5B-52.009. Submission of Reporting Forms, Assessments and Penalties for Late Payment, and Cotton Destruction

(1) Each Commercial cotton grower shall submit a completed Report of Acreage Form (FSA-578, 10/15/2003) incorporated herein by reference and available online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12223, to the Federal Farm Service Agency (FSA) office servicing the county where the Cotton is grown. This form provides the acreage planted by the Commercial cotton grower and shall be submitted each year the program remains in effect.

(2) The cotton growers’ share of the per acre annual assessment cost may vary depending on the availability of state funding. Commercial cotton growers’ share of the total assessment cost shall be due by November 30 each year the program is in effect. Assessments will be invoiced by the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation and payments must be paid to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) no later than December 31 and accompanied by the appropriate per acre assessment cost. Payments not received by December 31 shall be subject to a per acre penalty fee not to exceed $25 per acre.

(3) Penalty fees and/or per acre late fees may be waived by the Division Director only upon recommendation of the Foundation.

Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 593.103(2) FS. Law Implemented 593.103(4), (10), 593.105, 593.109, 593.116(2) FS. History–New 12-21-87, Amended 4-2-89, 12-24-90, 6-26-94, 6-20-00, 11-2-20.