[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23883-23884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09467]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 23883]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-12-0072; FV13-902-1]


Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops; Notice of Request for Extension 
and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to the 
approved forms and generic information collection for marketing orders 
covering fruit crops.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due by June 24, 2013 to be assured 
of consideration.
    Additional Information: Contact Andrew Hatch, Chief, Program 
Services Branch, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and 
Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, 
Room 1406-S, Washington, DC, 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-6862 or 
Email: [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
STOP 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC, 20250-0237; Telephone (202) 
720-9922 or Email: [email protected].
    Comments: Comments should reference the document number and the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and be 
mailed to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
Fax: (202) 720-8938); or submitted through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Marketing Orders for Fruit Crops.
    OMB Number: 0581-0189.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Marketing orders provide an opportunity for producers of 
fresh fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, in specified production 
areas, to work together to solve marketing problems that cannot be 
solved individually. This notice covers the following marketing order 
program citations 7 CFR parts 905 (Florida citrus), 906 (Texas citrus), 
915 (Florida avocados), 917 (California pears), 920 (California 
kiwifruit), 922 (Washington apricots), 923 (Washington cherries), 924 
(Oregon/Washington prunes), 925 (California table grapes), 927 (Oregon/
Washington pears), and 929 (Cranberries grown in 10 States). Order 
regulations help ensure adequate supplies of high quality product and 
adequate returns to producers. Marketing order programs are authorized 
under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act), as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674). The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized 
to oversee the order operations and issue regulations recommended by a 
committee of representatives from each commodity industry.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to carry out the intent of the Act, to provide the 
respondents the type of service they request, and to administer the 
marketing orders. Under the Act, orders may authorize: Production and 
marketing research, including paid advertising; volume regulations; 
reserves, including pools and producer allotments; container 
regulations; and quality control. Assessments are levied on handlers 
regulated under the marketing orders.
    USDA requires several forms to be filed to enable the 
administration of each marketing order program. These include forms 
covering the selection process for industry members to serve on a 
marketing order's committee or board and ballots used in referenda to 
amend or continue marketing order programs.
    Under Federal marketing orders, producers and handlers are 
nominated by their peers to serve as representatives on a committee or 
board which administers each program. Nominees must provide information 
on their qualifications to serve on the committee or board. Nominees 
are appointed by the Secretary. Formal rulemaking amendments must be 
approved in referenda conducted by USDA and the Secretary. For the 
purposes of this action, ballots are considered information collections 
and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. If an order is amended, 
handlers are asked to sign an agreement indicating their willingness to 
abide by the provisions of the amended order.
    Some forms are required to be filed with the committee or board. 
The orders and their rules and regulations authorize the respective 
commodities' committees and boards, the agencies responsible for local 
administration of the orders, to require handlers and producers to 
submit certain information. Much of the information is compiled in 
aggregate and provided to the respective industries to assist in 
marketing decisions. The committees and boards have developed forms as 
a means for persons to file required information relating to supplies, 
shipments, and dispositions of their respective commodities, and other 
information needed to effectively carry out the purpose of the Act and 
their respective orders, and these forms are utilized accordingly.
    The forms covered under this information collection require the 
minimum information necessary to effectively carry out the requirements 
of the orders, and their use is necessary to fulfill the intent of the 
Act as expressed in the orders rules and regulations.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the committees and authorized representatives of the USDA, including 
AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program's regional and headquarters' staff. 
Authorized committee or board employees are the primary users of the 
information and AMS is the secondary user.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information

[[Page 23884]]

is estimated to average .30 hours per response.
    Respondents: Producers, handlers, processors, cooperatives, and 
public members.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,950.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 26,802.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.68.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,266 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of the 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record. All comments received will be available for public 
inspection at the street address in the ``Comment'' section and can be 
viewed at: www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: April 16, 2013.
David R. Shipman,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09467 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P