Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Opportunity To Request a Referendum, 7353-7354 [2024-02136]
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7353
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 89, No. 23
Friday, February 2, 2024
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
[Doc. No. AMS–TM–23–0076]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Programmatic Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for the AMS Organic
Market Development Grant Program
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) announces the
availability of the Final Programmatic
Environmental Assessment (PEA) and
Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) for the AMS Organic Market
Development Grant Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Betsy Rakola, Associate Deputy
Administrator, Transportation and
Marketing Program; Telephone: (202)
690–1300; Email: OMDG@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
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Background
The Final PEA and FONSI analyze
and disclose the potential
environmental impacts associated with
the establishment of the Organic Market
Development Grant Program (OMDG).
AMS has proposed to fund grants to
support the development of new and
expanded organic markets by providing
additional resources for businesses
transitioning to organic or initiating new
organic production and processing
capacity. These grants will create new
and improved markets for domestically
produced organic products through
investments in expanded certified
organic processing capacity; activities
that develop, maintain, or expand
commercial organic markets; and
organic product developments which
create new uses for producers that
currently lack markets.
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Selected applicants for the OMDG
program may invest in certified organic
infrastructure and expand processing
capacities, in addition to adding
manufacturing, storing, transporting,
wholesaling, or distribution
infrastructure. Funded activities will
include developing new markets to
increase demand for domestically
produced organic agricultural products
and providing additional market
networks.
The OMDG Program is authorized by
authorized by section 5(e) of the
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
Charter Act, (15 U.S.C. 714(e)). Section
5(e), as amended, authorizes USDA
(through the CCC) to ‘‘increase the
domestic consumption of agricultural
commodities (other than tobacco) by
expanding or aiding in the expansion of
domestic markets or by developing or
aiding in the development of new and
additional markets, marketing facilities,
and uses for such commodities.’’
Recipients of funding from this
proposed program would be allowed 36
months to complete work funded by the
grant awards.
The environmental impacts of
funding projects to enhance existing
organic processing facilities have been
considered in a manner consistent with
the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, Public Law 91–190, 42 U.S.C.
4321–4347, as amended.
A Final PEA and FONSI have been
prepared, and based on this analysis,
AMS has determined there will not be
a significant impact to the human
environment. As a result, an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
has not been initiated (40 CFR 1501.6).
AMS intends for this PEA to create
efficiencies by establishing a framework
that can be used for ‘‘tiering,’’ where
appropriate, to project-specific actions
that require additional analysis. As
decisions on specific applications are
made, to the extent additional NEPA
analysis is required, environmental
review will be conducted to supplement
the analysis set forth in this PEA.
The Final PEA and FONSI are
available for review online at the
program website: https://www.ams.
usda.gov/services/grants/omdg.
Comments
AMS published a Draft PEA for public
comment on November 20, 2023. The
public comment period ended on
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December 20, 2023. No comments were
received during the designated
timeframe, and as such, no substantial
changes were made to the document.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–02120 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS–LP–23–0027]
Soybean Promotion, Research, and
Information Program: Opportunity To
Request a Referendum
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) announces that soybean
producers may request a referendum to
determine if producers want the
Secretary to conduct a referendum on
the Soybean Promotion and Research
Order (Order), as authorized under the
Soybean Promotion, Research, and
Consumer Information Act (Act).
Participation in the Request for
Referendum is voluntary. Producers
should participate only if they wish to
request a referendum on the program. If
at least 10 percent (not in excess of onefifth of which may be producers in any
one State) of the 413,358 eligible
producers, as determined by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
participate in the Request for
Referendum, a referendum would be
held within 1 year from that
determination. If results of the Request
for Referendum indicate that a
referendum is not supported, a
referendum would not be conducted.
The results of the Request for
Referendum will be published in a
notice in the Federal Register.
DATES: Soybean producers may request
a referendum during a 4-week period
beginning on May 6, 2024, and ending
May 31, 2024. To be eligible to
participate in the Request for
Referendum, producers must certify that
they or the producer entity they are
authorized to represent paid an
assessment at any time between January
1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.
SUMMARY:
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7354
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 23 / Friday, February 2, 2024 / Notices
Form LP–51–1, Soybean
Promotion and Research Order Request
for Referendum, may be obtained by
mail, fax, or in person from the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) county offices
from May 6, 2024, to May 31, 2024.
Form LP–51–1 may also be obtained via
the internet at https://www.ams.usda.
gov/rules-regulations/researchpromotion/soybean during the same
time period. Completed forms and
supporting documentation must be
returned to the appropriate county FSA
office by fax or in person no later than
close of business May 31, 2024, or if
returned by mail, must be postmarked
by midnight May 31, 2024, and received
in the county FSA office by close of
business on June 7, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jason Julian, Agricultural Marketing
Specialist, Research and Promotion
Division, Livestock and Poultry
Program, AMS, USDA, STOP 0249, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–0249; Telephone (202) 720–
5705; or Email to Jason.Julian@
usda.gov; or contact a local FSA Office;
the phone numbers, fax numbers, and
mailing addresses can be found at
https://www.farmers.gov/.
In
accordance with the Act (7 U.S.C. 6301–
6311), this notice announces the dates
when the Request for Referendum will
be conducted and the place where
soybean producers may request a
referendum on the Order (7 CFR part
1220). The Act provides that the
Secretary, 5 years after the conduct of
the initial referendum and every 5 years
thereafter, shall give soybean producers
an opportunity to request a referendum
on the Order. The initial referendum
was held in February 1994, and the
results were announced on April 1,
1994. During the initial referendum,
85,606 valid ballots were cast, with
46,060 (53.8 percent) in favor of
continuing the Order and 39,546 votes
(46.2 percent) against continuing the
Order. The Act required approval by a
simple majority for the Order to
continue.
The most recent opportunity for
producers to request a referendum on
the Order was in May 2019. During that
period, 708 producers completed valid
requests—short of the 51,501 required to
trigger a referendum. On July 17, 2019,
USDA announced the results of the
Request for Referendum and that the
requisite number of producers had not
requested that a referendum be
conducted.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Eligibility
To be eligible to participate, soybean
producers must certify that they or the
entity they are authorized to represent
paid an assessment under the Soybean
Checkoff Program at sometime between
January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.
They must complete and submit Form
LP–51–1—Soybean Promotion and
Research Order Request for Referendum,
in person; by mail, postmarked by May
31, 2024, and received no later than
June 7, 2024; or by fax between May 6,
2024, and May 31, 2024. Individual
producers and other producer entities
would request a referendum at the
county FSA office where FSA maintains
and processes the producer’s,
corporation’s, or other entity’s
administrative farm records. For the
producer, corporation, or other entity
not participating in FSA programs, the
opportunity to request a referendum
would be provided at the county FSA
office serving the county where the
producer, corporation, or other entity
owns or rents land. Form LP–51–1 may
also be obtained via the internet at
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rulesregulations/research-promotion/
soybean. If obtained by the internet,
Form LP–51–1 must be completed and
returned by mail, fax, or in person with
the supporting documentation to the
county FSA office where FSA maintains
and processes the producer’s,
corporation’s, or other entity’s
administrative farm records.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3521), the information collection
requirements connected with the
Request for Referendum have been
approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB
control number 0581–0093.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6301–6311.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–02136 Filed 2–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Notice of Request for Approval of an
Information Collection
Office of the Chief Economist,
Office of Pest Management Policy,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intention of
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
USDA’s Office of Pest Management
Policy to request renewal of an existing
information collection for Multiple Crop
and Pesticide Use Surveys.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by April 2, 2024 to be assured
of consideration.
ADDRESSES: USDA invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by
one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This
website provides the ability to type
short comments directly into the
comment field on this web page or
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
• Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.:
Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Office of Pest
Management Policy, 1400 Independence
Ave. SW, Room3871—South Building,
Mailstop 3817, Washington, DC 20250–
3700.
• Hand- or courier-delivered
submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Ave. SW, Room4054—
South Building, Washington, DC 20250–
3700. You may also want to send
comments to the Desk Officer for
Agriculture, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, Washington,
DC 20503.
Instructions: All items submitted by
mail or electronic mail must include the
Agency name and docket number.
Comments received in response to this
docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change,
including any personal information, to
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Ranville, Office of the Chief
Economist, Office of Pest Management
Policy, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20250–3700, (202) 577–
1980.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct
Multiple Crop and Pesticide Use
Surveys.
OMB Number: 0503–0026.
Expiration Date of Approval: Three
years from approval date.
Type of Request: Renewal and
revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Office of Pest
Management Policy (OPMP) of the
United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) requests approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for generic clearance that will
allow OPMP to collect information from
E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM
02FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7353-7354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02136]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-LP-23-0027]
Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Opportunity
To Request a Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that
soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers
want the Secretary to conduct a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and
Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion,
Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). Participation in the
Request for Referendum is voluntary. Producers should participate only
if they wish to request a referendum on the program. If at least 10
percent (not in excess of one-fifth of which may be producers in any
one State) of the 413,358 eligible producers, as determined by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), participate in the Request for
Referendum, a referendum would be held within 1 year from that
determination. If results of the Request for Referendum indicate that a
referendum is not supported, a referendum would not be conducted. The
results of the Request for Referendum will be published in a notice in
the Federal Register.
DATES: Soybean producers may request a referendum during a 4-week
period beginning on May 6, 2024, and ending May 31, 2024. To be
eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum, producers must
certify that they or the producer entity they are authorized to
represent paid an assessment at any time between January 1, 2022, and
December 31, 2023.
[[Page 7354]]
ADDRESSES: Form LP-51-1, Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request
for Referendum, may be obtained by mail, fax, or in person from the
Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices from May 6, 2024, to May 31,
2024. Form LP-51-1 may also be obtained via the internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean during
the same time period. Completed forms and supporting documentation must
be returned to the appropriate county FSA office by fax or in person no
later than close of business May 31, 2024, or if returned by mail, must
be postmarked by midnight May 31, 2024, and received in the county FSA
office by close of business on June 7, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Julian, Agricultural Marketing
Specialist, Research and Promotion Division, Livestock and Poultry
Program, AMS, USDA, STOP 0249, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250-0249; Telephone (202) 720-5705; or Email to
[email protected]; or contact a local FSA Office; the phone
numbers, fax numbers, and mailing addresses can be found at https://www.farmers.gov/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Act (7 U.S.C. 6301-
6311), this notice announces the dates when the Request for Referendum
will be conducted and the place where soybean producers may request a
referendum on the Order (7 CFR part 1220). The Act provides that the
Secretary, 5 years after the conduct of the initial referendum and
every 5 years thereafter, shall give soybean producers an opportunity
to request a referendum on the Order. The initial referendum was held
in February 1994, and the results were announced on April 1, 1994.
During the initial referendum, 85,606 valid ballots were cast, with
46,060 (53.8 percent) in favor of continuing the Order and 39,546 votes
(46.2 percent) against continuing the Order. The Act required approval
by a simple majority for the Order to continue.
The most recent opportunity for producers to request a referendum
on the Order was in May 2019. During that period, 708 producers
completed valid requests--short of the 51,501 required to trigger a
referendum. On July 17, 2019, USDA announced the results of the Request
for Referendum and that the requisite number of producers had not
requested that a referendum be conducted.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate, soybean producers must certify that
they or the entity they are authorized to represent paid an assessment
under the Soybean Checkoff Program at sometime between January 1, 2022,
and December 31, 2023. They must complete and submit Form LP-51-1--
Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request for Referendum, in person;
by mail, postmarked by May 31, 2024, and received no later than June 7,
2024; or by fax between May 6, 2024, and May 31, 2024. Individual
producers and other producer entities would request a referendum at the
county FSA office where FSA maintains and processes the producer's,
corporation's, or other entity's administrative farm records. For the
producer, corporation, or other entity not participating in FSA
programs, the opportunity to request a referendum would be provided at
the county FSA office serving the county where the producer,
corporation, or other entity owns or rents land. Form LP-51-1 may also
be obtained via the internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean. If obtained by the internet,
Form LP-51-1 must be completed and returned by mail, fax, or in person
with the supporting documentation to the county FSA office where FSA
maintains and processes the producer's, corporation's, or other
entity's administrative farm records.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501-3521), the information collection requirements connected with the
Request for Referendum have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB control number 0581-0093.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6301-6311.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02136 Filed 2-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
