Increased Assessment Rate for Domestically Produced Peanuts Handled By Persons Not Subject to Peanut Marketing Agreement No. 146 and for Marketing Agreement No. 146 Regulating the Quality of Domestically Produced Peanuts

This interim final rule increases the administrative assessment rate under Marketing Agreement 146 (agreement) for the 1995- 96 crop year. Authorization of the increase in the administrative assessment rate enables the Peanut Administrative Committee (Committee) to collect sufficient funds to pay expenses for the remainder of the year. Funds to administer this program are derived from assessments on handlers who have signed the agreement. Public Law 103-66 requires the Department of Agriculture (Department) to impose an administrative assessment on farmers stock peanuts received or acquired by handlers who are not signatory (non-signatory handlers) to the agreement. Therefore, this same increase in the assessment rate under the agreement will apply to all non-signatory handlers.