[Federal Register: September 3, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 56262-56263]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03se02-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
2002-Crop Sugar Marketing Allotments and Cane Sugar Allotment
Hearing
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of 2002-crop sugar marketing allotments and public
hearing.
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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice
to advise the public that CCC has established the overall allotment
quantity for sugar for the 2002 crop year and will hold a public
hearing regarding the 2002-crop cane State sugar marketing allotments
and the allocation of cane State sugar marketing allotments to
processors, as requested by affected sugar processors and growers. CCC
will also use this forum to entertain comments on the overall structure
and implementation of the sugar allotment program.
DATES: The public hearing will be held September 4, 2002, in the
Jefferson Auditorium of USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Ave,
SW., Washington, DC. The hearing will start at 10 a.m. All times noted
are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
ADDRESSES: Thomas Bickerton, Economic Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm
Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250-0516; telephone (202) 720-
6733; FAX (202) 690-1480; e-mail: Thomas.Bickerton2@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bickerton at (202) 720-6733.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has established the overall
allotment quantity for sugar for the 2002 crop year as required by the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. USDA earlier had
announced that domestic marketing allotments would be in effect for the
upcoming marketing year and this notice establishes the quantity
involved.
On August 1, USDA made preliminary estimates of 2002-crop
consumption, reasonable carryover stocks, carry-in stocks, production
and imports in accordance with provisions of the new Farm Bill. These
estimates were reevaluated following the release of more current market
information in the August 12, 2002 USDA World Agricultural Supply and
Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.
Based on the allotment formula guidelines in the farm bill, USDA
has calculated the overall allotment quantity for sugar based on the
estimated domestic deliveries for food use and beginning sugar stocks
from the August 12 WASDE report.
The farm bill further requires that USDA establish the allotments
so that no sugar is forfeited under the program and that the overall
program can be operated at no-net cost to taxpayers. Market
uncertainties such as changes in consumption and imports and 2001-crop
sugar carryover not subject to allotments, also factored into the
estimate of reasonable ending sugar stocks.
The overall allotment quantity determined in this manner is 7.700
million tons, short tons, raw value (STRV), for the 2002 crop year
(Fiscal Year 2003). The resulting sector allocations are 4.185 million
STRV for beet sugar and 3.515 million STRV for cane sugar.
USDA will closely monitor consumption, beginning stocks and
reasonable ending stocks and all other program variables on an ongoing
basis. Appropriate adjustments can be made at any time to the overall
allotment quantity, as required, both to avoid forfeitures and to
ensure an adequate sugar supply for the domestic market in FY 2003.
Public Hearing
USDA will hold a public hearing as required by the new statute
regarding the 2002-crop cane State sugar marketing allotments and the
allocation of cane State sugar marketing allotments to processors, as
requested by affected sugar processors and growers. CCC will also use
this forum to entertain comments on the overall structure and
implementation of the sugar allotment program. Attendance is open to
sugarcane growers, sugarcane processors, cane sugar refiners, sugar
beet growers, sugar beet processors, sugar users, and all other
interested parties.
The hearing will be held on September 4, 2002 from 10 a.m. Eastern
Standard Time (EST) to 4 p.m., in the Jefferson Auditorium of USDA
South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC.
[[Page 56263]]
Anyone wishing to make an oral statement may do so, time
permitting. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes. Those wishing to
make an oral statement should submit a request to Thomas Bickerton
(address follows). A signup sheet for statements will also be available
one hour before the hearing begins. Oral statements will be made in the
order the request was received. Also, written statements may be
submitted in lieu of an oral statement and must be received by the
close of business on September 4, 2002. These should be sent to Thomas
Bickerton, Economic Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 0516,
Washington, DC 20250-0516; Telephone: (202) 720-3008; Fax: (202) 690-
1480; e-mail: Thomas.Bickerton2@usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to
attend or participate in the meetings should contact Thomas Bickerton.
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2002.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-22438 Filed 8-29-02; 9:04 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P