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

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 Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the regulations governing the voluntary shell egg grading program and the regulations governing the inspection of eggs. The proposed revision would revise the definition of washed ungraded eggs in each of the regulations. From time to time, sections in the regulations are affected by changes in egg production and processing technology. This rule updates the regulations to reflect these changes.

This rule increases the assessment rates established for the Nectarine Administrative Committee and the Peach Commodity Committee (committees) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.195 and $0.19, respectively, to $0.20 per 25-pound container or container equivalent of nectarines and peaches handled. The committees locally administer the marketing orders that regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California. Assessments upon nectarine and peach handlers are used by the committees to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the programs. The fiscal period runs from March 1 through the last day of February. The assessment rates will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.