1996 Marketing Quotas and Price Support Levels for Fire-Cured (Type 21), Fire-Cured (Types 22-23), Dark Air-Cured (Types 35-36), Virginia Sun-Cured (Type 37), Cigar-Filler and Binder (Types 42-44 and 53-55), and Cigar-Filler (Type 46) Tobaccos

The purpose of this final rule is to codify the national marketing quotas and price support levels for the 1996 crops for several kinds of tobacco announced by press release on March 5, 1996. In accordance with the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (the 1938 Act), the Secretary determined the 1996 marketing quotas to be as follows: fire-cured (type 21), 1.97 million pounds; fire-cured (types 22-23), 40.6 million pounds; dark air-cured (types 35-36), 9.2 million pounds; Virginia sun-cured (type 37), 148,000 pounds; cigar-filler and binder (types 42-44 and 53-55), 8.9 million pounds; and cigar-filler (type 46), zero pounds. Quotas are necessary to adjust the production levels of certain tobaccos to more fully reflect supply and demand conditions, as provided by statute. In addition, in accordance with the Agricultural Act of 1949 as amended (the 1949 Act), the Secretary determined the 1996 levels of support to be as follows (in cents per pound): fire-cured (type 21), 145.5; fire-cured (types 22-23), 155.7; dark air-cured (types 35-36), 133.9; Virginia sun-cured (type 37), 128.8; cigar-filler and binder (types 42-44 and 53-55), 112.0; and cigar-filler (type 46), 88.1. Price supports are generally necessary to maintain grower income. However, with respect to cigar-filler (type 46) there will be no quotas or price support for the 1996 and subsequent marketing years, unless conditions change, as a result of the recent quota referendum on that type of tobacco.