Department of Agriculture June 15, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Amending Importer Line-Item De Minimis
Document Number: 2016-14174
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations to remove the cotton import de minimis provision. The Cotton Research and Promotion (R&P) Program assesses U.S. cotton producers and importers of cotton and cotton- containing products. Importers are exempt from paying the cotton import assessment (known commonly among importers as the ``cotton fee'') if a line item on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) documentation is $2.00 or less. The exemption was initially established to lessen the administrative burden of collecting an import assessment, which was originally estimated to be $2.00 per line item, in instances in which the transactions costs of the collection would exceed the actual value of the assessment; however, technological advances in the CBP documentation process significantly reduced the transactions costs associated with collecting import assessments, and CBP has since stopped charging USDA for the processing and collecting of assessments. Given that transactions costs no longer exceed assessment rates of $2.00 or less, AMS is removing this de minimis provision from the regulations. In addition, the definition of cotton with respect to procedures for conducting the sign-up period is being modified.
Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; Revision of Optimum Supply Requirements and Establishment of Inventory Release Procedures
Document Number: 2016-14173
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement recommendations from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to add inventory release procedures and revise optimum supply provisions under the marketing order for tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin (order). The Board locally administers the order and is comprised of growers and handlers operating within the production area. This rule would establish procedures for releasing inventory from reserves and increase the maximum carry-out volume available when calculating optimum supply from 20 million pounds to 100 million pounds. These changes would provide clear procedures should an inventory release be necessary and would provide more flexibility when calculating optimum supply.
Plant Variety Protection Board; Open Meeting
Document Number: 2016-14164
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing a meeting of the Plant Variety Protection Board (Board). The meeting is being held to discuss a variety of topics including, but not limited to, work and outreach plans, subcommittee activities, and proposals for procedure changes. The meeting is open to the public. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.
Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Salable Quantities and Allotment Percentages for the 2016-2017 Marketing Year
Document Number: 2016-14163
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish the quantity of spearmint oil produced in the Far West, by class, that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2016-2017 marketing year, which begins on June 1, 2016. The Far West production area includes the states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, and designated parts of Nevada and Utah. This rule establishes salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) spearmint oil of 958,711 pounds and 45 percent, respectively, and for Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil of 1,209,546 pounds and 50 percent, respectively. The Committee locally administers the marketing order for spearmint oil produced in the Far West and recommended these salable quantities and allotment percentages to help maintain stability in the spearmint oil market.
Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Relaxation of Container and Pack Requirements
Document Number: 2016-14151
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) to relax the container and pack requirements currently prescribed under the Texas Citrus Marketing Order (order). The order regulates the handling of oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Committee locally administers the order and is comprised of producers and handlers operating within the production area. This rule adds the word ``approximate'' to the size specifications of three regulated containers to make the language consistent with other containers specified under the order. This change provides uniformity in the descriptions of containers and helps prevent potential compliance violations stemming from slight variations in container dimensions.
Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Late Payment and Interest Charges on Past Due Assessments
Document Number: 2016-14150
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule prescribes late payment and interest charges on past due assessments under the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the Order, assessments are collected from domestic producers and importers and used for research and promotion projects designed to maintain and expand the market for fresh cut Christmas trees. This rule implements authority contained in the Order that allows the Board to collect late payment and interest charges on past due assessments. Late payment and interest charges will begin to accrue on unpaid assessments beginning 30 days after the effective date of this rule. This action contributes to effective administration of the program. This rule also provides authority for the crop year and fiscal period to be changed through administrative action. These changes were unanimously recommended by the Board.
Avocados Grown in South Florida; Increased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2016-14149
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee) for an increase of the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.30 to $0.35 per 55-pound bushel container of Florida avocados handled under the marketing order (order). The Committee locally administers the order and is comprised of growers and handlers of avocados operating within the area of production. Assessments upon Florida avocado handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began on April 1 and ends March 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Hood and Willamette Resource Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2016-14143
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-06-15
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
The Hood and Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Salem, Oregon. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (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 Title II of the Act. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/workingtogether/advisorycom mittees/ ?cid=STELPRDB5048434.
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