Nov 27 -- This notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the approved forms and information collection for marketing orders covering various vegetables and specialty crops. Comments on this notice are due by January 26, 2024 to be assured of consideration.
Marketing order programs provide an opportunity for producers of fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in specified production areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that cannot be solved individually. This notice covers the following marketing order citations: 7 CFR parts 932 (California olives), 945 (Idaho/Oregon potatoes), 978 (Colorado potatoes), 955 (Vidalia onions), 956 (Walla Walla onions), 958 (Idaho/Oregon onions), 959 (South Texas onions), 966 (Florida tomatoes), 981 (California almonds), 982 (Oregon/Washington hazelnuts), 984 (California walnuts), 985 (Northwest spearmint oil), 987 (California dates), 989 (California raisins), 993 (California dried prunes), and 999 (Specialty Crop Import Regulations).
Marketing Order 946 (Washington potatoes) has been terminated since the last three-year renewal period of this information collection package. Currently, handling requirements for Marketing Order 993 (California dried prunes) are suspended at the industry's request, meaning its information collection requirements are not active. In addition, the import regulation for California dried prunes, as contained in 7 CFR part 999.200—Regulation governing the importation of prunes—is indefinitely suspended, effective February 17, 2009 (74 FR 2806).
Marketing order requirements help ensure adequate supplies of high-quality product and adequate returns to producers. Marketing orders are authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674). The Secretary of Agriculture oversees the marketing order operations and issues regulations recommended by a committee of representatives from each commodity industry.
The information collection requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the marketing orders. Under the Act, marketing orders may authorize: Production and marketing research, including paid advertising; volume regulation; reserves, including pools and producer allotments; container requirements; and quality control. Assessments are levied on handlers regulated under the marketing orders. Section 8e of the Act requires imports of 14 commodities to meet certain quality standards. Included among these commodities are some covered in this forms package: olives, potatoes, onion, tomatoes, walnuts, dates, dried prunes, and raisins.
USDA requires several forms to be filed to enable the administration of each marketing order. These include forms covering the selection process for industry members to serve on a marketing order's committee or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or continue marketing orders.
Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Qualified nominees are then appointed by the Secretary. Amendments to marketing orders made through Formal rulemaking must be approved in referenda conducted by USDA and the Secretary. For the purposes of this action, ballots are considered information collections and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. If a marketing order is amended, handlers are asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to abide by the provisions of the amended marketing order.
Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. The marketing orders authorize the respective committee or board, the agencies responsible for local administration of the marketing orders, to require handlers and producers to submit certain information. Much of the information is compiled in aggregate and provided to the respective industries to assist in marketing decisions. The committees and boards developed forms as a means for persons to file required information relating to supplies, shipments, and dispositions of their respective commodities, and other information needed to effectively carry out the purpose of the Act and their respective orders, and these forms are utilized accordingly.
Specialty Crops Marketing Orders & Agreements:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/fv
Marketing Order Forms:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/forms
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-26087