Justification for Change

Justification for Change Worksheet

OMB Vegetable and Specialty Crops

OMB No. 0581-0178

California Walnuts

Marketing Order No. 984

August 2023

This Justification for Change seeks OMB’s approval on modification of three forms that are part of OMB No. 0581-0178. The California Walnut Board (Board) uses these forms to locally administer the Federal marketing order (7 CFR part 984) for walnuts grown in California under the Agricultural Marketing Service’s oversight.

The changes to these forms include the addition of collection on organic product (received, committed, shipped, and inventory). The collection of this data was requested by the industry (handlers and growers) and subsequently approved by the Board, due to the growth of organic production within the walnut industry.

Sections 984.71, 984.72, and 984.73 of the marketing order provide the general authority to collect data on reports of walnuts shipped, walnuts received, and handler inventory.  Section 984.76 also provides that handlers shall furnish such other reports and information as are needed for the Board to fulfill its duties associated with the marketing order. Finally, the inclusion of columns to collect organic volume (pounds) to each of the three forms will not materially affect the burden hours for the handlers and producers.

The following three forms would collect information on walnuts to differentiate between conventional and organic walnuts. Board staff has updated the forms to include several columns to capture inshell and shelled pounds and total pounds of both conventional and organic walnuts:

1. Crop Acquisition Report, by County and Variety, for Crop Year 20__ (CWB Form #1): Handlers file this form with the Board so that the Board can track the movement of walnuts marketed under the Federal marketing order. This form would create an additional column to collect information related to organic volume in pounds.

2. Inventory Report (CWB Form #4/5): Handlers file this form with the Board to comply with the requirements of the Federal marketing order. For both handler-owned product and product held by third parties, this new form would remove collection requirements for and references to certified and uncertified inventory. This new form would also add new columns to differentiate inshell and shelled walnuts according to their classification as organic or conventional inventory.

3. Report of Merchantable Walnuts Received, Committed, and Shipped (CWB Form #6): Handlers file this form with the Board to comply with the requirements of the Federal marketing order. This form would create additional columns to account for inshell and shelled organic walnut receipts, purchase commitments, and shipments. This form would also capture walnut shipments by country of destination according to their classification as conventional or organic walnuts.