[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 193 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57588-57589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23413]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


Implementation of Farm Bill Amendments to the Packers and 
Stockyards; Notice of Town Hall Meetings

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Town Hall Meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces three Town Hall meetings to allow 
interested parties to provide advice and recommendations to the 
Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration (GISPA) regarding the regulations that Title XI of the 
Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) requires GIPSA to 
promulgate.

DATES: GIPSA will hold a town hall meeting in three locations:
    1. October 14, 2008, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Van Buren, Arkansas.
    2. October 16, 2008, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Ames, Iowa.
    3. October 22, 2008, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Gainesville, Georgia.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in three locations: 
Arkansas, Georgia, and Iowa.
    1. Arkansas--Crawford County Cooperative Extension Office, 105 
Pointer Trail West Van Buren, AR 72956.

[[Page 57589]]

    2. Iowa--Iowa State University Scheman Building, Room 275, 1810 
Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010.
    3. Georgia--Hall County FSA Building, 734 East Crescent Dr., 
Gainesville, GA 30501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeana Harbison, Legal Specialist, 
Policy and Litigation Division-GIPSA, United States Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3646. 
Requests for information can be made by e-mail sent to: 
[email protected]; by phone at (202) 720-7363; or fax at (202) 
690-3207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration (GIPSA) enforces the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 
(P&S Act). Under authority granted the Secretary of Agriculture and 
delegated to us, we are authorized (7 U.S.C. 228) to make those 
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the P&S Act.
    The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) tasked 
GIPSA with the responsibility of promulgating regulations with respect 
to the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (P&S Act) (7 U.S.C. 181 et 
seq.) to establish criteria to be considered in determining:
    1. Whether an undue or unreasonable preference or advantage has 
occurred in violation of such Act;
    2. Whether a live poultry dealer has provided reasonable notice to 
poultry growers of any suspension of the delivery of birds under a 
poultry growing arrangement;
    3. When a requirement of additional capital investments over the 
life of a poultry growing arrangement or swine production contract 
constitutes a violation of such Act; and,
    4. If a live poultry dealer or swine contractor has provided a 
reasonable period of time for a poultry grower or a swine production 
contract grower to remedy a breach of contract that could lead to 
termination of the poultry growing arrangement or swine production 
contract.
    The Farm Bill also requires that regulations be promulgated to 
implement new Section 210 of the P&S Act regarding the use of 
arbitration in production contract disputes. This specifically 
involves:
    1. The right to decline arbitration when entering into a contract;
    2. Disclosure of the right to decline arbitration; and
    3. Choice of arbitration once a dispute arises if both parties 
agree in writing.
    We must also establish the criteria that the Secretary will 
consider in determining whether the arbitration process provided in a 
production contract provides a meaningful opportunity for the grower or 
producer to participate fully in the arbitration process.
    Purpose: The purpose of these meetings is to gather information and 
recommendations from interested individuals and organizations regarding 
the promulgation of regulations concerning livestock and poultry 
production contracts, including swine production contracts and poultry 
growing arrangements as required by the Farm Bill. We wish to discuss 
and address existing problems, possible obstacles and potential 
solutions that would help us in the development of the regulations. 
Comments and suggestions received at this meeting may be used by GIPSA 
to draft the required regulations.
    Public Participation: While oral comments should be limited to five 
minutes, extended written comments may be submitted for the record. 
Members of the public may also submit written comments for distribution 
at a meeting without presenting oral comments. Such written comments 
should be sent by mail or fax machine to Jeana Harbison as above no 
later than October 10, 2008.
    Telephone Participation: Those unable to attend a public meeting 
may participate via an audio bridge by calling (877) 950-5739, 
participant pass code ``6969173.'' All callers using the above 
pass code will be placed initially in ``listen-only'' mode during the 
presentation. Following the presentation, callers using the audio 
bridge will be given an opportunity to participate in the ``Question 
and Answer'' portion of the meeting or they may e-mail questions or 
comments during the meeting to [email protected].
    Instructions: If the comments and information may be used in 
promulgating regulations, they will become a matter of public record. 
Extended written comments should make reference to the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register and be identified as 
``P&SA Town Hall Meeting Comments.'' Written comments and transcripts 
of oral comments will be available for public inspection at the above 
address during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)). Please call the 
GIPSA Management Support Staff at (202) 720-7486 to arrange for a 
public inspection of comments.
    Special Accomodations: Persons attending a meeting who require 
special assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify Jeana 
Harbison by e-mail at [email protected]; by phone at (202) 720-
7363; or fax at (202) 690-3207, by October 9, 2008 by 5 p.m. EST.

James E. Link,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-23413 Filed 10-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KD-P