[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 59681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24320]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has 
denied a petition (No. 2011029) for trade adjustment assistance for 
lamb filed under the fiscal year (FY) 2011 program by the Montana Wool 
Growers Association. The petition was accepted for review by USDA on 
July 23, 2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To qualify under the program, Subtitle C of 
Title I of the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210) states that 
petitions must demonstrate, using data for the most recent, full 
marketing year or full official marketing season, a greater than 15-
percent decline in at least one of the following factors: national 
average price, quantity of production, value of production, or cash 
receipts.
    According to the statute, it is also necessary for the petition to 
demonstrate that an increase in imports of like or directly competitive 
articles, during the same marketing period, contributed importantly to 
the decrease in one of the above factors for the agricultural 
commodity.
    All petitions were analyzed by USDA's Economic Research Service and 
reviewed by the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program 
Review Committee, comprised of representatives from USDA's Office of 
the Chief Economist, Farm Service Agency, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, and FAS. After a review, the Administrator determined that the 
petition was unable to demonstrate the `greater than 15-percent 
decline' criterion, because it showed a 6-percent decline in the 
quantity of production for 2009, when compared to the previous 3-year 
period. Additionally, the import data provided for the same time 
periods showed a 10.9-percent decrease, instead of the required 
increase, under the program.
    Because the petition was unable to meet the `greater than 15-
percent decline' criterion and the `increase in imports' criterion, the 
Administrator was not able to certify the petition, making lamb 
producers in Montana ineligible for trade adjustment assistance in FY 
2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trade Adjustment Assistance for 
Farmers Program Staff, Office of Trade Programs, FAS, USDA; or by phone 
at (202) 720-0638 or (202) 690-0633; or by e-mail at: 
[email protected]; or visit the TAA for Farmers' Web site 
at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa.

    Dated: September 20, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-24320 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P