Department of Agriculture 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 151 - 200 of 1,391
Walnuts Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate
This rule increases the assessment rate established for the California Walnut Board (Board) for the 2011-12 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0174 to $0.0175 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year began September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Onions Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, OR; Modification of Handling Regulations
This rule revises the handling regulation for onions handled under the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of onions grown in designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, and is administered locally by the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee). This rule revises the marketing order's handling regulation to allow special purpose shipments of onions for experimentation. The revision will allow the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion industry to identify and develop new market niches and is expected to benefit producers, handlers, and consumers of onions.
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
This notice announces a public comment period on the information collection requests (ICRs) associated with the Multiple Peril Crop Insurance.
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Big Piney Ranger District; Wyoming; Environmental Impact Statement for the Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment Grazing Authorization and Management Project
The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement to analyze the effects of domestic livestock grazing in the Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment. This action was originally listed as a proposal (to be analyzed under an environmental assessment) on the Bridger-Teton National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions on January 1, 2010. However, during development of the environmental assessment, it was determined that analysis and disclosure under an environmental impact statement would be more appropriate. The analysis contained in the environmental impact statement will be used by the Responsible Official to decide whether livestock grazing can be authorized within the allotment, and if so, under what conditions. The Sherman Cattle and Horse Allotment is located in western Wyoming, about 35 miles northwest of Big Piney, Wyoming, and is situated on the east side of the northern end of the Wyoming Range. The entire 17,370 acre allotment lies within Sublette County and within the boundaries of the Big Piney Ranger District.
Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC)
The Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on November 18, 2011 at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. This Committee, established by the Secretary of Agriculture on December 15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to provide advice to the Secretary on implementing the terms of the Federal Interagency Partnership on the Lake Tahoe Region and other matters raised by the Secretary.
Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and Information; Correction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) are correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of September 15, 2011 (76 FR 57050). In that notice, FDA and FSIS established dockets to obtain comments, data, and evidence relevant to the dietary intake of sodium, as well as current and emerging approaches designed to promote sodium reduction. The document published with two typographical errors in the References section. This document corrects those errors.
Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program
The United States Department of Agricultural (USDA), Rural Housing Service (RHS) proposes a change to its Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation. The proposed action is taken to implement authorities granted the Secretary of the USDA, in Sec. 102 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-212, July 29, 2010) to collect from the lender an annual fee not to exceed 0.5 percent of the outstanding principal balance of the loan for the life of the loan. The intent of the annual fee is to make the SFHGLP subsidy neutral when used in conjunction with the one-time guarantee fee, thus eliminating the need for taxpayer support of the program. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, an annual fee of 0.3 percent of the outstanding principal balance will be required in order that the SFHGLP may maintain subsidy neutrality. Beginning with all loans obligated on or after October 1, 2011, RHS proposes to charge an annual fee of 0.3 percent of the outstanding principal balance of the loan for the life of the loan.
Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program and for Benefits in the Special Milk Program, and Technical Amendments
This rule finalizes changes to eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meals to implement nondiscretionary provisions of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. This rule also finalizes the following changes set forth in the interim rule published on November 13, 2007 (72 FR 63785)addition of a statutory definition of ``local educational agency,'' specification that a family only has to submit one application for all children in the household as long as they attend schools in the same local educational agency, and requirements to enhance descriptive materials distributed to families. This rule finalizes requirements for electronically-submitted applications, electronic signatures, and use and disclosure standards for such applications. This rule also finalizes year-long eligibility for free or reduced price school meals, unless the household chooses to decline a level of benefits. These changes are intended to provide children with increased access to the school nutrition programs by simplifying the certification process, streamlining program operations, and improving program management.
Request for an Extension to a Currently Approved Information Collection for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products-Recordkeeping (Subpart B)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this document announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of a revision to the currently approved information collection for the Regulations Governing the Inspection and Grading of Manufactured or Processed Dairy Products Recordkeeping (Subpart B).
Revision of Delegations of Authority
This document amends the delegation of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Director of the Office of Communications to serve as the central information authority for emergency public information activities. The Secretary further delegates to the Director of the Office of Communications the authority to serve as the central authority for the Department and agency strategic communications plans.
Revision of Delegations of Authority
This document amends the delegation of authority from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Director of the Office of Communications to serve as the central authority for the creation and use of logos/marks not otherwise provided for by specific laws and regulations, and excluding the Official USDA Seal and Official USDA Symbol.
Nectarines and Fresh Peaches Grown in California; Termination of Marketing Order 916 and the Peach Provisions of Marketing Order 917
This final rule terminates the Federal marketing orders regulating the handling of nectarines and fresh peaches grown in California (orders) and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that these marketing orders are no longer an effective marketing tool for the handling of nectarines and fresh peaches grown in California and that termination best serves the current needs of the industry while also eliminating the costs associated with the operation of the marketing orders.
Agricultural Career and Employment Grants Program
Section 14204 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to assist agricultural employers and farmworkers by improving the supply, stability, safety, and training of the agricultural labor force. Such grants may be made to eligible entities for use in providing services to assist farmworkers who are citizens or otherwise legally present in the United States in securing, retaining, upgrading, or returning from agricultural jobs. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 Appropriations Act), included an appropriation of $4 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) for this program. The delegation of authority and funding for the program has since been transferred to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), within Departmental Management of USDA. The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish regulations governing the grants program, including eligibility, application for, evaluation, award and post- award administration of grants made pursuant to the authority granted to the Secretary under Section 14204.
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
Office of Advocacy and Outreach Federal Financial Assistance Programs
This interim rule establishes the regulations for the administrative provisions of all grants or cooperative agreements to be administered by the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), established by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (FCEA). Additionally, this interim rule establishes substantive regulations for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (OASDFR Program), established by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT Act). It sets forth the criteria to deliver outreach and technical assistance in a linguistically appropriate manner to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to acquire, own, operate, and retain farms, ranches and non-industrial forest land. In addition, it assures farmers and ranchers who are members of socially disadvantaged groups equitable participation in the full range of agriculture programs offered by the Department.
Sabine Resource Advisory Committee
The Sabine-Angelina Resource Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet October 20, 2011 in Hemphill, Texas. 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 committee's charter expires in October 2011 and its renewal is under review by the Secretary of Agriculture. In compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act the committee will not be meeting until the charter is renewed.
Madera County Resource Advisory Committee
The Madera County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting in North Fork, California on November 15, 2011. The purpose of the meeting will be to to update the committee on the status and monitoring of projects that were recommended for funding at the March 30, 2011 meeting, as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L.110-343) for expenditure of Payments to States Madera County Title II funds.
Controlled Import Permits
We are proposing to amend the regulations concerning the importation of plants and plant products by establishing the controlled import permit as a single type of authorization for the importation into the United States of otherwise prohibited or restricted plant material for experimental, therapeutic, or developmental purposes. Currently, some sections of the regulations provide for those articles to be imported under a departmental permit, while other sections provide for their importation under administrative instructions or conditions specified by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator. This action would consolidate and harmonize the conditions for obtaining authorization for the importation of otherwise prohibited or restricted plant material for scientific or certain other purposes.
National Poultry Improvement Plan and Auxiliary Provisions; Correction
In a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2011, and effective on April 21, 2011, we amended the regulations for the control of H5/H7 low pathogenic avian influenza to simplify the list of types of poultry eligible for 100 percent indemnity, among other changes. This document corrects an error in our amendatory instructions accomplishing that change.
Importation of Fresh Baby Kiwi From Chile Under a Systems Approach
We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental United States of baby kiwi fruit from Chile, subject to a systems approach. Under this systems approach, the fruit must be grown in a place of production that is registered with the Government of Chile and certified as having a low prevalence of Brevipalpus chilensis. The fruit must undergo pre-harvest sampling at the registered production site. Following post-harvest processing, the fruit must be inspected in Chile at an approved inspection site. Each consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit had been found free of Brevipalpus chilensis based on field and packinghouse inspections. This final rule allows for the safe importation of fresh baby kiwi from Chile using mitigation measures other than fumigation with methyl bromide.
Importation of Litchi and Longan Fruit From Vietnam Into the Continental United States
We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam would be subject to a systems approach that would include requirements for treatment and inspection and restrictions on the distribution of the fruit. This action would allow for the importation of litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam into the United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.
Brucellosis in Swine; Add Texas to List of Validated Brucellosis-Free States
We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of swine by adding Texas to the list of validated brucellosis- free States. The interim rule was necessary to relieve certain restrictions on interstate movement of breeding swine from Texas.
Importation of Mangoes From Australia
We are proposing to amend the regulations concerning the importation of fruits and vegetables to allow the importation of fresh mangoes from Australia into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, the mangoes would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach employing a combination of mitigation measures for the fungus Cytosphaera mangiferae and would have to be inspected prior to exportation from Australia and found free of this disease. The mangoes would have to be imported in commercial consignments only and would have to be treated by irradiation to mitigate the risk of insect pests. The mangoes would also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that the conditions for importation have been met. This action would allow the importation of mangoes from Australia while continuing to protect against the introduction of plant pests into the United States.
Plants for Planting Whose Importation Is Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis; Notice of Availability of Data Sheets for Taxa of Plants for Planting That Are Quarantine Pests or Hosts of Quarantine Pests
We are reopening the comment period for a notice that advised the public that we have determined that 41 taxa of plants for planting are quarantine pests and 107 taxa of plants for planting are hosts of 13 quarantine pests and therefore should be added to our lists of taxa of plants for planting whose importation is not authorized pending pest risk analysis. The notice also made available to the public for review and comment data sheets that detail the scientific evidence we evaluated in making the determination that the taxa are quarantine pests or hosts of quarantine pests. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Field Testing Avian Influenza-Marek's Disease Vaccine, H5 Subtype, Serotype 3, Live Marek's Disease Vector
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment concerning authorization to ship for the purpose of field testing, and then to field test, an unlicensed Avian Influenza-Marek's Disease Vaccine, H5 Subtype, Serotype 3, Live Marek's Disease Vector. The environmental assessment, which is based on a risk analysis prepared to assess the risks associated with the field testing of this vaccine, examines the potential effects that field testing this veterinary vaccine could have on the quality of the human environment. Based on the risk analysis, we have reached a preliminary determination that field testing this veterinary vaccine will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. We intend to authorize shipment of this vaccine for field testing following the close of the comment period for this notice unless new substantial issues bearing on the effects of this action are brought to our attention. We also intend to issue a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product license for this vaccine, provided the field test data support the conclusions of the environmental assessment and the issuance of a finding of no significant impact and the product meets all other requirements for licensing.
Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, South Dakota, Calumet Project Area
The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to use multiple vegetation treatments focused on reducing the threat to ecosystem components including forest resources from an existing insect and disease epidemic (mountain pine beetle), creating a landscape condition more adapted to fire and that reduces potential for high severity wildfire near at-risk communities and in the wildland-urban interface. The proposal is being planned for the 31,772 acre Calumet Project Area that includes about 27,617 acres of National Forest System land and about 4,155 acres of interspersed private land. The project area lies approximately six miles southwest of Rapid City, SD. Sheridan Lake is also located within the project area. This project will be conducted as an authorized project under Section 102 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). Actions proposed for the Calumet Project Area include the following: Thin and harvest approximately 14,954 acres of pine stands using a variety of methods to treat MPB infested stands, reduce the overall density of pine trees and create a mosaic of structural stages across the landscape. Both commercial and non-commercial sized trees would be removed utilizing multiple contracts including stewardship, timber sale, and service contracts. Remove conifers from hardwood stands (e.g., aspen, oak, and birch) and restore meadows on approximately 3,497 acres to provide habitat diversity and wildfire protection by enhancing natural fuel breaks. Reduce the amount of fuels that currently exists. Treatments could include (but are not limited to) lopping, chipping, crushing, piling and burning; creating fuel breaks along roads and adjacent to private property, particularly those properties with houses and subdivisions. Roadway treatments would improve access (ingress/ egress) for the public, as well as emergency services in the event of a wildfire. Prescribed broadcast burning would also be allowed anywhere strategically practical within the project area, up to approximately 27,000 acres. The goals of prescribed fire are to reduce fuel loading and continuity to help protect private property and Forest resources, and to increase the quantity and quality of forage for big game and other wildlife resources. Annually, the Mystic Ranger District conducts approximately 2,000 to 4,000 acres of prescribed broadcast burning. These annual, accomplished acres are spread across the district and are split among multiple planning areas. Burning designated areas within the Calumet Project Area could take up to ten years to accomplish. Use of existing road templates, with less than five miles of new construction, would be required to carry out vegetation treatments.
Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers; Notice of Meeting
This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO). Notice of the meetings are provided in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). This meeting will be open to the public. As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the OAO announces a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (Committee) to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on: (1) The implementation of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2279; (2) methods of maximizing the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in Department of Agriculture programs; and (3) civil rights activities within the Department as such activities relate to participants in such programs.
Draft Environmental Assessment; Giant Miscanthus in REPREVE Renewables, LLC Project Areas Under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program
This notice announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed establishment and production of giant miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) as a dedicated energy crop to be grown in the REPREVE Renewables, LLC (project sponsor) proposed project areas in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). This notice provides a means for the public to voice any concerns they may have about the proposed BCAP project areas.
Specialty Crops; Import Regulations; Proposed Pistachio Import Requirements
This proposed rule invites comments on the establishment of a minimum quality regulation for lots of pistachios imported into the United States. The regulation would specify maximum aflatoxin tolerance levels as well as mandatory aflatoxin testing and certification requirements. The proposed import quality requirements would be the same as or comparable to those in effect for the domestically produced commodity. Under this proposal, aflatoxin levels in imported pistachios could not exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb), as certified by aflatoxin inspection certificates issued by an accredited laboratory. This action is intended to assure consumers that all pistachios offered for sale in the United States meet the same aflatoxin standards, thus promoting high quality product in the market place and fostering consumer satisfaction. This rule also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection requirement, including two new forms that would be completed by either laboratories or pistachio importers.
Tart Cherries Grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin; Suspension of Order Regulations Regarding Random Row Diversion
This rule changes 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 suspends 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.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Southeastern States; Suspension of Marketing Order Provisions
This rule continues in effect the interim rule that suspended the marketing order for Irish potatoes grown in Southeastern states (order), and the rules and regulations implemented thereunder, through March 1, 2014. The order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Southeastern states and is administered locally by the Southeastern Potato Committee (Committee). The Committee believes advances in farming technology and production quality have reduced the need for the order. When considering the costs associated with continuing the order, the Committee unanimously recommended that the order be suspended.
International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-Setting Activities
In accordance with legislation implementing the results of the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, we are informing the public of the international standard- setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, and we are soliciting public comment on the standards to be considered.
Importation of Plants for Planting; Risk-Based Sampling and Inspection Approach and Propagative Monitoring and Release Program
We are advising the public of our decision to implement a risk-based sampling approach for the inspection of imported plants for planting. In our previous approach, we inspected 2 percent of consignments of imported plants for planting regardless of previous evidence of the risk posed by the plants for planting. The risk-based sampling and inspection approach will allow us to target high-risk plants for planting for more extensive inspection to help ensure that plants for planting infested with quarantine pests do not enter the United States, while providing a speedier inspection process for lower- risk plants for planting. In addition, for taxa of plants for planting that pose an extremely low risk, we are establishing a Propagative Monitoring and Release Program under which consignments of those taxa will be periodically monitored but not every consignment will be inspected.
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Hawaiian and Territorial Quarantine Notices
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 to prevent the interstate spread of plant pests from the State of Hawaii and U.S. territories.
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus in Growing Media From the Netherlands and Denmark
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 Christmas cactus and Easter cactus in growing media from the Netherlands and Denmark.
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Peppers From the Republic of Korea
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 peppers from the Republic of Korea.
Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
This final rule implements the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP), authorized by Section 8003 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The CFP legislation is an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The CFP is a competitive grant program whereby local governments, Indian tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through fee-simple acquisition of private forest land. The program's two purposes are to provide public benefits to communities including economic benefits through sustainable forest management, environmental benefits including clean air, water, and wildlife habitat; benefits from forest-based educational programs; benefits from serving as models of effective forest stewardship; and recreational benefits secured with public access; and to acquire private forest lands that are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses. Existing provisions in Forest Service regulations pertaining to the Stewardship Incentive Program will be removed as deauthorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and this final rule will be substituted in lieu thereof.
Agricultural Career and Employment Grants Program or “ACE”
To improve the supply of skilled agricultural workers and bring greater stability to the workforce in this sector through provision of services specifically designed to assist farmworkers in securing, retaining, upgrading or returning from an agricultural job. The intended outcomes are that, as a result of the services to be provided, farmers will have access to a more skilled pool of workers and farmworkers who will have an enhanced skill set, making on-the-farm employment opportunities more plentiful. The total funding for this competitive opportunity is $4,000,000. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA), Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), anticipates awarding a total of approximately no less than 8 grants from this announcement, subject to availability of funds and the quality of applications received. A maximum award will be limited to $500,000.
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Rosemont Copper Project on the Coronado National Forest, Nogales Ranger District, Pima County, AZ
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA 43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the Coronado National Forest announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review. The DEIS discloses the potential environmental impacts of the construction, operation and concurrent reclamation, and closure of an open-pit copper mine in Pima County, Arizona.
Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Nominations
On June 9, 2011 the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), and the United States Trade Representative (USTR), renewed the charters of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade for a 4- year term to expire on June 9, 2015. The APAC provides advice on the operation of various existing U.S. trade agreements and on negotiating objectives for new trade agreements, as well as other matters arising from the administration of U.S. trade policy. The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and experience of the members. Some appointments were made to these committees on September 8, 2011. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) seeks to add additional members in order to begin to stagger membership terms and is requesting nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees.
Sugar Program; Feedstock Flexibility Program for Bioenergy Producers
The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) proposes regulations with respect to general sugar inventory disposition and the establishment of a new Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) that requires the Secretary to purchase sugar to produce bioenergy as a means to avoid forfeitures of sugar loan collateral under the sugar loan program. These regulations are as required by the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).
Notice of Intent to Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently approved information collection, the Field Crops Objective Yield Surveys. Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Okra
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Okra. The grade standards for frozen okra have been changed from a ``variables score point'' system to an ``individual attributes'' grading system. The ``dual grade nomenclature'' has been replaced with single letter grade designations and editorial changes were made. These changes bring the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Okra in line with the present quality levels being marketed today and provide guidance in the effective utilization of frozen okra.
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