The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting comments on a recommendation by the South Texas Onion Committee to increase the assessment rate prescribed under the marketing order regulating the handling of onions grown in south Texas.
This action would increase the assessment rate for the 2017-2018 marketing year and subsequent marketing years from $0.05 to $0.065 per 50-pound equivalent of onions handled under the order. The committee recommended the $0.015 higher assessment rate to fund marketing activities and strengthen reserves.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 19, 2017. Written comments must be received by Oct. 19, 2017. All comments to this proposed rule submitted by the deadline will be made available for public review and considered before any increases to the assessment rate are finalized.
Comments should be posted on Regulations.gov, or mailed to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; or faxed to (202) 720-8938.
Copies of the proposed rule may be requested from the address above or viewed on Regulations.gov.
More information about the marketing order for onions grown in South Texas is available on the 959 South Texas Onions page on the AMS website.