Amendment of General Regulations for Federal Milk Marketing Agreements and Marketing Orders; Addition of Supplemental Rules of Practice for Amendatory Formal Rulemaking Proceedings

This final rule amends the general regulations for Federal milk marketing agreements and marketing orders by establishing supplemental rules of practice for amendatory formal rulemaking proceedings in accordance with section 1504 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). This rule provides for supplemental guidelines, timeframes and procedures for amending Federal milk marketing agreements and orders; authorizes the use of informal rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553) to amend such agreements and orders; and establishes provisions that permit the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to impose assessments on pooled milk under a Federal milk marketing agreement or order to fund expedited amendatory formal rulemaking. Such assessments would supplement appropriated funds for the procurement of services required by USDA to perform rulemaking functions. Section 1504 of the 2008 Farm Bill also applies to amendments to the fruit, vegetable and nut marketing agreements and orders. The supplemental rules of practice for fruit, vegetable and nut marketing agreements and orders are addressed in a separate rulemaking document.