Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards, 2814-2815 [2014-00757]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2014 / Notices
ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
submitted by mail or internet available
for viewing on the Regulations.gov
(www.regulations.gov) Internet site.
Comments submitted will also be
available for public inspection in person
at USDA–AMS, Transportation and
Marketing Programs, Marketing Services
Division, Room 4523-South Building,
1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, (except official Federal
holidays). Persons wanting to visit the
USDA South Building to view
comments received are requested to
make an appointment in advance by
calling (202) 720–8317.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Direct Marketing
Title: Local Food Directories and
Survey.
OMB Number: 0581–New.
Expiration Date of Approval: Three
years from approval.
Type of Request: New collection for
three additional marketing channels for
local food.
Abstract: Under the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7
U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), AMS is responsible
for conducting research to enhance
market access for small-and medium
sized farmers. The role of the Marketing
Services Division (MSD) of AMS is to
facilitate distribution of U.S.
agricultural products. The division
identifies marketing opportunities,
provides analysis to help take advantage
of those opportunities and develops and
evaluates solutions including improving
farmers markets and other direct-to
consumer marketing activities.
On-farm markets, community
supported agriculture (CSAs) as well as
food hubs comprise an integral part of
the urban/farm linkage and have
continued to rise in popularity, mostly
due to the growing consumer interest in
obtaining fresh products directly from
the farm. The use of these marketing
channels has enabled farmers to receive
a larger share of consumer’s food dollar.
On-farm markets, community supported
agriculture (CSAs) and food hubs allow
consumers to have access to locally
grown, farm fresh produce, enables
farmers the opportunity to develop a
personal relationship with their
customers, and cultivate consumer
loyalty with the farmers. They are also
providing greater access to fresh locally
grown fruits and vegetables, as well as
playing increasing role in encouraging
healthier eating.
An on-farm market is an area of a
facility affiliated with a farm where
transactions between a farm market
operator and customers take place. An
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on-farm market may operate seasonally
or year-round. On-farm markets are an
important component of direct
marketing, adding value by offering
customers a visit to the farm and the
opportunity to purchase products from
the people who grew them.
CSA is a another type of foodproduction and direct marketing
relationship between a farmer or farmers
and a group consumers who purchase
‘‘shares’’ of the season’s harvest in
advance of the growing season. The upfront working capital generated by
selling shares reduces the financial risk
to the farmer(s). Generally farmers
receive better prices for their crops and,
reduced marketing costs. Consumers
benefit by receiving weekly delivery of
fresh locally-grown fruits, vegetables,
meats, eggs and other produce. They
also benefit from the ability to
collectively support the sustainability of
local farmers.
Food hub is a business or organization
that actively manages the aggregation,
distribution, and marketing of sourceidentified food products primarily from
local and regional producers to
strengthen their ability to satisfy
wholesale, retail, and institutional
demand. This marketing channel also
allows farm operators to capture a larger
share of consumers’ food dollar.
This information will be used to build
three web-based directories and
describe the characteristics of on-farm
markets, CSAs, and food hubs and to
identify trends in their communities.
Topic areas in the survey:
—Characteristics and history of on-farm
markets, CSAs and food hubs,
—types of products sold, including
fresh, locally-grown produce,
—location of the markets,
—special events,
—marketing methods,
—participation in federal programs
designed to increase consumption of
fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 0.167 hours per
response.
Respondents: Farm operators that
operate on-farm stores, operators of
Community Supported Agriculture,
(CSA’s), farm operations, and operators
of food hubs.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
56,750.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
2,125.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: .037.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 355 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
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is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
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.
The information collected is used
only by authorized employees of the
USDA, AMS.
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: January 10, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–00767 Filed 1–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. #AMS–CN–13–0091]
Recommendations of Advisory
Committee on Universal Cotton
Standards
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) held meetings of the
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory
Committee in Raleigh, North Carolina
on June 19, 20 and 21, 2013. This notice
announces the Advisory Committee’s
recommendation to adopt USDA’s HVI
(High Volume Instrument) Cotton Trash
Standards as Universal Standards and to
change the frequency of Universal
Cotton Standards Conferences from
once every three years to once every
four years. The meeting agenda,
minutes, and recommendations from the
Advisory Committee are posted at the
following Web address: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/
AdvisoryCommitteeonUniversal
Standards.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received on
or before February 18, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit comments concerning
DATES:
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16JAN1
ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2014 / Notices
the Advisory Committee’s
recommendation using the following
procedures:
• Internet: https://
www.regulations.gov.
• Mail: Comments may be submitted
by mail to: Darryl Earnest, Deputy
Administrator, Cotton & Tobacco
Programs, AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling
Road, Room 11, Memphis, TN 38133.
Comments should be submitted in
triplicate. All comments should
reference the docket number and the
date and the page of this issue of the
Federal Register. All comments will be
available for public inspection during
regular business hours at Cotton &
Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 3275
Appling Road, Memphis, TN 38133. A
copy of this notice may be found at:
www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/
rulemaking.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Knowlton, Designated Federal
Official, Cotton & Tobacco Programs,
AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling Road, Room
5, Memphis, TN 38133. Telephone (901)
384–3030, facsimile (901) 384–3032, or
email Telephone (901) 384–3030, or
email: James.Knowlton@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The purpose of the Universal Cotton
Standards Advisory Committee is to
consider any necessary changes to the
Universal Cotton Standards and to
review and approve freshly prepared
sets of the Universal Cotton Grade
Standards for conformity with the
existing standards.
At the Universal Cotton Standards
Conference on June 19–21, 2013, the
Advisory Committee recommended
revising the Universal Cotton Standards
Agreement in regards to its
recommendations of adopting a
Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard
and changing the frequency of Universal
Cotton Standards Conferences from
once every three years to once every
four years.
The Universal Cotton Standards
Agreement is an Agreement between
USDA, the U.S. cotton industry and
overseas cotton associations of
merchants and textile manufacturers
that provides for the trading of U.S.
cotton on the official standards of the
U.S. for Upland cotton. Adoption of the
Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard
will ensure that the USDA’s cotton trash
measurement serves as the
internationally accepted universal
language for cotton trash measurements.
Adoption of the frequency of Universal
Cotton Standards Conferences to be held
once every four years will provide
improved cost efficiency while
continuing to provide the necessary
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framework for future considerations to
the Universal Cotton Standards.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 51–65.
Dated: January 10, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–00757 Filed 1–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Form FNS–245,
Negative QC Review Schedule
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on the
proposed collection.
Form FNS–245, is currently used in
the Quality Control process for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program. This is a revision of a
currently approved collection in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and concerns the Negative QC
Review Schedule.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before March 17, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information has practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments may be sent to: Patrick
Lucrezio, Chief, Quality Control Branch,
Program Accountability and
Administration Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive,
Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302. You
may also download an electronic
version of this notice at https://
SUMMARY:
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2815
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/regulations/
default.htm and comment via email at
SNAPHQ-Web@fns.usda.gov or use the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for
public inspection at the FNS office
located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
822, Alexandria, VA 22302, during
regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday). All
responses to this notice will be included
in the request for Office of Management
and Budget approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information,
copies or to view a draft version of the
information collection form and
instructions should be directed to SNAP
QC at SNAPHQ-QCIC@fns.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Negative Quality Control
Review Schedule.
OMB Number: 0584–0034.
Form Number: FNS–245.
Expiration Date: December 31, 2016.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Form FNS–245, Negative Case Action
Review Schedule:
Abstract: Form FNS–245, Negative
Case Action Review Schedule, is
designed to collect quality control (QC)
data and serve as the data entry form for
Negative case action QC reviews in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP). New QC procedures
for Negative cases (now referred to as
Case and Procedural cases) went into
effect for the 2012 QC review year. State
agencies complete form FNS–245 for
each Negative Case in their QC sample.
SNAP has determined the form
associated with the reporting of these
cases needs to be updated to reflect the
new name and reorganized in order to
not only streamline the data elements
being reported, but to also add nine data
elements to more effectively and
efficiently record what is now being
reviewed. By streamlining the form’s
elements to make it more efficient, the
additional elements are not expected to
increase the collection’s burden on State
Agencies using the form. We are also
requesting to rename this information
collection from ‘‘Negative QC Review
Schedule’’ to ‘‘Case and Procedural
Quality Control Review Schedule’’.
The reporting and recordkeeping
burden associated with the completion
of form FNS–245, has decreased from
approximately 177,351 hours to
121,784.1602 hours. The decrease in
total burden is largely a result of the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2814-2815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00757]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. AMS-CN-13-0091]
Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton
Standards
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) held meetings of the
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee in Raleigh, North
Carolina on June 19, 20 and 21, 2013. This notice announces the
Advisory Committee's recommendation to adopt USDA's HVI (High Volume
Instrument) Cotton Trash Standards as Universal Standards and to change
the frequency of Universal Cotton Standards Conferences from once every
three years to once every four years. The meeting agenda, minutes, and
recommendations from the Advisory Committee are posted at the following
Web address: https://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/AdvisoryCommitteeonUniversalStandards.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 18, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
[[Page 2815]]
the Advisory Committee's recommendation using the following procedures:
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Comments may be submitted by mail to: Darryl
Earnest, Deputy Administrator, Cotton & Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA,
3275 Appling Road, Room 11, Memphis, TN 38133. Comments should be
submitted in triplicate. All comments should reference the docket
number and the date and the page of this issue of the Federal Register.
All comments will be available for public inspection during regular
business hours at Cotton & Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling
Road, Memphis, TN 38133. A copy of this notice may be found at:
www.ams.usda.gov/cotton/rulemaking.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Knowlton, Designated Federal
Official, Cotton & Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, 3275 Appling Road, Room
5, Memphis, TN 38133. Telephone (901) 384-3030, facsimile (901) 384-
3032, or email Telephone (901) 384-3030, or email:
James.Knowlton@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The purpose of the Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee is
to consider any necessary changes to the Universal Cotton Standards and
to review and approve freshly prepared sets of the Universal Cotton
Grade Standards for conformity with the existing standards.
At the Universal Cotton Standards Conference on June 19-21, 2013,
the Advisory Committee recommended revising the Universal Cotton
Standards Agreement in regards to its recommendations of adopting a
Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard and changing the frequency of
Universal Cotton Standards Conferences from once every three years to
once every four years.
The Universal Cotton Standards Agreement is an Agreement between
USDA, the U.S. cotton industry and overseas cotton associations of
merchants and textile manufacturers that provides for the trading of
U.S. cotton on the official standards of the U.S. for Upland cotton.
Adoption of the Universal HVI Cotton Trash Standard will ensure that
the USDA's cotton trash measurement serves as the internationally
accepted universal language for cotton trash measurements. Adoption of
the frequency of Universal Cotton Standards Conferences to be held once
every four years will provide improved cost efficiency while continuing
to provide the necessary framework for future considerations to the
Universal Cotton Standards.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 51-65.
Dated: January 10, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-00757 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
