USDA cuts assessment rate for Texas citrus

The USDA plans to decrease the assessment rate for Texas oranges and grapefruit.
The USDA plans to decrease the assessment rate for Texas oranges and grapefruit.
(File image)

Effective April 10, the USDA will decrease the assessment rate for Texas oranges and grapefruit. 

In a final rule published March 9, the USDA said it is implementing a recommendation from the Texas Valley Citrus Committee to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2022-23 and subsequent fiscal periods. 

The committee met on May 24 last year and recommended 2022-23 expenditures of $134,970 and an assessment rate of 3 cents per carton. In comparison, last year's budgeted expenditures were $43,900.

The assessment rate of 3 cents is 2 cents lower than the rate currently in effect. The committee voted to decrease the  assessment rate due to an increase in production. 

The committee estimates production for 2022-23 fiscal period to be approximately 4 million cartons, an increase from the 1  million cartons estimated to be produced the previous year.

At the current assessment rate, assessment income would equal $200,000, exceeding the committee's anticipated expenditures of $134,970. By decreasing the assessment rate by 2 cents, assessment income will be approximately $120,000, the rule said.

This amount, along with reserve funds and interest income, should provide sufficient funds to meet 2022-23 anticipated expenses, the final rule said.

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