Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/12/23/04-28061/2004-ewe-lamb-replacement-and-retention-payment-program
Timestamp: 2018-09-22 01:40:55
Document Index: 67010868

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 784', 'art 784', 'arts 11', 'art 3014', 'art 784', '§\u2009784', '§\u2009784', '§\u2009784', 'art 1403']

A Rule by the Farm Service Agency on 12/23/2004
This rule is effective on December 23, 2004.
76836-76839 (4 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/04-28061 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/04-28061
This rule sets forth the regulations for the 2004 Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program. This program will assist producers of sheep and promote the replacement and retention of ewe lamb breeding stock by providing payments to producers who have recently reduced production and flock size due to low prices, and other market conditions.
Danielle Cooke, Price Support Division, Farm Service Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0512. Telephone (202) 720-1919; email: Danielle.Cooke@wdc.usda.gov.
The ELRRPP provides direct payments to sheep producers in order to help the U.S. sheep industry achieve sustained competitiveness. A reduction in sheep producer income has experienced reduced production of sheep and lambs and flock size. The domestic sheep industry has experienced reduced market prices, production, flock size, and investment in improving sheep flocks. In addition, persistent drought conditions in major U.S. sheep-producing areas have reduced available feed and forage capacity. The ELRRPP will help alleviate some of the financial stress that sheep producers are facing with an infusion of funds to improve their flocks or meet other obligations.
The Farm Service Agency published a proposed rule for ELRRPP regulations on September 7, 2004, with a 30-day comment period which ended on October 7, 2004. The proposed rule provided that ELRRPP be based on ewe lambs held in the period between August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004, and then, on through the end of the lamb's own offspring lambing cycle, end at the conclusion of the application period and disbursement of allotted funds. The program will operate under regulations codified in 7 CFR part 784.
The Agency received 21 public comments during the 30-day comment period. One comment was received from a marketing cooperative, 8 comments were received from sheep and lamb producer associations, and 12 comments were received from individual members of sheep and lamb companies or ranch operations. All comments received were in support of the Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program and expressed the need for the program because of bad drought conditions that have severely impacted the sheep and lamb industry over the past few years. In addition, 19 out of 21 of the comments received requested the Agency implement an expeditious sign-up and conclusion so that payments can be issued to producers before the end of the calendar year. No substantive changes were made from the regulations contained in the proposed rule. However, clarifying changes were made to conform the new program with that previously administered and to promote efficiency. An unnecessary and inaccurate reference to a finality rule has been eliminated. Also, a clarifying provision has been added, among others, to specify that a purchase without possession during the base period would not constitute an acquisition in the base period. As clarified, a qualifying ewe lamb must at some point in the base period have been under 18 months old and not have, at that time, produced an offspring of its own. To receive payment, the applicant must certify that the lamb meets program conditions. The certification must show that, as of the time of certification, the lamb does not have parrot mouth, foot rot, or scrapie. Spot checks will be conducted and lambs found to have these conditions will be ineligible for payment. Other requirements apply, including holding the lamb for a specified period of time tied to the lambing cycle. Funding of the program is limited, and claims will accordingly be limited. A few comments indicated confusion with the information collection requirements of the program. These comments will be addressed in the Agency's submission of the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
This rule is issued in conformance with Executive Order 12866. This rule has been determined to be “Not Significant,” and was not reviewed by OMB.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act is not applicable to this rule because FSA is not required by 5 U.S.C. 533 or any other law to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for the subject matter of this rule.
It has been determined by an environmental assessment (EA) that the actions of the Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program (ELRRPP) will have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary to address the potential impacts of this rule.
This rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12988. This rule preempts State laws that are inconsistent with this rule. Before any legal action may be brought regarding determinations made under 7 CFR part 784, administrative appeal provisions set forth at 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 must be exhausted.
This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372. See 48 FR 29115 (June 24, 1983) for the notice related to 7 CFR part 3014, subpart V.
This rule contains no Federal mandates for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA). Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.
The information collection required to support ELRRPP has been approved by OMB and assigned OMB control number 0560-0246.
This rule has no Federalism implications warranting a Federalism Assessment. This rule will not affect States, or their political subdivisions, or the distribution of power and Start Printed Page 76837responsibilities among levels of government.
Accordingly, 7 CFR part 784 is revised to read as follows:
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in accordance with the provisions of this part, the amount that may be expended under this part for program payments shall not exceed $18 million. Claims that exceed that amount will be prorated in accordance with § 784.7.
(a) Payments can be made, as agreed to by FSA and subject to the availability of funds, for eligible ewe lambs considered by FSA, as determined by FSA only, to have been acquired or held during the base period by eligible sheep and lamb operations for breeding purposes. Payments may be made for Start Printed Page 76838eligible ewe lambs held continuously by the operation, through the end of the compliance period, from the time of the first possession of the ewe lamb in the base period. The payment rate cannot exceed the rate provided for in § 784.6 and may be prorated pursuant to § 784.7. For purposes of this section, the “base period” is the period from August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004. A purchase in the base period without possession in the base period will not be considered an acquisition in the base period for purposes of this section unless otherwise allowed by FSA.
(a) In the event there is an inaccurate certification or a failure to comply with Start Printed Page 76839any term, requirement, or condition for payment arising under the application, or this part, and if any refund of a payment to FSA shall otherwise become due in connection with the application, or this part, all related payments made under this part to any sheep and lamb operation shall be refunded to FSA together with interest as determined in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section and late payment charges as provided in part 1403 of this title.
Signed at Washington, on DC on December 17, 2004.
[FR Doc. 04-28061 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]