Department of Agriculture April 26, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to raise user fees for cotton producers for 2005 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act. The 2004 user fee for this classification service was $1.65 per bale. This proposal would raise the fee for the 2005 crop to $1.85 per bale with the program. The proposed fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services, including costs for administration and supervision.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified that the standard may need to be revised to reflect current marketing practices. AMS is seeking comments regarding any revisions that may be necessary to better serve the industry.

We are amending the Asian longhorned beetle regulations by removing portions of Cook and DuPage Counties, IL, from the list of quarantined areas and removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas. We have determined that the Asian longhorned beetle no longer presents a risk of spread from those areas and that the quarantine and restrictions are no longer necessary.

This rule relaxes the minimum size requirement for all U.S. No. 2 grade non-red round potatoes handled under the marketing order for Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes to 1\7/8\ inches minimum diameter. This relaxation in the handling regulations was unanimously recommended by the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order program in the designated production area. This change is intended to improve the marketing of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes and increase returns to producers.