Department of Agriculture August 9, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 110-343), the Salmon-Challis National Forest's Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee will conduct a business meeting which is open to the public.

The Department of Agriculture is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that extended the one-year suspension of the minimum quality, maturity, pack, marking, and inspection requirements prescribed for russet potato varieties under the Washington potato marketing order for the 2011-2012 and subsequent fiscal periods. The interim rule also extended the reporting requirement for russet potato handlers for the purpose of obtaining information necessary for administering the marketing order. This change is expected to reduce overall industry expenses and increase net returns to producers and handlers while allowing the industry the opportunity to continue exploring alternative marketing strategies.

This rule invites comments on proposed changes to the reporting requirements currently prescribed under the marketing order that regulates the handling of kiwifruit grown in California. The order is administered locally by the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule would require handlers to file two end-of-season reports with the Committee. One report would contain price and handler shipment information and the other report would contain grower shipment information. The Committee would use this information to determine appropriate grower representation on the Committee, to conduct grower nominations, to verify shipments for assessment collections, and to prepare the annual report and the annual marketing policy, as required under the order. This proposal also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection.

The Hiawatha East Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Kincheloe, Michigan. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110- 343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose is to review project proposals.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection for the Food and Nutrition Service to examine the characteristics, circumstances, program dynamics, and benefit redemption patterns of participants whose households reported zero gross income in their applications for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).