[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42850-42852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16271]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 958

[Docket No. FV04-958-02 FR]


Onions Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur 
County, Oregon; Increased Assessment Rate

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule increases the assessment rate established for the 
Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee) for the 2004-2005 and 
subsequent fiscal periods from $0.095 to $0.105 per hundredweight of 
onions handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order 
that regulates the handling of onions grown in designated counties in 
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. Authorization to assess onion 
handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable 
and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period begins July 
1 and ends June 30. The assessment rate will remain in effect 
indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 20, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Broadbent, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW., Third Ave, Suite 385, 
Portland, OR 97204; telephone: (503) 326-2724; Fax: (503) 326-7440; or 
George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: (202) 720-
2491; Fax: (202) 720-8938.
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: (202) 720-
2491; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement No. 130 and Marketing Order No. 958, both as amended (7 CFR 
part 958), regulating the handling of onions grown in certain 
designated counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, hereinafter 
referred to as the ``order.'' The order is 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 (USDA) 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 order now in effect, Idaho-Eastern 
Oregon onion handlers are subject to assessments. Funds to administer 
the order are derived from such assessments. It is intended that the 
assessment rate as issued herein will be applicable to all assessable 
onions beginning July 1, 2004, 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 USDA 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

[[Page 42851]]

a hearing on the petition. After the hearing USDA would rule on the 
petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States 
in any district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or 
her principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review USDA'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 increases the assessment rate established for the 
Committee for the 2004-2005 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.095 
to $0.105 per hundredweight of onions handled.
    The Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion marketing order provides authority 
for the Committee, with the approval of USDA, to formulate an annual 
budget of expenses and collect assessments from handlers to administer 
the program. The Committee consists of six producer members, four 
handler members and one public member. Each member is familiar with the 
Committee's needs and with the costs for goods and services in their 
local area and are thus in a position to formulate an appropriate 
budget and assessment rate. The assessment rate is formulated and 
discussed in a public meeting. Thus, all directly affected persons have 
an opportunity to participate and provide input.
    For the 2003-2004 and subsequent fiscal periods, the Committee 
recommended, and USDA approved, an assessment rate that would continue 
in effect from fiscal period to fiscal period unless modified, 
suspended, or terminated by USDA upon recommendation and information 
submitted by the Committee or other information available to USDA.
    The Committee met on April 1, 2004, and unanimously recommended 
2004-2005 expenditures of $997,442. In comparison, last year's budgeted 
expenditures were $957,000. At that same meeting, the Committee, in a 
vote of seven in favor, two opposed (desired continuation of the 
current rate), and one abstention, recommended increasing the 
assessment rate to $0.105 per hundredweight of onions handled. The 
assessment rate of $0.105 is $0.01 higher than the rate currently in 
effect. The order authorizes the Committee to establish an operating 
reserve of up to one fiscal period's operational expense. However, the 
Committee's policy is to maintain the operating reserve at a level of 
approximately one-half of one fiscal period's operational expenses. The 
Committee, over the last five fiscal periods, has reduced its operating 
reserve to slightly below this level. The Committee recommended the 
$0.01 increase so the total of assessment income ($932,400), 
contributions ($75,600), interest income ($7,000), and other income 
($2,000) would sufficiently fund the recommended expenses for 2004-2005 
of $997,442. The increased assessment income is anticipated to add 
approximately $19,558 to the operating reserve, increasing it to an 
estimated $504,661 at the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal period.
    The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2004-
2005 fiscal period include $10,000 for committee expenses, $163,482 for 
salary expenses, $81,960 for travel/office expenses, $60,000 for 
production research expenses, $32,000 for export market development 
expenses, $600,000 for promotion expenses, and $50,000 for unforeseen 
marketing order contingencies. Budgeted expenses for these items in 
2002-2003 were $10,000, $148,353, $72,610, $59,170, $27,250, $589,617, 
and $50,000, respectively.
    The Committee estimates that fresh market onion shipments for the 
2004-2005 fiscal period will be approximately 8,880,000 hundredweight, 
which should provide $932,400 in assessment income. Income derived from 
handler assessments, along with contributions ($75,600), interest 
income ($7,000), and other income ($2,000) would be sufficient to cover 
budgeted expenses and increase the operating reserve approximately 
$19,558. The Committee estimates that its operating reserve will be 
approximately $485,103 at the beginning of the 2004-2005 fiscal period. 
Funds in the reserve will be kept within the maximum permitted by the 
order of approximately one fiscal year's operational expenses (Sec.  
958.44.)
    The assessment rate established in this rule will continue in 
effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated by USDA 
upon recommendation and information submitted by the Committee or other 
available information.
    Although this assessment rate will be in effect for an indefinite 
period, the Committee will continue to meet prior to or during each 
fiscal period to recommend a budget of expenses and consider 
recommendations for modification of the assessment rate. The dates and 
times of Committee meetings are available from the Committee or USDA. 
Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may 
express their views at these meetings. USDA will evaluate Committee 
recommendations and other available information to determine whether 
modification of the assessment rate is needed. Further rulemaking will 
be undertaken as necessary. The Committee's 2004-2005 budget and those 
for subsequent fiscal periods would be reviewed and, as appropriate, 
approved by USDA.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    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 37 handlers of Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions 
who are subject to regulation under the order and approximately 250 
onion producers in the regulated production area. Small agricultural 
service firms are defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 
121.201) as those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000, and 
small agricultural producers are defined as those whose annual receipts 
are less than $750,000.
    The Committee estimates that 32 of the 37 handlers of Idaho-Eastern 
Oregon onions ship under $5,000,000 worth of onions on an annual basis. 
According to the Vegetables 2003 Summary reported by the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, the total farm gate value of onions in 
the regulated production area for 2003 was $130,768,000. Therefore, the 
2003 average gross revenue for an onion producer in the regulated 
production area was $523,072. Based on this information, it can be 
concluded that the majority of handlers and producers of Idaho-Eastern 
Oregon onions may be classified as small entities.
    This rule increases the assessment rate established for the 
Committee and collected from handlers for the 2004-2005 and subsequent 
fiscal periods from $0.095 to $0.105 per hundredweight of onions 
handled. The Committee recommended 2004-2005 expenditures of $997,442 
and an assessment rate of $0.105 per hundredweight, which is $0.01 
higher than the rate currently in effect. The quantity of assessable 
onions for the 2004-2005 fiscal period is estimated at 8,880,000 
hundredweight. Thus, the $0.105 rate should provide $932,400 in 
assessment income, which

[[Page 42852]]

along with anticipated contributions, interest income, and other income 
should be adequate to cover budgeted expenses.
    The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2004-
2005 fiscal period include $10,000 for committee expenses, $163,482 for 
salary expenses, $81,960 for travel/office expenses, $60,000 for 
production research expenses, $32,000 for export market development 
expenses, $600,000 for promotion expenses, and $50,000 for unforeseen 
marketing order contingencies. Budgeted expenses for these items in 
2003-2004 were $10,000, $148,353, $72,610, $59,170, $27,250, $589,617, 
and $50,000, respectively.
    The Committee reviewed and unanimously recommended 2004-2005 
expenditures of $997,442. This budget includes increases in the budget 
line items for salary expenses, travel and office expenses, research 
expenses, export expenses, and promotion expenses. Committee expenses 
and the marketing order contingency fund would remain the same. Prior 
to arriving at this budget, the Committee considered information from 
various sources, including the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Executive, 
Research, Export, and Promotion Committees. These subcommittees 
discussed alternative expenditure levels, based upon the relative value 
of various research and promotion projects to the Idaho-Eastern Oregon 
onion industry. The assessment rate of $0.105 per hundredweight of 
assessable onions was then determined by taking into consideration the 
estimated level of assessable shipments, other revenue sources, and the 
Committee's goal of not having to use reserve funds during 2004-2005.
    A review of historical information and preliminary information 
pertaining to the upcoming fiscal period indicates that the producer 
price for the 2004-2005 season could be about $10.80 per hundredweight. 
Therefore, the estimated assessment revenue for the 2004-2005 fiscal 
period as a percentage of total producer revenue could be about 1.1 
percent.
    This action increases the assessment obligation imposed on 
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 
are offset by the benefits derived by the operation of the order. In 
addition, the Committee's meetings were widely publicized throughout 
the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion industry and all interested persons were 
invited to attend the meetings and participate in Committee 
deliberations on all issues. Like all Committee meetings, the April 1, 
2004, meeting was open to the public and all entities, both large and 
small, were able to express views on this issue. Finally, interested 
persons were invited to submit information on the regulatory and 
informational impacts of this action on small businesses.
    This rule imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements on either small or large Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion 
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.
    USDA 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 May 21, 2004 (69 FR 29244). Copies of the proposed rule 
were also mailed or sent via facsimile to all onion handlers. Finally, 
the proposal was made available through the Internet by the Office of 
the Federal Register and USDA. A 30-day comment period ending June 21, 
2004, was provided for interested persons to respond to the proposal. 
No comments were received.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html. Any questions about the compliance 
guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the previously mentioned address 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the information and recommendation submitted by the Committee 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: (1) The 
Committee needs to have sufficient funds to pay its expenses which are 
incurred on a continuous basis; (2) the 2004-2005 fiscal period began 
on July 1, 2004, and the order requires that the rate of assessment for 
each fiscal period apply to all assessable onions handled during such 
fiscal period; (3) handlers are aware of this action which was 
unanimously recommended by the Committee at a public meeting; and (4) a 
30-day comment period was provided for in the proposed rule, and no 
comments were received.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 958

    Onions, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.


0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 958 is amended as 
follows:

PART 958--ONIONS GROWN IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN IDAHO, AND 
MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 958 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

0
2. Section 958.240 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  958.240  Assessment rate.

    On and after July 1, 2004, an assessment rate of $0.105 per 
hundredweight is established for Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions.

    Dated: July 13, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16271 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P