Onions Grown in South Texas; Decreased Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule which decreased the assessment rate established for the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) under Marketing Order No. 959 for the 1997-98 and subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for local administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of onions grown in South Texas. Authorization to assess Texas onion handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period began on August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.