Agricultural Marketing Service September 16, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California and Imported Raisins; Removal of Language
Document Number: 2016-22270
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a recommendation by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to the remove the term ``midget'' from the minimum grade standards of the California raisin marketing order (order). The marketing order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California, and is administered locally by the Committee. Recently, the U.S. Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins (standards) were amended to remove the word ``midget.'' The proposed change would make the marketing order consistent with the amended standards. Furthermore, this rule would make a corresponding change to the raisin import regulation as required by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, when changes are made to the size, grade, maturity, or quality requirements of the order.
Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; Revision of Optimum Supply Requirements and Establishment of Inventory Release Procedures
Document Number: 2016-22258
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements 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 area of production. This final rule establishes procedures for releasing inventory from reserves and increases the maximum carry-out volume available when calculating optimum supply from 20 million pounds to 100 million pounds. These changes provide clear procedures should an inventory release be necessary and provides more flexibility when calculating optimum supply.
Walnuts Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2016-22249
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0379 to $0.0465 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order and is comprised of growers and handlers of walnuts operating within the area of production. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Pistachios Grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico; Decreased Assessment Rate
Document Number: 2016-22248
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule implements a recommendation from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) for a decrease in the assessment rate established for the 2016-17 and subsequent production years from $0.0035 to $0.0010 per pound of assessed weight pistachios handled under the marketing order (order). The Committee locally administers the order and is comprised of producers and handlers of pistachios operating within the area of production. Assessments upon pistachio handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The production year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Walnuts Grown in California; Proposed Amendment to Marketing Order
Document Number: 2016-22247
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites public comments on a proposed amendment to Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. The California Walnut Board (Board), which is responsible for the local administration of the order and is comprised of walnut producers and handlers operating within the production area, recommended an amendment that would authorize the Board to borrow from a commercial lending institution to fund operations and marketing/research expenses. Allowing the Committee to utilize this customary business practice would provide flexibility for the Board while increasing its effectiveness.
Amendment to the Definition of “Condition” and Prerequisite Requirement for Shell Eggs Eligible for Grading and Certification Stated in the Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs
Document Number: 2016-22246
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-09-16
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will amend the Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs to clarify the definition of ``condition'' and revise the prerequisite requirement for shell eggs eligible for voluntary USDA grading and certification.
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