Agricultural Marketing Service March 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to reestablish the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards (Committee). The Committee is necessary and in the public interest. The Committee reviews official Universal Standards for American Upland cotton prepared by USDA and would make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the establishment or revision of standards. USDA also seeks nominations of individuals to be considered for appointment by the Secretary as Committee members.

The United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designations of the official agencies listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below will end on the prescribed dates. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the areas presently served by these agencies to apply for designation. Designation provides for private entities or state governmental agencies to be an integral part of the official grain inspection system (https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/fgis/ official-grain-inspection-weighing-system). Designated agencies work under the supervision of the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and are authorized to provide official inspection and weighing services in a defined geographic area. In addition, we request comments on the quality of services provided by the following designated agencies: Grain Inspection, Inc. (Jamestown); Lincoln Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Lincoln); Midsouth Grain Inspection Service (Midsouth); Kansas Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Kansas); Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa); Minot Grain Inspection, Inc. (Minot); Tri-State Grain Inspection, Inc. (Tri-State); Idaho Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Idaho); Ohio Valley Grain Inspection, Inc. (Ohio Valley); California Agri Inspection Co., Ltd. (California); and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia). AMS encourages submissions from traditionally underrepresented individuals, organizations, and businesses to reflect the diversity of this industry. AMS encourages submissions from qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. AMS is also asking for comments on the quality of official services at export port locations provided by delegated state agencies Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Virginia) and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (Wisconsin). AMS considers comments and other available information when determining certification.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection of the Federal Seed Act Labeling and Enforcement.

This final rule updates the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers for paper and paper-based packaging products in the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). In addition, this action adds new language that allows assessment collection to continue even if HTS numbers change in the future. The Paper and Packaging Board (Board) administers the Order with oversight by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

AMS is asking for comments on the quality of official services at export port locations provided by the following delegated states: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Alabama) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (Washington). We consider comments and other available information when determining certification.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2022-23 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This decision proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 984 (Order), which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California, and provides growers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the changes. The California Walnut Board (Board), which locally administers the Order, recommended proposed amendments that would eliminate mandatory inspection and certification of inshell and shelled walnuts, and of shelled walnuts for processing; create a new mechanism for determining and collecting handler assessments; add authority to charge interest for late payments; establish an assessment rate of $0.0125 per inshell pound of walnuts; expand the definition of ``to handle'' to include ``receive''; and remove volume control authority. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposed to make any such changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing.