### 61694 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 6, 2010 / Notices

**DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**Agricultural Marketing Service**

**[Doc. No. AMS–FV–10–0069; FV10–900–**
**1NC]**

**Notice of Request for Extension of the Organic Assessment Exemption** 

**AGENCY :**  Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

**ACTION :**  Notice and request for

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to request an extension for the forms currently used by marketers to apply for exemption from market promotion assessments under 26 marketing order programs.

**DATES :**  Comments on this notice must be received by December 6, 2010.

Additional Information: Contact Sasha Nel, Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250–0237; Tel: (202)

205–2829, E-mail: sasha.nel@ams.usda.gov.

Small businesses may request information on this notice by contacting Antoinette Carter, Marketing Order

Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250–

0237; Tel: (202) 690–3919; or E-mail: antoinette.carter@ams.usda.gov.

Comments: Comments are welcome

and should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this

issue of the Federal Register , as well as the appropriate Marketing Order number. Comments may be submitted by mail to the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406–S, Washington, DC 20250–

0237, or online at http:// www.regulations.gov. All comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular USDA business hours, or they can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.

All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: Organic Handler Market
Promotion Assessment Exemption under 26 Federal Marketing Orders.

OMB Number: 0581–0216. Expiration Date of Approval: February

21, 2011.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently-approved information

collection.

Abstract: Marketing Order (Order) programs provide an opportunity for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops in specified production areas to work together to solve marketing problems that cannot be solved individually.

Under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674), Orders may authorize production and marketing research, including paid advertising, to promote various commodities, which is paid for by assessments that are levied on the handlers who are regulated by the

Orders.

On May 13, 2002, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7201) was amended by the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act (7 U.S.C. 7901), exempting any person who handles or markets solely 100 percent organic products from paying these assessments with respect to any agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic farm, as defined in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502). A certified organic handler can apply for this exemption by completing a ‘‘ Certified Organic Handler Application for Exemption from Market

Promotion Assessments Paid Under Federal Marketing Orders, ’’ and submitting it to the applicable Marketing Order Committee or Board.

Section 900.700 of the regulations (7 CFR part 900.700) provides for exemption from assessments. This notice applies to the following Marketing Order programs: 7 CFR parts 906, Oranges and grapefruit grown in Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; 915, Avocados grown in south Florida; 916, Nectarines grown in California; 917, Fresh pears and peaches grown in California; 922, Apricots grown in designated counties in Washington; 923, Sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington; 924, Fresh prunes grown in designated counties in Washington and in Umatilla County,
Oregon; 925, Grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California; 927, Pears grown in Oregon and Washington; 929, Cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in New York; 930, Tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin; 932, Olives grown in California; 947, Irish potatoes grown in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California and in all counties in Oregon, except Malheur County; 948, Irish potatoes grown in Colorado; 955, Vidalia onions grown in Georgia; 956, Sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and northeast Oregon; 958, Onions grown in certain designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon; 959, Onions grown in South Texas; 966, Tomatoes grown in Florida; 981, Almonds grown in California; 982, Hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington; 984, Walnuts grown in California; 985, Marketing order regulating the handling of spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah; 987, Domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California; 989, Raisins produced from grapes grown in California; and 993, Dried prunes produced in California.

The information collected is used only by authorized Marketing Order Committee or Board employees, who are the primary users of the information, and by authorized representatives of the USDA, including the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs’ regional and headquarters staff, who are the secondary users of the information.

Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30
minutes per response.

Respondents: Respondents are eligible certified organic handlers.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

65.

Estimated Number of Total Annual
Responses: 65.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 33 hours.

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 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.


### 61695 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 6, 2010 / Notices

Dated: September 30, 2010.

David R. Shipman,

Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing

Service.

[FR Doc. 2010–25063 Filed 10–5–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3410–02–P**

**AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL**

**DEVELOPMENT**

**Board for International Food and Agricultural Development; One**  **Hundred and Sixtieth Meeting; Notice**
**of Meeting**

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of the one hundred and sixtieth meeting of

the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD). The meeting will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 12, 2010 at the Des

Moines Marriott Downtown located at

700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. The meeting venue is in the Marriott

Hotel’s Iowa Ballroom, Salons A, B, and

C located on the second floor. ‘‘Higher

Education: A Critical Partner in Global Food Security’’ will be the central theme of the October meeting.

Dr. Robert Easter, Chairman of BIFAD, will preside over the proceedings. Dr.

Easter is Interim Chancellor andProvost, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign.

On May 20 of this year, the Administration officially rolled out its global food security strategy, known as

‘‘Feed the Future. ’’ This new initiative has generated considerable anticipation within the higher education community, especially since one of the Agency’s main program pillars will be expansion of research and development to increase agricultural productivity globally. As part of the plan to increase agricultural

research, USAID and USDA have developed the Borlaug Initiative. Concurrently, USAID is undertaking a Science and Technology Initiative to improve dramatically its scientific capacity to carry out Feed the Future and other critical global development challenges that increasingly necessitate scientific analysis. The 160th BIFAD meeting will review these efforts and provide a forum to advance the dialogue between the Title XII community and their Federal partners.

To set the stage for the day’s activities, the Board will begin with a presentation by Dr. Allen C. Christensen, past Board member and Director of the Benson Agricultural and Food Institute at Brigham Young University. Dr Christensen will provide a historical perspective on important

contributions Title XII and universities have made over the years, particularly during the last global food crisis 25–30 years ago, toward improving the plight of the small, rural farmer in developing

countries. The lessons learned over the years can have an important impact for moving forward with a new global food security policy paradigm.

With Dr. Christensen’s presentation as the backdrop, the Board will then move forward to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines strategic areas of cooperation on science and technology in development over the coming months. Signing on behalf of USAID will be Dr. Alex Dehgan, the Agency’s Chief Scientist and Director of the Agency’s new Office of Science and Technology. Signing for BIFAD will be Chairman Robert Easter. Dr. Dehgan will make remarks regarding USAID’s
strategic priority on ‘‘ Transforming Development through Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). ’’

After the signing ceremony, the Board will then proceed to its main theme of the meeting, highlighting the potential

role of universities in the

Administration’s Feed the Future

Initiative and USAID’s renewed STI

focus. This session will last two hours and provide an opportunity for the Title XII community to learn more about the Administration’s global food security strategy while demonstrating the value added of greater university engagement. A panel of USAID and USDA speakers will discuss an array of plans and ideas under development for addressing global agricultural problems. A panel focusing on the role of research and representing the Title XII community will follow. It is expected that a Director of a Managing Entity of a Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) will participate on the panel and explain how the CRSP model can help achieve research goals of Feed the Future. Another panel member will discuss how the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative can build agricultural capacity

in Sub-Saharan African universities for sustainable agricultural development.

One or two Deans of Land-Grant universities will round out the panel. Their message will highlight how universities have responded to change and have been in the vanguard of new approaches, processes, technologies, etc., in the functional areas of teaching, research, and extension for addressing global problems.

The Board will then move into the public comment period. At the

conclusion of comments from the public, the Board will recess for an

executive luncheon (closed to the public). When the Board re-convenes, it will hear a panel discussion on the recent workshop conducted by the Minority Serving Institutions Task Force, established by BIFAD last year to rejuvenate the partnership between USAID and Minority Serving Institutions. The panel will be moderated by Board member William

DeLauder, who chairs the Task Force.

The Board will then hear a report on

the activities of the Haiti Task Force,

which the Board established in 2010 in response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The Task Force is chaired by

Board member Elsa Murano, who will present a proposal for the long-term rebuilding of Haiti’s agricultural system.

After the Haiti Task Force presentation, BIFAD will hear two short reports summarizing efforts to build agricultural higher education capacity in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Title XII institutions continue to play an important role in helping the civilian populations of these countries improve agricultural productivity amidst past and ongoing hostilities.

The Board will wrap up its day’s proceedings with an update on the Title XII report to Congress for FY 2009. The presentation will be made by John

Becker, USAID/ODP. The Title XII annual report to Congress is required by Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act, and provides an opportunity for BIFAD’s views to be incorporated in the

report.

After the presentations are concluded for the day, but before adjournment, the Board will provide another opportunity for public comment.

The Board meeting is open to the public. The Board welcomes open dialogue to promote greater focus on critical issues facing USAID, the role of universities in development, and applications of U.S. scientific, technical and institutional capabilities to international agriculture. Note on Public

Comments: Due to time constraints public comments to the Board will be

limited to three (3) minutes to accommodate as many as possible. It is preferred to have requests for comments submitted to the Board in writing. Two periods for public comment will be provided during the Board meeting— just before lunch and adjournment.

Those wishing to attend the meeting

or obtain additional information about

BIFAD should contact Dr. Ronald S. Senykoff, Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD. Write him in care of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ronald Reagan Building, Office of Development Partners, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 6.7–153, Washington, DC