[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15278-15281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8392]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Parts 911 and 915
[Docket No. FV98-911-1 FR]
Limes and Avocados Grown in Florida; Establishment of a
Continuing Assessment Rate for Limes and a Decrease in the Continuing
Assessment Rate for Avocados
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule establishes an assessment rate for the Lime
Administrative Committee (LAC) under Marketing Order No. 911 for the
1998-99 and subsequent fiscal years and decreases the assessment rate
established for the Avocado Administrative Committee (AAC) under
Marketing Order No. 915 for the 1998-99 and subsequent fiscal years.
The Lime and Avocado Administrative Committees (Committees) are
responsible for local administration of the marketing orders which
regulate the handling of limes and avocados grown in Florida.
Authorization to assess lime and avocado handlers enables the
Committees to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to
administer the programs. The fiscal years begin April 1 and end March
31. The assessment rates will remain in effect indefinitely unless
modified, suspended, or terminated.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Southeast Marketing
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, PO Box 2276,
Winter Haven, FL 33883-2276; telephone: (941) 299-4770, Fax: (941) 299-
5169; or George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, Marketing Order
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, room
2525-S, PO Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-
2491, Fax: (202) 205-6632. Small businesses may request information on
compliance with this regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing
Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA,
room 2525-S, PO Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202)
720-2491, Fax: (202) 205-6632.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing
Agreement No. 126 and Marketing Order No. 911, both as amended (7 CFR
part 911), regulating the handling of limes grown in Florida, and
Marketing Agreement No. 121 and Marketing Order No. 915, both as
amended (7 CFR part 915), regulating the handling of avocados grown in
Florida, hereinafter referred to as the ``orders.'' The marketing
agreements and orders are effective under the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter
referred to as the ``Act.''
The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. Under the marketing orders now in effect, Florida lime
and avocado handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer
the orders are derived from such assessments. It is intended that the
assessment rates as issued herein will be applicable to all assessable
limes and avocados beginning April 1, 1998, and continue until amended,
suspended, or terminated. This rule will not preempt any State or local
laws, regulations, or policies, unless they present an irreconcilable
conflict with this rule.
The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a
petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any
obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance
with law and request a modification of the order or to be exempted
therefrom. Such handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on
the petition. After the hearing the Secretary would rule on the
petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States
in any
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district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her
principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review the Secretary's
ruling on the petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20
days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
This rule establishes an assessment rate for the LAC for the 1998-
99 and subsequent fiscal years of $0.16 per bushel container. This rule
also deceases the assessment rate established for the AAC for the 1998-
99 and subsequent fiscal years from $0.16 per bushel container to $0.08
per bushel container.
The Florida lime and avocado marketing orders provide authority for
the Committees, with the approval of the Department, to formulate an
annual budget of expenses and collect assessments from handlers to
administer the programs. The members of the Committees are producers
and handlers of Florida limes and avocados. They are familiar with the
Committees' needs and with the costs for goods and services in their
local area and are thus in a position to formulate appropriate budgets
and assessment rates. The assessment rates are formulated and discussed
in public meetings. Thus, all directly affected persons have an
opportunity to participate and provide input.
For the 1996-97 and subsequent fiscal years, the AAC recommended,
and the Department approved, an assessment rate that would continue in
effect from fiscal year to fiscal year indefinitely unless modified,
suspended, or terminated by the Secretary upon recommendation and
information submitted by the Committee or other information available
to the Secretary. The LAC has not assessed handlers since the 1995-96
fiscal year. It has used reserve funds to cover authorized expenses.
The Committees met on December 10, 1997, and the LAC unanimously
recommended 1998-99 expenditures of $130,785 and an assessment rate of
$0.16 per bushel container of limes. The AAC also met on December 10,
1997, and unanimously recommended 1998-99 expenditures of $166,844 and
an assessment rate of $0.08 per bushel container of avocados.
In comparison, last year's budgeted expenditures were $101,630 for
the LAC and $123,000 for the AAC. The assessment rate for the LAC of
$0.16 is the same as the rate established for the 1995-96 fiscal year,
the last year handlers were assessed. The assessment rate for the AAC
of $0.08 is $0.08 lower than the rate currently in effect.
In an effort to reduce industry costs and assist with the recovery
from Hurricane Andrew which hit southern Florida in August of 1992, the
LAC has been operating from its reserve funds for the past two years.
With the lime industry beginning to recover and reserve funds reduced,
the LAC voted to establish an assessment rate to cover operating
expenses.
The AAC has excess reserve funds. They voted to decrease the
assessment rate and use reserve funds to cover operating expenses and
reduce reserve levels.
The major expenditures recommended by the LAC for the 1998-99 year
include $46,000 for salaries, $25,000 for local and national
enforcement, $9,448 for employee benefits, $9,000 for research, $8,287
for insurance and bonds, and $4,500 for travel. The LAC budgeted
expenses for these items in 1997-98 were $40,000, $15,595, $5,500,
$5,000, $0, and $3,000, respectively.
The major expenditures recommended by the AAC for the 1998-99 year
include $46,000 for salaries, $34,000 for research, $32,000 for local
and national enforcement, $9,778 for employee benefits, $8,516 for
insurance and bonds, and $7,000 for travel. The AAC budgeted expenses
for these items in 1997-98 were $40,000, $7,000, $26,595, $6,380,
$7,937, and $7,000, respectively.
The assessment rates recommended by the Committees were derived by
dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Florida limes
and avocados. Lime shipments for the year are estimated at 600,000
bushel containers which should provide $96,000 in assessment income.
Avocado shipments for the year are estimated at 900,000 bushel
containers which should provide $72,000 in assessment income. Income
derived from handler assessments, along with interest income and funds
from the Committees' authorized reserves, should be adequate to cover
budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserves will be kept within the
maximum permitted by the orders (Secs. 911.42 and 915.42--three fiscal
years' operational expenses, permissible reserves of approximately
$392,000 for limes and $501,000 for avocados). Reserves for limes are
currently around $100,000, and reserves for avocados stand at around
$250,000.
The assessment rates established in this rule will continue in
effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by the
Secretary upon recommendation and information submitted by the
Committees or other available information.
Although these assessment rates will be in effect for an indefinite
period, the Committees will continue to meet prior to or during each
fiscal year to recommend budgets of expenses and consider
recommendations for modification of the assessment rates. The dates and
times of Committee meetings are available from the Committees or the
Department. Committee meetings are open to the public and interested
persons may express their views at these meetings. The Department will
evaluate Committee recommendations and other available information to
determine whether modification of the assessment rates is needed.
Further rulemaking will be undertaken as necessary. The Committees'
1998-99 budgets and those for subsequent fiscal years will be reviewed
and, as appropriate, approved by the Department.
Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the
economic impact of this rule on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has
prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis.
The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued
pursuant to the Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are unique in
that they are brought about through group action of essentially small
entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small
entity orientation and compatibility.
There are approximately 111 producers of limes and 141 producers of
avocados in the production area and approximately 33 lime handlers and
49 avocado handlers subject to regulation under the marketing orders.
Small agricultural producers have been defined by the Small Business
Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those having annual receipts less
than $500,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as
those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000.
Based on the Florida Agricultural Statistical Service and Committee
data, the average price for fresh limes during the 1995-96 season was
$8.05 per 88 pound box equivalent and total shipments were 371,413
bushels. Approximately 20 percent of all handlers handled 86 percent of
Florida lime shipments. The average price for fresh avocados during the
1996-97 season was $13.20 per 55 pound bushel box equivalent for all
domestic
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shipments and the total shipments were 917,861 bushels. Approximately
10 percent of all handlers handled 90 percent of Florida avocado
shipments. Many lime and avocado handlers ship other tropical fruit and
vegetable products which are not included in the Committee data but
would contribute further to handler receipts.
Using the average prices, about 90 percent of lime and avocado
handlers could be considered small businesses under SBA's definition
and about 10 percent of the handlers could be considered large
businesses. The majority of Florida lime and avocado handlers and
producers may be classified as small entities.
This rule establishes an assessment rate for the LAC and collected
from handlers for the 1998-99 and subsequent fiscal years of $0.16 per
bushel container. The LAC unanimously recommended 1998-99 expenditures
of $130,785 and an assessment rate of $0.16 per bushel container for
1998-99 and subsequent fiscal years. The assessment rate of $0.16 is
the same as the rate established for the 1995-96 fiscal year, the last
year handlers were assessed. The quantity of assessable limes for the
1998-99 fiscal year is estimated at 600,000 containers. Thus, the $0.16
rate for limes should provide $96,000 in assessment income. The
assessment income, along with interest income and funds from the
Committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted
expenses for 1998-99.
This rule also decreases the assessment rate established for the
AAC and collected from handlers for the 1998-99 and subsequent fiscal
years from $0.16 per bushel container to $0.08 per bushel container.
The AAC unanimously recommended 1998-99 expenditures of $166,844 and an
assessment rate of $0.08 per bushel container of avocados. The
assessment rate of $0.08 is $0.08 lower than the 1997-98 rate. The
quantity of assessable avocados for the 1998-99 fiscal year is
estimated at 900,000 containers. Thus, the $0.08 rate for avocados
should provide $72,000 in assessment income. The assessment income,
along with interest income and funds from the Committee's authorized
reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses.
Due to the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in August of 1992, the
LAC has been operating from its reserve funds for the past two years.
The industry has now adequately recovered from the loss. In order not
to deplete reserve funds further, the LAC voted to establish an
assessment rate for 1998-99 and subsequent fiscal years. The
assessments, along with interest income and reserves, will cover
committee operating expenses.
The AAC has a surplus in its reserve fund. The AAC voted to
decrease the assessment rate and use funds from the reserves. The
assessments, along with interest income and reserves, will cover
committee operating expenses.
The LAC reviewed and unanimously recommended 1998-99 expenditures
of $130,785 which include increases in salaries, office space, aerial
photo/tree count, and office equipment. The AAC reviewed and
unanimously recommended 1998-99 expenditures of $166,844 which include
increases in salaries, office space, and aerial photo/tree count. Prior
to arriving at this budget, the Committees considered information from
various sources, such as the Committees' Budget Subcommittees.
Alternative expenditure levels were discussed by these groups, based
upon the relative value of various research projects to the lime and
avocado industries. The LAC budgeted $9,000 and the AAC budgeted
$34,000 for research.
The assessment rate of $0.16 per bushel container of assessable
limes was then determined by dividing the total recommended budget by
the quantity of assessable limes, estimated at 600,000 bushel
containers for the 1998-99 fiscal year. This is approximately $35,000
below the anticipated expenses, which the LAC determined to be
acceptable. The assessment rate of $0.08 per bushel container of
assessable avocados was then determined by dividing the total
recommended budget by the quantity of assessable avocados, estimated at
900,000 bushel containers for the 1998-99 fiscal year. This is
approximately $171,000 below the anticipated expenses, which the AAC
determined to be acceptable.
A review of historical information indicates that the grower price
for the 1998-99 season could range between $4.16 and $9.50 per
container of limes. Therefore, the estimated assessment revenue for the
1998-99 crop year as a percentage of total grower revenue could range
between 1.6 and 3.8 percent.
A review of historical information indicates that the grower price
for the 1998-99 season could range between $13.20 and $14.90 per
container of avocados. Therefore, the estimated assessment revenue for
the 1998-99 crop year as a percentage of total grower revenue could
range between .5 and .6 percent.
This action increases the assessment obligation imposed on lime
handlers and decreases the assessment obligation imposed on avocado
handlers. While assessments impose some additional costs on handlers,
the costs are minimal and uniform on all handlers. Some of the
additional costs may be passed on to producers. However, these costs
will be offset by the benefits derived by the operation of the
marketing orders. In addition, the Committees' meetings were widely
publicized throughout the Florida lime and avocado industries and all
interested persons were invited to attend the meetings and participate
in deliberations on all issues. Like all LAC and AAC meetings, the
December 10, 1997, meetings were public meetings and all entities, both
large and small, were able to express views on this issue. In addition,
interested persons were invited to submit information on the regulatory
and information impacts of this action on small businesses.
This rule imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping
requirements on either small or large Florida lime and avocado
handlers. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and
forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and
duplication by industry and public sector agencies.
The Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule.
A proposed rule concerning this action was published in the Federal
Register on February 10, 1998 (63 FR 6679). Copies of the proposed rule
were also mailed or sent via facsimile to all Florida lime and avocado
handlers. Finally, the proposal was made available through the Internet
by the Office of the Federal Register.
A 30-day comment period ending March 12, 1998, was provided for
interested persons to respond to the proposal. No comments were
received in response to the proposal.
After consideration of all relevant material presented, including
the information and recommendation submitted by the Committees and
other available information, it is hereby found that this rule, as
hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of
the Act.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it also found and determined that good
cause exists for not postponing the effective date of this rule until
30 days after publication in the Federal Register because the crop year
begins on April 1, 1998, and the assessment rate applies to all limes
and avocados received during the 1998-99 and subsequent seasons.
Further, handlers are aware of this rule which was recommended at
public meetings. Also, a 30-day comment period was
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provided for in the proposed rule, and no comments were received.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 911
Limes, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
7 CFR Part 915
Avocados, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 911 and 915
are amended as follows:
1. The authority citation for both 7 CFR parts 911 and 915
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
PART 911--LIMES GROWN IN FLORIDA
2. A new subpart titled ``Assessment Rates'' and a new Sec. 911.234
are added to read as follows:
Note: This section will appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.
Subpart--Assessment Rates
Sec. 911.234 Assessment rate.
On and after April 1, 1998, an assessment rate of $0.16 per bushel
container is established for Florida limes.
PART 915--AVOCADOS GROWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA
3. A new subpart titled ``Assessment Rates'' is added and
Sec. 915.235 is revised to read as follows:
Note: This section will appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.
Subpart--Assessment Rates
Sec. 915.235 Assessment rate.
On and after April 1, 1998, an assessment rate of $0.08 per bushel
container is established for South Florida avocados.
Dated: March 25, 1998.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-8392 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P