1997-Crop Peanuts; National Poundage Quota; National Average Support Level for Quota and Additional Peanuts; and Minimum Commodity Credit Corporation Export Edible Sales Price for Additional Peanuts

The purpose of this final rule is to codify determinations made by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) with respect to the 1997 peanut crop: the national poundage quota for quota peanuts is established at 1,133,000 short tons (st); the national average support level for quota peanuts is $610 per st; the national average support level for additional peanuts is set at $132 per st; and the minimum Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) export edible sales price for price- support loan-inventory additional peanuts is $400 per st. The poundage quota is established pursuant to statutory requirements contained in the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended (the 1938 Act). The determination of the national average support levels for quota and additional peanuts was made pursuant to the statutory requirements of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act). The determination and announcement of the minimum export edible sales price for additional peanuts is a discretionary action made to facilitate the negotiation of private contracts for export edible peanuts. This rule also codifies the additional peanut price support determinations for the 1996 crop and the minimum CCC price for loan inventory additional peanuts from the 1996 crop.