[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 59684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24306]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has 
denied a petition (No. 2011017) for trade adjustment assistance for 
apples filed under the fiscal year (FY) 2011 program by the Maine State 
Pomological Society. The petition was accepted for review by USDA on 
August 12, 2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To qualify under the program, Subtitle C of 
Title I of the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210) states that 
petitions must demonstrate, using data for the most recent, full 
marketing year or full official marketing season, a greater than 15-
percent decline in at least one of the following factors: National 
average price, quantity of production, value of production, or cash 
receipts.
    According to the statute, it is also necessary for the petition to 
demonstrate that an increase in imports of like or directly competitive 
articles, during the same marketing period, contributed importantly to 
the decrease in one of the above factors for the agricultural 
commodity.
    All petitions were analyzed by USDA's Economic Research Service and 
reviewed by the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program Review 
Committee, comprised of representatives from USDA's Office of the Chief 
Economist, Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Marketing Service, and 
FAS. After a review, the Administrator determined that the petition was 
unable to demonstrate the `greater than 15-percent decline' criterion, 
because it showed only a 7.2-percent decline in the average annual 
price for 2009/2010, when compared to the previous 3-year period. 
Additionally, the import data provided for the same time period showed 
a 3.7-percent decrease, instead of the required increase, under the 
program.
    Because the petition was unable to meet the `greater than 15-
percent decline' criterion and the `increase in imports' criterion, the 
Administrator was not able to certify the petition, making apple 
producers in Maine ineligible for trade adjustment assistance in FY 
2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Trade Adjustment Assistance for 
Farmers Program staff, Office of Trade Programs, USDA; or by phone at 
(202) 720-0638 or (202) 690-0633; or by e-mail at: 
[email protected]; or visit the TAA for Farmers' Web site 
at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa.

    Dated: September 20, 2010
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24306 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P