Agricultural Marketing Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule transfers regulations pertaining to the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Manufacturers program from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to reflect changes in the organizational structure and delegated authorities within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This action is necessary to enable the AMS Administrator to issue, maintain, and revise as necessary regulations related to programs under the AMS Administrator's delegated authority.

This document invites comments on a proposed amendment to the Dairy Promotion and Research Order (Dairy Order). The proposal would modify the number of National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (Dairy Board) members in two of the 12 regions. The total number of domestic Dairy Board members would remain the same at 36. This modification was requested by the Dairy Board, which administers the Dairy Order, to better reflect the geographic distribution of milk production in the United States.

This proposal invites comments on amendments to the Potato Research and Promotion Plan (Plan) as recommended by the National Potato Promotion Board (Board) and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Board administers the Plan with oversight provided by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The Board recommends changing approved sources of potato production data used to determine the number of Board seats, expanding payment methods used to remit assessments to include electronic submission, and updating the table of Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) codes and assessment rates for imported potatoes and potato products. Finally, proposed amendments would insert new language eliminating the need to amend the Plan just to update the list of relevant HTS codes.

This rule invites comments on the proposed termination of the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington, and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. The marketing order is administered locally by the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee), which unanimously recommended its termination at a meeting held on June 11, 2020. This recommendation is based on the Committee's determination that the marketing order is no longer an effective marketing tool for the Washington potato industry and that termination would best serve the current needs of the industry by eliminating the cost associated with its operation.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection to administer the Pandemic Response and Safety Program (PRS) under its Grants Division. AMS Grants Division is implementing this new grant program under section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide ``grants and loans to small or midsized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).''

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing revisions to the 2021/2022 rates it will charge for voluntary grading services for tobacco. Revised rates are based on financial information obtained since the 2021/2022 rates were announced on April 21, 2021, and will be applied to all services provided since July 1, 2021, and thereafter.

This proposal invites comments on increasing the threshold for defining primary peanut-producing states as states that maintain a 3- year average production of at least 20,000 tons of peanuts instead of 10,000 tons of peanuts as currently prescribed in the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the National Peanut Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a result of increasing the threshold, this proposal would decrease the Board's membership from 13 to 12 members and their respective alternates. This action would contribute to effective administration of the program.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is adding the new criterion, Cotyledon Damage, in the Bean Inspection Handbook pertaining to the class chickpea/garbanzo beans in the U.S. Standards for Beans. Stakeholders in the dry bean processing/handling industry requested AMS to revise the Bean Inspection Handbook to include the criterion for the new damage factor, Cotyledon Damage, in chickpeas/garbanzo beans.

This action is being taken under the authority of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended, (USGSA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is making no changes regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards for Sorghum under the USGSA.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service proposes amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the USDA's organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule proposes the removal from the National List of several substances currently allowed for various uses in organic crop production, livestock production, and manufacture of processed products.

This notice of proposed rulemaking invites public input on proposed revisions to Federal Grain Inspection regulations. The Agricultural Marketing Service is required to revise the regulations as a result of 2018 Farm Bill amendments to the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Revised regulations would allow designated official agencies to perform grain inspections outside their geographic areas under certain additional conditions. Proposed revisions are based on industry input and are intended to provide additional flexibility to the industry.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Olive Committee to increase the assessment rate for the 2021 fiscal year. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This rule invites comments on the proposed termination of the Federal marketing order regulating the handling of onions grown in South Texas and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. A corresponding change would be made to the onion import regulation as required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.

This final rule removes the regulations pertaining to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The regulations, which were established in 2006 as a matter of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, are duplicative of and in conflict with the recent revisions to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Federal Financial Management's Guidance for Grants and Agreements. Consequently, the SCBGP-specific regulations are no longer needed. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is removing the obsolete regulations in order to align its grant programs with OMB requirements and implement the programs efficiently. AMS will continue to administer SCBGP according to the OMB regulations.

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's regulations regarding a national highbush blueberry research and promotion program.

This document reopens the voting period for the referendum being conducted among eligible growers of pecans grown in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of pecans produced in the production area. The voting period has been reopened for an additional 25 days from June 29, 2021, to July 23, 2021.

The designation of the official agency listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below will end on the prescribed date. We are asking persons or governmental agencies interested in providing official services in the area presently served by this agency to submit an application for designation. The Agricultural Marketing Service (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. In addition, we are asking for comments on the quality of services provided by the following designated agency: Titus Grain Inspection, Inc. (Titus).

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) requires the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for individuals to be considered for selection as Board members for a term of office ending June 30, 2024. Meetings are held virtually or in a hybrid style with participants having a choice whether to attend in person or virtually.

This rule amends the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule adds the following allowed substances to the National List: Oxalic acid dihydrate as a pesticide for organic apiculture (beekeeping); pullulan for use in organic handling in products labeled, ``Made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s));'' and collagen gel as a nonorganic nonagricultural substance for use as a casing in organic handling when organic forms of collagen gel are not commercially available.

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2020-21 and subsequent marketing years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This action is being taken under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, (AMA). The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the method of interpretation for the determination of the special grade ``Green'' in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook pertaining to the class ``Lentils,'' in the U.S. Standards for Lentils. Stakeholders in the lentil processing/handling industry requested that AMS amend the interpretation of the special grade ``Green'' in the Lentil inspection instructions by redefining the definition and including criteria for the inclusion of mottled lentils.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection to administer the Meat and Poultry Interstate Shipment and Inspection Readiness Program (ISIRP) under its Grants Division. Due to the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), AMS Grants Division is implementing this new grant program under section 764, which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to ``make grants to meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to assist such facilities with respect to costs incurred in making improvements to such facilities and carrying out other planning activities in the amount of $60,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2023.''

This rule amends Marketing Order 989 (referred to as the ``Order''), which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California. This action reinserts Order language that authorizes the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC) to borrow from commercial lending institutions. The publication on October 26, 2018, of a final rule to amend the marketing order unintentionally removed this borrowing authority. This document is necessary to inform the public of this amendment.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the comment period on our April 28, 2015, proposed rule to amend the origin of livestock requirements for dairy animals under the USDA organic regulations. We are reopening the proposed rule's comment period for 60 days to give all interested parties an opportunity to comment on whether AMS should prohibit the movement of transitioned cows in organic dairy production as part of the final rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in any future final rule.