Agricultural Marketing Service October 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program (Local MCap) is available for public review and comments.

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 (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection for report forms under the Federal milk marketing order program.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the U.S. Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins. AMS is modifying two references to the allowances for capstems within the standards to modernize the standards to reflect current industry practices. The revision also includes minor editorial changes to the table headings to align with updated Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) formatting requirements and correction of a typographical error from a previous revision.

This proposed rule invites comments on the establishment of an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for natural grass sod products. The proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) was submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a group of natural grass sod producers. The proposed Order also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new information collection requirements to implement the program.

This proposed rule would suspend the Federal marketing order regulating dried prunes produced in California (Order) effective at the beginning of the 2023-2024 crop year. After operating for 18 years without handling regulations, the Prune Administrative Committee (Committee) recommended the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) indefinitely suspend the Order. After reviewing the Committee's recommendation, AMS determined that regulatory suspension with a sunset provision of seven years is appropriate. This suspension period would extend through the end of the 2029-2030 crop year and would provide industry sufficient time to assess whether the Order's reinstatement is beneficial. If no recommendation is made by the Committee to reinstate the Order by the end of the 2029-2030 crop year, AMS would proceed to terminate the Order.

This document invites comments on a proposed amendment to Marketing Order No. 927, which regulates the handling of pears grown in Oregon and Washington. The proposed amendment would revise the Fresh Pear Committee's approval requirement for recommending modifications to the marketing order's fresh pear handling regulations from 80 to 75 percent.

This rule implements a recommendation from the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

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 the Child Nutrition Labeling Program.

This rulemaking proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds grown in California. The proposed amendments would modify certain marketing order provisions to facilitate orderly administration of the program. Additionally, the proposed amendments would modernize, simplify, or align language with current industry practices and definitions, and would establish authority to borrow funds. The proposal would also establish authority for the Almond Board of California (Board) to accept advanced assessments.