[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8028]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 5, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 65

                                             Tuesday, April 5, 1994
      

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 28

[CN-94-003]
RIN 0581-AB06

 

Cotton Classification Services for Cotton Producers; Withdrawal 
of Proposed Rule

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws a proposed rule that would have 
amended regulations governing cotton classification services provided 
to cotton producers by establishing a module averaging method of cotton 
classification. That rule would have changed the present classification 
system by adding the new procedure.

DATES: This proposed rule is withdrawn effective April 5, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Shackelford, 202-720-2259.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was issued as amendments 
to regulations governing Cotton Classification Services for Producers 
(7 CFR part 28). The proposal was issued on January 31, 1994, and 
published in the Federal Register (59 FR 4257). It proposed the 
implementation of module averaging, a method by which the accuracy of 
fiber quality measurements can be improved. The module averaging 
procedure would use all the bales from a module or trailer as the 
testing unit rather than using a single bale as the test unit. The 
module averaging procedure has been offered to growers on a voluntary 
basis for the past three crop years.
    The Secretary of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on Cotton 
Marketing recommended that if no significant problems were encountered 
during the 1993 classing season, the module averaging procedure be 
expanded to include all cotton classed in 1994 and subsequent crop 
years. For the 1993 expanded voluntary program, there were 242 gins 
participating and the production from these gins totaled 3,053,716 
bales. This represented 20 percent of the 1993 cotton crop. No problems 
of any significance are known to have developed during the 1993 
project. In keeping with the advisory committee's recommendation, AMS 
proposed that module averaging be applied to all bales classed 
effective with the 1994 cotton crop.
    Written comments regarding this proposal were accepted from January 
31, 1994, through March 2, 1994. Comments were received from 
individuals and organizations representing several segments of the 
cotton industry including producers, ginners, warehousers, merchants, 
cooperatives, national and international trade associations, textile 
manufacturers, and others. This broad cross section of the cotton 
industry, together with a significant number of comments (61) indicates 
a strong interest in the module averaging concept throughout the 
industry.
    The textile manufacturing segment submitted four comments; one from 
a national organization representing domestic textile manufacturers, 
and three from individual firms. All of these comments expressed 
support for the proposal. The national organization representing 
textile manufacturers favored the implementation of the proposal 
provided four conditions were met: (1) That at least two tests per bale 
be made; (2) that the integrity of the module be maintained by 
preventing the intermingling of cotton between module test units; (3) 
that when the module averaging procedure is used only those 
measurements that fall within three standard deviations of the average 
be included in the module average; and (4) that for the purposes of 
review classification, all bales from the module be retested. The 
remaining three comments all reiterated the suggestion for the use of 
three standard deviations as a determination for including bales in the 
module average. The Agency is currently, and will continue, studying 
how best to determine the inclusion or exclusion of bales from the 
module average.
    Thirteen comments were received from the producer segment, 
including two from national organizations. One national organization 
was in favor of the proposal. The other recommended the delay of 
mandatory implementation until 1995, and the application of module 
averaging to length, strength and micronaire measurements only. The 
remaining comments, submitted by regional producer organizations and 
individual producers, were nearly equally divided among those favoring 
the proposal and those supporting the module averaging concept, but 
suggesting the continuation of the voluntary program.
    The cotton ginning segment, through national and state 
organizations, and individual ginners, submitted 14 written comments. 
The national organization representing cotton ginners encouraged the 
comprehensive industry review of the 1993 and 1994 module averaging 
results and continuation of the voluntary module averaging program. The 
remaining comments expressed general support for the module averaging 
concept but suggested that module averaging be continued on a voluntary 
basis.
    A leading national association representing cotton merchants, 
shippers and exporters of raw cotton opposed the mandatory 
implementation of module averaging while supporting the continuation of 
the voluntary program. The Agency is currently responding to a separate 
request from this organization for statistical data pertaining to 
module averaged cotton. This organization maintains that further 
evaluation of the data is necessary prior to the implementation of 
mandatory module averaging. The remaining 22 comments received from the 
merchant segment also requested that module averaging be continued on a 
voluntary basis so that the effects of module averaging on cotton 
marketing can be further evaluated.
    Three foreign cotton trade organizations submitted comments. These 
comments all stated that the international cotton trade was not yet 
sufficiently knowledgeable about the module averaging concept to favor 
its use on anything more than a voluntary basis.
    In light of the views expressed in comments submitted from the 
various segments of the cotton industry, the Agency has determined that 
it is in the public interest to continue with the module averaging 
program on a voluntary basis. Such action will provide the cotton 
industry more time to evaluate the effects of module averaging on 
cotton marketing. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn effective 
April 5, 1994.

    Dated: March 30, 1994.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-8028 Filed 4-4-94; 8:45 am]
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