Commodity Credit Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule amends the regulations for the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program as authorized by the Agriculture Reconciliation Act of 2005 to extend the program from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2007. This rule also decreases the percentage rate for the payment calculation and removes the transition rule required at the beginning of the program.

This proposed rule proposes additional changes related to a proposed rule published by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) on December 16, 2005, entitled ``Procurement of Commodities for Foreign Donation,'' to specifically recognize CCC's obligations under the cargo preference legislation of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and to clarify the ``extenuating circumstances'' that may preclude awards on the basis of lowest-landed cost. CCC is also re-opening and extending the comment period on the proposed rule to accord interested persons an opportunity to comment thereon.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revision of a currently approved information collection in support of the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.

This notice announces the intention of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request an extension and revision for an information collection currently approved and used in of farm reconstitutions.

This document corrects the final regulations published on March 31, 2005, and May 25, 2005, that provided the regulations for the 2003-2004 Livestock Assistance Program (LAP), and American Indian Livestock Feed Program (AILFP). This correction clarifies that all eligible cattle must be intended for food use.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) are soliciting comments and views on whether to revise the regulations at 7 CFR parts 735 and 1427 for the purpose of addressing the storage of upland cotton and its impact on loan eligibility.

This document announces the sign-up CSP-06-01 for the Conservation Security Program (CSP). This sign-up will be open from February 13, 2006, through March 31, 2006, in selected 8-digit watersheds in all 50 States, Guam, and the Caribbean.

This final rule codifies portions of the Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005, enacted on October 13, 2004 Public Law 108-324 (``2004 Act'') to provide assistance to producers and first-handlers of the 2004 crop of cottonseed in counties declared a disaster by the President of the United States due to 2004 hurricanes and tropical storms. Other 2004 Act disaster provisions for other crops were implemented under separate rules.

This ANPR solicits comments on options to reform the USDA, CCC, Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (SCGP). The purpose of this ANPR is to invite suggestions on changes to reform the program to reduce the risk of default, improve the ability to effect a collection on defaulted obligations, and consider alternative program mechanisms and forms of payment obligations that are consistent with commercial export practices. The intent of this request is to seek comments on program reforms that would improve the SCGP's effectiveness and efficiency and lower costs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2006/2007 Market Access Program (MAP). The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in June 2006. The MAP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2007 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) Program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in June 2006. The Cooperator Program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

This proposed rule would adopt new procedures to be used by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in the evaluation of bids in connection with the procurement of commodities for donation overseas. In general, CCC proposes to amend the existing regulations to provide for the simultaneous review of commodity and ocean freight offers when evaluating lowest-landed cost options in connection with the procurement of commodities. This proposed rule would enhance bidding opportunities for potential vendors while allowing CCC to more efficiently acquire commodities.

This notice sets forth the interpretation the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) will use in administering the regulations set forth at 7 CFR part 1463 with respect to the Tobacco Transition Assessments. Generally, under these regulations CCC must determine the market share of a tobacco product manufacturer or tobacco product importer as a percentage of six statutorily specified sectors of the tobacco trade. Based upon information provided to CCC in the conduct of administrative hearings held pursuant to 7 CFR 1463.11, CCC has determined that the manner in which it calculates this percentage is subject to more than one interpretation and, based upon the evidence provided at these hearings, has determined that changes to the calculation should be made beginning with assessments collected under 7 CFR part 1463 after January 1, 2006. However, this change will not apply to invoices issued February 1, 2006. These invoices will reflect corrections and other necessary adjustments associated with fiscal year 2005.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is providing notification to all interested parties regarding additional actions pursuant to the September 20, 2005 announcement to ease transportation issues exacerbated by Hurricane Katrina. CCC is seeking proposals from interested parties for unloading barges of agricultural commodities located in the New Orleans area to make them available to transport 2005-crop agricultural commodities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the CCC Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) and the CCC Supplier Credit Guarantee Program (SCGP) based on re-estimates.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice which sets forth the establishment and adjustments to the sugar overall allotment quantity for the 2004 crop year (FY 2005) which runs from October 1, 2004, through September 30, 2005. Although CCC already announced all of the information in this notice, CCC is statutorily required to publish in the Federal Register determinations establishing or adjusting sugar marketing allotments. CCC set the 2004-crop overall allotment quantity (OAQ) of domestic sugar to 8.100 million short tons raw value (STRV) on July 16, 2004. On September 28, 2004, CCC allocated the allotments to cane-producing States and allocations to cane and beet sugar processors. On April 29, 2005, CCC revised State cane sugar allotments and cane sugar processor allocations to reflect updated FY 2005 raw cane production forecasts. On June 30, 2005, CCC further revised State cane sugar allotments and cane sugar processor allocations to reflect updated raw cane production forecasts. On August 19, August 30 and September 9, 2005, CCC increased the 2004-crop OAQ by 250,000, 225,000 and 105,000 STRV, respectively, to release blocked refined beet sugar stocks into the tight summer market. Because the cane sector was unable to fulfill its share of the allotment increases on each occasion, the cane shortfall was reassigned first to the CCC inventory and then to imports, as required by the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938.

This proposed rule would change the handling of claims for specified ``tropical'' regions for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The specified area includes Hawaii, Puerto Rico and specified additional areas. The proposed changes are intended to reduce the burden on program participants and ease program administration in the affected areas.

This rule sets forth the regulations for the 2004 Dairy Disaster Assistance Payment Program. This program will assist dairy producers by providing payments to those who suffered dairy production and milk spoilage losses due to hurricanes in 2004.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) proposes several changes to the sugar program regulations. First, CCC proposes to amend the regulations for transferring sugar marketing allocation when a mill closes and growers request to move their allocation. Second, CCC proposes imposing a regulatory deadline for the program's information reporting requirements. The required monthly information would be due on the 20th of each month. Third, CCC proposes to amend the requirements for the maintenance and inspection of records to require each cane processor, cane refiner and beet processor to provide an annual report by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that verifies the company's data submitted to CCC.

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is authorized by Title XII, Chapter 2, Subchapter A, of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published an amendment to the interim final rule for CSP on March 25, 2005, (70 FR 15201), with a comment period expiring July 25, 2005. By this notice, NRCS is extending the period during which it will accept public comment on the amended interim final rule for CSP to September 9, 2005. This extension is to give the public additional time to comment on key issues that have been raised regarding the implementation of the program under the amended interim final rule.

This rule proposes regulations to implement provisions of the Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005, enacted on October 13, 2004 (``2004 Act'') to provide assistance to producers and first-handlers of the 2004 crop of cottonseed in counties declared a disaster by the President of the United States due to 2004 hurricanes and tropical storms.

This rule sets out regulations governing the use of designated marketing associations in connection with the making of marketing assistance loans for peanuts and the making of loan deficiency payments in lieu of such loans. These regulations reflect current procedures under broader regulations that precede this rule and specify when storage credit begins for loans handled by designated marketing associations.

This regulation sets forth the terms and conditions of the 2003/2004 American Indian Livestock Feed Program (AILFP). Assistance will be available to eligible livestock producers for livestock feed crop years 2003 or 2004 whose eligible livestock occupied tribal- governed land at the time of a natural disaster in an area where a significant loss of livestock feed has occurred, creating a livestock feed emergency, as determined by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Eligible producers can receive benefits for livestock feed crop year 2003, or 2004, but not both. Eligible tribal-governed land must be located in a primary county or counties that have received an emergency declaration by the President or emergency designation by the Secretary of Agriculture on or after January 1, 2003, for losses occurring in calendar year 2003, or calendar year 2004. Although the Presidential declarations and Secretarial designations were issued for natural disasters in those calendar years, tribal governments may request an initial 90-day feeding period and up to three 90-day extensions that extend from the beginning of a livestock feed crop year, to the end of that same livestock feed crop year. Further, livestock owners who sold eligible livestock as a direct result of natural disaster shall report those livestock as owned through the end of the production year (livestock feed crop year) in order to mitigate the livestock owner's losses. This rule is intended to implement legislation and assist affected producers in overcoming the effects of drought. In addition, this rule provides technical revisions for the Livestock Assistance Program regulations.

This document corrects the final regulations published on September 13, 2004 that amended the Sugar Program regulations of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) by revising several definitions used in the program and the sugar marketing allotment regulations with respect to the reassignment of processors' allocation deficits. A correction is needed to restore two paragraphs that were inadvertently removed and add a clarifying paragraph.