Agricultural Marketing Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This decision recommends adoption of proposals that would amend certain features of the Upper Midwest (UMW) Federal milk marketing order. Specifically, this decision recommends adoption of proposals that would deter the de-pooling of milk and increase the order's maximum administrative assessment rate.

This decision proposes amendments to Marketing Agreement Nos. 124 and 85 and Order Nos. 916 and 917 (orders), which regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California, and provides growers with the opportunity to vote in referenda to determine if they favor the changes. The amendments are based on those proposed by the Nectarine Administrative Committee (NAC), the Peach Commodity Committee (PCC), and the Control Committee (part of M.O. No. 917) (Committees), which are responsible for local administration of orders 916 and 917. The proposed amendments to order 917 only apply to peaches. The proposed amendments would: update definitions for ``handle'', ``grower'', and add a definition for ``pure grower'' to both orders; increase committee membership of the NAC from eight to thirteen members and modify sections of order 916 to conform to the increased membership; eliminate the Shippers Advisory Committee in order 916; allow the Control Committee under order 917 to be suspended if the provisions of one commodity are suspended and transfer applicable duties and responsibilities to the remaining Commodity Committee; authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments paid late in both orders; and other related amendments. The proposed amendments are intended to streamline and improve the administration, operation, and functioning of the orders.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is establishing voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Field Grown Leaf Lettuce. The standards will provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of field grown leaf lettuce.

This document announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) plans to review Marketing Order 925 (Grapes grown in a designated area of Southeastern California), Marketing Order 930 (Tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin), and Marketing Order 948 (Irish potatoes grown in Colorado) under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

This action summarizes the results under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of Marketing Order No. 993, regulating the handling of dried prunes produced in California.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS), Science and Technology Program's intention to include three new public information collection request forms when submitting its request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to OMB 0581-0055, ``Application for Plant Variety Protection Certification and Objective Description of Variety.'' Copies of the proposed forms may be obtained by calling the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) contact listed.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.006 to $0.008 per \4/5\ bushel carton of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in Florida. Assessments upon Florida citrus handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This action summarizes the results under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of Marketing Order No. 989, regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions of the United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result AMS has identified row sizes for possible inclusion into the sweet cherries grade standards. Additionally, AMS is seeking comments regarding any other revisions that may be necessary to better serve the industry.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods. This action is being taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, which asked AMS to identify commodities that may be better served if grade standards are developed. The proposed standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of pea pods.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus. Specifically, AMS is revising the standards to allow purple and white asparagus to be graded using the standards. This change will bring the standards for asparagus in line with current marketing practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of the standards in serving the industry.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities. This action is being taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, which asked AMS to identify products that may be better served if grade standards are developed. The proposed standards would provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of fresh produce shipments containing different commodities packaged in the same container.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend administrative requirements in the regulations governing the voluntary shell egg, poultry, and rabbit grading programs. The amendments would update the administrative requirements and make minor, nonsubstantive changes for clarity and uniformity of style. This would improve operational efficiency of the grading programs by making the administrative requirements more accurate, clear, consistent, and easier to use.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is establishing voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Mangos. The standards are intended to provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of fresh mangos.

This rule establishes final free and restricted percentages for the 2005-2006 crop year. The percentages are 58 percent free and 42 percent restricted and will establish the proportion of cherries from the 2005 crop which may be handled in commercial outlets. The percentages are intended to stabilize supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions. The percentages were recommended by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board), the body that locally administers the marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A national public hearing is being held to consider and take evidence on a proposal seeking to amend the Class III and Class IV milk price formula manufacturing allowances applicable to all Federal milk marketing orders. Evidence also will be taken at the hearing to determine whether emergency marketing conditions exist that would warrant omission of a recommended decision under the rules of practice and procedure (7 CFR 900.12(d)).

A public hearing is being held to consider proposals for the Appalachian and Southeast Federal milk orders to amend the current inter-market transportation credit provisions and to establish new intra-market transportation credit provisions. Evidence will be taken at the hearing to determine whether emergency marketing conditions exist that would warrant omission of a recommended decision under the rules of practice and procedure (7 CFR 900.12(d)).

This rule terminates the marketing order for fresh Bartlett pears grown in Oregon and Washington, Marketing Order No. 931 (order), and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. On May 21, 2005, Marketing Order No. 927 was amended to include regulatory authority over Bartlett pears grown in Oregon and Washington, historically regulated by the order. That action anticipated the termination of Order No. 931. Thus, there is no need to continue the operation of the order.

This rule invites comments on a relaxation of the minimum grade requirement for certain potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2. The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order, recommended this rule as a replacement for a previously issued proposed rule. This rule would change the minimum grade from U.S. No. 1 to U.S. Commercial for varieties of long, red-skinned, yellow fleshed potatoes produced in Area No. 2 measuring from 1\1/2\ inch minimum diameter to 2\1/4\-inch maximum diameter (size B), and from 1-inch minimum diameter to 1\3/4\- inch maximum diameter. The proposed change is intended to provide potato handlers with more marketing flexibility, growers with increased returns, and consumers with a greater supply of small specialty potatoes.

This document announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) review of the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (conducted under the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act), under the criteria contained in Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

This document is the final decision proposing to adopt changes to provisions of the producer-handler definitions of the Pacific Northwest and Arizona-Las Vegas orders as contained in a Recommended Decision published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2005. This document is subject to approval by producers.

This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule concerning pooling standards and transportation credit provisions of the Upper Midwest Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Upper Midwest marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the Walnut Marketing Board (Board) for the 2005-06 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0094 to $0.0096 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year began August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This rule amends a prior interim final rule that increased the quantity of Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, producers during the 2005- 2006 marketing year. The prior interim final rule increased the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 677,409 pounds to 1,062,898 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 35 percent to 55 percent. In addition, the prior interim final rule increased the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 867,958 pounds to 1,019,600 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 40 percent to 47 percent. This action does not affect the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity and allotment percentage; however, it increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity by an additional 151,855 pounds from 1,019,600 pounds to 1,171,455 pounds, and the allotment percentage by an additional 7 percent from 47 percent to 54 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices and to help maintain stability in the Far West spearmint oil market.

This action announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) review of the Soybean Promotion and Research Program (conducted under the Soybean Promotion and Research Order), under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).