Federal Register #2026-20622

USDA proposal to authorize seasonal credit for the Almond Board of California

This USDA proposal would let the Almond Board of California use short-term borrowing to manage seasonal cash flow under the California almond marketing order. - Government buyer / agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). - Proposal: Amend Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds grown in California, to authorize the Almond Board of California to obtain a seasonal line of credit from a commercial lending institution. - Borrowing conditions: Funds would need to be repaid within 12 months, with oversight and borrowing limits tied to approved crop-year budget ceilings. - Named organizations: USDA, AMS, and the Almond Board of California. No specific commercial lender, OEM, or vendor is named. - Procurement status: This is a proposed regulatory amendment, not a procurement opportunity. No products or services, quantities, part numbers, or contract value are specified.

Description

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service proposes to amend Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds grown in California. The amendment would authorize the Almond Board of California to borrow from a commercial lending institution through a seasonal line of credit to address cash-flow constraints associated with the timing of program expenditures and assessment revenue collection. Borrowed funds would be repaid within a maximum of 12 months. A producer referendum is scheduled for November 2–20, 2026, using August 1, 2025–July 31, 2026, as the representative period.

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