Agricultural Marketing Service 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible California walnut growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection Dairy Request for Applicant Number OMB NO. 0581-0272.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection for the Child Nutrition Labeling Program.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, (5 U.S.C. App.), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing an upcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Written public comments are invited in advance of the meeting, and the meeting will include scheduled time for oral comments from the public.

This final decision proposes to permanently adopt amendments that adjust the Class I pricing surface of the Appalachian, Florida, and Southeast Federal milk marketing orders. In addition, this decision seeks to adopt proposals that amend certain features of the diversion limit, touch-base, and transportation credit provisions for the Appalachian and Southeast milk marketing orders. This decision also proposes to adopt amendments that increase the maximum administrative assessment for the Appalachian, Florida and Southeast marketing orders. The orders as amended are subject to approval by producers in the affected markets. Producer approval for this action will be determined concurrently with amendments adopted in a separate final decision that amends the transportation balancing fund and other provisions of the Appalachian and Southeast milk marketing orders.

This interim final rule would amend the procedures to Request a Referendum by removing the specific number of soybean producers eligible to request a referendum under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information program, commonly known as the Soybean Checkoff Program. The number of soybean producers will be replaced with language that allows the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to update this number based on information provided by USDA. Additionally, this action would remove specific USDA and Farm Service Agency (FSA) Web site and office addresses and replace them with more flexible language. These changes will enable AMS to announce future Requests for Referendum without engaging in additional notice-and-comment rulemaking. This rule also serves as AMS' official notice that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). If at least 10 percent (not in excess of one- fifth of which may be producers in any one State) of eligible producers, as determined by USDA, participate in the Request for Referendum, a referendum will 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 the Federal Register.

This rule relaxes the minimum size currently prescribed for oranges under the marketing order for oranges and grapefruit grown in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas (order). The order is administered locally by the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee). The corresponding change in the orange import regulation is required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. This rule relaxes the minimum size requirement for oranges from 2-6/16 inches to 2-3/16 inches in diameter. This rule will provide additional oranges to meet market demand, helping to maximize fresh shipments.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension without change of a currently approved information collection titled Data Collection for Container Availability.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection in support of the Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs7 CFR Part 56. With this submission we will merge the burden and forms of the 0581-0127 Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Poultry Products and Rabbit Products; 7 CFR Part 70, approved on December 26, 2013; and 0581-0128 Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, 7 CFR Part 56, approved on June 4, 2011. With this merge we will change the title to Regulations for Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, Poultry Products, and Rabbit Products7 CFR Part 56 and 70.

This proposed rule would decrease the assessment rate established for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) for the 2014-2015 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0045 to $0.0025 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of potatoes grown in certain designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. Assessments upon potato handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This final rule terminates Marketing Order No. 947 (order), which regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California, and in all counties in Oregon, except Malheur County, and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that the marketing order is no longer an effective marketing tool for the Oregon- California potato industry, and that termination serves the current needs of the industry while also eliminating the costs associated with the operation of the marketing order.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the Florida Tomato Committee (Committee) for the 2013-14 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.024 to $0.0375 per 25-pound carton of tomatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the Federal marketing order, which regulates the handling of tomatoes grown in Florida. Assessments upon Florida tomato handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2013-14 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.035 to $0.025 per 9-kilo volume-fill container or equivalent of kiwifruit. The Committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of kiwifruit grown in California. The interim rule was necessary to allow the Committee to reduce its financial reserve while still providing adequate funding to meet program expenses.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that decreased the assessment rate established for the California Date Administrative Committee (committee) for the 2013-2014 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.90 to $0.40 per hundredweight of dates handled. The committee locally administers the marketing order for dates grown or packed in Riverside County, California. The interim rule was necessary to allow the committee to reduce its operating expenses while still providing adequate funding to meet program expenses.

This rule establishes a Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The purpose of the program is to maintain and expand markets for paper and paper-based packaging. The program will be financed by an assessment on paper and paper-based packaging manufacturers (domestic producers) and importers and administered by a board of industry members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). The assessment rate will initially be $0.35 per short ton. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Department or USDA) conducted a referendum among eligible manfacturers and importers from October 28 through November 8, 2013. Eighty-five percent of those voting in the referendum representing 95 percent of the volume of paper and paper-based packaging represented in the referendum favored implementation of the program.

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers of peanuts to determine whether they favor continuance of the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval of a new collection, titled: Local Food Directories and Survey, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Upon approval, we request that this collection be merged into OMB 0581-0169, National Farmers Market Directory and Survey with Modules, which was approved April 19, 2013.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2013-14 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.25 to $0.30 per 55-pound bushel container of Florida avocados handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order, which regulates the handling of avocados grown in South Florida. Assessments upon Florida avocado handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins April 1 and ends March 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.