The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an interim rule to relax the substandard and maturity dockage requirements in the handling regulations of the California raisins federal marketing order.

Engineers work and consult with equipment manufacturers and local contractors to ensure that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems properly condition cotton samples for instrument evaluation. They monitor operation of the systems in all classing offices to insure continuous maintenance of conditioning. These duties may involve:

Chemists are responsible for assigned projects and/or programs in support of analytical services, analytical method development, and quality assurance. Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the analysis of mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and heavy metals/elements. These duties may involve:

The AMS logo is available in both a color and black and white version. When using the logo, keep adequate space around it, only place it on solid colors or very simple graphic/photo backgrounds (such as a clear sky).

See USDA’s logo guidelines for more guidance on spacing and appropriate use of all official USDA logos, lockups and seals.

Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0048
Comments Due: February 6, 2024

Summary

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for the form currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments under Federal marketing order programs.

Submit Comments

Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0055
Dates: The referendum will be conducted from February 5 through February 26, 2024. Only current sweet cherry growers that also grew sweet cherries within the designated production area during the period April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, are eligible to vote in this referendum. Ballots returned via express mail must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 26, 2024, to be counted.

Addresses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Fresh Pear Committee to fill four grower member seats and two handler member seats to serve two-year terms that begin July 1, 2024. Nominations for grower and handler members and their alternates will be made at nomination meetings in each district.

Nominations will be accepted at the following meetings:

Wenatchee District:
•    Handler nomination meeting:
•    Dec. 14, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. PT.
•    2900 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, Washington, 98801

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will conduct a referendum among Washington sweet cherry producers Feb. 5-26, 2024, to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order.

The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held every six years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced sweet cherries within the designated production area during the period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a proposal to terminate Marketing Order No. 929, which regulates the handling of cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the state of New York.

The proposed termination follows the referendum that AMS conducted June 9-30, 2023, showing producers did not support continuing the marketing order.