Department of Agriculture May 1, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified regions.

We are initiating a review of the United States Standards for Soybeans to determine their effectiveness and responsiveness to current grain industry needs. Numerous changes have occurred in the breeding and production practices of soybeans as well as in the technology used to harvest, process, and test soybeans, and in the marketing practices of soybeans. As a result, soybean producer groups have asked us to initiate a review of the soybean standards. In order to ensure that the standards and subsequent grading practices remain relevant, we invite interested persons to submit comments and supporting information to assist in the evaluation of current standards and grading practices for soybeans and in the development of any recommendations for change.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and entities on the extension of currently approved information collection that supports the Emergency Loan Program (ELP). The collection of information from loan applicants and commercial lenders is used to determine eligibility, financial feasibility and security positions when the applicant requests emergency loan assistance.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension and revision to the currently approved information collection Cotton Classing, Testing, and Standards.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, an interim final rule establishing final free and restricted percentages for domestic inshell hazelnuts for the 2006-2007 marketing year under the Federal marketing order for hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. This rule continues in effect the final free and restricted percentages of 8.2840 percent and 91.7160 percent, respectively. The percentages allocate the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts which may be marketed in the domestic inshell market (free) and the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts that must be disposed of in outlets approved by the Board (restricted). Volume regulation is intended to stabilize the supply of domestic inshell hazelnuts to meet the limited domestic demand for such hazelnuts with the goal of providing producers with reasonable returns. This rule was recommended unanimously by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board), which is the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order.

This document directs that a continuance referendum be conducted among eligible growers of cranberries in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the production area.