1997 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), and Cigar-Filler and Binder (types 42-44 and 53-55) Tobaccos

The purpose of this final rule is to codify the national marketing quotas and price support levels for the 1997 crops for several kinds of tobacco announced by press release on February 27, 1997. In accordance with the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (the 1938 Act), the Secretary determined the 1997 marketing quotas to be as follows: fire-cured (type 21), 2.395 million pounds; fire-cured (types 22-23), 43.4 million pounds; dark air-cured (types 35-36), 9.88 million pounds; Virginia sun-cured (type 37), 156,400 pounds; and cigar-filler and binder (types 42-44 and 53-55), 8.4 million 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 1997 levels of price support to be as follows (in cents per pound): fire-cured (type 21), 149.8; fire-cured (types 22-23), 162.3; dark air-cured (types 35- 36), 139.8; Virginia sun-cured (type 37), 132.6; and cigar-filler and binder (types 42-44 and 53-55), 116.9. Price supports are generally necessary to maintain grower income.