The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing changes to the reporting requirements under the federal marketing order for walnuts grown in California. This action would require California walnut handlers to report their monthly purchase commitments with domestic and foreign buyers that are not yet shipped.
The California Walnut Board recommended this action to improve operations of the marketing order by enhancing the accuracy and timeliness of data gathering regarding the industry’s supply and demand of walnuts which would enhance the overall marketing efforts for walnuts.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register Aug. 25, 2020. Written comments are due by Sept. 24, 2020.
Comments concerning the proposed rule may be submitted at www.regulations.gov or mailed to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, D.C. 20250-0237; or fax them to (202) 720-8938. All comments to the proposed rule submitted by the deadline will be considered and made available for public review.
More information about federal marketing orders is available on the Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage, the 984 California Walnuts webpage or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight to 29 fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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