[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7493-7494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3633]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 31 / Friday, February 14, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 7493]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Domestic Sugar Program--Increase of 2002-Crop Overall Allotment 
Quantity

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has increased the 2002-crop 
overall allotment quantity (OAQ) of domestic sugar by 500,000 short 
tons, raw value (STRV). The beet sugar sector allotment increased to 
4.457 million STRV, and the cane sugar sector increased to 3.743 
million STRV, for a total OAQ of 8.200 million STRV. CCC has also 
revised the State cane allotments and processor allocations of the beet 
and cane sugar marketing allotments to be consistent with the increased 
OAQ and updated cane State and cane processor 2002-crop production 
forecasts. CCC is also suspending the proportionate share requirement 
on Louisiana sugarcane producers for the 2002 crop.

ADDRESSES: Barbara Fecso, Dairy and Sweeteners Analysis Group, Economic 
Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250-0516; telephone (202) 720-
4146; FAX (202) 690-1480; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Fecso at (202) 720-4146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1403 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended section 359c of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359c) to authorize the 
Secretary to adjust marketing allotments and allocations quarterly to 
reflect changes in estimated sugar consumption, stocks, production, or 
imports. When USDA announced a 7.700 million ton OAQ in August 2002, it 
noted the existence of considerable sugar market uncertainties and that 
the OAQ could be adjusted if warranted. After closely monitoring the 
market, and because market prices for both refined and raw sugar have 
been well above loan forfeiture levels, CCC increased the OAQ, thereby 
increasing the supply of sugar available to the domestic market.
    At this time, CCC does not expect the beet sector to fully use its 
allotment and will reassign the estimated unused allotment (deficit), 
182,000 tons, to the CCC inventory to be sold. The estimated unused 
allotment is calculated as the beet sector's FY 2003 allotment, 4.457 
million tons, less beet processors' estimated available supply, 4.275 
million tons (0.360 million tons beginning stocks plus 4.215 million 
tons production, less an assumed 0.300 million tons in estimated 
minimum ending stocks). While the beet sector ending inventory averaged 
560,000 tons over the past decade, reaching a low of 360,000 tons at 
the end of FY 2002, the level to which the beet sector reduces its FY 
2003 ending stocks is uncertain. Due to production and marketing 
unknowns, CCC estimates that an ending stocks level of 300,000 tons may 
be attainable.
    CCC will conduct a thorough survey of beet and cane sugar 
production and stocks-to-use prior to May 1, 2003, and make allocation 
reassignments, as necessary. At that time, CCC may reduce the amount 
reassigned to CCC for inventory sales if survey results indicate CCC 
misjudged the beet sector's ability to supply the market. This can 
occur even if CCC has sold the reassigned sugar because CCC's ability 
to sell sugar is not limited to availability of reassigned sugar 
marketing allotments.
    Pursuant to section 359f of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 
1938, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1359ff), CCC announced the suspension of 
the proportionate share requirement on Louisiana sugarcane producers 
for the 2002 crop after it determined that the amount of sugar 
estimated to be produced from the 2002-crop sugarcane in Louisiana 
(1.340 million tons, raw value) will not be sufficient to enable 
Louisiana sugar cane processors to meet the state's cane sugar 
allotment (1.331 million tons, raw value) and provide for a normal 
carryover.
    USDA will continue to closely monitor market performance and 
critical program variables throughout the year to ensure meeting 
program objectives and maintaining market balance. Further OAQ 
adjustments and alteration of the sugar Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) import 
quantity will be considered as market conditions warrant.
    These actions apply to all domestic sugar marketed for human 
consumption in the United States from October 1, 2002, through 
September 30, 2003. The 2002-crop sugar marketing allotments and 
allocations (in short tons, raw value) are listed in the following 
table:

                              2002-Crop Sugar Marketing Allotments and Allocations
                                             [Revised January 2003]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Previous                         Revised
                                                                    allotment/      Change \1\      allotment/
                                                                    allocation                      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Overall Beet/Cane Allotments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beet Sugar......................................................       4,184,950         271,750       4,456,700
Cane Sugar (includes Puerto Rico)...............................       3,515,050         228,250       3,743,300
                                                                 -----------------
    Total (Overall Allotment Quantity)..........................       7,700,000         500,000       8,200,000
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                                           State Cane Sugar Allotments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida.........................................................       1,715,471         214,045       1,929,516

[[Page 7494]]

 
Louisiana.......................................................       1,329,764           1,148       1,330,912
Texas...........................................................         144,815          13,057         157,872
Hawaii..........................................................         318,829               0         318,829
Puerto Rico.....................................................           6,171               0           6,171
                                                                 -----------------
    Total Cane Sugar............................................       3,515,050         228,250       3,743,300
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                                     Beet Processors' Marketing Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amalgamated Sugar Co............................................         918,627          56,618         975,245
American Crystal Sugar Co.......................................       1,496,229          97,491       1,593,720
Holly Sugar Corp................................................         280,786          18,233         299,019
Michigan Sugar Co...............................................         281,689          17,361         299,050
Minn-Dak Farmers Co-op..........................................         275,076          16,953         292,029
Monitor Sugar Co................................................         161,414           9,948         171,362
Pacific Northwest Sugar Co......................................          15,000           7,314          22,314
So. Minn. Beet Sugar Co-op......................................         283,250          17,458         300,708
Western Sugar Co................................................         417,051          26,748         443,799
Wyoming Sugar Co................................................          55,828           3,626          59,454
                                                                 -----------------
    Total Beet Sugar............................................       4,184,950         271,750       4,456,700
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Cane Processors' Marketing Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida.........................................................       1,715,471         214,045       1,929,516
    Atlantic Sugar Assoc........................................         146,856          -1,987         144,869
    Growers Co-op. of Florida...................................         311,681          39,165         350,846
    Okeelanta Corp..............................................         322,318          66,984         389,302
    Osceola Farms Co............................................         194,060          33,255         227,315
    Talisman Sugar Corp.........................................          54,066           5,594          59,660
    U.S. Sugar Corp.............................................         686,490          71,034         757,524
Louisiana.......................................................       1,329,764           1,148       1,330,912
    Alma Plantation.............................................          74,299           3,519          77,818
    Caire & Graugnard...........................................           5,344             253           5,597
    Cajun Sugar Co-op...........................................          92,119           5,526          97,645
    Cora-Texas Mfg. Co..........................................         117,083            -553         116,530
    Evan Hall Factory...........................................           2,670             127           2,797
    Harry Laws & Co.............................................          56,709           1,472          58,181
    Iberia Sugar Co-op..........................................          65,460          -2,662          62,798
    Jeanerette Sugar Co.........................................          60,904           2,401          63,305
    Lafourche Sugars Corp.......................................          69,216           3,278          72,494
    Louisiana Sugarcane Co-op...................................          83,052            -271          82,781
    Lula Westfield, LLC.........................................         148,265          -5,120         143,145
    M.A. Patout & Sons..........................................         174,963          -1,026         173,937
    Raceland Sugars.............................................          81,195          -3,113          78,082
    St. Mary Sugar Co-op........................................          88,675           4,200          92,875
    So. Louisiana Sugars Co-op..................................         119,930          -4,832         115,098
    Sterling Sugars.............................................          89,881          -2,051          87,830
Texas...........................................................         144,815          13,057         157,872
Hawaii..........................................................         318,829               0         318,829
    Gay & Robinson, Inc.........................................          62,163               0          62,163
    Hawaiian Commercial.........................................         256,666               0         256,666
Puerto Rico.....................................................           6,171               0           6,171
    Agraso......................................................           3,984               0           3,984
    Roig........................................................           2,187               0          2,187
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes changes due to the 500,000-ton increase in the overall allotment quantity and, for cane states and
  sugarcane processors, changes due to updated 2002-crop production forecasts.


    Signed in Washington, DC on January 31, 2003.
James R. Little,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-3633 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P