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

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that modified the size requirements for potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2 (order). The order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado and is administered locally by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). The interim rule revised the 1-inch minimum to 1\3/4\-inch maximum diameter size allowance for U.S. Commercial and better grade potatoes contained in the order's handling regulation for Area No. 2 to \3/4\-inch minimum to 1\5/8\-inch maximum diameter. In addition, this action revised the minimum size requirement under the order's general cull regulation to \3/4\-inch diameter. As required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, this action also revised the size requirements for imported round type potatoes, other than red-skinned varieties. This change is expected to facilitate the handling and marketing of the Area No. 2 potato crop; provide producers, handlers, and importers with increased returns; and offer consumers increased potato purchasing options.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending regulations to allow for the addition of an optional cotton futures classification procedureidentified and known as ``registration'' by the U.S. cotton industry and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). In response to requests from the U.S. cotton industry and ICE, AMS will offer a futures classification option whereby cotton bales may be certificated for the purpose of an exchange's cotton futures contract using Smith-Doxey data to verify that submitted bales meet more restrictive quality requirements and age parameters established by that exchange. AMS anticipates that the futures classification option will be available in time for the implementation of ICE's Cotton Resolution No. 2, which is scheduled to commence with the March 2014 contract month.

This proposed rule invites comments on procedures for conducting a referendum to determine whether issuance of a proposed Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order) is favored by domestic manufacturers of hardwood lumber and hardwood plywood. Hardwood lumber and hardwood plywood are used in products like flooring, furniture, moldings, doors, and kitchen cabinets. The procedures would also be used for any subsequent referendum under the Order. The proposed Order is being published separately in this issue of the Federal Register. This proposed rule also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new information collection requirements to implement the program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to the forms currently used to collect information under Federal Marketing Order No. 983, for pistachios grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.