USDA is proposing a targeted change to the federal marketing order governing California almonds that would give the industry new financial flexibility.
The proposal would authorize the Almond Board of California, which administers the marketing order, to borrow funds from commercial lenders. The change is intended to help the board manage short-term cash flow needs and maintain program operations when assessment revenues fluctuate.
Under the current structure, the almond program is primarily funded through handler assessments, which can vary depending on crop size and market conditions. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service reasons the added borrowing authority would allow the board to better meet its financial obligations and ensure continuity in research, marketing and compliance activities tied to the order.
The Almond Board recommended the amendment and is part of a broader effort to modernize federal marketing orders, which provide a framework for commodity industries to self-regulate under USDA oversight.
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The proposal does not change assessment rates or impose new requirements on growers or handlers. Instead, it focuses narrowly on governance and financial tools available to the board.
If finalized, the change would still require approval from California almond growers through a referendum process, as required for marketing order amendments.
USDA is accepting public comments on the proposal through May 19, after which the agency will determine whether to move forward with a final rule.
The almond industry, one of California’s largest agricultural sectors, has faced increasing volatility in recent years due to water constraints, shifting global demand and price pressures. The greater financial flexibility could help the board respond more effectively to those challenges while maintaining core industry programs.
