96-17690. Amendments to the Peanut Poundage Quota Regulations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 36997-37001]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-17690]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Farm Service Agency
    
    7 CFR Part 729
    
    RIN 0560-AE82
    
    
    Amendments to the Peanut Poundage Quota Regulations
    
    AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: This interim rule sets forth regulations for Federal farm 
    peanut poundage quotas in order to implement provisions of the 
    Agricultural Market Transition Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) for the 1996 
    through 2002 crops of peanuts. The amendments to the regulations 
    adopted in this interim rule involve: eliminating the national poundage 
    quota floor; eliminating the undermarketing carryover provisions; 
    establishing temporary seed quota allocations; establishing the 
    ineligibility of certain farms for quota allocation; authorizing the 
    inter-county transfer of farm poundage quota in all States, subject to 
    certain percentage limitations on certain transfers in certain States; 
    eliminating the special allocations of increased quotas for certain 
    Texas counties; and establishing new provisions for ``considered-
    produced'' credit with respect to a farm whose quota has been 
    transferred.
    
    DATES: Effective April 4, 1996.
        Comments must be received on or before August 15, 1996, to be 
    assured consideration.
    
    ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the interim rule to: Director, Tobacco 
    and Peanuts Division, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of 
    Agriculture, Room 5750-S, Ag Code 0514, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, DC 
    20013-2415. All written submissions made pursuant to this rule will be 
    made available for public inspection in Room 5750 South Building, USDA, 
    between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., during regular Federal 
    workdays.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Kincannon, (202) 720-7914.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Executive Order 12866
    
        This interim rule has been determined to be significant and was 
    reviewed by OMB under Executive Order 12866.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        It has been determined that the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not 
    applicable to this interim rule because the Farm Service Agency (FSA) 
    is not required by 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other provision of law to 
    publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to the subject 
    matter of this rule. Environmental Evaluation
        It has been determined by an environmental evaluation that this 
    action will have no significant impact on the quality of the human 
    environment. Therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an 
    Environmental Impact Statement is needed.
    
    Unfunded Federal Mandates
    
        This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
    provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995 
    (UMRA), for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. 
    Thus, this rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 
    205 of the UMRA.
    
    Federal Assistance Program
    
        The title and number of the Federal Assistance Program, as found in 
    the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this interim rule 
    applies are: Commodity Loans and Purchases--10.051.
    
    Executive Order 12372
    
        This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
    12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and 
    local officials. See the Notice related to 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 
    published at 48 FR 29115 (June 24, 1983).
    
    Executive Order 12778
    
        This interim rule has been reviewed in accordance with Executive 
    Order 12778. The provisions of this interim rule do not preempt State 
    laws to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with the provisions 
    of this interim rule. Before any legal action is brought regarding 
    determinations made under provisions of 7 CFR part 729, the 
    administrative appeal provisions set forth at 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 
    must be exhausted. This rule has been made retroactive to April 4, 
    1996, in order to affirm determinations for the current crop year that 
    had to be made in advance of this notice because of the time of the 
    passage of the 1996 Act and the onset of the planting season for 
    peanuts.
    
    National Appeals Division Rules of Procedure
    
        The procedures set out in 7 CFR parts 11 and 780 apply to appeals 
    of adverse decisions made under the regulations adopted in this notice.
    
    [[Page 36998]]
    
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
    
        Section 161(d) of the 1996 Act provides the regulation necessary to 
    implement Title I of the 1996 Act must be issued within 90 days of 
    enactment and that such regulations shall be issued without regard to 
    the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of the United States 
    Code. These regulations affect the immediate planting and marketing 
    decisions of an extraordinarily large number of agricultural producers 
    and previous decisions of the agency. Accordingly, as authorized by 
    section 808 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
    of 1996, this rule is effective as of April 4, 1996, the date of 
    enactment of the 1996 Act.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        As provided in section 161(d) of the 1996 Act, the Paperwork 
    Reduction Act is not applicable to these regulations. However, the 
    forms necessary to conduct these programs have been previously 
    submitted for clearance to the Office of Management and Budget under 
    the provisions of 44 U.S.C. chapter 35.
    
    Background
    
        This rule addresses peanut quota amendments for the 1996 through 
    2002 crops which were enacted in section 155 of the 1996 Act.
    
    A. Certain Farms Ineligible to Hold Peanut Poundage Quota
    
        Section 358-1(b)(1) of the 1938 Act, as amended by the 1996 Act, 
    provides that, effective beginning with the 1998 crop of peanuts, 
    quotas shall not be established for farms owned or controlled by 
    municipalities, airport authorities, schools, colleges, refuges, and 
    other public entities (not including universities for research 
    purposes), or by a person who is not a producer and resides outside the 
    State in which the quota is allocated. Section 729.205 has been added 
    to the regulations accordingly and provides, consistent with the 1996 
    Act, that if a farm is ineligible for peanut poundage quota as of 
    August 1, 1997, under the provisions of the 1996 Act, the quota held by 
    such ineligible farms must be sold by October 1, 1997, or it will be 
    allocated to other farms within the same State, beginning with the next 
    crop year. Under the interim rule, if an ineligible party acquires a 
    quota farm after that date, no quota will be established for the farm, 
    but the quota, for subsequent crop years, may be sold to a qualifying 
    farm, provided that the normal conditions for sale are met.
    
    B. Elimination of Quota Floor, Establishment of the National Poundage 
    Quota, and Peanut Quota Referendum
    
        The 1996 Act provides for referenda for peanut quotas and amends 
    section 358-1(a)(1) of the 1938 Act to eliminate the floor for the 
    national quota. In addition, the 1996 Act excludes seed peanuts from 
    the calculation of the basic national quota. This rule revises section 
    729.216 (as redesignated) of the regulations accordingly.
    
    C. Temporary Seed Quota Allocation
    
        The 1996 Act amendments to the 1938 Act also, however, provide for 
    adding to a farm's basic quota a temporary allocation of quota for the 
    amount of seed peanuts planted on a farm. This rule amends the 
    definition of ``effective quota'' in section 729.103 of the regulations 
    accordingly.
        This rule adopts a national seeding rate for each type of peanut 
    and provides that the quantity of temporary seed quota allocated to a 
    farm shall equal the amount determined by multiplying the acres planted 
    to peanuts by the national per-acre planting rate by peanut type. The 
    seed planted will be converted to farmers stock basis by multiplying, 
    by a factor of 1.5, the amount of seed so calculated. Another option 
    considered was setting a rate as a maximum with producers required to 
    prove actual seed purchases and use, with the lower of the standardized 
    maximum or the proven seed use establishing the seed quota allocation. 
    Comments are requested on these and any other options, and on: (a) the 
    issues of increased producer workload involved with proving seed use, 
    (b) the use of a standardized national seeding rate vs. a standardized 
    State seeding rate, and (c) the seeding rate amounts.
        For purposes of determining seed use, the national per-acre 
    planting rate by type shall, for this calculation, be equal to:
        (i) 95 pounds for Runner-type peanuts;
        (ii) 110 pounds for Virginia peanuts;
        (iii) 80 pounds for Spanish peanuts; and
        (iv) 80 pounds for Valencia peanuts.
        The temporary seed allocation will be made after the producer files 
    a proper certification of planted acres.
    
    D. Elimination of ``Undermarketings'' From Quotas
    
        In accord with the 1996 Act, this rule also eliminates previous 
    undermarketings from quota calculation for peanuts.
    
    E. Reallocations in Texas of Increased Quota
    
        The 1996 Act removes the special quota allocation provisions that 
    formerly applied to Texas only, in cases where the national quota is 
    increased. This rule amends section 729.206(f)(former 729.204(f)) of 
    the regulations, as redesignated, accordingly.
    
    F. Inter-county Transfers
    
        The 1996 Act removes the previous prohibition of inter-county quota 
    transfers in large-quota States to allow, with limits, the transfer of 
    farm poundage quota by sale or lease to any county within each of those 
    States. Such transfers are limited to an aggregate of 40 percent of the 
    total poundage quota within a county as of January 1, 1996, and may not 
    exceed a crop year limit of 15, 25, 30, and 35 percent for the 1996 
    through 1999 crops respectively and 40 percent for the 2000 and 
    subsequent crops. Further, however, in any county with a quota 
    allocation less than 50 tons for the preceding year's crop, all or any 
    part of a farm poundage quota may be transferred by sale or lease or 
    otherwise from a farm in the county to a farm in the same State. These 
    prescriptions are set by the 1996 Act.
        This rule has adopted selection by lottery to implement the out-of-
    county sale and lease limitation provisions in counties where the 
    amount of farm poundage quota requested for such sale and lease was 
    greater than the limitation for the current year. This rule amends 
    section 729.214 (former 729.212) of the regulations, as redesignated by 
    this rule, to implement the limitation requirements. Other options 
    considered with respect to administering the transfer limitation 
    included a first-come, first-considered basis and a proration of the 
    limited amount among all applicants. Time constraints and the 
    practicality of transferring only portions of a farm's quota were the 
    major determinants in selecting the lottery method. Comments are 
    requested on these or any other options for controlling the transfer 
    limitation and on the issue of giving priority to quota sales over 
    quota leases.
        Also, current regulations in part 729 have prohibited the approval 
    of any transfers filed after January 31 and before August 1 if the 
    approval of such transfer would result in a transfer both to and from 
    either the transferring or receiving farm during such period. Although 
    this rule does not revise the regulation, comments are requested on 
    whether to allow a farm to make a transfer both ways in the same period 
    so
    
    [[Page 36999]]
    
    long as the transfer from the farm is a temporary transfer.
        In addition, section 729.214(f)(3)(i), as redesignated, is amended 
    to ease the prohibition against permanent transfers of quota from a 
    farm to which quota had been transferred during the base period (the 3 
    immediately preceding crop years). The revised paragraph will limit the 
    prohibition to the amount of quota permanently transferred to the farm 
    during the 3-year period.
    
    G. Considered-Produced Credit
    
        Section 358-1(b) (3) and (4) of the 1938 Act provides that to the 
    extent practicable and on such fair and equitable basis as the 
    Secretary may provide, a farm will, generally, lose any quota which is 
    not produced or considered produced on the farm in 2 out of 3 
    consecutive years. That section contains a specific provision allowing 
    considered-produced credit for in-county transfers, but only once every 
    3 years. The new act leasing provisions in the 1996 Act, as indicated, 
    revamp the spring lease provisions for quotas and provide that the 
    transfer of quota under that paragraph will not reduce the quota of the 
    transferring farm if the quota is produced or considered produced on 
    the receiving farm. Since no change was made to the in-county transfer 
    provisions of 358-1(b)(3) (for those transfers which do not involve the 
    same owner or operator), it appears that the 1996 Act did not intend 
    for a modification to be made with respect to within-county transfers 
    as allowed prior to the 1996 Act. Accordingly, the interim rule 
    maintains the same considered-produced provisions, as in the past, for 
    such in-county transfers (that is, considered-produced credit for 
    leased quota will be allowed only once every 3 years). For inter-county 
    transfers, however, the rule allows the transferring farm to receive 
    considered-produced credit for any year in which the receiving farm 
    produces, or is considered to have produced, the quota. This is the 
    same rule that has been applied to out-of-county transfers in past 
    years when such transfers were only allowed in States with a small 
    total quota.
    
    H. Other Provisions
    
        The interim rule makes several technical changes including: (i) 
    changes necessitated by a recent USDA reorganization, and (ii) changes 
    to reflect applicability of the regulations through the 2002 crops.
        Other provisions of the 1996 Act regarding peanuts will be the 
    subject of subsequent notices.
    
    List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 729
    
        Peanuts, Penalties, Poundage quotas, Reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements.
    
    Interim Rule
    
        Accordingly, 7 CFR Part 729 is amended as follows:
    
    PART 729--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation is revised to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1301, 1357 et seq., 1372, 1373, 1375, and 
    7271.
    
        2. Section 729.102 is amended by removing ``1991 through 1995'' and 
    adding ``1996 through 2002'' in its place, and by adding a sentence at 
    the end of the paragraph to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.102  Applicability.
    
        * * * The peanut marketing quota and disposition requirements for 
    peanuts for the 1991 through 1995 crops shall, as applicable, continue 
    to be governed by the regulations codified at 7 CFR Part 729, as of 
    April 1, 1996.
        3. Section 729.103 is amended as follows:
        a. The definition for ``FSA'' is moved to its proper place in 
    alphabetical order.
        b. The definition of ``Considered-produced credit'' is amended by 
    revising paragraph (iii) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.103  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        Considered-produced credit. * * *
        (iii) A farm's basic quota that was not produced if the Farmers 
    Home Administration or the Farm Service Agency had control of, or title 
    to, such farm.
    * * * * *
        c. The definition of ``DASCO'' is removed, and the definition of 
    ``Deputy Administrator'' is added in alphabetical order to read as 
    follows:
        Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, 
    Farm Service Agency.
        d. The definition of ``Effective quota'' is amended by revising 
    paragraph (v) to read as follows:
        Effective quota. * * *
        (v) Temporary seed quota allocated to the farm.
        e. The definition of ``First purchaser'' is added in alphabetical 
    order to read as follows:
         First purchaser. Any person acquiring peanuts from a producer 
    except that in the case of peanuts forfeited by a producer to CCC or 
    bought from the price support loan inventory, the term means the person 
    acquiring the peanuts from CCC or the inventory.
        f. The definition of ``Preliminary quota'' is revised to read as 
    follows:
        Preliminary quota. For the current year and an eligible farm, the 
    basic quota established for the farm for the preceding year to the 
    extent that the farm is not subject to a reduction in quota.
        g. The definition of ``Temporary seed quota'' is added in 
    alphabetial order to read as follows:
        Temporary seed quota. Quota temporarily allocated for the current 
    crop year only and in an amount determined by FSA to account for the 
    amount of seed peanuts planted on the farm for production of peanuts, 
    excluding green peanuts and peanuts produced under the one-acre 
    exemption set forth in Sec. 729.306 of this part.
    * * * * *
        h. The definition of ``Undermarketings'' is removed.
        4. Section 729.104(a) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.104  Administration.
    
        (a) The regulations in this part will be administered under the 
    general supervision of the Administrator, FSA, and shall be carried out 
    in the field by State and county FSA committees.
    * * * * *
        5. Section 729.104(c) is amended by removing the phrase ``committee 
    shall'' and adding ``committee'' in its place, and removing 
    ``Instruct'' and adding ``Shall instruct'' in its place.
    
    
    Sec. 729.108  [Amended]
    
        6. Section 729.108 is amended by removing ``ASC'' and adding 
    ``FSA'' in its place.
    
    
    Sec. 729.201  [Amended]
    
        7. Section 729.201 is amended by removing ``1991 through 1995'' 
    wherever it appears and adding in its place ``1996 through 2002 and 
    removing ``1990'' wherever it appears and adding in its place``1995''.
    
    
    Sec. 729.204-729.214  [Redesignated as Sec. 729.206-729.216]
    
        8. Sections 729.204 through 729.214 are redesignated as sections 
    729.206 through 729.216 respectively, and new sections 729.204 and 
    729.205 are added to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.204  Temporary seed quota allocation.
    
        (a) Applicability. The temporary allocation of quota pounds, as 
    provided in this section shall be determined:
        (1) For the marketing year only in which the crop is planted;
        (2) For eligible producers for each of the 1996 through 2002 
    marketing years; and
    
    [[Page 37000]]
    
        (3) To exclude the production of green peanuts and peanuts produced 
    under the one-acre exemption provided for in 7 CFR 729.306.
        (b) Quantity of allocation. The temporary quota allocated to a 
    producer shall be the farmers stock equivalent pounds of qualifying 
    seed peanuts considered planted on the farm as determined by FSA by 
    multiplying the acres determined planted to qualifying peanuts times 
    the per-acre planting rates of:
        (1) 95 pounds for Runner-type peanuts;
        (2) 110 pounds for Virginia peanuts;
        (3) 80 pounds for Spanish peanuts; and
        (4) 80 pounds for Valencia peanuts.
        (c) Conversion factor. For the purpose of determining the farmers 
    stock basis for temporary seed quota allocations under this section, 
    the amount of seed planted as determined in accord with paragraph (b) 
    of this section shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.5.
        (d) Time of notification. The notice of determination for temporary 
    seed quota allocations shall be made by the Deputy Administrator as 
    soon as practicable following the deadline for filing certifications of 
    planted acres.
    
    
    Sec. 729.205  Farms ineligible for farm poundage quota.
    
        (a) Ineligible farms. Except for quota allocated under the 
    provisions of Sec. 729.208 for experimental and research programs, 
    effective beginning with the 1998 crop year, farm poundage quotas shall 
    not be established for farms which are determined by FSA to be owned or 
    controlled by:
        (1) Municipalities, airport authorities, schools, colleges, 
    refuges, and other public entities.
        (2) A person:
        (i) Who is not a peanut producer; and
        (ii) Whose primary domicile, in the case of individual, or primary 
    place of business, in the case of an entity, as determined by FSA, is 
    located outside the State in which the quota is allocated.
        (b) Determination of Residency and Related Rules. For purposes of 
    administering paragraph (a) of this section, with respect to farms 
    owned or controlled by a partnership or corporation or other entity, 
    the forfeiture in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall not be deemed 
    to apply if a person or persons with at least a 20 percent interest in 
    any such entity are individuals whose primary residence is in the State 
    in which the quota is allocated; provided further, that paragraph 
    (a)(2) of this section shall not apply to any involuntary acquisition 
    of a farm by foreclosure, or otherwise, resulting directly from the 
    conduct of a public business in the State in which the quota is 
    allocated, or an acquisition resulting directly by reason of a death. 
    The exemption for involuntary farm acquisitions allowed under the 
    preceding sentence shall only apply to the establishment of quota in 
    the three crop years immediately following the date of the involuntary 
    acquisition of the quota farm. Further, for purposes of applying the 
    rules in paragraph (a) of this section as they regard production, the 
    determination of whether paragraph (a)(2) of this section applies shall 
    be made based on the crop last planted before the date on which the 
    determination is to be made.
        (c) Allocating forfeited quota and sales of quotas subject to 
    paragraph (a). Any farm poundage quota held on or after August 1, 1997, 
    by an ineligible person as determined under paragraph (a) of this 
    section shall be allocated from the quota farm to other farms in the 
    same State in accordance with Sec. 729.206 of this part. In the event 
    that the ineligible party acquired the subject farm on or before August 
    1, 1997, such person shall have until October 1, 1997, to permanently 
    dispose of the quota by sale to another farm for subsequent crop years 
    in which case the transfer will be deemed to be effective as of August 
    1, 1997. If the farm in dispute was acquired after August 1, 1997, then 
    no quota shall be established for the farm until such time as the 
    ineligibility is removed provided further, however, that the quota may 
    be sold to another qualifying farm effective with the next crop year 
    following the sale or such later date as may be approved by FSA.
        9. Redesignated Sec. 729.206 is amended:
        a. In the heading of paragraph (f), by removing the phrase 
    ``increased quota,'' and by removing the comma following the word 
    ``nonproduction'';
        b. In the first sentence of paragraph (f)(1), by removing the 
    phrase ``33 percent of any increase in the Texas peanut poundage quota 
    resulting from an increase in the national quota and'';
        c. In paragraph (f)(3), by removing the phrase, ``, as determined 
    in accordance with paragraph (f)(2) of this section for the 1991 
    through 1995 crops'' and adding in its place ``granted under any 
    special rules for Texas under this section and its predecessor for the 
    1991 and subsequent crops''; and
        d. In paragraph (f)(7), removing the phrase ``except for the 33 
    percent allocated to eligible Texas counties in accordance with 
    paragraph (f)(2) of this section,''.
        10. Redesignated Sec. 729.207 is amended:
        a. In paragraph (c), by removing ``Sec. 729.204(b)(2)'' and adding 
    ``Sec. 729.206(b)(2)'' in its place;
        b. In paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(B), by removing ``Sec. 729.212'' and 
    adding ``Sec. 729.214'' in its place; and
        c. In paragraph (d)(2), by removing ``Sec. 729.204(e)'' and adding 
    ``Sec. 729.206(e) in its place.
        11. Redesignated Sec. 729.208 is amended by revising paragraph (d) 
    to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.208  Allocation of quota for experimental and research 
    programs.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) Quota for 1996 through 2002 crops. For each institution with 
    continuing eligibility for which a 1995 basic quota was determined in 
    accordance with this section or its predecessor, a basic quota shall be 
    established for the 1996 through 2002 crops in the same manner as for 
    other farms within the State.
        12. Redesignated Sec. 729.210 is amended by revising paragraph 
    (a)(1) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.210  Determining a farm's effective quota.
    
    * * * * *
        (a) Upward adjustment. * * *
        (1) The temporary seed quota allocated to the farm;
    * * * * *
        13. Redesignated Sec. 729.213 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.213  Erroneous notice of effective farm poundage quota.
    
        If the official notice of effective quota issued for a farm 
    erroneously stated a quota larger than the correct effective quota, the 
    quota shown on the erroneous notice shall serve as the basis for 
    marketing penalty computations for the farm for the current marketing 
    year only if the county committee determines and the State Executive 
    Director concurs that:
        (a) Extent of error. The error was not so substantial as to place 
    the operator on notice that such notice of quota was incorrect; and
        (b) Response to notice. The operator, relying upon such notice and 
    acting in good faith:
        (1) Has made plans, or is engaged in activities, to produce the 
    quota in the amount set forth on the erroneous notice (for example, 
    land preparation; purchase of seed, fertilizer, and other production 
    materials; or reducing the acreage of other crops); or
        (2) Has planted the acreage of peanuts needed to produce the 
    erroneous farm poundage quota.
        14. Redesignated Sec. 729.214 is revised:
    
    [[Page 37001]]
    
        a. In paragraph (a)(2) by removing ``with respect to the 1992 and 
    subsequent crops'';
        b. By redesignating paragraphs (d) through (l) as (e) through (m); 
    and
        c. By revising paragraph (c), adding a new paragraph (d), and 
    revising redesignated paragraphs (f)(1)(iii)(A), (f)(3)(i), and (l) to 
    read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.214  Transfer of quota by sale, lease, owner, or operator.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) Location of farms. In order to transfer poundage quota between 
    two farms, such farms must be located within the same State and, to the 
    extent required by paragraph (d) of this section, in the same county. 
    It is not necessary for the receiving farm to have had a basic quota in 
    the current or prior year, except as provided in paragraph (d)(4) of 
    this section.
        (d) Limitations on transfer by sale or lease. Subject to the 
    provisions of paragraph (m) of this section:
        (1) States with less than 10,000 tons of quota. With respect to 
    farms in any State for which the State's poundage quota for the year 
    preceding the current year was less than 10,000 tons, transfers of 
    peanut quota by sale or lease may be made to any other farm in any 
    county within the State.
        (2) States with 10,000 tons or more of quota. For farms in States 
    with 10,000 tons or more of quota:
        (i) Poundage quota may be transferred to any other farm within the 
    same county.
        (ii) If the farm is in a county with less than a total of 50 tons 
    of quota, the poundage quota may be transferred to any other farm 
    within the same State without regard to the limitations set forth in 
    paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section.
        (iii) If the farm is in a county with a total of 50 tons or more of 
    quota, poundage quota transferred out of county shall be limited to 40 
    percent of the quota in the transferring county as of January 1, 1996. 
    Further, the cumulative unexpired out-of-county transfers for a crop 
    year may not exceed the following percentages of the quota in the 
    transferring county as of January 1, 1996:
        (A) 15 percent for the 1996 crop;
        (B) 25 percent for the 1997 crop;
        (C) 30 percent for the 1998 crop;
        (D) 35 percent for the 1999 crop; and
        (E) 40 percent for the 2000 and subsequent crops.
        (iv) Selecting approved transfers. For purposes of administering 
    the limitations on the amount of transfers, the Director shall 
    establish a method for selecting, by lot, those applications which are 
    to be approved. The Director may give preference to permanent 
    transfers.
        (3) Fall transfers. The limitations in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of 
    this section do not apply to 1-year fall transfers, which may, in all 
    cases, be made to any farm in the same State, subject to such 
    restrictions as otherwise apply for fall transfers.
        (4) Owner or operator transfer. Owner or operator transfers of 
    poundage quota are permitted to contiguous counties within the same 
    State without regard to the percentage limitations of paragraph 
    (d)(2)(iii) of this section; provided that, the receiving farm had a 
    basic quota established for the preceding year's crop and has the same 
    owner, in an owner transfer, or the same operator, in an operator 
    transfer.
    * * * * *
        (f) Other transfer provisions.--(1) Temporary transfer of quota 
    from a farm. * * *
        (iii) Filed after July 31 and before February 1 (``Fall 
    transfers''). * * *
        (A) The reported or determined acreage of peanuts plus prevented 
    planted credit for the transferring farm for the current year, when 
    multiplied by the larger of the farm yield or the highest actual yield 
    during the base period, is equal to or greater than 90 percent of the 
    farm's effective quota;
    * * * * *
        (3) Permanent transfer of quota from a farm. * * *
        (i) Permanent transfer of quota to the farm. For the amount of 
    quota purchased or otherwise permanently transferred to the farm during 
    the base period, as adjusted for any increase or decrease in such quota 
    due to adjustment in the national quota during the base period.
    * * * * *
        (1) Adjustment of marketings. For the purpose of computing 
    production history for quota increase based on production, in the case 
    of temporary transfers by owner to the same owner or operator to the 
    same operator and all out-of-county transfers, if the current year's 
    produced or considered-produced credit from the receiving farm exceeds 
    such farm's basic quota, such produced or considered-produced credit on 
    the receiving farm shall be reduced by the amount of such excess, to 
    the extent of the quota temporarily transferred to such farm by owner 
    or operator, and such reduced amount shall be added to the current year 
    produced or considered-produced credit for the transferring farm.
    * * * * *
    
    
    Sec. 729.15  [Amended]
    
        15. Redesignated Sec. 729.215 is amended in paragraph (f)(2) by 
    removing ``Sec. 729.204'' and adding ``Sec. 729.206'' in its place.
        16. Redesignated Sec. 729.216 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 729.216  National poundage quota.
    
        (a) National poundage quota for 1996 and subsequent crop years. The 
    national poundage quota for the 1996 and subsequent crop years shall be 
    established by the Secretary at a level that is equal to the quantity 
    of peanuts that the Secretary estimates will be devoted in each 
    marketing year to domestic edible use (except seed), and related uses.
        (b) Disapproval of quotas. No loan for quota peanuts may be made 
    available for any crop of peanuts with respect to which it is 
    determined by the Deputy Administrator that poundage quotas have been 
    disapproved by producers pursuant to a referendum conducted in 
    accordance with section 358-1(d) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 
    1938, as amended.
    
        Signed at Washington, D.C., on July 5, 1996.
    Bruce R. Weber,
    Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
    [FR Doc. 96-17690 Filed 7-12-96; 2:18 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
4/4/1996
Published:
07/16/1996
Department:
Farm Service Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule with request for comments.
Document Number:
96-17690
Dates:
Effective April 4, 1996.
Pages:
36997-37001 (5 pages)
RINs:
0560-AE82: Amendment to the Peanut Poundage Quota Regulations
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0560-AE82/amendment-to-the-peanut-poundage-quota-regulations
PDF File:
96-17690.pdf
CFR: (14)
7 CFR 729.15
7 CFR 729.102
7 CFR 729.103
7 CFR 729.104
7 CFR 729.108
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