Department of Agriculture September 26, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) is reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 14, 2006 (71 FR 40194-40252). The proposed rule contains certain provisions to combine and provide revenue protection and yield protection within one standard crop insurance policy, and to improve prevented planting and other provisions to better meet the needs of insured producers. During the comment period, FCIC received comments that due to the complexity of the proposed changes, sixty days was not adequate to properly address all the issues. FCIC agrees that additional time is appropriate to ensure that all interested persons have time to fully review the proposed rule and provide meaningful comments.

We are amending the regulations to establish a voluntary program for the control of the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry under the auspices of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (the Plan). The control program was voted on and approved by the voting delegates at the Plan's 2004 National Plan Conference. We are also providing for the payment of indemnity for costs associated with eradication of the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza can mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza, a disease that can have serious economic and public health consequences. This combination of a control program and indemnity provisions is necessary to help ensure that the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza are detected and eradicated when they occur within the United States.