Agricultural Marketing Service June 22, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action terminates the proceeding to establish a marketing agreement and order for hops grown in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a public hearing in October 2003 to receive evidence on a program proposed by the Hop Marketing Order Proponent Committee (Proponent Committee), a group of industry members in support of an order. The proposed program would have authorized volume control measures in the form of producer allotments to regulate the marketing of alpha acid in hops in the production area. In addition, the proposed order would have allowed for reserve pooling of excess production of alpha acid and would have provided for production research, marketing research and development projects to promote the marketing, distribution and consumption or efficient production of hops. After the hearing sessions, USDA received numerous comments, briefs and additional arguments expressing widely divergent views on the promulgation of a marketing order for hops. After careful consideration of the entire rulemaking record, USDA is unable to conclude that the proposal currently under consideration would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.'' Accordingly, USDA is hereby terminating the proceeding.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Snap Beans. After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

This rule invites comments on revisions to the pack requirements for California kiwifruit under the California kiwifruit marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of kiwifruit grown in California and is administered locally by the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule would require that kiwifruit marked as size 39 or 42 not vary in diameter by more than \3/ 8\ inch, regardless of pack type. In addition, the three tables currently under the pack regulation would be consolidated into one. By allowing handlers to utilize a single table for kiwifruit size designations and size variation tolerances regardless of pack or container, this rule is expected to simplify requirements for the industry, reduce handler packing costs, increase grower returns, and increase flexibility in handler packing operations.