participate in the program, eligible States, through their State Departments of Agriculture, must complete an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424). State Department of Agriculture refers to agencies, commissions, or departments of State government responsible for implementing regulation, policy or programs on agriculture within their State. The program will provide costshare assistance, through participating States, to organic crop and livestock producers receiving certification or incurring expenses for the continuation of certification by a USDA accredited certifying agent during the period of October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014. The Department has determined that payments will be limited to 75% (seventy-five percent) of an individual producer’s certification costs, up to a PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52131 maximum of $750 (seven-hundred and fifty dollars). To receive cost-share assistance, organic producers in participating States should contact their State agencies. Procedures for applying are outlined in the cost share policies and procedures at https://1.usa.gov/OrganicCostShare. The total amount of cost-share payments provided to any eligible producer under all AMA programs cannot exceed $50,000. How to Submit Applications: To receive fund allocations to provide costshare assistance, a State Department of Agriculture must complete an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424), and enter into a grant agreement with the AMS. Interested States must submit the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) electronically via Grants.gov, the Federal grants Web site, at https://www.grants.gov. For information on how to use Grants.Gov, please consult https://www.grants.gov/ GetRegistered. Applications must be filed by Friday, August 30, 2013. Grant agreements will be sent by the AMS to participating State Departments of Agriculture via express mail. The grant agreement must be signed by an official who has authority to apply for Federal assistance, and must be returned to the NOP at the address above by September 30, 2013. The AMA Organic Certification CostShare Program is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under number 10.171. Subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all Federally-assisted programs. Additional information on the AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program can be found on the NOP’s Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/ NOPCostSharing. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1524 Dated: August 16, 2013. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2013–20484 Filed 8–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. Number AMS–FV–13–0018] United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1 52132 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2013 / Notices This Notice would revise the United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions, which were issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement to allow mixed colors of onions when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. In addition, AMS would correct language and remove the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category from the standards. This revision would update the standards to more accurately represent today’s marketing practices and to provide the industry with greater flexibility. DATES: Comments must be received by October 21, 2013. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Training and Development Center, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406; Fax: (540) 361–1199, or on the web at: www.regulation.gov. Comments should make reference to the dates and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public inspection in the above office during regular business hours. Comments can also be viewed as submitted, including any personal information you provide, on the www.regulations.gov Web site. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner, Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, (540) 361–1128. The current United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions are available through the Specialty Crops Inspection Division Web site at www.ams.usda.gov/scihome. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ‘‘to develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices.’’ AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Aug 21, 2013 Jkt 229001 Code of Federal Regulations, but are maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, and are available on the internet at www.ams.usda.gov/ scihome. AMS is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Background and Proposed Notice AMS has observed that the industry is packing mixed colors of onions, primarily in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Currently, the Creole onion standards do not permit mixing white onions with yellow to brownish red onions in the same pack. The proposed revision will provide the flexibility for shippers and packers to do so. AMS believes that permitting mixed colors when designated as a specialty or mixed pack will facilitate the marketing of onions by aligning the standards with current marketing practices. Therefore, AMS proposes to amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of the standards by adding ‘‘except color when designated as a specialty or mixed pack.’’ The U.S. Combination grade section also would be affected by this change. In addition, AMS would eliminate the ‘‘Unclassified’’ section. AMS is removing this section in standards, for all commodities, as they are revised. This category is not a grade and only serves to show that no grade has been applied to the lot. It is no longer considered necessary. Furthermore, AMS would replace the capital ‘‘S’’ with a small ‘‘s’’ on the word ‘‘Seedstems’’ found in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of the standards. The word ‘‘seedstems’’ was inadvertently capitalized when the Creole onion standards were reformatted. AMS believes the proposed revisions will benefit the industry by allowing onion marketing to be more competitive in an evolving U.S. economy. This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested parties to comment on the proposed revisions in the standards. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621—1627. Dated: August 16, 2013. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2013–20480 Filed 8–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Title: NIST MEP Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (AMJIAC) Client Impact Survey. OMB Control Number: None. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular submission (new information collection). Number of Respondents: 200. Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes. Burden Hours: 50. Needs and Uses: The purpose of the AMJIAC is to provide strategic, catalytic funding for regional partnerships that have the potential to accelerate innovation and strengthen capacity in advanced manufacturing. The objectives of the challenge are to support job creation, encourage economic development, and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers in regions across the country. The information collected under this collection will be used to aid the NIST MEP to monitor and evaluate the Competitive Award Recipients participation in the AMJIAC program and to provide Congress with quantitative information required for Government-supported programs. The purpose of the collected information is as follows: • Project Accountability. • Project Evaluation. • Award Recipient Evaluation. • Analysis and Research. • Reports to Stakeholders. • Continuous Improvement. • Knowledge Sharing. • Identification of Distinctive Practices. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; Not for profit institutions Frequency: Quarterly. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@ doc.gov). E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM 22AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52131-52132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20480]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. Number AMS-FV-13-0018]


United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 52132]]

SUMMARY: This Notice would revise the United States Standards for 
Grades of Creole Onions, which were issued under the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is 
proposing to amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement to 
allow mixed colors of onions when designated as a mixed or specialty 
pack. In addition, AMS would correct language and remove the 
``Unclassified'' category from the standards. This revision would 
update the standards to more accurately represent today's marketing 
practices and to provide the industry with greater flexibility.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 21, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit 
and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, National Training and Development Center, Riverside 
Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 
22406; Fax: (540) 361-1199, or on the web at: www.regulation.gov. 
Comments should make reference to the dates and page number of this 
issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public 
inspection in the above office during regular business hours. Comments 
can also be viewed as submitted, including any personal information you 
provide, on the www.regulations.gov Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner, Standardization Branch, 
Specialty Crops Inspection Division, (540) 361-1128. The current United 
States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions are available through the 
Specialty Crops Inspection Division Web site at www.ams.usda.gov/scihome.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes 
the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of 
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.'' AMS is committed to carrying out 
this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards 
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, and are available on the internet at www.ams.usda.gov/scihome.
    AMS is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of 
Creole Onions using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background and Proposed Notice

    AMS has observed that the industry is packing mixed colors of 
onions, primarily in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Currently, 
the Creole onion standards do not permit mixing white onions with 
yellow to brownish red onions in the same pack. The proposed revision 
will provide the flexibility for shippers and packers to do so. AMS 
believes that permitting mixed colors when designated as a specialty or 
mixed pack will facilitate the marketing of onions by aligning the 
standards with current marketing practices. Therefore, AMS proposes to 
amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement in the U.S. No. 1 
and U.S. No. 2 sections of the standards by adding ``except color when 
designated as a specialty or mixed pack.'' The U.S. Combination grade 
section also would be affected by this change.
    In addition, AMS would eliminate the ``Unclassified'' section. AMS 
is removing this section in standards, for all commodities, as they are 
revised. This category is not a grade and only serves to show that no 
grade has been applied to the lot. It is no longer considered 
necessary.
    Furthermore, AMS would replace the capital ``S'' with a small ``s'' 
on the word ``Seedstems'' found in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 
sections of the standards. The word ``seedstems'' was inadvertently 
capitalized when the Creole onion standards were reformatted.
    AMS believes the proposed revisions will benefit the industry by 
allowing onion marketing to be more competitive in an evolving U.S. 
economy. This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for 
interested parties to comment on the proposed revisions in the 
standards.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1621--1627.

    Dated: August 16, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20480 Filed 8-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.