[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56262-56263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22438]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


2002-Crop Sugar Marketing Allotments and Cane Sugar Allotment 
Hearing

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of 2002-crop sugar marketing allotments and public 
hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice 
to advise the public that CCC has established the overall allotment 
quantity for sugar for the 2002 crop year and will hold a public 
hearing regarding the 2002-crop cane State sugar marketing allotments 
and the allocation of cane State sugar marketing allotments to 
processors, as requested by affected sugar processors and growers. CCC 
will also use this forum to entertain comments on the overall structure 
and implementation of the sugar allotment program.

DATES: The public hearing will be held September 4, 2002, in the 
Jefferson Auditorium of USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Ave, 
SW., Washington, DC. The hearing will start at 10 a.m. All times noted 
are Eastern Standard Time (EST).

ADDRESSES: Thomas Bickerton, Economic Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm 
Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250-0516; telephone (202) 720-
6733; FAX (202) 690-1480; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bickerton at (202) 720-6733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has established the overall 
allotment quantity for sugar for the 2002 crop year as required by the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. USDA earlier had 
announced that domestic marketing allotments would be in effect for the 
upcoming marketing year and this notice establishes the quantity 
involved.
    On August 1, USDA made preliminary estimates of 2002-crop 
consumption, reasonable carryover stocks, carry-in stocks, production 
and imports in accordance with provisions of the new Farm Bill. These 
estimates were reevaluated following the release of more current market 
information in the August 12, 2002 USDA World Agricultural Supply and 
Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
    Based on the allotment formula guidelines in the farm bill, USDA 
has calculated the overall allotment quantity for sugar based on the 
estimated domestic deliveries for food use and beginning sugar stocks 
from the August 12 WASDE report.
    The farm bill further requires that USDA establish the allotments 
so that no sugar is forfeited under the program and that the overall 
program can be operated at no-net cost to taxpayers. Market 
uncertainties such as changes in consumption and imports and 2001-crop 
sugar carryover not subject to allotments, also factored into the 
estimate of reasonable ending sugar stocks.
    The overall allotment quantity determined in this manner is 7.700 
million tons, short tons, raw value (STRV), for the 2002 crop year 
(Fiscal Year 2003). The resulting sector allocations are 4.185 million 
STRV for beet sugar and 3.515 million STRV for cane sugar.
    USDA will closely monitor consumption, beginning stocks and 
reasonable ending stocks and all other program variables on an ongoing 
basis. Appropriate adjustments can be made at any time to the overall 
allotment quantity, as required, both to avoid forfeitures and to 
ensure an adequate sugar supply for the domestic market in FY 2003.

Public Hearing

    USDA will hold a public hearing as required by the new statute 
regarding the 2002-crop cane State sugar marketing allotments and the 
allocation of cane State sugar marketing allotments to processors, as 
requested by affected sugar processors and growers. CCC will also use 
this forum to entertain comments on the overall structure and 
implementation of the sugar allotment program. Attendance is open to 
sugarcane growers, sugarcane processors, cane sugar refiners, sugar 
beet growers, sugar beet processors, sugar users, and all other 
interested parties.
    The hearing will be held on September 4, 2002 from 10 a.m. Eastern 
Standard Time (EST) to 4 p.m., in the Jefferson Auditorium of USDA 
South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC.

[[Page 56263]]

    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement may do so, time 
permitting. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes. Those wishing to 
make an oral statement should submit a request to Thomas Bickerton 
(address follows). A signup sheet for statements will also be available 
one hour before the hearing begins. Oral statements will be made in the 
order the request was received. Also, written statements may be 
submitted in lieu of an oral statement and must be received by the 
close of business on September 4, 2002. These should be sent to Thomas 
Bickerton, Economic Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 0516, 
Washington, DC 20250-0516; Telephone: (202) 720-3008; Fax: (202) 690-
1480; e-mail: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to 
attend or participate in the meetings should contact Thomas Bickerton.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2002.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-22438 Filed 8-29-02; 9:04 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P