Agricultural Marketing Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection request Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. This information collection is necessary to support the procurement of agricultural commodities for domestic and international nutrition assistance programs. AMS issues invitations to purchase fresh and processed commodities for domestic and international nutrition assistance programs on a year-round basis. The extension of the information collection request is required to continue using the WBSCM system, which allows respondents to submit information entered and received electronically in WBSCM. Vendors will be able to access electronically. The information collection burden for respondents should not increase.

This final rule adopts, without change, an interim final rule that temporarily changes the substandard and maturity dockage requirements for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for raisins produced from grapes grown in California (Order). For the 2023- 2024 crop year, the minimum requirements for substandard and maturity dockage in the marketing order's handling regulations are relaxed to accommodate raisins adversely impacted by severe weather conditions.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) requests comments on the need for U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) services in the newly formed Lower Northwest Texas and Southeast Texas geographic areas described below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. AMS is also asking persons, entities, or governmental agencies interested in providing official inspection and weighing services, in those areas, to apply for designation. The designated USGSA authority for two official agencies, Keokuk Grain Inspection (Keokuk) and North Dakota Grain Inspection, Inc. (NDGI), will end on the prescribed dates listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. AMS is requesting designation applications from interested persons, entities, or governmental agencies that would like to provide official inspection and weighing services for the areas presently served by these two agencies. In addition to this request for applications, AMS seeks comments on the quality of services provided by Keokuk and NDGI.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes multiple clarifying amendments to the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The amendments include revising the definition of importer; adding a definition for partnership; clarifying the nominations process; clarifying language about in person and electronic voting for any Board meetings; updating the timing of financial reporting; and revising requirements for when exemptions can be requested. These actions would modify language in the Order to bring it up to date with current industry practices.

This action decreases the assessment rate established for the 2024 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years for California olives as recommended by the California Olive Committee. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the USDA Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee meets no less than once annually to advise AMS on the programs and services it delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA). The committee is governed in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Recommendations by the Advisory Committee help AMS better meet the needs of its customers who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace.

The Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC or Committee) was established to develop recommendations for submission to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Through this notice, the USDA is requesting nominations to fill up to 25 upcoming vacancies on the FVIAC. The Secretary will appoint industry representative to serve a two-year term of office that would commence in 2024. The Secretary invites those individuals, organizations, and groups affiliated with the categories listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to nominate individuals or themselves for membership on the FVIAC.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA or Department) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (the P&S Act or the Act) to clarify the unfair practices that the P&S Act prohibits. The proposed rule would define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market. Combined, these comprehensively define the contours of "unfair practices" under the P&S Act. The purpose of this proposed rule is to promote fair and competitive markets in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the regulations governing the inspection and certification for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products by amending certain fees charged for Section 8e import inspections from a per-carlot basis to a per-pound basis, reducing the fee for each additional sublot by 50 percent, and establishing a new fee calculation for lots less than a carlot. These revisions are necessary to recover, as nearly as practicable, the costs of performing inspection services on imported commodities in accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

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 a currently approved information collection associated with qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback on service delivery by the AMS.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is soliciting comments on proposed revisions to its regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (P&S Act or Act). The proposal would prohibit certain payment practices under poultry grower ranking systems (commonly known as tournaments) in contract poultry production for broiler chickens, require live poultry dealers (LPDs) to adopt policies and procedures for operating a fair ranking system for broiler growers, and require LPDs to provide certain information to broiler growers when the LPD requests or requires the grower to make additional capital investments (ACIs). AMS proposes these changes in response to numerous complaints from growers about the use of tournament systems. AMS intends for the proposed regulations to increase transparency and address deception and unfairness in broiler grower payments, tournament operations, and capital improvement systems.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards (Committee). This meeting is being convened to review the Universal Standards for American Upland cotton that are prepared by USDA and make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the establishment, revision, or change of the standards.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection used in support of the voluntary grading and certification of meat, meat products, shell eggs, poultry products, rabbit products, and Audit Verification and Accreditation Programs (OMB 0581-0128).

This rule establishes salable quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) for the 2024-2025 marketing year. This rule also removes references to past volume regulations no longer in effect.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the 2024/2025 rates it will charge for voluntary grading, inspection, certification, auditing, and laboratory services for a variety of agricultural commodities including meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy products, rice, and cotton and tobacco. The 2024/2025 regular, overtime, holiday, and laboratory services rates will be applied at the beginning of the crop year, fiscal year or as required by law depending on the commodity. Other starting dates are added to this notice based on cotton industry practices. This action establishes the rates for user-funded programs based on costs incurred by AMS. This year, cost-based analyses indicated the need to increase user fee rates when current rates are insufficient to cover the costs of providing the service. While cost-saving measures have and will continue to be implemented, user fee rate increases are necessary to offset rising operational costs. In cases where current rates are sufficient to cover the costs of providing the service, user fee rates remain unchanged.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was established to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). Through this Notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing its call for nominations to fill five vacancies on the NOSB. The positions are listed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Appointees will serve a 5-year term likely beginning January 23, 2025, and ending January 23, 2030. Additionally, USDA seeks nominations for a pool of candidates that the Secretary of Agriculture can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected vacancies occur.

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 "Laboratory Approval and Testing Division."

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to establish free and restricted percentages for the 2023-24 crop year under the Federal marketing order for tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. This action would establish the proportion of tart cherries from the 2023-24 crop which may be handled in commercial outlets. This action should stabilize marketing conditions by adjusting supply to meet market demand and help improve grower returns.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Date Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Notice is hereby given of a referendum to be conducted among eligible producers and importers of pecans to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national pecan research and promotion program.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent crop years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting information about potential additions to or subtractions from the List of Bioengineered Foods (List) as it pertains to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (Standard).

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Olive Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2024 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the USDA organic regulations to clarify standards for organic mushrooms and organic pet food. Specific standards for these products do not currently exist. Instead, these products have been certified organic using the general organic standards for crops, livestock, and handling. However, this approach is not ideal as the current regulations do not address unique aspects of either product. AMS expects this rule would promote development of these markets by increasing regulatory certainty that would, in turn, encourage investment in the markets. The topics addressed by the proposed rule include sourcing of substrate and spawn in organic mushroom production, composting requirements for organic mushroom production, composition and labeling requirements for organic pet food, and the use of certain synthetic substances in organic pet food.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Florida Tomato Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.025 to $0.035 per 25-pound container of tomatoes or equivalent. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.