[Federal Register: February 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7493-7494]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14fe03-35]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 7493]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Domestic Sugar Program--Increase of 2002-Crop Overall Allotment
Quantity
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has increased the 2002-crop
overall allotment quantity (OAQ) of domestic sugar by 500,000 short
tons, raw value (STRV). The beet sugar sector allotment increased to
4.457 million STRV, and the cane sugar sector increased to 3.743
million STRV, for a total OAQ of 8.200 million STRV. CCC has also
revised the State cane allotments and processor allocations of the beet
and cane sugar marketing allotments to be consistent with the increased
OAQ and updated cane State and cane processor 2002-crop production
forecasts. CCC is also suspending the proportionate share requirement
on Louisiana sugarcane producers for the 2002 crop.
ADDRESSES: Barbara Fecso, Dairy and Sweeteners Analysis Group, Economic
Policy and Analysis Staff, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., STOP 0516, Washington, DC 20250-0516; telephone (202) 720-
4146; FAX (202) 690-1480; e-mail: barbara.fecso@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Fecso at (202) 720-4146.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1403 of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended section 359c of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359c) to authorize the
Secretary to adjust marketing allotments and allocations quarterly to
reflect changes in estimated sugar consumption, stocks, production, or
imports. When USDA announced a 7.700 million ton OAQ in August 2002, it
noted the existence of considerable sugar market uncertainties and that
the OAQ could be adjusted if warranted. After closely monitoring the
market, and because market prices for both refined and raw sugar have
been well above loan forfeiture levels, CCC increased the OAQ, thereby
increasing the supply of sugar available to the domestic market.
At this time, CCC does not expect the beet sector to fully use its
allotment and will reassign the estimated unused allotment (deficit),
182,000 tons, to the CCC inventory to be sold. The estimated unused
allotment is calculated as the beet sector's FY 2003 allotment, 4.457
million tons, less beet processors' estimated available supply, 4.275
million tons (0.360 million tons beginning stocks plus 4.215 million
tons production, less an assumed 0.300 million tons in estimated
minimum ending stocks). While the beet sector ending inventory averaged
560,000 tons over the past decade, reaching a low of 360,000 tons at
the end of FY 2002, the level to which the beet sector reduces its FY
2003 ending stocks is uncertain. Due to production and marketing
unknowns, CCC estimates that an ending stocks level of 300,000 tons may
be attainable.
CCC will conduct a thorough survey of beet and cane sugar
production and stocks-to-use prior to May 1, 2003, and make allocation
reassignments, as necessary. At that time, CCC may reduce the amount
reassigned to CCC for inventory sales if survey results indicate CCC
misjudged the beet sector's ability to supply the market. This can
occur even if CCC has sold the reassigned sugar because CCC's ability
to sell sugar is not limited to availability of reassigned sugar
marketing allotments.
Pursuant to section 359f of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of
1938, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1359ff), CCC announced the suspension of
the proportionate share requirement on Louisiana sugarcane producers
for the 2002 crop after it determined that the amount of sugar
estimated to be produced from the 2002-crop sugarcane in Louisiana
(1.340 million tons, raw value) will not be sufficient to enable
Louisiana sugar cane processors to meet the state's cane sugar
allotment (1.331 million tons, raw value) and provide for a normal
carryover.
USDA will continue to closely monitor market performance and
critical program variables throughout the year to ensure meeting
program objectives and maintaining market balance. Further OAQ
adjustments and alteration of the sugar Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) import
quantity will be considered as market conditions warrant.
These actions apply to all domestic sugar marketed for human
consumption in the United States from October 1, 2002, through
September 30, 2003. The 2002-crop sugar marketing allotments and
allocations (in short tons, raw value) are listed in the following
table:
2002-Crop Sugar Marketing Allotments and Allocations
[Revised January 2003]
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Previous Revised
allotment/ Change \1\ allotment/
allocation allocation
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Overall Beet/Cane Allotments
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Beet Sugar...................................................... 4,184,950 271,750 4,456,700
Cane Sugar (includes Puerto Rico)............................... 3,515,050 228,250 3,743,300
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Total (Overall Allotment Quantity).......................... 7,700,000 500,000 8,200,000
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State Cane Sugar Allotments
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Florida......................................................... 1,715,471 214,045 1,929,516
[[Page 7494]]
Louisiana....................................................... 1,329,764 1,148 1,330,912
Texas........................................................... 144,815 13,057 157,872
Hawaii.......................................................... 318,829 0 318,829
Puerto Rico..................................................... 6,171 0 6,171
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Total Cane Sugar............................................ 3,515,050 228,250 3,743,300
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Beet Processors' Marketing Allocations
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Amalgamated Sugar Co............................................ 918,627 56,618 975,245
American Crystal Sugar Co....................................... 1,496,229 97,491 1,593,720
Holly Sugar Corp................................................ 280,786 18,233 299,019
Michigan Sugar Co............................................... 281,689 17,361 299,050
Minn-Dak Farmers Co-op.......................................... 275,076 16,953 292,029
Monitor Sugar Co................................................ 161,414 9,948 171,362
Pacific Northwest Sugar Co...................................... 15,000 7,314 22,314
So. Minn. Beet Sugar Co-op...................................... 283,250 17,458 300,708
Western Sugar Co................................................ 417,051 26,748 443,799
Wyoming Sugar Co................................................ 55,828 3,626 59,454
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Total Beet Sugar............................................ 4,184,950 271,750 4,456,700
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Cane Processors' Marketing Allocations
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Florida......................................................... 1,715,471 214,045 1,929,516
Atlantic Sugar Assoc........................................ 146,856 -1,987 144,869
Growers Co-op. of Florida................................... 311,681 39,165 350,846
Okeelanta Corp.............................................. 322,318 66,984 389,302
Osceola Farms Co............................................ 194,060 33,255 227,315
Talisman Sugar Corp......................................... 54,066 5,594 59,660
U.S. Sugar Corp............................................. 686,490 71,034 757,524
Louisiana....................................................... 1,329,764 1,148 1,330,912
Alma Plantation............................................. 74,299 3,519 77,818
Caire & Graugnard........................................... 5,344 253 5,597
Cajun Sugar Co-op........................................... 92,119 5,526 97,645
Cora-Texas Mfg. Co.......................................... 117,083 -553 116,530
Evan Hall Factory........................................... 2,670 127 2,797
Harry Laws & Co............................................. 56,709 1,472 58,181
Iberia Sugar Co-op.......................................... 65,460 -2,662 62,798
Jeanerette Sugar Co......................................... 60,904 2,401 63,305
Lafourche Sugars Corp....................................... 69,216 3,278 72,494
Louisiana Sugarcane Co-op................................... 83,052 -271 82,781
Lula Westfield, LLC......................................... 148,265 -5,120 143,145
M.A. Patout & Sons.......................................... 174,963 -1,026 173,937
Raceland Sugars............................................. 81,195 -3,113 78,082
St. Mary Sugar Co-op........................................ 88,675 4,200 92,875
So. Louisiana Sugars Co-op.................................. 119,930 -4,832 115,098
Sterling Sugars............................................. 89,881 -2,051 87,830
Texas........................................................... 144,815 13,057 157,872
Hawaii.......................................................... 318,829 0 318,829
Gay & Robinson, Inc......................................... 62,163 0 62,163
Hawaiian Commercial......................................... 256,666 0 256,666
Puerto Rico..................................................... 6,171 0 6,171
Agraso...................................................... 3,984 0 3,984
Roig........................................................ 2,187 0 2,187
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\1\ Includes changes due to the 500,000-ton increase in the overall allotment quantity and, for cane states and
sugarcane processors, changes due to updated 2002-crop production forecasts.
Signed in Washington, DC on January 31, 2003.
James R. Little,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 03-3633 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P