Agricultural Marketing Service March 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

User Fees for 2013 Crop Cotton Classification Services to Growers
Document Number: 2013-07181
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-03-28
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to maintain user fees for cotton producers for 2013 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act at the same level as in 2012. These fees are also authorized under the Cotton Standards Act of 1923. The 2012 crop user fee was $2.20 per bale, and AMS proposes to continue the fee for the 2013 cotton crop at that same level. This proposed fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services for the 2013 crop, including costs for administration and supervision.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; Hearing on Proposed Amendment of Marketing Order No. 905
Document Number: 2013-07180
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-03-28
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 905 (order), that regulates the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos (citrus) grown in Florida. Nine amendments are proposed by the Citrus Administrative Committee (committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These proposed amendments would: authorize regulation of new varieties and hybrids of citrus fruit, authorize the regulation of intrastate shipments of fruit, revise the process for redistricting the production area, change the term of office and tenure requirements for committee members, authorize mail balloting procedures for committee membership nominations, increase the capacity of financial reserve funds, authorize pack and container requirements for domestic shipments and authorize different regulations for different markets, eliminate the use of separate acceptance statements in the nomination process, and require handlers to register with the committee. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing. These proposed amendments are intended to update the order to reflect past changes in the industry and potential future changes, and to improve the operation and administration of the order.
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken, Goat Meat, Wild and Farm-Raised Fish and Shellfish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, Peanuts, Pecans, Ginseng, and Macadamia Nuts
Document Number: 2013-05576
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-03-12
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would amend the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations to change the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to provide consumers with more specific information, and amend the definition for ``retailer'' to include any person subject to be licensed as a retailer under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The COOL regulations are issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1996. The Agency is issuing this rule to propose changes to the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to provide consumers with more specific information and is proposing other modifications to enhance the overall operation of the program.
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell
Document Number: 2013-05436
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-03-08
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule revises the United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell. These standards are issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the standards by changing the determination of internal defects from count to weight. These revisions will align the inspection procedures for incoming inspections (based on the marketing order) and outgoing inspections (based on the standards). These changes will promote greater uniformity and will provide consistency with current marketing practices.
Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Program; Section 610 Review
Document Number: 2013-05432
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-03-08
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This document summarizes the results of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Program (Program), commonly known as the Pork Checkoff Program, under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Based upon this review, AMS concluded that there is a continued need for the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order). Copies of the review performed by AMS are available to interested parties.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; Revising Reporting Requirements and New Information Collection
Document Number: 2013-04964
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-03-05
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule invites comments on a proposed change to reporting requirements prescribed under the Federal marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in Florida (order). The Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) is responsible for local administration of the order. This action would require all fresh citrus handlers to provide the Committee with a list of all growers whose fruit they handled each season. This information would enable the Committee to more efficiently administer the order and improve communication with growers. 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.
National Organic Program: Notice of Policies Addressing Kelp, Seeds and Planting Stock, Livestock Feed, and Responding to Pesticide Residue Testing
Document Number: 2013-04823
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-03-01
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The National Organic Program (NOP) is announcing the availability of three final guidance documents and one instruction document intended for use by certifying agents and certified operations. The final guidance and instruction documents are entitled as follows: ``The Use of Kelp in Organic Livestock Feed (NOP 5027); Responding to Results from Pesticide Residue Testing (NOP 2613)''; ``Seeds, Annual Seedlings, and Planting Stock in Organic Crop Production (NOP 5029)''; and ``Evaluating Allowed Ingredients and Sources of Vitamins and Minerals for Organic Livestock Feed (NOP 5030)''. These final guidance and instruction documents are intended to inform the public of NOP's current thinking on these topics.
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; Redistricting and Reapportionment of Grower Members, and Changing the Qualifications for Grower Membership on the Citrus Administrative Committee
Document Number: 2013-04787
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-03-01
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule redefines districts, reapportions representation, and modifies the qualifications for membership on the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee is responsible for local administration of the Federal marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in Florida (order). This final rule reduces the number of districts, reapportions representation among the districts, and allows up to four growers who are shippers or employees of a shipper to serve as grower members on the Committee. These changes adjust grower representation to reflect the composition of the industry, provide equitable representation from each district, and create the opportunity for more growers to serve on the Committee.
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