The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting comments on a recommendation by the Almond Board of California (Board) to increase the assessment rate prescribed under the marketing order regulating the handling of almonds grown in California.
This action would increase the assessment rate for the 2016-17 crop year through the 2018-19 crop year from $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of almonds handled. In the 2019-20 crop year, the assessment rate would return to $0.03 per pound. Authorization to assess California almond handlers enables the Board to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program locally.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2016. Written comments must be received by Aug. 2, 2016, and should be sent to the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; by fax at (202) 720-8938; or on the Internet by visiting www.regulations.gov.
All comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will be included in the record and will be made available to the public.