Ho Ho Duties: Christmas Tree Board Gets Real Upgrade
Published Date: 6/13/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
This update affects Christmas tree growers, sellers, and importers by renaming the board to the Real Christmas Tree Board and raising the admin budget cap from 10% to 15%. Importers can now ask for refunds on unsold trees, and everyone must keep records longer. These changes help the board run smoother and keep things fair, starting as soon as the new rules are approved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Administrative Cap Raised to 15%
The rule raises the Board's cap on administrative expenses from 10% to 15% of collected funds. This change lets the Board spend a larger share of assessments on administration rather than other activities.
Importers Can Get Refunds For Unsold Trees
Importers may now request refunds of assessments paid on trees that were shipped to the United States but were not sold. This change directly affects businesses that import Christmas trees into the U.S.
Longer Required Record Retention
The rule increases the mandatory period for keeping books and records related to the Order. Growers, sellers, and importers covered by the Order will need to retain those records for a longer required time.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-12846 — United States Standards for Grades of Orange Juice
The USDA just updated the rules for grading orange juice, especially how sweet Grade B pasteurized orange juice needs to be, matching FDA’s standards. This change affects juice makers and sellers by making grading clearer and more consistent, with no big cost impacts expected. The new standards are official as of June 25, 2026, so the juice world can sip with confidence!
2026-12563 — Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental Assessment on Imports (2025 Amendments)
The USDA is proposing to lower the value used to calculate extra fees on imported cotton, so importers pay the same as U.S. cotton growers. This update keeps the fees fair and reflects changes since 2024. Importers and businesses dealing with cotton products should weigh in by July 23, 2026, before the new rules take effect.
2026-12341 — Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in Riverside County, California; Increased Assessment Rate
If you grow or pack dates in Riverside County, California, get ready! The fee you pay per hundredweight of dates is proposed to jump from 5 cents to 25 cents starting with the 2025-2026 crop year. This change helps support the date industry and will stay in place until something new comes along. Don’t forget to share your thoughts by July 20, 2026!
2026-11883 — Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Continuance Referendum
Pecan growers in 16 states will vote from July 6 to August 3, 2026, on whether to keep the current rules that help manage pecan marketing. Only growers who produce a lot of pecans or own enough pecan acres can vote. This decision affects how pecans are handled and could impact growers’ costs and sales in the future.
2026-11847 — Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The USDA wants to keep collecting info from pecan growers in 16 states and update how they do it. This affects farmers in places like Texas, Georgia, and California, helping the government keep pecan marketing smooth and fair. If you grow pecans, you’ve got until August 11, 2026, to share your thoughts—no extra costs, just a little paperwork refresh!
2026-10880 — Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems; Delay of Effective Date
The USDA is pushing back the start date for new rules about how poultry growers get paid and how capital improvements are handled. Instead of starting July 1, 2026, these rules won’t take effect until December 31, 2027. This delay gives everyone more time to think through the changes and what they mean for growers and poultry dealers.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-10701 — Safety Zone; Gulf of America; Sand Key Beach, Clearwater, FL
The Coast Guard is setting up a temporary safety zone near Sand Key Beach, Clearwater, FL, for a fast-paced jet ski race on August 23-24, 2025. Boats and people can’t enter this area unless they get special permission, keeping everyone safe during the event. This rule helps protect racers and spectators without any extra costs for the public.
Next: 2025-10758 — System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant Products
Starting in 2025, the Postal Service will only change rates for Market Dominant products once a year until 2030, making prices more predictable and easier to manage. They’ll also fix discounts to better match actual cost savings, stopping unfair price cuts. These changes affect businesses and customers who use postal services and aim to save money and simplify how rates are set.