USDA Announces the Establishment of Assessment Rates for Pecans Handled in 15 States

Date
September 25, 2017

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) this week announced the establishment of assessment rates for pecans grown in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas under marketing order 986.

The assessment rates for the 2016-2017 and subsequent fiscal years are $0.03 per pound for improved varieties, and $0.02 per pound for native and seedling varieties and for substandard pecans handled under the marketing order.

This action was recommended by the American Pecan Council, which locally administers the order and is comprised of growers and handlers of pecans. The council will use the assessments paid by pecan handlers to administer data collection and research and promotion activities under the federal marketing order for pecans. The marketing order took effect Aug. 5, 2016, after pecan producers in 15 States voted their support.

The final rule establishing the assessment rates was published in the Federal Register Sept. 19, 2017 and went into effect Sept. 20, 2017.

More information about the American Pecan Council is available on the Pecan Marketing Order page of the AMS website. Information about federal marketing orders is available on the Marketing Orders and Agreements for Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops page on the AMS website or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (863) 324-3375.

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