Speak Up: Your Chance to Shape Pecan Marketing Rules

You might care about this because the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) wants your input. They are requesting an extension and updates to how they collect information for the Pecan Marketing Order No. 986. This order affects pecans grown in many states. These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The AMS is following the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. They need this information to carry out the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. The American Pecan Council uses this information to manage the marketing order. The request involves 14 specific forms. These forms include ballots for elections, nomination forms, acceptance statements, marketing agreements, and reporting forms. The reporting forms track things like US pecans received, pecans purchased from outside the US, exports by country, inter-handler transfers, and year-end inventory. Both USDA representatives and the American Pecan Council use this collected data. The estimated time burden for those who respond is about 0.31 hours per response. They expect around 4,503 people to respond. The total annual burden is about 1,404.94 hours. They are asking for feedback on whether this collection is necessary, if their burden estimate is correct, how to make the information better, and how to reduce the burden on respondents. Comments are due by August 11, 2026. This notice is particularly interesting because it offers a direct way for people in the pecan industry to influence government rules. It is not common to have such a clear invitation for public feedback on specific administrative forms. The AMS is not just going through motions. They are actively seeking suggestions to improve how they gather data. This data is essential for the American Pecan Council. The Council uses it to make decisions that affect the pecan market in a large part of the country. By participating, growers, shellers, and handlers can help ensure the information collection process is fair and useful. This could lead to smoother operations for businesses. It also shows the government's commitment to transparency and efficiency. This is a practical opportunity to help shape the future of pecan marketing rules, making them more effective for everyone involved. Pecan growers, shellers, and handlers in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas will be most interested in this document. These individuals and businesses are directly affected by the Pecan Marketing Order No. 986. Anyone involved in the daily operations of the pecan industry in these regions should review this notice. Legal professionals who specialize in agricultural law or administrative procedures might also find it relevant. Agricultural economists or researchers studying commodity markets and government oversight will also see value in understanding this process. Additionally, trade associations representing pecan producers or other agricultural groups could use this information to inform their members. This notice is for anyone who wants to have a say in how the pecan industry is regulated.