Agricultural Marketing Service 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

National Organic Program; Amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Crops, Livestock and Handling)
Document Number: 2018-27792
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-12-27
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule amends the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) provisions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule changes the use restrictions for seventeen substances allowed for organic production or handling on the National List. This rule also adds sixteen new substances on the National List to be allowed in organic production or handling. In addition, this final rule lists the botanical pesticide, rotenone, as a prohibited substance in organic crop production. This final rule removes ivermectin as an allowed parasiticide for use in organic livestock production and amends our regulations to allow the use of parasiticides in fiber bearing animals. Finally, this rule inserts corrections of instructions and regulation text as listed in the proposed rule.
Kiwifruit Grown California; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-27888
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-12-26
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard
Document Number: 2018-27283
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-12-21
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule establishes the new national mandatory bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard (NBFDS or Standard). The new Standard requires food manufacturers, importers, and other entities that label foods for retail sale to disclose information about BE food and BE food ingredients. This rule is intended to provide a mandatory uniform national standard for disclosure of information to consumers about the BE status of foods. Establishment and implementation of the new Standard is required by an amendment to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.
Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon; Proposed Amendments to Marketing Order 956 and Referendum Order
Document Number: 2018-27143
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-12-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This document proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 956, which regulates the handling of sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee) recommended changing the Committee's size, quorum, and voting requirements. The Committee also recommended changing the term of office and staggered term limits so that the term of office for producers and handlers would be two fiscal periods instead of three fiscal periods, and one-half instead of one- third of the producer and handler member terms would expire every year.
Designation for the Georgia Area Consisting of the Entire State of Georgia
Document Number: 2018-27142
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-12-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the designation of D.R. Schaal Agency, Inc. (Schaal) to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. The realignment of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized by the Secretary's Memorandum dated November 14, 2017, eliminates the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency. The grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now organized under AMS.
Meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2018-27141
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-12-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee). The meeting is being convened to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable industry issues and provide recommendations and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Change in Committee Structure for Processed Pears
Document Number: 2018-27140
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-12-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation from the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) to change the Committee's membership structure. This action would remove the second alternate member position from the Committee structure, leaving ten member positions and one alternate position for each respective member.
Solicitation of Nominations for Members of the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2018-27139
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-12-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee meets no less than once annually to advise AMS on the programs and services it delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA). Recommendations by the Advisory Committee help AMS better meet the needs of its customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace. The realignment of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized by the Secretary's Memorandum dated November 14, 2017, eliminates the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency. The grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now organized under AMS.
Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Document Number: 2018-26930
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-12-13
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces AMS's intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a 3-year extension and revision to a currently approved information collection; a voluntary customer survey concerning the delivery of official inspection, grading, and weighing services authorized under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). OMB approved this information collection as OMB 0580-0018 under Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards (GIPSA). Due to the realignment of offices authorized by the Secretary's memorandum dated November 14, 2017, which eliminated the GIPSA as a standalone agency, the grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now under the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and assigned a new OMB control number of 0581-0310. This voluntary survey gives customers who are primarily in the grain, oilseed, rice, lentil, dry pea, edible bean, and related agricultural commodity markets an opportunity to provide feedback on the quality of services they receive and provides AMS with information on new services that customers wish to receive. Customer feedback assists Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) with enhancing the value of services and service delivery provided by the official inspection, grading, and weighing system.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Decreased Assessment Rate for Processed Pears
Document Number: 2018-26311
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-12-04
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for ``summer/fall'' varieties of pears for canning for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board
Document Number: 2018-25572
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-26
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB assists the USDA in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
Olives Grown in California; Establish Procedures To Meet Via Electronic Communications
Document Number: 2018-25006
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation made by the California Olive Committee (Committee) to establish procedures to conduct meetings and voting using electronic means of communication.
Almonds Grown in California; Proposed Amendments to Marketing Order 981 and Referendum Order
Document Number: 2018-24727
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rulemaking proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds in California. The Almond Board of California (Board) recommended changing the dates associated with the process to nominate members to the Board as well as the start of the term of office of members of the Board. The Board also recommended adding authority to allow future revisions of the nomination methods and term of office start date through the development of regulations using informal rulemaking.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Increased Assessment Rate for Fresh Pears
Document Number: 2018-24728
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-13
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Fresh Pear Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-24493
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018-19 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Document Number: 2018-24454
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 Export Health Certificate Request Forms.
Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in Riverside County, California; Increased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-23917
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate for the 2018-19 and subsequent crop years for California dates handled under Marketing Order 987. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 989
Document Number: 2018-23089
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-26
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule amends Marketing Order No. 989 (Order), which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California. Five amendments were proposed by the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC) and three were proposed by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Seven of the eight proposed amendments were favored by California raisin growers in a mail referendum, held December 4 through 15, 2017. This final rule also makes administrative revisions to subpart headings to bring the language into conformance with the Office of Federal Register requirements.
Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-23091
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-23
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2018-19 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Soybean Promotion and Research: Amend the Order To Adjust Representation on the United Soybean Board
Document Number: 2018-23090
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-23
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule will adjust the number of members on the United Soybean Board (Board) to reflect changes in production levels that have occurred since the Board was last reapportioned in 2015. As required by the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act), membership on the Board is reviewed every 3 years and adjustments are made accordingly. This change will result in an increase in Board membership for five States, increasing the total number of Board members from 73 to 78. These changes will be reflected in the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order) and would be effective for the 2019 appointment process.
Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 982
Document Number: 2018-22762
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-19
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule amends Marketing Order No. 982 (Order), which regulates the handling of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. The amendments were proposed by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board) and add the authority to regulate quality for the purpose of pathogen reduction and to establish different regulations for different markets. This final rule also makes administrative revisions to subpart headings to bring the language into conformance with the Office of Federal Register requirements.
General Regulations for Federal Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crop Marketing Agreements and Orders; Electronic Mailing of Notice of Hearing
Document Number: 2018-22761
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-19
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule revises the general regulations for Federal fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing agreements and marketing orders (orders) to allow the use of electronic communication as a method for notifying industry and the public of hearings for proceedings related to proposing new or amending existing orders.
Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Changing of Container Requirements
Document Number: 2018-22759
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-19
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation to change the container requirements under the Marketing Order for oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. This action removes five containers from the list of authorized containers and adds seven new containers to the list. This change also modifies the descriptions of two authorized containers.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida and Imported Grapefruit; Change in Grade and Size Requirements
Document Number: 2018-22758
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-19
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) to relax the minimum grade requirements for oranges and tangerines, remove grade and size requirements for Ambersweet and Temple oranges, and simplify the tables outlining the grade and size requirements for interstate and export shipments currently prescribed under the marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida. A corresponding change would be made to the grapefruit import regulation as required by section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
United States Standards for Grades of Pecans
Document Number: 2018-21845
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans and the U.S. Standards for Grades of Pecans in the Shell. The revisions include replacing the term ``midget'' with ``extra small'' in the Shelled Pecan standards and removing references to plastic models of pecan kernels and information on where the color standards may be examined from both standards.
Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Revision of the Salable Quantity and Allotment Percentage for Class 3 (Native) Spearmint Oil for the 2018-2019 Marketing Year
Document Number: 2018-21844
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the quantity of Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2018-2019 marketing year. The Committee recommended this action to avoid extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.
Amendments to Quality Systems Verification Programs and Conforming Changes; Withdrawal
Document Number: 2018-21843
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This action informs the public that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2016, that proposed to amend Quality Systems Verification Program (QSVP) regulations. Upon further review, the agency has decided to clarify that all voluntary, user-fee services under this part are applicable to all commodities covered by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act), as amended. Accordingly, a proposed rule covering all audit-based services is forthcoming from the agency.
Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Revision of Reporting Requirements
Document Number: 2018-21841
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a proposal to revise the reporting requirements under the Federal marketing order for pecans. The revised reporting requirements would enable the American Pecan Council (Council) to collect information from handlers on the average handler price paid and the average shelled pecan yield. The Council would use this information to provide important statistical reports to the industry and meet requirements under the marketing order.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; Modification of Handling Regulations
Document Number: 2018-21480
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-10-03
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule implements a recommendation from the Idaho- Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) to revise the varietal classifications that determine the size requirements for Irish potatoes grown in certain designated counties of Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. As provided under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, this modification also applies to all imported long type Irish potatoes. This final rule also makes administrative revisions to the subpart headings to bring the language into conformance with the Office of Federal Register requirements.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-21424
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018-19 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order; Change in Membership
Document Number: 2018-21266
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-01
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposal invites comments on changing the National Honey Board (Board) importer-handler member and alternate to an importer member and alternate. The Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order) is administered by the Board with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This proposal would also update the definition for the term Board to reflect current practices, and make clarifying and conforming changes to other provisions of the program.
Kiwifruit Grown California; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-21264
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-10-01
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2017-18 Crop Year for Tart Cherries
Document Number: 2018-20583
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-09-21
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to establish free and restricted percentages, or the proportion of 2017 tart cherries which may be handled in commercial outlets, for the 2017-18 crop year under the Marketing Order for tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; Proposed Amendment to Marketing Order 929 and Referendum Order
Document Number: 2018-19834
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-09-14
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rulemaking proposes an amendment to Marketing Order No. 929, which regulates the handling of cranberries grown in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York. The Cranberry Marketing Committee (Committee), recommended adding authority to accept contributions from domestic sources for research and development activities authorized under the marketing order and that would be free from any encumbrances as to their use by the donor.
Notice of Request for Approval of New Information Collection for Almonds Grown in California (Marketing Order No. 981)
Document Number: 2018-19827
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-09-12
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval for ballots and a petition form used to collect nominations of members and alternates to serve on the Board. Once approved, the forms would be merged with other forms the Board and AMS uses to collect information under Federal Marketing Order No. 981, Almonds Grown in California.
Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, et al.; Establishment of 2018-19 Seasonal Volume Regulation
Document Number: 2018-19825
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-09-12
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation to establish a grower allotment percentage for the 2018-19 crop year and allows for the diversion of processed products from that year under the marketing order for cranberries grown in the production area (Order). This action also specifies handlers subject to the regulation, revises the definition of outlets for excess fruit, revises dates by which certain actions are due, and establishes exemptions to the action.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Decreased Assessment Rate for Processed Pears
Document Number: 2018-19683
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-09-12
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Processed Pear Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for ``summer/fall'' varieties of pears for canning for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Increased Assessment Rate for Fresh Pears
Document Number: 2018-18552
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-08-28
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Fresh Pear Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado; Increased Assessment Rate for Area No. 2
Document Number: 2018-18560
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-08-27
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for Area No. 2 for the 2018-2019 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2018-18363
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-08-24
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018-19 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, et al.; Establishment of Handler Diversion and Reporting Requirements and New Information Collection; Correction
Document Number: 2018-18039
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-08-22
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on July 12, 2018. The document implemented new information collection and reporting requirements for a handler diversion under the Cranberry marketing order (Order).
United States Standards for Grades of Pork Carcasses
Document Number: 2018-17725
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-08-17
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This Notice informs the public that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will not proceed with revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Pork Carcasses (pork standards) at this time.
Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental Assessment on Imports (2018 Amendments)
Document Number: 2018-17723
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-08-17
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations, increasing the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. This amendment is required each year to ensure that assessments collected on imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products will be the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. In addition, AMS is updating the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) statistical reporting numbers that were amended since the last assessment adjustment in 2017.
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Collection
Document Number: 2018-17285
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-08-13
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection ``Application for Plant Variety Protection Certification and Objective Description of Variety.''
United States Standards for Grades of Processed Vegetables
Document Number: 2018-17283
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-08-13
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Lima Beans, U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Mushrooms, U.S. Standards for Grades of Pickles, and U.S. Standards for Grades of Green Olives. AMS is proposing to replace the term ``midget'' with ``petite'' in the canned lima bean, canned mushroom, and pickle standards, and to remove ``midget'' completely from the green olive standards as there is an alternative term. AMS is also proposing to replace the two-term grading system (dual nomenclature) with a single term to describe each quality level in the canned lima bean, canned mushroom, and green olive standards. Editorial changes would also be made to the grade standards that conform to recent changes made in other grade standards.
Grain Inspection Advisory Committee Meeting
Document Number: 2018-17114
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-08-10
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this constitutes notice of the upcoming meeting of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee meets no less than once annually to advise the AMS on the programs and services delivered under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Recommendations by the Advisory Committee help AMS better meet the needs of its customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace. The realignment of offices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized by the Secretary's Memorandum dated November 14, 2017, eliminates the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a standalone agency. The grain inspection activities formerly part of GIPSA are now organized under AMS.
Meeting of the National Organic Standards Board
Document Number: 2018-16386
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-08-09
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to assist the USDA in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on any other aspects of the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry
Document Number: 2018-16249
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-08-06
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry, (the poultry standards) to lower the age requirement for the ``roaster and roasting chickens'' class of poultry and identify a ready-to-cook weight of 5.5 pounds or more. This change is consistent with how the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) defines ``roaster or roasting chickens'' for labeling compliance.
Onions Grown in South Texas; Proposed Amendments to Marketing Order 959 and Referendum Order
Document Number: 2018-15793
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-07-30
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rulemaking proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 959, which regulates the handling of onions grown in South Texas. The proposed amendments would reduce the size of the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) and make conforming and clarifying amendments as needed.
Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research and Information Order; Continuance Referendum
Document Number: 2018-15894
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-07-25
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers of raspberries for processing and importers of processed raspberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national processed raspberry research and promotion program.
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