[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62243-62244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23831]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Public Meeting on Implementation of Electronic Warehouse Receipts 
and Other Electronic Documents for Grain and Rice

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a public 
meeting to solicit comments and options regarding the implementation of 
electronic warehouse receipts (EWRs) and other electronic documents 
(OEDs) for grain and rice as authorized by the Grain Standards and 
Warehouse Improvement Act of 2000 ((Pub. L. 106-472) (7 U.S.C. 241 et 
seq.) (United States Warehouse Act (USWA)), enacted November 9, 2000. 
The meeting will be open to the public, with attendance limited to 
available space on a first-come basis. Attendees are asked to be 
prepared to share information concerning their views on implementing 
the EWRs and OEDs for grain and rice within the current operational 
environment as well as future e-commerce activities. No registration or 
fee is required to attend or participate in the public meeting.

DATES: November 9-10, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at USDA's Beacon Building, 6501 
Beacon Drive, Kansas City, Missouri 64133-4676.
    Requests to address the meeting and written comments may be sent 
to: Roger Hinkle, USWA Program Manager, Warehouse and Inventory 
Division, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
STOP 0553, Washington DC 20250-0553; FAX: (202) 690-3123; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Kirkland, (816) 823-1144 
(telephone); or (816) 448-5622 (facsimile); or by e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation to 
attend or participate in the meeting should contact Laurie Montgomery, 
telephone: (202) 205-7832; e-mail: [email protected], by 
November 1, 2004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting is to provide all 
interested parties an opportunity to discuss the development and 
implementation of EWRs and OEDs for grain and rice as authorized under 
the USWA and its regulations at 7 CFR part 735. A copy of the USWA, its 
regulations and Provider Agreements can be found online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/uswa.htm. The USWA was enacted in part to be more 
relevant to today's agricultural marketing and financial systems. The 
USWA provides authorization for the issuance and transfer of EWRs and 
OEDs relating to the shipment, payment, and financing of the sale of 
agricultural products, and the standardization of such electronic 
documents.
    The agenda will include, but is not limited to the following:
    (1) Current status of EWR and OED--Provider Agreements,
    (2) Review Draft Provider Agreements Addendum for grain and rice 
EWRs,
    (3) Completing the addendum, making sure all data requirements for 
grain and rice are included,
    (4) FSA-Price Support Division's (PSD's) requirements in developing 
a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) User Agreement for grain and rice 
EWRs,
    (5) Discuss requirements for a USWA and CCC pilot grain and rice 
EWR program,
    (6) Integration of Electronic Data Interfaces with grain and rice 
warehouse accounting software,
    (7) Discuss current and prospective EWR systems or concepts,
    (8) Expectations of grain and rice companies and cooperatives,
    (9) Expectations of grain and rice commodity exchanges,
    (10) Expectations of banks, lenders, sureties and insurance 
underwriters,
    (11) Expectations of current and prospective EWR providers, and
    (12) Next steps for USDA.
    This meeting is open to the public. Persons wishing to make a brief 
presentation up to 15 minutes are asked to provide a written request 
with a description of the general subject to Mr.

[[Page 62244]]

Hinkle, at the address shown above, no later than noon, October 25, 
2004. It is requested that 50 copies of the written statement be 
submitted at the time of the meeting for distribution and placement in 
the official file.
    Persons with comments or suggestions should provide Mr. Hinkle, at 
the address shown above, with a written copy of their comments no later 
than October 25, 2004.

    Signed at Washington, DC: October 15, 2004.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 04-23831 Filed 10-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P