Determination for Conducting a Continuance Referendum Regarding Amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act, 72203-72204 [2021-27577]
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72203
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 86, No. 242
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS–CN–21–0059]
Determination for Conducting a
Continuance Referendum Regarding
Amendments to the Cotton Research
and Promotion Act
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) determination not to conduct a
continuance referendum regarding the
1991 amendments to the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order provided
for in the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act amendments of 1990.
This determination is based on the
results of a sign-up period conducted
June 21, 2021, through July 2, 2021, and
October 18, 2021, through October 29,
2021, during which eligible cotton
producers and importers were provided
an opportunity to request a continuance
referendum.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research and
Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco
Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside
Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg,
Virginia 22406; Telephone (540) 361–
2726, Email at CottonRP@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1991
amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Order (Order) (7 CFR part
1205) were implemented following the
July 1991 referendum. The amendments
were provided for in the 1990
amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act (Act) (7 U.S.C. 2101–
2118). These amendments provided for:
(1) Importer representation on the
Cotton Board by an appropriate number
of persons, to be determined by USDA,
who import cotton or cotton products
into the U.S., and whom USDA selects
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SUMMARY:
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from nominations submitted by
importer organizations certified by
USDA; (2) assessments levied on
imported cotton and cotton products at
a rate determined in the same manner
as for U.S. cotton; (3) increasing the
amount USDA can be reimbursed for the
conduct of a referendum from $200,000
to $300,000; (4) reimbursing government
agencies that assist in administering the
collection of assessments on imported
cotton and cotton products; and (5)
terminating the right of producers to
demand a refund of assessments.
On December 18, 2020, USDA issued
a determination based on its review not
to conduct a referendum regarding the
1991 amendments to the Order (85 FR
82426); however, the Act provides that
USDA shall nevertheless conduct a
referendum at the request of 10 percent
or more of the total number of eligible
producers and importers that voted in
the most recent referendum.
Pursuant to section 8(c) of the Act,
USDA provided all eligible Upland
cotton producers and importers of
cotton and cotton-containing products
an opportunity to sign up and request a
continuance referendum regarding the
1991 amendments to the Order from
June 21, 2021, until July 2, 2021 (86 FR
20255). During the counting and
verification of sign-up requests, the
AMS learned that the United States
Postal Service (USPS) erroneously
closed the Post Office Box AMS used to
receive sign-up requests, and USPS
returned mail contained within the box.
Given this error by the USPS and not
knowing how many pieces of mail were
contained in the box, AMS believed it
was necessary to reopen the sign-up
period to allow for any eligible
importers and producers to submit a
request in the event any sign-ups
submitted during the original sign-up
were not received by AMS.
On September 21, 2021, USDA issued
a direct final rule indicating that the
sign-up period would be reopened
October 18, 2021 through October 29,
2021. (86 FR 52397).
During the period of June 21, 2021,
through July 2, 2021, and October 18,
2021, through October 29, 2021, USDA
provided an opportunity for eligible
cotton producers and importers to
request a continuance referendum
regarding the 1991 amendments to the
Order provided for in the Act. Sign-up
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
requests from both sign-up periods were
considered.
Sign-up period results showed that
USDA received 3 valid requests from
eligible producers and importers. The
following table depicts the number of
requests for a continuance referendum.
Farm service agency
state office
Total sign-up
requests
Alabama ................................
Arizona ..................................
Arkansas ...............................
California ...............................
Florida ...................................
Georgia .................................
Illinois ....................................
Kansas ..................................
Kentucky ...............................
Louisiana ..............................
Mississippi ............................
Missouri ................................
Nevada .................................
New Mexico ..........................
North Carolina ......................
Oklahoma .............................
South Carolina ......................
Tennessee ............................
Texas ....................................
Virginia ..................................
Importers ...............................
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
Total ...............................
3
Section 8(c)(2) of the Act, provides
that following a sign-up period, USDA
shall conduct a referendum upon the
request of 10 percent or more of the
number of cotton producers and
importers voting in the most recent
referendum (1991). This would require
10 percent or 4,622 (46,220 × .10 =
4,622) of the 46,220 valid ballots cast by
cotton producers and importers in the
July 1991 referendum. It is further
provided that, in counting such request
not more than 20 percent may be from
producers from any one state or
importers of cotton.
The results of this sign-up period did
not meet the criteria as established by
the Act for a continuance referendum,
and, therefore, a referendum will not be
conducted. USDA bases this
determination on the fact that the three
valid requests received during the signup period is less than the 4,622
required.
With this announcement of the results
of the sign-up period, USDA has
completed all requirements set forth in
Section 8(c)(1) and (2) of the Act
regarding the review of the Cotton
Research and Promotion Program to
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21DEN1
72204
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 21, 2021 / Notices
determine if a continuance referendum
is warranted. A referendum will not be
conducted, and no further actions are
planned in connection with this review.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101–2118.)
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–27577 Filed 12–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Meeting Notice of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory
Board, Specialty Crop Committee
Research, Education, and
Economics, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act, and
the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) announces a
meeting of the Specialty Crop
Committee.
DATES: The National Agricultural
Research Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board, Specialty
Crop Committee will meet virtually via
Zoom on January 19–20, 2022. The
public may file written comments by to
January 3, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place
virtually via the Zoom meeting
application at this link: SCC Jan 2022
Meeting Link.
Web Preregistration: Participants
wishing to participate should preregister
by email at nareee@usda.gov to the
attention of Ms. Shirley Morgan-Jordan.
A meeting link will be sent out to preregistered guests.
Written comments may be sent to The
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board Office, Room 6019, The
South Building, United States
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–0321. We recommend you
email comments to nareee@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Lewis, Executive Director/Designated
Federal Official, or Shirley MorganJordan, Program Support Coordinator,
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board; telephone: (202) 380–
5373 or email: nareee@usda.gov.
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SUMMARY:
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Purpose of the meeting: To hear
feedback on USDA’s National Institute
of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Specialty Crop Research Initiative
(SCRI) grant projects awarded in 2021.
Project Directors will present their
projects that address the critical needs
of the specialty crop industry
supporting research and extension
issues by addressing key challenges of
national, regional, and multi-state
importance in sustaining all
components of food and agriculture,
including conventional and organic
food production systems. An agenda for
this two-day meeting may be received
from Shirley Morgan-Jordan or at
https://nareeeab.ree.usda.gov.
Public Participation: This meeting is
open to the public via Zoom meeting
application and via phone for any
interested individuals wishing to attend.
Opportunity for public comment will be
offered. To attend the virtual meeting
and/or make oral statements regarding
any items on the agenda, you must
contact USDA by email at: nareee@
usda.gov. at least 5 business days prior
to the meeting. Members of the public
will be heard in the order in which they
sign up at the beginning of the meeting.
The Chair will conduct the meeting to
facilitate the orderly conduct of
business. Written comments by
attendees and other interested
stakeholders will be welcomed for the
public record before and up to two
weeks following the Board meeting (no
later than close of business on
Thursday, February 3, 2022). All written
statements must be sent to Shirley
Morgan-Jordan, Program Coordinator,
National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 6019, The South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20250–0321; or by
email: nareee@usda.gov. All statements
will become a part of the official record
of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics
Advisory Board and will be kept on file
for public review in the Research,
Education, and Economics Advisory
Board Office.
Dated: December 14, 2021.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–27634 Filed 12–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
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Forest Service
Shasta County Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, (Agriculture)
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
The Shasta County Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a
virtual meeting by phone and/or video
conference. The committee is
authorized under the Secure Rural
Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and
operates in compliance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
of the committee is to improve
collaborative relationships and to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with Title II of
the Act, as well as make
recommendations on recreation fee
proposals for sites on the Shasta-Trinity
National Forest within Shasta County.
RAC information can be found at the
following website: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/main/stnf/working
together/advisorycommittees.
DATES: The virtual meeting will be held
on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 9:00
a.m.–5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.
All RAC meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of the meetings
prior to attendance, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
virtually via Microsoft Teams. Details
for how to join the meeting are listed in
the above website link under SUMMARY.
Written comments may be submitted
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and are
available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received at the Shasta Lake
Ranger Station. Please call ahead at
530–275–1587 to facilitate entry into the
building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lejon Hamann, RAC Coordinator, by
phone at 530–410–1935 or via email at
lejon.hamann@usda.gov.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf/
hard-of-hearing (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–
877–8339, 24 hours per day, every day
of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to review the
following:
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72203-72204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27577]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 21, 2021 /
Notices
[[Page 72203]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-CN-21-0059]
Determination for Conducting a Continuance Referendum Regarding
Amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) determination not to conduct a continuance referendum regarding
the 1991 amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order provided
for in the Cotton Research and Promotion Act amendments of 1990. This
determination is based on the results of a sign-up period conducted
June 21, 2021, through July 2, 2021, and October 18, 2021, through
October 29, 2021, during which eligible cotton producers and importers
were provided an opportunity to request a continuance referendum.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Director, Research
and Promotion, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside
Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406; Telephone (540)
361-2726, Email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1991 amendments to the Cotton Research
and Promotion Order (Order) (7 CFR part 1205) were implemented
following the July 1991 referendum. The amendments were provided for in
the 1990 amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act (Act) (7
U.S.C. 2101-2118). These amendments provided for: (1) Importer
representation on the Cotton Board by an appropriate number of persons,
to be determined by USDA, who import cotton or cotton products into the
U.S., and whom USDA selects from nominations submitted by importer
organizations certified by USDA; (2) assessments levied on imported
cotton and cotton products at a rate determined in the same manner as
for U.S. cotton; (3) increasing the amount USDA can be reimbursed for
the conduct of a referendum from $200,000 to $300,000; (4) reimbursing
government agencies that assist in administering the collection of
assessments on imported cotton and cotton products; and (5) terminating
the right of producers to demand a refund of assessments.
On December 18, 2020, USDA issued a determination based on its
review not to conduct a referendum regarding the 1991 amendments to the
Order (85 FR 82426); however, the Act provides that USDA shall
nevertheless conduct a referendum at the request of 10 percent or more
of the total number of eligible producers and importers that voted in
the most recent referendum.
Pursuant to section 8(c) of the Act, USDA provided all eligible
Upland cotton producers and importers of cotton and cotton-containing
products an opportunity to sign up and request a continuance referendum
regarding the 1991 amendments to the Order from June 21, 2021, until
July 2, 2021 (86 FR 20255). During the counting and verification of
sign-up requests, the AMS learned that the United States Postal Service
(USPS) erroneously closed the Post Office Box AMS used to receive sign-
up requests, and USPS returned mail contained within the box. Given
this error by the USPS and not knowing how many pieces of mail were
contained in the box, AMS believed it was necessary to reopen the sign-
up period to allow for any eligible importers and producers to submit a
request in the event any sign-ups submitted during the original sign-up
were not received by AMS.
On September 21, 2021, USDA issued a direct final rule indicating
that the sign-up period would be reopened October 18, 2021 through
October 29, 2021. (86 FR 52397).
During the period of June 21, 2021, through July 2, 2021, and
October 18, 2021, through October 29, 2021, USDA provided an
opportunity for eligible cotton producers and importers to request a
continuance referendum regarding the 1991 amendments to the Order
provided for in the Act. Sign-up requests from both sign-up periods
were considered.
Sign-up period results showed that USDA received 3 valid requests
from eligible producers and importers. The following table depicts the
number of requests for a continuance referendum.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total sign-up
Farm service agency state office requests
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama................................................. 0
Arizona................................................. 0
Arkansas................................................ 0
California.............................................. 0
Florida................................................. 0
Georgia................................................. 0
Illinois................................................ 0
Kansas.................................................. 0
Kentucky................................................ 0
Louisiana............................................... 0
Mississippi............................................. 0
Missouri................................................ 0
Nevada.................................................. 0
New Mexico.............................................. 0
North Carolina.......................................... 2
Oklahoma................................................ 0
South Carolina.......................................... 0
Tennessee............................................... 0
Texas................................................... 0
Virginia................................................ 0
Importers............................................... 1
---------------
Total............................................... 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 8(c)(2) of the Act, provides that following a sign-up
period, USDA shall conduct a referendum upon the request of 10 percent
or more of the number of cotton producers and importers voting in the
most recent referendum (1991). This would require 10 percent or 4,622
(46,220 x .10 = 4,622) of the 46,220 valid ballots cast by cotton
producers and importers in the July 1991 referendum. It is further
provided that, in counting such request not more than 20 percent may be
from producers from any one state or importers of cotton.
The results of this sign-up period did not meet the criteria as
established by the Act for a continuance referendum, and, therefore, a
referendum will not be conducted. USDA bases this determination on the
fact that the three valid requests received during the sign-up period
is less than the 4,622 required.
With this announcement of the results of the sign-up period, USDA
has completed all requirements set forth in Section 8(c)(1) and (2) of
the Act regarding the review of the Cotton Research and Promotion
Program to
[[Page 72204]]
determine if a continuance referendum is warranted. A referendum will
not be conducted, and no further actions are planned in connection with
this review.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118.)
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27577 Filed 12-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
