Department of Agriculture July 18, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is proposing to revise the regulations that cover the official grain inspection and weighing service procedures that GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) performs under the authority of the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. Specifically, GIPSA proposes to update the regulations issued under the USGSA pertaining to grain exported in large reusable containers typically loaded onto export ships. GIPSA proposes to add new definitions of composite and average grades, limit the number of such containers that could be averaged or combined to form a single lot, restrict the inspection and weighing of such container lots to the official service provider's area of responsibility, specify a 60-day retention period for file samples representing such container lots, and make consistent the weighing certification procedures for container lots with those for inspection certification procedures. GIPSA believes that these proposed revisions would enhance the integrity of the Federal grain export certification process and the uniformity of USDA-certified export grain shipped in large reusable containers as to grade, thus facilitating the marketing of all U.S. grain shipped for export.

The Humboldt (NV) Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Winnemucca, Nevada. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review projects and to decide on the implementaion and recommend funding allocations for selected projects.

This proposed rule invites comments on changes to the grower diversion regulations prescribed under the marketing order for tart cherries (order). The order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin and is administered locally by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board). This rule would suspend indefinitely the regulations establishing random row as a method of grower diversion. With growers consistently choosing other diversion methods which offer more flexibility and fewer potential problems, the Board recommended this suspension to bring grower diversion requirements in line with current industry practices.

This rule increases the desirable carryout used to compute the yearly trade demand for Natural (sun-dried) Seedless (NS) raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins (order). The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee (committee). This rule increases the amount of tonnage available early in the season when volume regulation is implemented, and is expected to help the industry meet its market needs.