This part sets new loan rates for sugar. It puts a floor under storage rates too. It sets deadlines for shifting unused import quota. It orders a study of refined sugar coming in.
The document says “is amended”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“24.00 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years.”
The section adds a new paragraph (6) to subsection (a) of section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272) setting the loan rate for raw cane sugar at 24.00 cents a pound for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years, and closes the earlier list at the 2024 crop years.
What the document actually says
“24.00 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years.”
That sentence, in plain words
Raw cane sugar gets a loan rate of 24 cents a pound. That holds for the 2025 to 2031 crop years.
What this is about
A loan rate is what a processor can borrow per pound. It also sets a floor under the price. The older law it sits in is not indexed here.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “is amended”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“a rate that is equal to 136.55 percent of the loan rate per pound of raw cane sugar under subsection (a)(6) for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years.”
The section adds a new paragraph (3) to subsection (b) of section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 setting the rate at 136.55 percent of the raw cane sugar loan rate for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years, and strikes 2023 and inserts 2031 in subsection (i).
What the document actually says
“a rate that is equal to 136.55 percent of the loan rate per pound of raw cane sugar under subsection (a)(6) for each of the 2025 through 2031 crop years.”
That sentence, in plain words
The rate is 136.55 percent of the raw cane sugar rate. That holds for the 2025 to 2031 crop years.
What this is about
The two rates are now linked. Move one and the other moves with it. Beet sugar is refined at the mill, so its rate runs higher.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Commodity Credit CorporationHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“For the 2025 crop year and each subsequent crop year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall establish rates for the storage of forfeited sugar in an amount that is not less than--”
The section strikes subsection (a) of section 167 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7287) and inserts a new one requiring storage rates for forfeited sugar of at least 34 cents per hundredweight per month for refined sugar and at least 27 cents per hundredweight per month for raw cane sugar, and changes the heading and wording of subsection (b) so that it applies to crop years through 2024.
What the document actually says
“For the 2025 crop year and each subsequent crop year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall establish rates for the storage of forfeited sugar in an amount that is not less than--”
That sentence, in plain words
From the 2025 crop year the storage rates get a floor. The two figures that follow set it.
What this is about
Refined sugar cannot go below 34 cents per hundredweight a month. Raw cane sugar cannot go below 27 cents. Forfeited sugar is sugar handed over instead of paying back a loan.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“If the Secretary makes an upward adjustment under paragraph (1)(A), in adjusting allocations among beet sugar processors, the Secretary shall give priority to beet sugar processors with available sugar.”
The section adds an exception to section 359c(g)(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359cc(g)(2)) requiring the Secretary, when making an upward adjustment, to give priority in adjusting allocations to beet sugar processors that have sugar available.
What the document actually says
“If the Secretary makes an upward adjustment under paragraph (1)(A), in adjusting allocations among beet sugar processors, the Secretary shall give priority to beet sugar processors with available sugar.”
That sentence, in plain words
The Secretary may raise the amount that can be sold. When that happens, some processors go first. Those are the ones with sugar on hand.
What this is about
An allocation is a share of the market a processor may fill. A processor with no sugar cannot fill a bigger share. So the extra goes to those who can.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“provide for an initial reassignment under subparagraph (A)(i) not later than 30 days after the date on which the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates described in clause (i) is released.”
The section adds a timing rule to section 359e(b)(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ee(b)(2)) requiring the Secretary to make an initial determination based on the January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board for the crop year in question, and to make the initial reassignment within 30 days of that report's release.
What the document actually says
“provide for an initial reassignment under subparagraph (A)(i) not later than 30 days after the date on which the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates described in clause (i) is released.”
That sentence, in plain words
The first reassignment must come within 30 days. The clock starts when a crop report comes out.
What this is about
That report is a monthly estimate of supply and demand. The January one is used. It tells the Secretary how much sugar there will be.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“not later than March 1 of a quota year, the Secretary shall reallocate any additional forecasted shortfall in the fulfillment of the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar established under subsection (a)(1) for that quota year.”
The section adds a new subsection (c) to section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk) requiring the Secretary, after the tariff-rate quotas are set for a quota year, to work out which countries do not intend to fill their allocation and to reallocate any forecast shortfall as soon as practicable, and then by March 1 to reallocate any additional forecast shortfall for raw cane sugar.
What the document actually says
“not later than March 1 of a quota year, the Secretary shall reallocate any additional forecasted shortfall in the fulfillment of the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar established under subsection (a)(1) for that quota year.”
That sentence, in plain words
By March 1 each quota year the Secretary must act again. Any further gap in the sugar quotas must be handed to other countries.
What this is about
A tariff-rate quota is how much sugar a country may ship in at a low tariff. Some countries do not use their full share. That unused share is passed on.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall cease to be in effect if--”
The section provides that the two reallocation rules stop having effect if the Agreement Suspending the Countervailing Duty Investigation on Sugar from Mexico, signed December 19, 2014, is terminated and no countervailing duty order under subtitle A of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.) is in effect for sugar from Mexico.
What the document actually says
“Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall cease to be in effect if--”
That sentence, in plain words
The two reallocation rules can stop working. The tests that follow say when.
What this is about
Both tests must be met at once. One is that a 2014 deal with Mexico ends. The other is that no duty order on Mexican sugar is in force.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a study on whether the establishment of additional terms and conditions with respect to refined sugar imports is necessary and appropriate.”
The section adds a new subsection (d) to section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 requiring a study within 180 days of seven possible changes, including defining refined sugar by a minimum polarization of 99.8 degrees, setting a color or reflectance standard, prescribing packaging and transportation specifications, requiring evidence that imported refined sugar will not be further refined in the United States, and setting terms to avoid unlawful sugar imports. The study must weigh the effect of each on the domestic sugar industry, consult that industry and users of refined sugar, and be reported to the two agriculture committees within a year. The domestic sugar industry is defined as domestic sugar beet producers and processors, producers and processors of sugar cane, and refiners of raw cane sugar.
What the document actually says
“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a study on whether the establishment of additional terms and conditions with respect to refined sugar imports is necessary and appropriate.”
That sentence, in plain words
The Secretary must run a study within 180 days. It asks if new rules are needed on refined sugar coming in.
What this is about
Seven possible changes must be looked at. One is a test of how pure the sugar is. One is a color standard. The findings go to two farm committees.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary may issue regulations under subparagraph (A) if the regulations--”
The section lets the Secretary, based on the report's findings and after notifying the two agriculture committees, issue regulations setting additional terms and conditions on refined sugar imports, but only where the regulations do not have an adverse impact on the domestic sugar industry and are consistent with that part, section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and obligations under international trade agreements approved by Congress.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary may issue regulations under subparagraph (A) if the regulations--”
That sentence, in plain words
The Secretary may write rules after the study. The tests that follow say when.
What this is about
The rules must not harm the domestic sugar industry. They must also fit trade deals Congress has approved. Congress must be told first.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “is amended”Who acts: Secretary of AgricultureHow: statuteSec. 10312 in the PDF
What the document says
“is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "if there is an" and inserting "for the sole purpose of responding directly to an".”
The section strikes the words if there is an and inserts the words for the sole purpose of responding directly to an in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of section 359k(b)(1) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk(b)(1)). It also strikes 2023 and inserts 2031 in section 359l(a) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1359ll(a)).
What the document actually says
“is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking "if there is an" and inserting "for the sole purpose of responding directly to an".”
That sentence, in plain words
Four words are taken out of an older law. A longer phrase is put in. It says the power is for one purpose only.
What this is about
The older rule let the Secretary change import quotas. The new words tie that power to one aim. What the older rule says in full is not recorded here.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Each distinct thing the section does: the new raw cane sugar loan rate, the new refined beet sugar rate tied to it, the new storage rates for forfeited sugar, the priority for beet sugar processors with available sugar, the deadlines for reassignment, the two reallocations of tariff-rate quota shortfall and the condition that ends them, the study of refined sugar imports and its report, the power to issue regulations after it, and the clarification of tariff-rate quota adjustments.
The redesignations, heading changes and conforming edits that move existing text without changing what it requires, and the date substitutions striking 2023 and inserting 2031 in the sugar estimates and period of effectiveness provisions.
The section works by amending sections 156 and 167 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and sections 359b, 359c, 359e, 359k and 359l of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, none of which is indexed here. The suspension agreement on sugar from Mexico and the Tariff Act of 1930 are likewise not indexed here.
