Domestically Produced Peanuts; Decreased Assessment Rate

This rule decreases the administrative assessment rate established for the Peanut Administrative Committee (Committee) under Marketing Agreement No. 146 (Agreement) for the 1998-99 and subsequent crop years from $0.35 to $0.33 per net ton of assessable peanuts. The Committee is responsible for local administration of the Agreement which regulates the handling of peanuts grown in 16 States. Authorization to assess peanut handlers who have signed the Agreement enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The Agreement is effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (Act). The Act also requires the Department of Agriculture (Department) to impose the same administrative assessment rate on assessable peanuts received or acquired by handlers who have not signed the Agreement. The 1998- 1999 crop year covers the period July 1 through June 30. The assessment rate will continue in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.