1994 Rice Acreage Reduction Program

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Parts 1413 and 1421

RIN 0560-AD18

1994 Rice Acreage Reduction Program

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the regulations to establish the

acreage reduction percentage for the 1994 crop of rice at zero percent

and to establish the price support rates for the 1993 and 1994 crops of

rice. Such price support rates are established by statutory formula.

These actions are required by section 101B of the Agricultural Act of

1949 (the 1949 Act), as amended. Public comment regarding the 1994 rice

program provisions was requested in the Federal Register on October 12,

1993.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 17, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene S. Rosera, Agricultural

Economist, Fibers and Rice Analysis Division, Agricultural

Stabilization and Conservation Service, United States Department of

Agriculture, room 3758-S, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, DC 20013-2415 or

call 202-720-6734.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866

This final rule is issued in conformance with Executive Order 12866

and has been determined to be economically significant because it would

have an annual effect on the economy of more than $100 million. A Final

Regulatory Impact Analysis estimates net income from the production of

rice under the selected program at $434.4 million, with established

(target) price payments estimated at $72.7 million. Based on other

Department estimates, it has been determined that this final rule:

(1) Would not adversely affect in a material way the economy, a

sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the

environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal

governments or communities;

(2) Would not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere

with an action taken or planned by another agency;

(3) Would not materially alter the budgetary impact of

entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or rights and

obligations of recipients thereof; and

(4) Would not raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of

legal mandates, the President's priorities, or principles set forth in

Executive Order 12866.

Final Regulatory Impact Analysis

The Final Regulatory Impact Analysis describing the options

considered in developing this final rule and the impact of the

implementation of the selected option is available on request from the

above-named individual.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

It has been determined that the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not

applicable to this rule since the Commodity Credit Corporation is not

required to request comments with respect to the subject matter of this

rule.

Environmental Evaluation

It has been determined by an environmental evaluation that this

action will have no significant impact on the quality of the human

environment. Therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an

Environmental Impact Statement is needed.

Federal Assistance Program

The title and number of the Federal assistance program, as found in

the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this final rule

applies, are as follows: Rice Production Stabilization--10.065.

Executive Order 12372

This program/activity is not subject to the provisions of Executive

Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State

and local officials. See the Notice related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart

V, published at 48 FR 29115 (June 24, 1983).

Executive Order 12778

This final rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive

Order 12778. The provisions of the final rule do not preempt State

laws, are not retroactive, and do not involve administrative appeals.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The amendments to 7 CFR parts 1413 and 1421 set forth in this final

rule do not contain information collections that require clearance by

the Office of Management and Budget under the provisions of 44 U.S.C.

35.

Background

This final rule amends 7 CFR part 1413 to set forth the acreage

reduction requirement under the 1994 Rice Program.

A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October

12, 1993, at 58 FR 52686 to amend the regulations at 7 CFR part 1413

with respect to the 1994 rice acreage reduction program (ARP)

requirements.

During the period for public comment that ended November 12, 1993,

thirty-one comments were received regarding the acreage reduction

requirement for the 1994 crop of rice. One comment favored no ARP, 26

favored an ARP of zero percent, 3 favored an ARP of 5 percent, and 1

favored an ARP of 15 percent.

After reviewing the comments, it has been decided that the 1994

crop acreage reduction requirement shall be zero percent. This level is

selected because it permits the highest level of rice production while

continuing 50/85 program benefits and achieving the stocks-to-use goals

of section 101B of the 1949 Act. Public comments regarding the level of

the national average price support rates for the 1993 and 1994 crops

were not requested because such rates are established by statutory

formula.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 1413

Acreage allotments, Cotton, Disaster assistance, Feed grains, Price

support programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rice, Soil

conservation, Wheat.

7 CFR Part 1421

Grains, Loan programs--agriculture, Oilseeds, Peanuts, Price

support programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Soybeans,

Surety bonds, Warehouses.

Accordingly, 7 CFR parts 1413 and 1421 are amended as follows:

PART 1413--FEED GRAIN, RICE, UPLAND AND EXTRA LONG STAPLE COTTON,

WHEAT AND RELATED PROGRAMS

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 1413 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1308, 1308a, 1309, 1441-2, 1444-2, 1444f,

1445b-3a, 1461-1469; 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c.

2. In Sec. 1413.54, paragraph (a)(4)(iii) is revised, paragraph

(a)(4)(iv) is added, the introductory text of paragraph (d)(4) is

republished, and paragraph (d)(4)(v) is added to read as follows:

Sec. 1413.54 Acreage reduction program provisions.

(a) * * *

(4) * * *

(iii) 1993 rice, 5 percent;

(iv) 1994 rice, 0 percent.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(4) For the 1994 crop:

* * * * *

(v) Shall not be made available to producers of rice.

* * * * *

PART 1421--GRAINS AND SIMILARLY HANDLED COMMODITIES

3. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 1421 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1421, 1423, 1425, 1441z, 1444f-1, 1445b-3a,

1445c-3, 1445e, and 1446f; 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c.

4. In Sec. 1421.7, paragraphs (c)(7)(iii) and (c)(7)(iv) are added

to read as follows:

Sec. 1421.7 Adjustment of basic support rates.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(7) * * *

(iii) 1993 Rice--$6.50 per hundredweight;

(iv) 1994 Rice--$6.50 per hundredweight;

* * * * *

Signed at Washington, DC, on May 12, 1994.

Bruce R. Weber,

Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.

[FR Doc. 94-12006 Filed 5-17-94; 8:45 am]

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