The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting comments on a recommendation by the California Walnut Board (Board) to increase the assessment rate prescribed under the marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California.
This action would increase the assessment rate for the 2016-17 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0379 to $0.0465 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts handled. The Board recommended an assessment rate increase to generate adequate assessment revenues to fund the Board’s increased expenditures for the 2016‑17 marketing year.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 16, 2016. Written comments must be received by Oct. 17, 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 timely submitted in response to this proposed rule will be made available for public review and considered before any increases to the assessment rate are finalized.