California Walnuts Get New Billing Schedule: Nutty Admin Changes
Published Date: 8/17/2026
Rule
Summary
This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to make changes to the administrative requirements prescribed under the Federal marketing order for walnuts grown in California (Order). This final rule provides a schedule for required handler assessment payments, establishes interest and late payment charges on overdue assessments owed, and modifies the existing reporting requirements for handler acquisitions of walnuts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
10% Late Fee and 1.5% Monthly Interest
If a handler's assessment payment is not received within 60 days of the invoice date, the Board will impose a 10% late payment charge and an ongoing interest charge of 1.5% per month on the total outstanding balance, applied at the end of each 30-day period until paid. These charges apply to the outstanding assessment balance including any late payment charge.
Majority of Affected Parties Are Small Businesses
This rule applies to about 68 handlers and about 4,500 California walnut growers; USDA analysis indicates a large majority of walnut growers and handlers meet SBA definitions of small businesses (for example, about 78% of handlers shipped assessable walnuts valued under $34 million). The Board and AMS considered small-entity impacts and concluded the rule's additional burden would be minimal for most.
Three-Installment Assessment Schedule
If you are a handler of California walnuts, you must pay your required handler assessments in three equal installments invoiced on January 31, April 30, and July 31 of each marketing year. Assessments for receipts reported under the revised late-acquisition rule are payable on demand as requested by the Board.
New Late-Acquisition Reporting Requirement
Handlers must file an initial report of walnut receipts on or before January 15 each marketing year, and if they acquire walnuts from growers after that date they must file a revised report by the 15th of the month following such receipt. The rule also states handlers must pay assessments on those late receipts upon demand by the Board.
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