Department of Agriculture September 3, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to consider a proposed marketing agreement under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to cover the handling of leafy green vegetables and products in the United States. The proposal was submitted by a cross- section of producer and handler representatives from the fresh produce industry, collectively referred to as the ``proponent group.'' The proposed agreement would authorize the development and implementation of production and handling regulations (metrics). Such metrics would reflect Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices, and Good Manufacturing Practices. The proposal would be voluntary in that only handlers who sign the marketing agreement would be subject to the requirements of the marketing agreement. Signatory handlers could only handle leafy green vegetables or product from the production area or imported that meets the requirements of the program. The program would be financed by assessments on first handlers of leafy green vegetables for the fresh market and would be administered by a twenty-three member committee, the majority of whom would be growers and handlers nominated by the industry and appointed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Secretary of Agriculture is renewing the charter of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (Committee). The Committee provides advice to the Secretary on ways to encourage Federal and State beginning farmer programs to provide joint financing to beginning farmers and ranchers, and other methods of creating new farming and ranching opportunities. This notice invites nominations for persons to service on the Committee.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the depreciation rates for telecommunications plant for the period ending December 31, 2008.