---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7445"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7445"
heading: "Assessments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7445"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — Agricultural Promotion"
  - "Subchapter III — Canola and Rapeseed"
---

# §7445. Assessments

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **First purchasers—** During the effective period of an [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) issued pursuant to this subchapter, assessments shall be—
    - (A) levied on all [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) produced in the [United States](/usc/7/7412.md?p=18) and marketed; and
    - (B) deducted from the payment made to a [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) for all [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) sold to a [first purchaser](/usc/7/7442.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Direct processing—** The [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) shall provide that any [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10) processing [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) of that [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10)’s own production and [marketing](/usc/7/7442.md?p=11) the [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2), or [canola or rapeseed products](/usc/7/7442.md?p=3), shall remit to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) or a [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15) organization certified to represent [producers](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) under [section 7444(b)(6) of this title](/usc/7/7444.md?p=b-6), in the manner prescribed by the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), an assessment established at a rate equivalent to the rate provided for under [subsection (d)](#d).
- (b) **Limitation on assessments—** No more than 1 assessment may be assessed under [subsection (a)](#a) on any [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) produced (as remitted by a [first purchaser](/usc/7/7442.md?p=8)).
- (c) **Remitting of assessments—**
  - (1) **In general—** Assessments required under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be remitted to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) by a [first purchaser](/usc/7/7442.md?p=8). The [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) shall use [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15) organizations certified to represent [producers](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) under [section 7444(b)(6) of this title](/usc/7/7444.md?p=b-6) to collect the assessments. If an appropriate certified [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15) organization does not exist to collect an assessment, the assessment shall be collected by the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2). There shall be only 1 certified [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15) organization in each [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15).
  - (2) **Times to remit assessment—** Each [first purchaser](/usc/7/7442.md?p=8) shall remit the assessment to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) as provided for in the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9).
- (d) **Assessment rate—**
  - (1) **Initial rate—** The initial assessment rate shall be 4 cents per hundredweight of [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) produced and marketed.
  - (2) **Increase—** The assessment rate may be increased on recommendation by the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) to a rate not exceeding 10 cents per hundredweight of [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) produced and marketed in a [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15), unless—
    - (A) after the initial referendum is held under [section 7446(a) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=a), the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) recommends an increase above 10 cents per hundredweight; and
    - (B) the increase is approved in a referendum under [section 7446(b) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=b).
  - (3) **Credit—** A [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) who demonstrates to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) that the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) is participating in a program of a [State](/usc/7/7412.md?p=15) organization certified to represent [producers](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) under [section 7444(b)(6) of this title](/usc/7/7444.md?p=b-6) shall receive credit, in determining the assessment due from the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11), for contributions to the program of up to 2 cents per hundredweight of [canola](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) or [rapeseed](/usc/7/7442.md?p=2) marketed.
- (e) **Late payment charge—**
  - (1) **In general—** There shall be a late payment charge imposed on any [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10) who fails to remit, on or before the date provided for in the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9), to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) the total amount for which the [person](/usc/7/7412.md?p=10) is liable.
  - (2) **Amount of charge—** The amount of the late payment charge imposed under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be prescribed by the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7412.md?p=14).
- (f) **Refund of assessments from escrow account—**
  - (1) **Establishment of escrow account—** During the period beginning on the date on which an [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) is first issued under [section 7443(b)(3) of this title](/usc/7/7443.md?p=b-3) and ending on the date on which a referendum is conducted under [section 7446(a) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=a), the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) shall—
    - (A) establish and maintain an escrow account to be used for assessment refunds; and
    - (B) place funds in the account in accordance with [paragraph (2)](#f-2).
  - (2) **Placement of funds in account—** The [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) shall place in the account, from assessments collected during the period referred to in [paragraph (1)](#f-1), an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying the total amount of assessments collected during the period by 10 percent.
  - (3) **Right to receive refund—** The [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) shall refund to a [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) the assessments paid by or on behalf of the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) if—
    - (A) the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) is required to pay the assessment;
    - (B) the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) does not support the program established under this subchapter; and
    - (C) the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) demands the refund prior to the conduct of the referendum under [section 7446(a) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=a).
  - (4) **Form of demand—** The demand shall be made in accordance with such regulations, in such form, and within such time period as prescribed by the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2).
  - (5) **Making of refund—** The refund shall be made on submission of proof satisfactory to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) that the [producer](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) paid the assessment for which the refund is demanded.
  - (6) **Proration—** If—
    - (A) the amount in the escrow account required by [paragraph (1)](#f-1) is not sufficient to refund the total amount of assessments demanded by eligible [producers](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11); and
    - (B) the [order](/usc/7/7412.md?p=9) is not approved pursuant to the referendum conducted under [section 7446(a) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=a);

    the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) shall prorate the amount of the refunds among all eligible [producers](/usc/7/7412.md?p=11) who demand a refund.

  - (7) **Program approved—** If the plan is approved pursuant to the referendum conducted under [section 7446(a) of this title](/usc/7/7446.md?p=a), all funds in the escrow account shall be returned to the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) for use by the [Board](/usc/7/7412.md?p=2) in accordance with this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–127, title V, § 536, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1056.)