Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Salable Quantities and Allotment Percentages for the 2023-2024 Marketing Year, 23323-23329 [2023-08009]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
Vol. 88, No. 73
Monday, April 17, 2023
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains regulatory documents having general
applicability and legal effect, most of which
are keyed to and codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations, which is published under
50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by
the Superintendent of Documents.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 985
[Doc. No. AMS–SC–22–0070]
Marketing Order Regulating the
Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in
the Far West; Salable Quantities and
Allotment Percentages for the 2023–
2024 Marketing Year
Agricultural Marketing Service,
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
This rule implements a
recommendation from the Far West
Spearmint Oil Administrative
Committee (Committee) to establish
salable quantities and allotment
percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and
Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil produced
in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and
designated parts of Nevada and Utah
(the Far West) for the 2023–2024
marketing year.
DATES: Effective May 17, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joshua R. Wilde, Marketing Specialist,
or Gary D. Olson, Chief, Western Region
Branch, Market Development Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA;
Telephone: (503) 326–2724, or Email:
Joshua.R.Wilde@usda.gov or
GaryD.Olson@usda.gov.
Small businesses may request
information on complying with this
regulation by contacting Richard Lower,
Market Development Division, Specialty
Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237,
Washington, DC 20250–0237;
Telephone: (202) 720–2491, or Email:
Richard.Lower@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
action, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553,
amends regulations issued to carry out
a marketing order as defined in 7 CFR
900.2(j). This rule is issued under
Marketing Order No. 985, as amended (7
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SUMMARY:
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CFR part 985), regulating the handling
of spearmint oil produced in the Far
West. Part 985 (referred to as ‘‘the
Order’’) is effective under the
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act
of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674),
hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Act.’’ The
Committee locally administers the
Order and is comprised of spearmint oil
producers operating within the area of
production, and a public member.
The Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) is issuing this rule in
conformance with Executive Orders
12866 and 13563. Executive Orders
12866 and 13563 direct agencies to
assess costs and benefits of available
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation
is necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety
effects, distributive impacts, and
equity). Executive Order 13563
emphasizes the importance of
quantifying both costs and benefits,
reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and
promoting flexibility. This action falls
within a category of regulatory actions
that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) exempted from Executive
Order 12866 review.
This rule has been reviewed under
Executive Order 13175—Consultation
and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments, which requires agencies
to consider whether their rulemaking
actions would have Tribal implications.
AMS has determined that this rule is
unlikely to have substantial direct
effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal
Government and Indian Tribes, or on
the distribution of power and
responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian Tribes.
This rule has been reviewed under
Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice
Reform. This rule is not intended to
have retroactive effect.
Under the Order now in effect, salable
quantities and allotment percentages
may be established for classes of
spearmint oil produced in the Far West.
This rule establishes salable quantities
and allotment percentages for Scotch
and Native spearmint oil for the 2023–
2024 marketing year, which begins on
June 1, 2023.
The Act provides that administrative
proceedings must be exhausted before
parties may file suit in court. Under
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section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any
handler subject to an order may file
with the Department of Agriculture
(USDA) a petition stating that the order,
any provision of the order, or any
obligation imposed in connection with
the order is not in accordance with law
and request a modification of the order
or to be exempted therefrom. Such
handler is afforded the opportunity for
a hearing on the petition. After the
hearing, USDA would rule on the
petition. The Act provides that the
district court of the United States in any
district in which the handler is an
inhabitant, or has his or her principal
place of business, has jurisdiction to
review USDA’s ruling on the petition,
provided an action is filed no later than
20 days after the date of the entry of the
ruling.
Pursuant to the requirements in
§ 985.50 of the Order, the Committee
meets each year to consider supply and
demand of spearmint oil and to adopt a
marketing policy for the ensuing
marketing year. In determining such
marketing policy, the Committee
considers several factors, including, but
not limited to, the current and projected
supply of oil, estimated future demand,
production costs, and producer prices
for both classes of spearmint oil. Input
from spearmint oil handlers and
producers are considered as well.
Pursuant to the provisions in § 985.51,
when the Committee’s marketing policy
considerations indicate a need to
establish or to maintain stable market
conditions through volume regulation,
the Committee subsequently
recommends to AMS the establishment
of a salable quantity and allotment
percentage for such class or classes of
oil for the upcoming marketing year.
Recommendations for volume control
are intended to ensure market
requirements for Far West spearmint oil
are satisfied and orderly marketing
conditions are maintained.
Salable quantity represents the total
quantity of each class of oil (Scotch or
Native) which handlers may purchase
from, or handle on behalf of, producers
during a given marketing year. The
allotment percentage for each class of
spearmint oil is the salable quantity for
that class of oil divided by the total of
all producers’ allotment base for the
same class of oil. A producer’s allotment
base is their calculated share of the
spearmint oil market based on a
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statistical representation of past
spearmint production and sales. In
order to account for changes in
production and demand over time, the
Committee periodically reviews and
adjusts each producer’s allotment base
in accordance with a formula prescribed
by the Committee and approved by
AMS. Each producer’s annual allotment
of the salable quantity is calculated by
multiplying their respective allotment
base for each class of spearmint oil by
the allotment percentage for that class of
spearmint oil. The total allotment base
is revised each year on June 1 to account
for producer allotment base being lost as
a result of the ‘‘bona fide effort’’
production provision of § 985.53(e) and
additional base made available pursuant
to the provisions of § 985.153.
Salable quantities and allotment
percentages are established at levels
intended to maintain orderly marketing
conditions while also ensuring that
markets are adequately supplied.
Further, Committee recommendations
for volume control are made in advance
of the upcoming marketing year in
which the regulations are to be effective,
thereby allowing producers ample time
to adjust their production decisions
accordingly.
The Committee met on October 12,
2022, to consider its marketing policy
for the 2023–2024 marketing year. At
that meeting, the Committee determined
that, based on the current market and
supply conditions, volume regulation
for both classes of oil would be
necessary. The Committee
recommended, with a vote of six in
favor and one opposed, a salable
quantity and allotment percentage for
Scotch spearmint oil of 772,704 pounds
and 34 percent, respectively. The
member voting in opposition to the
recommendation supported volume
regulation but favored a salable quantity
and allotment percent lower than what
was recommended. In addition, the
Committee unanimously recommended
a salable quantity and allotment
percentage for Native spearmint oil of
1,034,492 pounds and 40 percent,
respectively.
This action establishes the amount of
Scotch and Native spearmint oil that
handlers may purchase from, or handle
on behalf of, producers during the
2023–2024 marketing year, which
begins on June 1, 2023. Salable
quantities and allotment percentages
have been in effect each season since
the Order’s inception in 1980.
Scotch Spearmint Oil
The Committee recommended a
Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity of
772,704 pounds and an allotment
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percentage of 34 percent for the 2023–
2024 marketing year. The 2023–2024
marketing year salable quantity of
772,704 pounds is 59,876 pounds less
than the salable quantity of 832,580
pounds established for the 2022–2023
marketing year. The recommended 34
percent allotment percentage for the
2023–2024 marketing year is three
percent less than the percentage in
effect the previous marketing year.
The total allotment base for the
coming marketing year is estimated to
be 2,272,660 pounds. This figure
represents a one-percent increase over
the revised 2022–2023 marketing year
total allotment base of 2,250,124
pounds. The salable quantity (772,704
pounds) is the product of total allotment
base (2,272,660 pounds) times the
allotment percentage (34 percent).
The Committee considered several
factors in making its recommendation,
including the current and projected
future supply, estimated future demand,
production costs, and producer prices.
The Committee’s recommendation also
accounts for the established acreage of
Scotch spearmint, consumer demand,
existing carry-in, reserve pool volume,
and increased production in competing
markets.
According to the Committee, as costs
of production have increased and
spearmint oil prices have decreased,
many producers have forgone new
plantings of Scotch spearmint. This has
resulted in a significant decline in
production of Scotch spearmint oil in
recent years. Production has decreased
from 1,113,346 pounds produced in
2016 to an estimated 576,692 pounds of
Scotch spearmint production in 2021.
Industry reports indicate that trade
demand for Far West Scotch spearmint
oil, which has been declining since the
2014–2015 marketing year, has begun to
stabilize. Sales of Far West Scotch
spearmint oil declined from 1,060,232
pounds during the 2014–2015 marketing
year to 488,484 pounds in the 2020–
2021 marketing year, before notably
rebounding to 667,793 pounds in the
2021–2022 marketing year, the last full
year of available data. The Committee
indicates that the downward pressure
on trade demand for Scotch spearmint
oil from the Far West has lessened as
production of Scotch spearmint oil in
competing markets, most notably by
Canadian producers, has leveled off in
recent years.
Given the anticipated market
conditions for the coming year, the
Committee estimates that Scotch
spearmint oil trade demand for the
2023–2024 marketing year will be
635,000 pounds, which is 15,000
pounds lower than the prior year
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estimate and slightly higher than the 5year moving sales average of 618,834
pounds. Should the established volume
regulation levels prove insufficient to
adequately supply the market, the
Committee has the authority to
recommend intra-seasonal increases of
the salable quantity and allotment
percentage, as it has in previous
marketing years.
The Committee calculated the
minimum salable quantity of Scotch
spearmint oil that will be required
during the 2023–2024 marketing year
(368,471 pounds) by subtracting the
estimated salable carry-in on June 1,
2023, (266,529 pounds) from the
estimated trade demand (635,000
pounds). This minimum salable
quantity represents the estimated
minimum amount of Scotch spearmint
oil that will be needed to satisfy
estimated trade demand for the coming
year. To ensure that the market will be
fully supplied, the Committee
recommended a 2023–2024 marketing
year salable quantity of 772,704 pounds.
The recommended salable quantity,
combined with an estimated 266,529
pounds of salable carry-in from the
previous year, will yield a total
available supply of 1,039,233 pounds of
Scotch spearmint oil for the 2023–2024
marketing year. With the recommended
salable quantity and current market
environment, the Committee estimates
that as much as 404,233 pounds of
salable Scotch spearmint oil could be
carried into the 2024–2025 marketing
year.
Salable carry-in is the primary
measure of excess spearmint oil supply
under the Order, as it represents
overproduction in prior years that is
currently available to the market
without restriction. Under volume
regulation, spearmint oil that is
designated as salable continues to be
available to the market until it is sold
and may be marketed at any time at the
discretion of the owner.
The Committee estimates that there
will be 266,529 pounds of salable carryin of Scotch spearmint oil on June 1,
2023. If current market conditions are
maintained and the Committee’s
projections are correct, salable carry-in
will increase to 404,233 pounds at the
beginning of the 2024–2025 marketing
year. That level would be above the
quantity that the Committee generally
considers favorable (150,000 pounds).
However, the Committee believes that,
given the current economic conditions
in the Scotch spearmint oil industry,
some Scotch spearmint oil producers
may not produce their annual allotment
for the 2023–2024 marketing year.
Further, the Committee estimates that as
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much as 287,480 pounds of the 2022–
2023 marketing year annual allotment
may not be filled by producers. While
the Committee has not projected unused
base allotment for the upcoming 2023–
2024 marketing year, it anticipates that
the actual quantity of Scotch spearmint
oil carried into the 2024–2025
marketing year will be much less than
the quantity calculated above (404,233
pounds).
Spearmint oil held in reserve is oil
that has been produced in excess of a
producer’s annual allotment, either in
the current marketing year or in prior
years and is restricted from freely
entering the market. After December 1 of
each marketing year, reserve pool oil is
not available to the market in the
current marketing year without an
increase in the salable quantity and
allotment percentage. The Order does
include a provision for reserve oil to be
released for limited market development
projects, with approval of the Secretary,
but this provision is rarely utilized.
Oil held in the reserve pool is another
indicator of excess supply. Scotch
spearmint oil held in reserve was 23,667
pounds as of May 31, 2022, down from
72,361 pounds as of May 31, 2021. This
quantity of reserve pool oil should be an
adequate buffer to supply the market, if
necessary, should the industry
experience an unexpected increase in
demand.
The Committee recommended an
allotment percentage of 34 percent for
the 2023–2024 marketing year for
Scotch spearmint oil. During its October
12, 2022, meeting, the Committee
calculated an initial allotment
percentage by dividing the minimum
required salable quantity (368,471
pounds) by the total estimated allotment
base (2,272,660 pounds), resulting in
16.2 percent. However, producers and
handlers at the meeting indicated that
the computed percentage (16.2 percent)
might not adequately satisfy potential
2023–2024 marketing year Scotch
spearmint oil market demand and may
also result in a less than desirable carryin for the subsequent marketing year.
After deliberation, the Committee
recommended an allotment percentage
of 34 percent. The total estimated
allotment base (2,272,660 pounds) for
the 2023–2024 marketing year,
multiplied by the recommended
allotment percentage (34 percent),
yields 772,704 pounds, which is the
recommended salable quantity for the
2023–2024 marketing year.
The 2023–2024 marketing year
computational data for the Committee’s
recommendations is detailed below.
(A) Estimated carry-in of Scotch
spearmint oil on June 1, 2023: 266,529
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pounds. This figure is the difference
between the 2022–2023 marketing year
total available supply of 901,529 pounds
and the revised 2022–2023 marketing
year estimated trade demand of 635,000
pounds.
(B) Estimated trade demand of Scotch
spearmint oil for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 635,000 pounds. This
figure was established at the Committee
meeting held on October 12, 2022.
(C) Minimum salable quantity of
Scotch spearmint oil required from the
2023–2024 marketing year production:
368,471 pounds. This figure is the
difference between the estimated 2023–
2024 marketing year trade demand
(635,000 pounds) and the estimated
carry-in on June 1, 2022 (266,529
pounds). This salable quantity
represents the minimum amount of
Scotch spearmint oil that may be
needed to satisfy estimated demand for
the coming year.
(D) Total estimated Scotch spearmint
oil allotment base for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 2,272,660 pounds. This
figure represents a one-percent increase
over the 2022–2023 marketing year total
actual allotment base of 2,250,158
pounds, as prescribed by § 985.53(d).
The one-percent increase equals 22,502
pounds. This total estimated allotment
base is revised each year on June 1 in
accordance with § 985.53(e).
(E) Computed Scotch spearmint oil
allotment percentage for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 16.2 percent. This
percentage is computed by dividing the
minimum required salable quantity
(368,471) by the total estimated
allotment base (2,272,660 pounds).
(F) Recommended Scotch spearmint
oil allotment percentage for the 2023–
2024 marketing year: 34 percent. This is
the Committee’s recommendation and is
based on the computed allotment
percentage (16.2 percent) and input
from producers and handlers at the
October 12, 2022, meeting. The
recommended 34 percent allotment
percentage reflects the Committee’s
belief that the computed percentage
(16.2 percent) may not adequately
supply the anticipated 2023–2024
marketing year Scotch spearmint oil
market demand.
(G) Recommended Scotch spearmint
oil salable quantity for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 772,704 pounds. This
figure is the product of the
recommended salable allotment
percentage (34 percent) and the total
estimated allotment base (2,272,660
pounds) for the 2023–2024 marketing
year.
(H) Estimated total available supply
of Scotch spearmint oil for the 2023–
2024 marketing year: 1,039,233 pounds.
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23325
This figure is the sum of the 2023–2024
marketing year recommended salable
quantity (772,704 pounds) and the
estimated carry-in on June 1, 2023
(266,529 pounds).
For the reasons stated above, the
Committee believes that the salable
quantity and allotment percentage
established herein will adequately
satisfy trade demand, will result in a
reasonable carry-in for the following
year, and will contribute to the orderly
marketing of Scotch spearmint oil.
Native Spearmint Oil
The Committee recommended a
Native spearmint oil salable quantity of
1,034,492 pounds and an allotment
percentage of 40 percent for the 2023–
2024 marketing year. These figures are,
respectively, 66,777 pounds and 3
percentage points lower than the levels
established for the 2022–2023 marketing
year. The Committee utilized handlers’
estimated trade demand of Native
spearmint oil for the coming year,
historical and current Native spearmint
oil production, inventory statistics, and
international market data obtained from
consultants for the spearmint oil
industry to arrive at these
recommendations.
The Committee anticipates that 2022
Native spearmint oil production will
total 941,026 pounds, down slightly
from the previous year’s production of
985,797 pounds. Committee records
indicate that spearmint-producing acres
in the Far West have declined from a
recent high of 9,013 acres in 2019 to an
estimated 6,078 acres of Native
spearmint production in 2022.
Additionally, sales of Native
spearmint oil fell from 1,076,906
pounds in the 2020–2021 marketing
year to 988,536 pounds for the 2021–
2022 marketing year, the last full year of
reported sales. This sales figure
represents a 10-year low. However, the
Committee expects a moderate rebound
from this low, estimating trade demand
for Native spearmint oil at 1,150,000
pounds for the 2023–2024 marketing
year, which would be in line with the
3-year sales average of 1,132,567
pounds.
The Committee expects that 308,440
pounds of salable Native spearmint oil
from prior years will be carried into the
2023–2024 marketing year. This amount
is down from the 357,066 pounds of
salable oil carried into the 2022–2023
marketing year but still above the level
that the Committee generally considers
favorable.
Further, the Committee estimates that
there will be 1,093,144 pounds of Native
spearmint oil in the reserve pool at the
beginning of the 2023–2024 marketing
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year. This figure is 125,978 pounds
lower than the quantity of reserve pool
oil held by producers at the beginning
of the previous marketing year but still
well above the level that the Committee
believes is optimal. Generally, reserve
pool oil has been increasing over the
past several marketing years, climbing
from 996,050 pounds of Native reserve
oil at the start of the 2016–2017
marketing year to the 1,093,144 pounds
expected for the 2023–2024 marketing
year.
The Committee expects end users of
Native spearmint oil to continue to rely
on Far West production as their primary
source of high-quality Native spearmint
oil. Overseas production of Native
spearmint has declined in recent years.
As a result, U.S. exports of Native
spearmint oil have been steadily
increasing since 2018. However,
increased domestic production of Native
spearmint from regions outside of the
Far West production area has created
additional domestic competition for
market share. For example, there were
fewer than 2,000 acres of Native
spearmint production in the U.S.
Midwest region in 2016, compared to
over 10,000 acres of Native spearmint
oil production in the Far West.
However, 2022 Native spearmint
acreage estimates show that Far West
acreage has declined to approximately
6,078 acres, compared to Native
spearmint producing acreage of around
4,300 acres in the Midwest. This
situation has contributed to declining
trade demand for Far West Native
spearmint oil and led to downward
pressure on producer prices.
The Committee chose to be cautiously
optimistic in the establishment of its
trade demand estimate for the 2023–
2024 marketing year to ensure that the
market will be adequately supplied. At
the October 12, 2022, meeting, the
Committee estimated the 2023–2024
marketing year Native spearmint oil
trade demand to be 1,150,000 pounds.
This figure is based on input provided
by producers at nine production area
meetings held in early October 2022, as
well as estimates provided by handlers
and other meeting participants. This
figure represents a decrease of 50,000
pounds from the previous year’s original
estimated trade demand for the 2022–
2023 marketing year. The average
estimated trade demand for Native
spearmint oil derived from the area
producer meetings was 1,124,857
pounds, whereas the handlers’ estimates
ranged from 850,000 to 1,250,000
pounds. The average of Native
spearmint oil sales over the last three
years is 1,132,567 pounds. The quantity
marketed over the most recent full
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marketing year, 2021–2022, was 988,536
pounds.
The estimated June 1, 2023, carry-in
of 308,440 pounds of Native spearmint
oil, plus the recommended 2023–2024
marketing year salable quantity of
1,034,932 pounds, will result in an
estimated total available supply of
1,342,932 pounds of Native spearmint
oil during the 2023–2024 marketing
year. With the corresponding estimated
trade demand of 1,150,000 pounds, the
Committee projects that 192,932 pounds
of oil will be carried into the 2024–2025
marketing year. This will result in a
year-over-year decrease in carryover of
115,508 pounds. The Committee
estimates that there will be 1,093,144
pounds of Native spearmint oil held in
the reserve pool at the beginning of the
2023–2024 marketing year. Should the
industry experience an unexpected
increase in trade demand, oil in the
Native spearmint oil reserve pool could
be released through an intra-seasonal
increase in the salable quantity and
allotment percentage to satisfy that
demand.
The Committee recommended a
Native spearmint oil allotment
percentage of 40 percent for the 2023–
2024 marketing year. During its October
12, 2022, meeting, the Committee
calculated an initial allotment
percentage of 32.5 percent by dividing
the minimum required salable quantity
to satisfy estimated trade demand
(841,560 pounds) by the total allotment
base (2,586,229 pounds). However,
producers and handlers at the meeting
expressed concern that the computed
percentage of 32.5 percent may not
adequately supply the potential 2023–
2024 marketing year Native spearmint
oil market demand. Further, it could
result in a less than adequate carry-in
for the subsequent marketing year. After
deliberation, the Committee increased
its allotment percentage
recommendation to 40 percent. The
total estimated Native spearmint oil
allotment base (2,586,229 pounds)
multiplied by the recommended salable
allotment percentage (40 percent) yields
1,034,492 pounds, the recommended
Native spearmint oil salable quantity for
the 2023–2024 marketing year.
The 2023–2024 marketing year
computational data for the Committee’s
recommendation is further outlined
below.
(A) Estimated carry-in of Native
spearmint oil on June 1, 2023: 308,440
pounds. This figure is the difference
between the 2022–2023 marketing year
total available supply of 1,458,440
pounds and the revised 2022–2023
marketing year estimated trade demand
of 1,150,000 pounds.
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(B) Estimated trade demand of Native
spearmint oil for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 1,150,000 pounds. This
estimate was established by the
Committee at its October 12, 2022,
meeting.
(C) Minimum salable quantity of
Native spearmint oil required from the
2023–2024 marketing year production:
841,560 pounds. This figure is the
difference between the 2023–2024
marketing year estimated trade demand
(1,150,000 pounds) and the estimated
carry-in on June 1, 2023 (308,440
pounds). This is the minimum amount
of Native spearmint oil that the
Committee believes may be required to
meet the anticipated 2023–2024
marketing year trade demand.
(D) Total estimated allotment base of
Native spearmint oil for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 2,586,229 pounds. This
figure represents a one-percent increase
over the 2022–2023 marketing year
actual total allotment base of 2,560,623
pounds as prescribed in § 985.53(d). The
one-percent increase equals 25,606
pounds of oil. This estimate is revised
each year on June 1, to adjust for the
bona fide effort production provisions of
§ 985.53(e).
(E) Computed Native spearmint oil
allotment percentage for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 32.5 percent. This
percentage is calculated by dividing the
required minimum salable quantity
(841,560 pounds) by the total estimated
allotment base (2,586,229 pounds) for
the 2023–2024 marketing year.
(F) Recommended Native spearmint
oil allotment percentage for the 2023–
2024 marketing year: 40 percent. This is
the Committee’s recommendation based
on the computed allotment percentage
(32.5 percent) and input from producers
and handlers at the October 12, 2022,
meeting. The recommended 40 percent
allotment percentage is also based on
the Committee’s belief that the
computed percentage (32.5 percent) may
not adequately supply the potential
market for Native spearmint oil in the
2023–2024 marketing year or allow for
sufficient salable Native spearmint oil to
be carried into the beginning of the
2024–2025 marketing year.
(G) Recommended Native spearmint
oil 2023–2024 marketing year salable
quantity: 1,034,492 pounds. This figure
is the product of the recommended
allotment percentage (40 percent) and
the total estimated allotment base
(2,586,229 pounds).
(H) Estimated available supply of
Native spearmint oil for the 2023–2024
marketing year: 1,342,932 pounds. This
figure is the sum of the 2023–2024
marketing year recommended salable
quantity (1,034,492 pounds) and the
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estimated carry-in on June 1, 2023
(308,440 pounds). This amount could be
increased, as needed, through an intraseasonal increase in the salable quantity
and allotment percentage.
The Scotch and Native spearmint oil
salable quantities and allotment
percentages of 772,704 pounds and 34
percent, and 1,034,492 pounds and 40
percent, respectively, are expected to
match the available supply of each class
of spearmint oil to the estimated
demand of each, thus avoiding extreme
fluctuations in inventories and prices.
This rule is similar to regulations issued
in prior seasons.
The salable quantities in this final
rule are not expected to cause a shortage
of either class of spearmint oil. Any
unanticipated or additional market
demand for either class of spearmint oil
which may develop during the
marketing year could be satisfied by an
intra-seasonal increase in the salable
quantity and corresponding allotment
percentage. The Order contains a
provision in § 985.51 for intra-seasonal
increases to allow the Committee the
flexibility to respond quickly to
changing market conditions.
Under volume regulation, producers
who produce more than their annual
allotments during the marketing year
may transfer such excess spearmint oil
to producers who have produced less
than their annual allotment. In addition,
on December 1 of each year, producers
who have not transferred their excess
spearmint oil to other producers must
place their excess spearmint oil
production into the reserve pool to be
released in the future. Each producer
controls the disposition of their
respective reserve pool spearmint oil, in
accordance with market needs and the
Order’s volume regulation provisions,
and under the Committee’s oversight.
AMS has reviewed the Committee’s
marketing policy statement for the
2023–2024 marketing year. The
Committee’s marketing policy
statement, a requirement whenever the
Committee recommends volume
regulation, meets the requirements of
§§ 985.50 and 985.51.
The establishment of the salable
quantities and allotment percentages in
this rule are expected to allow for
anticipated market needs. In
determining anticipated market needs,
the Committee considered historical
sales, as well as changes and trends in
production and demand. This rule also
provides producers with information
regarding the amount of spearmint oil
that should be produced for the 2023–
2024 and subsequent marketing years to
meet anticipated market demand.
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Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Pursuant to requirements set forth in
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5
U.S.C. 601–612), AMS has considered
the economic impact of this rule on
small entities. Accordingly, AMS has
prepared this final regulatory flexibility
analysis.
The purpose of the RFA is to fit
regulatory actions to the scale of
businesses subject to such actions in
order that small businesses will not be
unduly or disproportionately burdened.
Marketing orders issued pursuant to the
Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are
unique in that they are brought about
through group action of essentially
small entities acting on their own
behalf.
There are approximately 40 producers
of Scotch spearmint oil and 94
producers of Native spearmint oil
operating within the regulated
production area. In addition, there are
approximately 8 spearmint oil handlers
(both Scotch and Native spearmint)
subject to regulation under the Order.
Small agricultural service firms are
defined by the Small Business
Administration (SBA) as those having
annual receipts of less than $34,000,000,
and small agricultural producers of
spearmint oil are defined as those
having annual receipts of less than
$2,500,000 (13 CFR 121.201).
The SBA size standards reported in
this rule are higher than in the proposed
rule because new standards went into
effect on December 19, 2022, after the
proposed rule was published. The size
threshold for small agricultural service
firms increased from $30 million to $34
million. The size threshold for small
agricultural producers of spearmint oil
increased from $2,250,000 to
$2,500,000.
The Committee reported that recent
producer prices for spearmint oil have
ranged from $18.50 to $22.00 per
pound. The National Agricultural
Statistics Service reported that the 2021
U.S. season average spearmint oil
producer price per pound was $15.80.
Spearmint oil utilization for the 2021–
2022 marketing year, as reported by the
Committee, was 667,793 pounds and
988,536 pounds for Scotch and Native
spearmint oil, respectively, for a total of
1,656,329 pounds. Multiplying $15.80
per pound by 2021–2022 marketing year
spearmint oil utilization of 1,656,329
pounds yields a crop value estimate of
about $26.17 million.
Given the accounting requirements for
the volume regulation provisions of the
Order, the Committee maintains
accurate records of each producer’s
production and sales. Using the $15.80
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average spearmint oil price and
Committee production data for each
producer, the Committee estimates that
39 of the 40 Scotch spearmint oil
producers and all of the 94 Native
spearmint oil producers could be
classified as small entities under the
SBA definition.
There is no third-party or
governmental entity that collects and
reports spearmint oil prices received by
spearmint oil handlers. However, the
Committee estimates an average
spearmint oil handling markup at
approximately 20 percent of the price
received by producers. Twenty percent
of the 2021 producer price ($15.80) is
$3.16, which results in a handler Free
on Board (f.o.b.) price per pound
estimate of $18.96 ($15.80 + $3.16).
Multiplying this estimated handler
f.o.b. price by the 2020–2021 marketing
year total spearmint oil utilization of
1,656,329 pounds results in an
estimated handler-level spearmint oil
value of $31.4 million. Dividing this
figure by the number of handlers (8)
yields estimated average annual handler
receipts of about $3.9 million, which is
well below the SBA threshold for small
agricultural service firms.
Furthermore, using confidential data
compiled by the Committee on the
pounds of spearmint oil handled by
each handler and the abovementioned
estimated handler price per pound, the
Committee reported that it is not likely
that any of the eight handlers had 2021–
2022 marketing year spearmint oil sales
that exceeded SBA’s $34-million
threshold.
Therefore, in view of the foregoing,
the majority of producers of spearmint
oil may be classified as small entities,
and all of the handlers of spearmint oil
may be classified as small entities.
This final rule establishes the quantity
of spearmint oil produced in the Far
West, by class, which handlers may
purchase from, or handle on behalf of,
producers during the 2023–2024
marketing year. The Committee
recommended this action to help
maintain stability in the spearmint oil
market by matching supply to estimated
demand, thereby avoiding extreme
fluctuations in supplies and prices.
Establishing quantities that may be
purchased from or handled on behalf of
producers during the marketing year
through volume regulation allows
producers to coordinate their spearmint
oil production with the expected market
demand. Authority for this proposal is
provided in §§ 985.50, 985.51, and
985.52 of the Order.
The Committee estimates the total
trade demand for the 2023–2024
marketing year for both classes of oil at
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1,785,000 pounds. In addition, the
Committee expects that the combined
salable carry-in for both classes of
spearmint oil will be 574,969 pounds.
As such, the combined required salable
quantity for the 2023–2024 marketing
year is estimated to be 1,210,031 pounds
(1,785,000 pounds trade demand less
574,969 pounds carry-in). Under
volume regulation, total sales of
spearmint oil by producers for the
2023–2024 marketing year will be held
to 2,382,165 pounds (the recommended
salable quantity for both classes of
spearmint oil of 1,807,196 pounds plus
574,969 of carry-in).
This total available supply of
2,382,165 pounds should be more than
adequate to supply the 1,785,000
pounds of anticipated total trade
demand for spearmint oil. In addition,
as of May 31, 2022, the total reserve
pool for both classes of spearmint oil
stood at 1,242,789 pounds. That
quantity is expected to remain relatively
unchanged over the course of the 2022–
2023 marketing year, with current
Committee reserve pool estimates
totaling 1,130,893 pounds. Should trade
demand increase unexpectedly during
the 2023–2024 marketing year, reserve
pool spearmint oil could be released
into the market to supply that increase
in demand.
The recommended allotment
percentages, upon which 2023–2024
marketing year annual producer
allotments are based, are 34 percent for
Scotch spearmint oil and 40 percent for
Native spearmint oil. Without volume
regulation, producers would not be held
to these allotment levels and could sell
unrestricted quantities of spearmint oil.
The AMS econometric model used to
evaluate the Far West spearmint oil
market estimated that the season
average producer price per pound (from
both classes of spearmint oil) would
decline about $2.65 per pound without
volume regulation. The surplus
situation for the spearmint oil market
that would exist without volume
regulation in the 2023–2024 marketing
year also would likely dampen
prospects for improved producer prices
in future years because of the excessive
buildup in stocks.
In addition, spearmint oil prices
would likely fluctuate with greater
amplitude in the absence of volume
regulation. The coefficient of variation,
or CV (a standard measure of
variability), of Far West spearmint oil
producer prices for the period 1980–
2021 (the years in which the Order has
been in effect), is 25 percent, compared
to 49 percent for the 20-year period
(1960–1979) immediately prior to the
establishment of the Order. Since higher
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CV values correspond to greater
variability, this is an indicator of the
price-stabilizing impact of the Order.
The use of volume regulation allows
the industry to fully supply spearmint
oil markets while avoiding the negative
consequences of over-supplying these
markets. The use of volume regulation
is believed to have little or no effect on
consumer prices of products containing
spearmint oil and will not result in
fewer retail sales of such products.
The Committee discussed alternatives
to the recommendations contained in
this rule for both classes of spearmint
oil. The Committee rejected the idea of
not regulating volume for either class of
spearmint oil because of the severe,
price-depressing effects that are more
likely to occur without volume
regulation. The Committee also
discussed and considered salable
quantities and allotment percentages
that were above and below the levels
that were eventually recommended for
both classes of spearmint oil.
Ultimately, the action recommended by
the Committee was to slightly reduce
the allotment percentage and salable
quantity for both Scotch spearmint oil
and Native spearmint oil from the levels
established for the 2022–2023 marketing
year.
As noted earlier, the Committee’s
recommendation to establish salable
quantities and allotment percentages for
both classes of spearmint oil was made
after careful consideration of all
available information including: (1) The
estimated quantity of salable oil of each
class held by producers and handlers;
(2) the estimated demand for each class
of oil; (3) the prospective production of
each class of oil; (4) the total of
allotment bases of each class of oil for
the current marketing year and the
estimated total of allotment bases of
each class for the ensuing marketing
year; (5) the quantity of reserve oil, by
class, in storage; (6) producer prices of
oil, including prices for each class of oil;
and (7) general market conditions for
each class of oil, including whether the
estimated season average price to
producers is likely to exceed parity.
Based on its review, the Committee
believes that the salable quantities and
allotment percentages established in
this rule will achieve the objectives
sought. The Committee also believes
that, should there be no volume
regulation in effect for the upcoming
marketing year, the Far West spearmint
oil industry would return to the
pronounced cyclical price patterns that
occurred prior to the promulgation of
the Order. As previously stated, annual
salable quantities and allotment
percentages have been issued for both
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classes of spearmint oil since the
Order’s inception. The salable quantities
and allotment percentages established
herein are expected to facilitate the goal
of maintaining orderly marketing
conditions for Far West spearmint oil
for the 2023–2024 and future marketing
years.
This final rule establishes the salable
quantities and allotment percentages for
Scotch and Native spearmint oil
produced in the Far West during the
2023–2024 marketing year. Costs to
producers and handlers, large and
small, resulting from this action are
expected to be offset by the benefits
derived from a more stable market and
increased returns. The benefits of this
rule are expected to be equally available
to all producers and handlers regardless
of their size.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the Order’s information
collection requirements have been
previously approved by OMB and
assigned OMB No. 0581–0178,
Vegetable and Specialty Crops. No
changes are necessary in those
requirements as a result of this rule.
Should any changes become necessary,
they would be submitted to OMB for
approval.
This final rule does not impose any
additional reporting or recordkeeping
requirements on either small or large
Far West spearmint oil handlers. As
with all Federal marketing order
programs, reports and forms are
periodically reviewed to reduce
information requirements and
duplication by industry and public
sector agencies. AMS has not identified
any relevant Federal rules that
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this
final rule.
AMS is committed to complying with
the E-Government Act, to promote the
use of the internet and other
information technologies to provide
increased opportunities for citizen
access to Government information and
services, and for other purposes.
A proposed rule concerning this
action was published in the Federal
Register on January 3, 2023 (88 FR 18).
Copies of the proposed rule were also
mailed or sent via email to all Far West
spearmint oil handlers. The proposal
was made available through the internet
by USDA and the Office of the Federal
Register. A 30-day comment period
ending February 2, 2023, was provided
for interested persons to respond to the
proposal. No comments were received
during the comment period.
Accordingly, no changes have been
made to the rule as proposed.
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A small business guide on complying
with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop
marketing agreements and orders may
be viewed at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/
moa/small-businesses. Any questions
about the compliance guide should be
sent to Richard Lower at the previously
mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
After consideration of all relevant
material presented, including the
information and recommendations
submitted by the Committee and other
available information, it is hereby found
that this rule will tend to effectuate the
declared policy of the Act.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985
Implementation of the 2022 Additional
Protocol to the 2002 U.S.-Canada
Agreement for Cooperation in the
Examination of Refugee Status Claims
From Nationals of Third Countries;
Correction
Marketing agreements, Oils and fats,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Agricultural Marketing
Service amends 7 CFR part 985 as
follows:
8 CFR Part 208
[CIS No. 2720–22; DHS Docket No. USCIS–
2023–0003]
RIN 1615–AC84
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Executive Office for Immigration
Review
8 CFR Parts 1003 and 1240
[EOIR No. 23–0010; AG Order No. 5632–
2023]
RIN 1125–AB29
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security; Executive Office for
Immigration Review, Department of
Justice.
ACTION: Final rule; correction and
correcting amendment.
AGENCY:
PART 985—MARKETING ORDER
REGULATING THE HANDLING OF
SPEARMINT OIL PRODUCED IN THE
FAR WEST
The Department of Justice
(‘‘DOJ’’) and the Department of
Homeland Security (‘‘DHS’’)
(‘‘collectively, ‘‘the Departments’’) are
correcting inadvertent errors and
omissions in the preamble and the
amendatory language of the final rule
titled ‘‘Implementation of the 2022
Additional Protocol to the 2002 U.S.Canada Agreement for Cooperation in
the Examination of Refugee Status
Claims from Nationals of Third
Countries’’ published in the Federal
Register on March 28, 2023.
DATES: This correction is effective April
17, 2023, and is applicable beginning at
12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services: Rena´ Cutlip-Mason, Chief,
Division of Humanitarian Affairs, Office
of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department
of Homeland Security, 5900 Capital
Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD
20588–0009; telephone (240) 721–3000
(not a toll-free call).
For Executive Office of Immigration
Review: Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant
Director, Office of Policy, Executive
Office for Immigration Review,
Department of Justice, 5107 Leesburg
Pike, Suite 1800, Falls Church, VA
22041; telephone (703) 305–0289 (not a
toll-free call).
SUMMARY:
1. The authority citation for part 985
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.
■
2. Add § 985.238 to read as follows:
§ 985.238 Salable quantities and allotment
percentages—2023–2024 marketing year.
The salable quantity and allotment
percentage for each class of spearmint
oil during the marketing year beginning
on June 1, 2023, shall be as follows:
(a) Class 1 (Scotch) oil—a salable
quantity of 772,704 pounds and an
allotment percentage of 34 percent.
(b) Class 3 (Native) oil—a salable
quantity of 1,034,492 pounds and an
allotment percentage of 40 percent.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–08009 Filed 4–14–23; 8:45 am]
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Need for Correction
On March 28, 2023, the Departments
published a final rule in the Federal
Register at 88 FR 18227 to implement
the Additional Protocol to the
Agreement between The Government of
the United States of America and The
Government of Canada For Cooperation
in the Examination of Refugee Status
Claims From Nationals of Third
Countries (‘‘Additional Protocol of
2022’’) negotiated by the Governments
of the United States and Canada, and
signed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on
March 29, 2022, and in Washington, DC,
United States, on April 15, 2022,
respectively.1 The Additional Protocol
of 2022 supplements certain terms of
the December 5, 2002 Agreement
between The Government of the United
States and The Government of Canada
For Cooperation in the Examination of
Refugee Status Claims from Nationals of
Third Countries (‘‘Safe Third Country
Agreement,’’ ‘‘STCA’’).2 This document
corrects inadvertent errors and
omissions in the final rule published on
March 28, 2023.
In the final rule, DHS amended 8 CFR
208.30(e)(7) to clarify that the STCA
includes the Additional Protocol of
2022.3 The regulations at 8 CFR
208.30(e)(7) consists of paragraph (e)(7)
introductory text paragraphs (e)(7)(i)
through (iv). DHS intended to revise
only the introductory text of paragraph
(e)(7) of 8 CFR 208.30 and to leave
paragraphs (e)(7)(i) through (iv) intact.
However, through its instructions, DHS
inadvertently removed paragraphs
(e)(7)(i) through (iv) of § 208.30. This
document corrects this error and the
amendatory language to ensure that
these paragraphs remain in the Code of
Federal Regulations (‘‘CFR’’). DHS
makes no additional changes to 8 CFR
208.30(e)(7) with this correction.
Additionally, in the final rule, DOJ
amended 8 CFR 1003.42(h). DOJ revised
paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) by making
conforming amendments, including
amendments to clarify that any
determination under the STCA includes
the Additional Protocol of 2022.4 The
regulatory text also indicated a change
in the heading of paragraph (h)—i.e.,
changing ‘‘Asylum cooperative
agreement-’’ to ‘‘Safe Third Country
Agreement—’’.5 That change was
inadvertent, as reflected by the fact that
DOJ omitted any reference to changing
1 See
88 FR 18227.
id.
3 See 88 FR 18227 at 18232–33, 18234–35.
4 See 88 FR at 18233 and 18235.
5 See 88 FR at 18240.
2 See
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23323-23329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08009]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 73 / Monday, April 17, 2023 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 23323]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 985
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-22-0070]
Marketing Order Regulating the Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced
in the Far West; Salable Quantities and Allotment Percentages for the
2023-2024 Marketing Year
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This rule implements a recommendation from the Far West
Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish salable
quantities and allotment percentages for Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3
(Native) spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and
designated parts of Nevada and Utah (the Far West) for the 2023-2024
marketing year.
DATES: Effective May 17, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua R. Wilde, Marketing Specialist,
or Gary D. Olson, Chief, Western Region Branch, Market Development
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-
2724, or Email: [email protected] or [email protected].
Small businesses may request information on complying with this
regulation by contacting Richard Lower, Market Development Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, or Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553,
amends regulations issued to carry out a marketing order as defined in
7 CFR 900.2(j). This rule is issued under Marketing Order No. 985, as
amended (7 CFR part 985), regulating the handling of spearmint oil
produced in the Far West. Part 985 (referred to as ``the Order'') is
effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.'' The
Committee locally administers the Order and is comprised of spearmint
oil producers operating within the area of production, and a public
member.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is issuing this rule in
conformance with Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. Executive Orders
12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess costs and benefits of
available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to
select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including
potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects,
distributive impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the
importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs,
harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. This action falls within
a category of regulatory actions that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) exempted from Executive Order 12866 review.
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 13175--
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, which
requires agencies to consider whether their rulemaking actions would
have Tribal implications. AMS has determined that this rule is unlikely
to have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or on
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian Tribes.
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect.
Under the Order now in effect, salable quantities and allotment
percentages may be established for classes of spearmint oil produced in
the Far West. This rule establishes salable quantities and allotment
percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint oil for the 2023-2024
marketing year, which begins on June 1, 2023.
The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) a petition stating that the order, any provision of
the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is
not in accordance with law and request a modification of the order or
to be exempted therefrom. Such handler is afforded the opportunity for
a hearing on the petition. After the hearing, USDA would rule on the
petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States
in any district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or
her principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review USDA's
ruling on the petition, provided an action is filed no later than 20
days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
Pursuant to the requirements in Sec. 985.50 of the Order, the
Committee meets each year to consider supply and demand of spearmint
oil and to adopt a marketing policy for the ensuing marketing year. In
determining such marketing policy, the Committee considers several
factors, including, but not limited to, the current and projected
supply of oil, estimated future demand, production costs, and producer
prices for both classes of spearmint oil. Input from spearmint oil
handlers and producers are considered as well.
Pursuant to the provisions in Sec. 985.51, when the Committee's
marketing policy considerations indicate a need to establish or to
maintain stable market conditions through volume regulation, the
Committee subsequently recommends to AMS the establishment of a salable
quantity and allotment percentage for such class or classes of oil for
the upcoming marketing year. Recommendations for volume control are
intended to ensure market requirements for Far West spearmint oil are
satisfied and orderly marketing conditions are maintained.
Salable quantity represents the total quantity of each class of oil
(Scotch or Native) which handlers may purchase from, or handle on
behalf of, producers during a given marketing year. The allotment
percentage for each class of spearmint oil is the salable quantity for
that class of oil divided by the total of all producers' allotment base
for the same class of oil. A producer's allotment base is their
calculated share of the spearmint oil market based on a
[[Page 23324]]
statistical representation of past spearmint production and sales. In
order to account for changes in production and demand over time, the
Committee periodically reviews and adjusts each producer's allotment
base in accordance with a formula prescribed by the Committee and
approved by AMS. Each producer's annual allotment of the salable
quantity is calculated by multiplying their respective allotment base
for each class of spearmint oil by the allotment percentage for that
class of spearmint oil. The total allotment base is revised each year
on June 1 to account for producer allotment base being lost as a result
of the ``bona fide effort'' production provision of Sec. 985.53(e) and
additional base made available pursuant to the provisions of Sec.
985.153.
Salable quantities and allotment percentages are established at
levels intended to maintain orderly marketing conditions while also
ensuring that markets are adequately supplied. Further, Committee
recommendations for volume control are made in advance of the upcoming
marketing year in which the regulations are to be effective, thereby
allowing producers ample time to adjust their production decisions
accordingly.
The Committee met on October 12, 2022, to consider its marketing
policy for the 2023-2024 marketing year. At that meeting, the Committee
determined that, based on the current market and supply conditions,
volume regulation for both classes of oil would be necessary. The
Committee recommended, with a vote of six in favor and one opposed, a
salable quantity and allotment percentage for Scotch spearmint oil of
772,704 pounds and 34 percent, respectively. The member voting in
opposition to the recommendation supported volume regulation but
favored a salable quantity and allotment percent lower than what was
recommended. In addition, the Committee unanimously recommended a
salable quantity and allotment percentage for Native spearmint oil of
1,034,492 pounds and 40 percent, respectively.
This action establishes the amount of Scotch and Native spearmint
oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers
during the 2023-2024 marketing year, which begins on June 1, 2023.
Salable quantities and allotment percentages have been in effect each
season since the Order's inception in 1980.
Scotch Spearmint Oil
The Committee recommended a Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity
of 772,704 pounds and an allotment percentage of 34 percent for the
2023-2024 marketing year. The 2023-2024 marketing year salable quantity
of 772,704 pounds is 59,876 pounds less than the salable quantity of
832,580 pounds established for the 2022-2023 marketing year. The
recommended 34 percent allotment percentage for the 2023-2024 marketing
year is three percent less than the percentage in effect the previous
marketing year.
The total allotment base for the coming marketing year is estimated
to be 2,272,660 pounds. This figure represents a one-percent increase
over the revised 2022-2023 marketing year total allotment base of
2,250,124 pounds. The salable quantity (772,704 pounds) is the product
of total allotment base (2,272,660 pounds) times the allotment
percentage (34 percent).
The Committee considered several factors in making its
recommendation, including the current and projected future supply,
estimated future demand, production costs, and producer prices. The
Committee's recommendation also accounts for the established acreage of
Scotch spearmint, consumer demand, existing carry-in, reserve pool
volume, and increased production in competing markets.
According to the Committee, as costs of production have increased
and spearmint oil prices have decreased, many producers have forgone
new plantings of Scotch spearmint. This has resulted in a significant
decline in production of Scotch spearmint oil in recent years.
Production has decreased from 1,113,346 pounds produced in 2016 to an
estimated 576,692 pounds of Scotch spearmint production in 2021.
Industry reports indicate that trade demand for Far West Scotch
spearmint oil, which has been declining since the 2014-2015 marketing
year, has begun to stabilize. Sales of Far West Scotch spearmint oil
declined from 1,060,232 pounds during the 2014-2015 marketing year to
488,484 pounds in the 2020-2021 marketing year, before notably
rebounding to 667,793 pounds in the 2021-2022 marketing year, the last
full year of available data. The Committee indicates that the downward
pressure on trade demand for Scotch spearmint oil from the Far West has
lessened as production of Scotch spearmint oil in competing markets,
most notably by Canadian producers, has leveled off in recent years.
Given the anticipated market conditions for the coming year, the
Committee estimates that Scotch spearmint oil trade demand for the
2023-2024 marketing year will be 635,000 pounds, which is 15,000 pounds
lower than the prior year estimate and slightly higher than the 5-year
moving sales average of 618,834 pounds. Should the established volume
regulation levels prove insufficient to adequately supply the market,
the Committee has the authority to recommend intra-seasonal increases
of the salable quantity and allotment percentage, as it has in previous
marketing years.
The Committee calculated the minimum salable quantity of Scotch
spearmint oil that will be required during the 2023-2024 marketing year
(368,471 pounds) by subtracting the estimated salable carry-in on June
1, 2023, (266,529 pounds) from the estimated trade demand (635,000
pounds). This minimum salable quantity represents the estimated minimum
amount of Scotch spearmint oil that will be needed to satisfy estimated
trade demand for the coming year. To ensure that the market will be
fully supplied, the Committee recommended a 2023-2024 marketing year
salable quantity of 772,704 pounds. The recommended salable quantity,
combined with an estimated 266,529 pounds of salable carry-in from the
previous year, will yield a total available supply of 1,039,233 pounds
of Scotch spearmint oil for the 2023-2024 marketing year. With the
recommended salable quantity and current market environment, the
Committee estimates that as much as 404,233 pounds of salable Scotch
spearmint oil could be carried into the 2024-2025 marketing year.
Salable carry-in is the primary measure of excess spearmint oil
supply under the Order, as it represents overproduction in prior years
that is currently available to the market without restriction. Under
volume regulation, spearmint oil that is designated as salable
continues to be available to the market until it is sold and may be
marketed at any time at the discretion of the owner.
The Committee estimates that there will be 266,529 pounds of
salable carry-in of Scotch spearmint oil on June 1, 2023. If current
market conditions are maintained and the Committee's projections are
correct, salable carry-in will increase to 404,233 pounds at the
beginning of the 2024-2025 marketing year. That level would be above
the quantity that the Committee generally considers favorable (150,000
pounds). However, the Committee believes that, given the current
economic conditions in the Scotch spearmint oil industry, some Scotch
spearmint oil producers may not produce their annual allotment for the
2023-2024 marketing year. Further, the Committee estimates that as
[[Page 23325]]
much as 287,480 pounds of the 2022-2023 marketing year annual allotment
may not be filled by producers. While the Committee has not projected
unused base allotment for the upcoming 2023-2024 marketing year, it
anticipates that the actual quantity of Scotch spearmint oil carried
into the 2024-2025 marketing year will be much less than the quantity
calculated above (404,233 pounds).
Spearmint oil held in reserve is oil that has been produced in
excess of a producer's annual allotment, either in the current
marketing year or in prior years and is restricted from freely entering
the market. After December 1 of each marketing year, reserve pool oil
is not available to the market in the current marketing year without an
increase in the salable quantity and allotment percentage. The Order
does include a provision for reserve oil to be released for limited
market development projects, with approval of the Secretary, but this
provision is rarely utilized.
Oil held in the reserve pool is another indicator of excess supply.
Scotch spearmint oil held in reserve was 23,667 pounds as of May 31,
2022, down from 72,361 pounds as of May 31, 2021. This quantity of
reserve pool oil should be an adequate buffer to supply the market, if
necessary, should the industry experience an unexpected increase in
demand.
The Committee recommended an allotment percentage of 34 percent for
the 2023-2024 marketing year for Scotch spearmint oil. During its
October 12, 2022, meeting, the Committee calculated an initial
allotment percentage by dividing the minimum required salable quantity
(368,471 pounds) by the total estimated allotment base (2,272,660
pounds), resulting in 16.2 percent. However, producers and handlers at
the meeting indicated that the computed percentage (16.2 percent) might
not adequately satisfy potential 2023-2024 marketing year Scotch
spearmint oil market demand and may also result in a less than
desirable carry-in for the subsequent marketing year. After
deliberation, the Committee recommended an allotment percentage of 34
percent. The total estimated allotment base (2,272,660 pounds) for the
2023-2024 marketing year, multiplied by the recommended allotment
percentage (34 percent), yields 772,704 pounds, which is the
recommended salable quantity for the 2023-2024 marketing year.
The 2023-2024 marketing year computational data for the Committee's
recommendations is detailed below.
(A) Estimated carry-in of Scotch spearmint oil on June 1, 2023:
266,529 pounds. This figure is the difference between the 2022-2023
marketing year total available supply of 901,529 pounds and the revised
2022-2023 marketing year estimated trade demand of 635,000 pounds.
(B) Estimated trade demand of Scotch spearmint oil for the 2023-
2024 marketing year: 635,000 pounds. This figure was established at the
Committee meeting held on October 12, 2022.
(C) Minimum salable quantity of Scotch spearmint oil required from
the 2023-2024 marketing year production: 368,471 pounds. This figure is
the difference between the estimated 2023-2024 marketing year trade
demand (635,000 pounds) and the estimated carry-in on June 1, 2022
(266,529 pounds). This salable quantity represents the minimum amount
of Scotch spearmint oil that may be needed to satisfy estimated demand
for the coming year.
(D) Total estimated Scotch spearmint oil allotment base for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 2,272,660 pounds. This figure represents a
one-percent increase over the 2022-2023 marketing year total actual
allotment base of 2,250,158 pounds, as prescribed by Sec. 985.53(d).
The one-percent increase equals 22,502 pounds. This total estimated
allotment base is revised each year on June 1 in accordance with Sec.
985.53(e).
(E) Computed Scotch spearmint oil allotment percentage for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 16.2 percent. This percentage is computed by
dividing the minimum required salable quantity (368,471) by the total
estimated allotment base (2,272,660 pounds).
(F) Recommended Scotch spearmint oil allotment percentage for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 34 percent. This is the Committee's
recommendation and is based on the computed allotment percentage (16.2
percent) and input from producers and handlers at the October 12, 2022,
meeting. The recommended 34 percent allotment percentage reflects the
Committee's belief that the computed percentage (16.2 percent) may not
adequately supply the anticipated 2023-2024 marketing year Scotch
spearmint oil market demand.
(G) Recommended Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity for the 2023-
2024 marketing year: 772,704 pounds. This figure is the product of the
recommended salable allotment percentage (34 percent) and the total
estimated allotment base (2,272,660 pounds) for the 2023-2024 marketing
year.
(H) Estimated total available supply of Scotch spearmint oil for
the 2023-2024 marketing year: 1,039,233 pounds. This figure is the sum
of the 2023-2024 marketing year recommended salable quantity (772,704
pounds) and the estimated carry-in on June 1, 2023 (266,529 pounds).
For the reasons stated above, the Committee believes that the
salable quantity and allotment percentage established herein will
adequately satisfy trade demand, will result in a reasonable carry-in
for the following year, and will contribute to the orderly marketing of
Scotch spearmint oil.
Native Spearmint Oil
The Committee recommended a Native spearmint oil salable quantity
of 1,034,492 pounds and an allotment percentage of 40 percent for the
2023-2024 marketing year. These figures are, respectively, 66,777
pounds and 3 percentage points lower than the levels established for
the 2022-2023 marketing year. The Committee utilized handlers'
estimated trade demand of Native spearmint oil for the coming year,
historical and current Native spearmint oil production, inventory
statistics, and international market data obtained from consultants for
the spearmint oil industry to arrive at these recommendations.
The Committee anticipates that 2022 Native spearmint oil production
will total 941,026 pounds, down slightly from the previous year's
production of 985,797 pounds. Committee records indicate that
spearmint-producing acres in the Far West have declined from a recent
high of 9,013 acres in 2019 to an estimated 6,078 acres of Native
spearmint production in 2022.
Additionally, sales of Native spearmint oil fell from 1,076,906
pounds in the 2020-2021 marketing year to 988,536 pounds for the 2021-
2022 marketing year, the last full year of reported sales. This sales
figure represents a 10-year low. However, the Committee expects a
moderate rebound from this low, estimating trade demand for Native
spearmint oil at 1,150,000 pounds for the 2023-2024 marketing year,
which would be in line with the 3-year sales average of 1,132,567
pounds.
The Committee expects that 308,440 pounds of salable Native
spearmint oil from prior years will be carried into the 2023-2024
marketing year. This amount is down from the 357,066 pounds of salable
oil carried into the 2022-2023 marketing year but still above the level
that the Committee generally considers favorable.
Further, the Committee estimates that there will be 1,093,144
pounds of Native spearmint oil in the reserve pool at the beginning of
the 2023-2024 marketing
[[Page 23326]]
year. This figure is 125,978 pounds lower than the quantity of reserve
pool oil held by producers at the beginning of the previous marketing
year but still well above the level that the Committee believes is
optimal. Generally, reserve pool oil has been increasing over the past
several marketing years, climbing from 996,050 pounds of Native reserve
oil at the start of the 2016-2017 marketing year to the 1,093,144
pounds expected for the 2023-2024 marketing year.
The Committee expects end users of Native spearmint oil to continue
to rely on Far West production as their primary source of high-quality
Native spearmint oil. Overseas production of Native spearmint has
declined in recent years. As a result, U.S. exports of Native spearmint
oil have been steadily increasing since 2018. However, increased
domestic production of Native spearmint from regions outside of the Far
West production area has created additional domestic competition for
market share. For example, there were fewer than 2,000 acres of Native
spearmint production in the U.S. Midwest region in 2016, compared to
over 10,000 acres of Native spearmint oil production in the Far West.
However, 2022 Native spearmint acreage estimates show that Far West
acreage has declined to approximately 6,078 acres, compared to Native
spearmint producing acreage of around 4,300 acres in the Midwest. This
situation has contributed to declining trade demand for Far West Native
spearmint oil and led to downward pressure on producer prices.
The Committee chose to be cautiously optimistic in the
establishment of its trade demand estimate for the 2023-2024 marketing
year to ensure that the market will be adequately supplied. At the
October 12, 2022, meeting, the Committee estimated the 2023-2024
marketing year Native spearmint oil trade demand to be 1,150,000
pounds. This figure is based on input provided by producers at nine
production area meetings held in early October 2022, as well as
estimates provided by handlers and other meeting participants. This
figure represents a decrease of 50,000 pounds from the previous year's
original estimated trade demand for the 2022-2023 marketing year. The
average estimated trade demand for Native spearmint oil derived from
the area producer meetings was 1,124,857 pounds, whereas the handlers'
estimates ranged from 850,000 to 1,250,000 pounds. The average of
Native spearmint oil sales over the last three years is 1,132,567
pounds. The quantity marketed over the most recent full marketing year,
2021-2022, was 988,536 pounds.
The estimated June 1, 2023, carry-in of 308,440 pounds of Native
spearmint oil, plus the recommended 2023-2024 marketing year salable
quantity of 1,034,932 pounds, will result in an estimated total
available supply of 1,342,932 pounds of Native spearmint oil during the
2023-2024 marketing year. With the corresponding estimated trade demand
of 1,150,000 pounds, the Committee projects that 192,932 pounds of oil
will be carried into the 2024-2025 marketing year. This will result in
a year-over-year decrease in carryover of 115,508 pounds. The Committee
estimates that there will be 1,093,144 pounds of Native spearmint oil
held in the reserve pool at the beginning of the 2023-2024 marketing
year. Should the industry experience an unexpected increase in trade
demand, oil in the Native spearmint oil reserve pool could be released
through an intra-seasonal increase in the salable quantity and
allotment percentage to satisfy that demand.
The Committee recommended a Native spearmint oil allotment
percentage of 40 percent for the 2023-2024 marketing year. During its
October 12, 2022, meeting, the Committee calculated an initial
allotment percentage of 32.5 percent by dividing the minimum required
salable quantity to satisfy estimated trade demand (841,560 pounds) by
the total allotment base (2,586,229 pounds). However, producers and
handlers at the meeting expressed concern that the computed percentage
of 32.5 percent may not adequately supply the potential 2023-2024
marketing year Native spearmint oil market demand. Further, it could
result in a less than adequate carry-in for the subsequent marketing
year. After deliberation, the Committee increased its allotment
percentage recommendation to 40 percent. The total estimated Native
spearmint oil allotment base (2,586,229 pounds) multiplied by the
recommended salable allotment percentage (40 percent) yields 1,034,492
pounds, the recommended Native spearmint oil salable quantity for the
2023-2024 marketing year.
The 2023-2024 marketing year computational data for the Committee's
recommendation is further outlined below.
(A) Estimated carry-in of Native spearmint oil on June 1, 2023:
308,440 pounds. This figure is the difference between the 2022-2023
marketing year total available supply of 1,458,440 pounds and the
revised 2022-2023 marketing year estimated trade demand of 1,150,000
pounds.
(B) Estimated trade demand of Native spearmint oil for the 2023-
2024 marketing year: 1,150,000 pounds. This estimate was established by
the Committee at its October 12, 2022, meeting.
(C) Minimum salable quantity of Native spearmint oil required from
the 2023-2024 marketing year production: 841,560 pounds. This figure is
the difference between the 2023-2024 marketing year estimated trade
demand (1,150,000 pounds) and the estimated carry-in on June 1, 2023
(308,440 pounds). This is the minimum amount of Native spearmint oil
that the Committee believes may be required to meet the anticipated
2023-2024 marketing year trade demand.
(D) Total estimated allotment base of Native spearmint oil for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 2,586,229 pounds. This figure represents a
one-percent increase over the 2022-2023 marketing year actual total
allotment base of 2,560,623 pounds as prescribed in Sec. 985.53(d).
The one-percent increase equals 25,606 pounds of oil. This estimate is
revised each year on June 1, to adjust for the bona fide effort
production provisions of Sec. 985.53(e).
(E) Computed Native spearmint oil allotment percentage for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 32.5 percent. This percentage is calculated
by dividing the required minimum salable quantity (841,560 pounds) by
the total estimated allotment base (2,586,229 pounds) for the 2023-2024
marketing year.
(F) Recommended Native spearmint oil allotment percentage for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 40 percent. This is the Committee's
recommendation based on the computed allotment percentage (32.5
percent) and input from producers and handlers at the October 12, 2022,
meeting. The recommended 40 percent allotment percentage is also based
on the Committee's belief that the computed percentage (32.5 percent)
may not adequately supply the potential market for Native spearmint oil
in the 2023-2024 marketing year or allow for sufficient salable Native
spearmint oil to be carried into the beginning of the 2024-2025
marketing year.
(G) Recommended Native spearmint oil 2023-2024 marketing year
salable quantity: 1,034,492 pounds. This figure is the product of the
recommended allotment percentage (40 percent) and the total estimated
allotment base (2,586,229 pounds).
(H) Estimated available supply of Native spearmint oil for the
2023-2024 marketing year: 1,342,932 pounds. This figure is the sum of
the 2023-2024 marketing year recommended salable quantity (1,034,492
pounds) and the
[[Page 23327]]
estimated carry-in on June 1, 2023 (308,440 pounds). This amount could
be increased, as needed, through an intra-seasonal increase in the
salable quantity and allotment percentage.
The Scotch and Native spearmint oil salable quantities and
allotment percentages of 772,704 pounds and 34 percent, and 1,034,492
pounds and 40 percent, respectively, are expected to match the
available supply of each class of spearmint oil to the estimated demand
of each, thus avoiding extreme fluctuations in inventories and prices.
This rule is similar to regulations issued in prior seasons.
The salable quantities in this final rule are not expected to cause
a shortage of either class of spearmint oil. Any unanticipated or
additional market demand for either class of spearmint oil which may
develop during the marketing year could be satisfied by an intra-
seasonal increase in the salable quantity and corresponding allotment
percentage. The Order contains a provision in Sec. 985.51 for intra-
seasonal increases to allow the Committee the flexibility to respond
quickly to changing market conditions.
Under volume regulation, producers who produce more than their
annual allotments during the marketing year may transfer such excess
spearmint oil to producers who have produced less than their annual
allotment. In addition, on December 1 of each year, producers who have
not transferred their excess spearmint oil to other producers must
place their excess spearmint oil production into the reserve pool to be
released in the future. Each producer controls the disposition of their
respective reserve pool spearmint oil, in accordance with market needs
and the Order's volume regulation provisions, and under the Committee's
oversight.
AMS has reviewed the Committee's marketing policy statement for the
2023-2024 marketing year. The Committee's marketing policy statement, a
requirement whenever the Committee recommends volume regulation, meets
the requirements of Sec. Sec. 985.50 and 985.51.
The establishment of the salable quantities and allotment
percentages in this rule are expected to allow for anticipated market
needs. In determining anticipated market needs, the Committee
considered historical sales, as well as changes and trends in
production and demand. This rule also provides producers with
information regarding the amount of spearmint oil that should be
produced for the 2023-2024 and subsequent marketing years to meet
anticipated market demand.
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), AMS has considered the economic impact of
this rule on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has prepared this final
regulatory flexibility analysis.
The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of
businesses subject to such actions in order that small businesses will
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued
pursuant to the Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are unique in
that they are brought about through group action of essentially small
entities acting on their own behalf.
There are approximately 40 producers of Scotch spearmint oil and 94
producers of Native spearmint oil operating within the regulated
production area. In addition, there are approximately 8 spearmint oil
handlers (both Scotch and Native spearmint) subject to regulation under
the Order. Small agricultural service firms are defined by the Small
Business Administration (SBA) as those having annual receipts of less
than $34,000,000, and small agricultural producers of spearmint oil are
defined as those having annual receipts of less than $2,500,000 (13 CFR
121.201).
The SBA size standards reported in this rule are higher than in the
proposed rule because new standards went into effect on December 19,
2022, after the proposed rule was published. The size threshold for
small agricultural service firms increased from $30 million to $34
million. The size threshold for small agricultural producers of
spearmint oil increased from $2,250,000 to $2,500,000.
The Committee reported that recent producer prices for spearmint
oil have ranged from $18.50 to $22.00 per pound. The National
Agricultural Statistics Service reported that the 2021 U.S. season
average spearmint oil producer price per pound was $15.80. Spearmint
oil utilization for the 2021-2022 marketing year, as reported by the
Committee, was 667,793 pounds and 988,536 pounds for Scotch and Native
spearmint oil, respectively, for a total of 1,656,329 pounds.
Multiplying $15.80 per pound by 2021-2022 marketing year spearmint oil
utilization of 1,656,329 pounds yields a crop value estimate of about
$26.17 million.
Given the accounting requirements for the volume regulation
provisions of the Order, the Committee maintains accurate records of
each producer's production and sales. Using the $15.80 average
spearmint oil price and Committee production data for each producer,
the Committee estimates that 39 of the 40 Scotch spearmint oil
producers and all of the 94 Native spearmint oil producers could be
classified as small entities under the SBA definition.
There is no third-party or governmental entity that collects and
reports spearmint oil prices received by spearmint oil handlers.
However, the Committee estimates an average spearmint oil handling
markup at approximately 20 percent of the price received by producers.
Twenty percent of the 2021 producer price ($15.80) is $3.16, which
results in a handler Free on Board (f.o.b.) price per pound estimate of
$18.96 ($15.80 + $3.16).
Multiplying this estimated handler f.o.b. price by the 2020-2021
marketing year total spearmint oil utilization of 1,656,329 pounds
results in an estimated handler-level spearmint oil value of $31.4
million. Dividing this figure by the number of handlers (8) yields
estimated average annual handler receipts of about $3.9 million, which
is well below the SBA threshold for small agricultural service firms.
Furthermore, using confidential data compiled by the Committee on
the pounds of spearmint oil handled by each handler and the
abovementioned estimated handler price per pound, the Committee
reported that it is not likely that any of the eight handlers had 2021-
2022 marketing year spearmint oil sales that exceeded SBA's $34-million
threshold.
Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the majority of producers of
spearmint oil may be classified as small entities, and all of the
handlers of spearmint oil may be classified as small entities.
This final rule establishes the quantity of spearmint oil produced
in the Far West, by class, which handlers may purchase from, or handle
on behalf of, producers during the 2023-2024 marketing year. The
Committee recommended this action to help maintain stability in the
spearmint oil market by matching supply to estimated demand, thereby
avoiding extreme fluctuations in supplies and prices. Establishing
quantities that may be purchased from or handled on behalf of producers
during the marketing year through volume regulation allows producers to
coordinate their spearmint oil production with the expected market
demand. Authority for this proposal is provided in Sec. Sec. 985.50,
985.51, and 985.52 of the Order.
The Committee estimates the total trade demand for the 2023-2024
marketing year for both classes of oil at
[[Page 23328]]
1,785,000 pounds. In addition, the Committee expects that the combined
salable carry-in for both classes of spearmint oil will be 574,969
pounds. As such, the combined required salable quantity for the 2023-
2024 marketing year is estimated to be 1,210,031 pounds (1,785,000
pounds trade demand less 574,969 pounds carry-in). Under volume
regulation, total sales of spearmint oil by producers for the 2023-2024
marketing year will be held to 2,382,165 pounds (the recommended
salable quantity for both classes of spearmint oil of 1,807,196 pounds
plus 574,969 of carry-in).
This total available supply of 2,382,165 pounds should be more than
adequate to supply the 1,785,000 pounds of anticipated total trade
demand for spearmint oil. In addition, as of May 31, 2022, the total
reserve pool for both classes of spearmint oil stood at 1,242,789
pounds. That quantity is expected to remain relatively unchanged over
the course of the 2022-2023 marketing year, with current Committee
reserve pool estimates totaling 1,130,893 pounds. Should trade demand
increase unexpectedly during the 2023-2024 marketing year, reserve pool
spearmint oil could be released into the market to supply that increase
in demand.
The recommended allotment percentages, upon which 2023-2024
marketing year annual producer allotments are based, are 34 percent for
Scotch spearmint oil and 40 percent for Native spearmint oil. Without
volume regulation, producers would not be held to these allotment
levels and could sell unrestricted quantities of spearmint oil.
The AMS econometric model used to evaluate the Far West spearmint
oil market estimated that the season average producer price per pound
(from both classes of spearmint oil) would decline about $2.65 per
pound without volume regulation. The surplus situation for the
spearmint oil market that would exist without volume regulation in the
2023-2024 marketing year also would likely dampen prospects for
improved producer prices in future years because of the excessive
buildup in stocks.
In addition, spearmint oil prices would likely fluctuate with
greater amplitude in the absence of volume regulation. The coefficient
of variation, or CV (a standard measure of variability), of Far West
spearmint oil producer prices for the period 1980-2021 (the years in
which the Order has been in effect), is 25 percent, compared to 49
percent for the 20-year period (1960-1979) immediately prior to the
establishment of the Order. Since higher CV values correspond to
greater variability, this is an indicator of the price-stabilizing
impact of the Order.
The use of volume regulation allows the industry to fully supply
spearmint oil markets while avoiding the negative consequences of over-
supplying these markets. The use of volume regulation is believed to
have little or no effect on consumer prices of products containing
spearmint oil and will not result in fewer retail sales of such
products.
The Committee discussed alternatives to the recommendations
contained in this rule for both classes of spearmint oil. The Committee
rejected the idea of not regulating volume for either class of
spearmint oil because of the severe, price-depressing effects that are
more likely to occur without volume regulation. The Committee also
discussed and considered salable quantities and allotment percentages
that were above and below the levels that were eventually recommended
for both classes of spearmint oil. Ultimately, the action recommended
by the Committee was to slightly reduce the allotment percentage and
salable quantity for both Scotch spearmint oil and Native spearmint oil
from the levels established for the 2022-2023 marketing year.
As noted earlier, the Committee's recommendation to establish
salable quantities and allotment percentages for both classes of
spearmint oil was made after careful consideration of all available
information including: (1) The estimated quantity of salable oil of
each class held by producers and handlers; (2) the estimated demand for
each class of oil; (3) the prospective production of each class of oil;
(4) the total of allotment bases of each class of oil for the current
marketing year and the estimated total of allotment bases of each class
for the ensuing marketing year; (5) the quantity of reserve oil, by
class, in storage; (6) producer prices of oil, including prices for
each class of oil; and (7) general market conditions for each class of
oil, including whether the estimated season average price to producers
is likely to exceed parity.
Based on its review, the Committee believes that the salable
quantities and allotment percentages established in this rule will
achieve the objectives sought. The Committee also believes that, should
there be no volume regulation in effect for the upcoming marketing
year, the Far West spearmint oil industry would return to the
pronounced cyclical price patterns that occurred prior to the
promulgation of the Order. As previously stated, annual salable
quantities and allotment percentages have been issued for both classes
of spearmint oil since the Order's inception. The salable quantities
and allotment percentages established herein are expected to facilitate
the goal of maintaining orderly marketing conditions for Far West
spearmint oil for the 2023-2024 and future marketing years.
This final rule establishes the salable quantities and allotment
percentages for Scotch and Native spearmint oil produced in the Far
West during the 2023-2024 marketing year. Costs to producers and
handlers, large and small, resulting from this action are expected to
be offset by the benefits derived from a more stable market and
increased returns. The benefits of this rule are expected to be equally
available to all producers and handlers regardless of their size.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the Order's information collection requirements have been
previously approved by OMB and assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable
and Specialty Crops. No changes are necessary in those requirements as
a result of this rule. Should any changes become necessary, they would
be submitted to OMB for approval.
This final rule does not impose any additional reporting or
recordkeeping requirements on either small or large Far West spearmint
oil handlers. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and
forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and
duplication by industry and public sector agencies. AMS has not
identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or
conflict with this final rule.
AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote
the use of the internet and other information technologies to provide
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information
and services, and for other purposes.
A proposed rule concerning this action was published in the Federal
Register on January 3, 2023 (88 FR 18). Copies of the proposed rule
were also mailed or sent via email to all Far West spearmint oil
handlers. The proposal was made available through the internet by USDA
and the Office of the Federal Register. A 30-day comment period ending
February 2, 2023, was provided for interested persons to respond to the
proposal. No comments were received during the comment period.
Accordingly, no changes have been made to the rule as proposed.
[[Page 23329]]
A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/small-businesses. Any
questions about the compliance guide should be sent to Richard Lower at
the previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section.
After consideration of all relevant material presented, including
the information and recommendations submitted by the Committee and
other available information, it is hereby found that this rule will
tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 985
Marketing agreements, Oils and fats, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Agricultural
Marketing Service amends 7 CFR part 985 as follows:
PART 985--MARKETING ORDER REGULATING THE HANDLING OF SPEARMINT OIL
PRODUCED IN THE FAR WEST
0
1. The authority citation for part 985 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
0
2. Add Sec. 985.238 to read as follows:
Sec. 985.238 Salable quantities and allotment percentages--2023-2024
marketing year.
The salable quantity and allotment percentage for each class of
spearmint oil during the marketing year beginning on June 1, 2023,
shall be as follows:
(a) Class 1 (Scotch) oil--a salable quantity of 772,704 pounds and
an allotment percentage of 34 percent.
(b) Class 3 (Native) oil--a salable quantity of 1,034,492 pounds
and an allotment percentage of 40 percent.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08009 Filed 4-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
