[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 7, Volume 8] [Revised as of January 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 7CFR996] [Page 720] TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE CHAPTER IX--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PART 996_MINIMUM QUALITY AND HANDLING STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC AND Sec. 996.3 Crop year. Crop year means the 12-month period beginning with July 1 of any year and ending with June 30 of the following year, or other period established by USDA.