AMS opens comment period for lower APC assessments

U.S. Federal Register published on Dec. 6, 2021, a proposed rule from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service that “would implement a recommendation from the American Pecan Council to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2021-22 and subsequent fiscal years.” This proposed assessment rate remains in effect unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This proposed rule follows a motion passed unanimously by the Council during its September 2021 meeting that recommended decreasing assessment rates “to reflect the reduction in expenditures, and to offset the assessments collected under the new [pecan research and promotion program],” overseen by the American Pecan Promotion Board.  By decreasing assessments rates, the APC also avoided increasing the assessment burden on the industry.

According to the rule, “This proposal would decrease the assessment rates collected from handlers for the 2021-22 and subsequent fiscal years from $0.03 to $0.01 per pound of improved varieties and from $0.02 to $0.00 per pound of native and seedling varieties and for substandard pecans handled.”

The full proposed rule can be found here in the Federal Register. Industry members and interested persons have until Jan. 5, 2022, to make comments on the proposed rule.