Florida,
[Federal Register: March 13, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 49)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11213-11215]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13mr02-2]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 966
[Docket No. FV01-966-2 FIR]
Tomatoes Grown in Florida; Decreased Assessment Rate
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule which decreased the assessment rate established for the Florida Tomato Committee (Committee) for the 2001-02and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.025 to $0.02per 25-pound container of tomatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of tomatoes grown in Florida. Authorization to assess tomato handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period began August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 12, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 799 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884; telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 325-8793; 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: Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing Agreement No. 125 and Order No. 966, both as amended (7 CFR part 966), regulating the handling of tomatoes grown in Florida, 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.''
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, Florida tomato 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 tomatoes beginning August 1, 2001, 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 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 filednot later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
This rule continues to decrease the assessment rate established for the Committee for the 2001-02and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.025 to $0.02per 25-pound container of tomatoes handled.
The Florida tomato 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 members of the Committee are producers of Florida tomatoes. They are 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 1999-2000 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 September 6, 2001, and unanimously recommended 2001-02expenditures of $1,666,650 and an assessment rate of $0.02per 25-pound container of tomatoes. In comparison, last year's budgeted expenditures were $1,910,000. The
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assessment rate of $0.02is $0.005 lower than the rate previously in effect. The Committee's authorized reserve is larger than necessary. In an effort to reduce the amount in the reserve fund, the Committee unanimously recommended reducing the assessment rate.
The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2001-02 fiscal year include $700,000 for education and promotion, $418,650 for salaries and benefits, $320,000 for research, $51,500 for employee retirement, and $31,000 for office rent. Budgeted expenses for these items in 2000-01 were $1,000,000, $407,800, $315,700, $44,900, and $24,500, respectively.
The assessment rate recommended by the Committee was derived by dividing anticipated expenses by expected shipments of Florida tomatoes, while considering other factors such as the current balance in the reserve fund. Tomato shipments for the year are estimated at 50,000,000 25-pound containers which should provide $1,000,000 in assessment income. Income derived from handler assessments, along with interest income and funds from the Committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the reserve (currently $1,900,000) will be kept within the maximum permitted by the order (approximately one fiscal period's expenses, Sec. 966.44).
The assessment rate 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 is effective 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 2001-02budget and those for subsequent fiscal periods will 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 100 producers of tomatoes in the production area and approximately 82 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers are defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts less than $750,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000.
Based on the industry and Committee data, the average annual price for fresh Florida tomatoes during the 2000-01 season was $9.16 per 25- pound container or equivalent, and total fresh shipments for the 2000- 01 season were 53,649,508 25-pound equivalent cartons of tomatoes. Committee data indicates that approximately 21 percent of the Florida handlers handle 80 percent of the total volume shipped outside the regulated area. Based on this information, the shipment information for the 2000-01 season, and the 2000-01 season average price, the majority of handlers would be classified as small entities as defined by the SBA. The majority of producers of Florida tomatoes also may be classified as small entities.
This rule continues to decrease the assessment rate established for the Committee and collected from handlers for the 2001-02and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.025 to $0.02per 25-pound container of tomatoes. The Committee unanimously recommended 2001-02expenditures of $1,666,650 and an assessment rate of $0.02per 25-pound container. The assessment rate of $0.02is $0.005 lower than the 2000-01 rate. The quantity of assessable tomatoes for the 2001-02season is estimated at 50,000,000 25-pound cartons. Thus, the $0.02rate should provide $1,000,000 in assessment income. Income derived from handler assessments, along with interest income and funds from the Committee's authorized reserve, will be adequate to cover budgeted expenses.
The major expenditures recommended by the Committee for the 2001-02 fiscal year include $700,000 for education and promotion, $418,650 for salaries and benefits, $320,000 for research, $51,500 for employee retirement, and $31,000 for office rent. Budgeted expenses for these items in 2000-01 were $1,000,000, $407,800, $315,700, $44,900, and $24,500, respectively.
In the past two seasons, assessments collected have exceeded budgeted expenses, primarily due to a larger than expected supply of tomatoes. This has increased the total in the reserve. In addition, the Committee voted to reduce the education and promotion budget for the 2001-02season, reducing total recommended expenses by approximately $300,000. The authorized reserve fund is now larger than necessary. In an effort to reduce the amount in the reserve fund and considering the reduced budget, the Committee unanimously recommended reducing the assessment rate. The funds collected from assessments, along with money from the reserve fund will be adequate to cover the Committee's expenditures for the 2001-02fiscal year.
The Committee reviewed and unanimously recommended 2001-02 expenditures of $1,666,650 which included decreases in office rent, and education and promotion programs. Prior to arriving at this budget, the Committee considered information from various sources, such as the Committee's Executive Subcommittee, Finance Subcommittee, Research Subcommittee, and Education and Promotion Subcommittee. Alternative expenditure levels were discussed by these groups, based upon the relative value of various research projects to the tomato industry. The assessment rate of $0.02per 25-pound container of assessable tomatoes was then determined by dividing the total recommended budget by the quantity of assessable tomatoes, while considering other factors such as the current balance in the reserve fund. Estimated shipments of tomatoes are 50,000,000 25-pound containers for the 2001-02fiscal period. At the recommended rate, $1,000,000 in assessment income will be collected. This is approximately $600,000 below the anticipated expenses, which the Committee determined to be acceptable, in view of its goal of reducing its operating reserve.
A review of historical information and preliminary information pertaining to the upcoming season indicates that the grower price for the 2001-02season could range from $4.25 and $13.53 per 25-pound container of tomatoes.
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Therefore, the estimated assessment revenue for the 2001-02season as a percentage of total grower revenue could range between 1.5 and 4.7 percent.
This action continues to decrease the assessment obligation imposed on handlers. Assessments are applied uniformly on all handlers, and some of the costs may be passed on to producers. However, decreasing the assessment rate reduces the burden on handlers, and may reduce the burden on producers. In addition, the Committee's meeting was widely publicized throughout the Florida tomato industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in Committee deliberations on all issues. Like all Committee meetings, the September 6, 2001, meeting was a public meeting and all entities, both large and small, were able to express views on this issue.
This action imposes no additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or large Florida tomato 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.
An interim final rule concerning this action was published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2001, (66 FR 56599). Copies of that rule were also mailed or sent via facsimile to all tomato handlers. Finally, the interim final rule was made available through the Internet by the Office of the Federal Register and USDA. A 60-day comment period was provided for interested persons to respond to the interim final rule. The comment period ended on January 8, 2002, and 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.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 966
Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Tomatoes.
PART 966--TOMATOES GROWN IN FLORIDA
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 966 which was published at 66 FR 56599 on November 9, 2001, is adopted as a final rule without change.
Dated: March 7, 2002. A.J. Yates, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-5939Filed3-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
