Agricultural Marketing Service June 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule is a companion document to the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) direct final rule (published today in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of the Federal Register), amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations by decreasing the value assigned to imported cotton for calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. An amendment is required to adjust the value assigned to imported cotton and the cotton content of imported products so that it is the same as those paid on domestically produced cotton. AMS is publishing this amendment as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the agency is contemplated by statute and required by regulation in 7 CFR 1205.510 and anticipates no significant adverse comment. AMS has explained its reasons in the preamble of the direct final rule. If AMS receives no significant adverse comment during the comment period, no further action on this proposed rule will be taken. If, however, AMS receives significant adverse comment, AMS will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. In that case, AMS will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. AMS will not institute a second comment period on this rule. Any parties interested in commenting must do so during this comment period.

This proposed rule invites comments on changes to the minimum grade requirements currently prescribed under the Florida avocado marketing order (order) and a technical correction to the avocado import regulation. The order regulates the handling of avocados grown in South Florida, and is administered locally by the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee). For South Florida-grown avocados, this proposed rule would align the regulations with current industry practice. It would remove language permitting the commingling of avocados with dissimilar characteristics in containers for shipment within the production area. All avocado shipments within the production area would need to meet the provisions of a U.S. No. 2 grade, as provided in the United States Standards for Grades of Florida Avocados. For imported avocados, this rule would also make a technical correction to the avocado import regulation to clarify that the minimum grade requirement for imported avocados remains unchanged at a U.S. No. 2.

As provided under the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) regulations. This interim rule redesignates the statutory authority from section 375 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, amends the definition of the Act in the regulations consistent with the redesignated statutory authority, and amends the regulations by increasing the administrative cap for the use of the fund from 3 percent to 10 percent.