Department of Agriculture February 14, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 4279.

This rule establishes continuing assessment rates for the Fresh Pear Committee and the Processed Pear Committee (Committees) for the 2005-2006 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods. The Committees recommended the establishment of three base rates of assessment for any or all varieties or subvarieties of pears classified as ``summer/fall'', ``winter'', and ``other'' for fresh pears and pears for processing, respectively. This rule also modifies handling and reporting requirements in conformance with the amendments made to the marketing order for pears grown in Oregon and Washington on May 21, 2005, and to reflect current pear industry operating practices under the marketing order. The marketing order is locally administered by the Committees. Assessments upon pear handlers are used by the Committees to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rates will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.