If any agricultural liming material sold in this state shall upon official analysis prove to be deficient in meeting the screening and neutralizing value standards established herein or shall be deficient from its guarantee, as stated on the bag or other container, the penalties as hereinafter provided shall be assessed against the packer. Where sales are made in bulk form, such monetary penalties shall be assessed against the final responsible seller. The penalties for such deficiencies shall be as follows:
(a) For agricultural liming materials deficient from the minimum calcium carbonate equivalent as guaranteed on the labeling, the penalty shall be $.20 (twenty cents) per ton for each percentage point below the labeling guarantee with a tolerance of 5%. If the deficiency exceeds the 5% tolerance, then the $.20 (twenty cents) per ton penalty shall be assessed upon the total deficiency. See Table (1) Paragraph (g) below.(b) For agricultural liming material deficient in material passing a 10 mesh screen, the penalty shall be $.20 (twenty cents) per ton for each percentage point below the labeling guarantee. See Table (2), Paragraph (g) below.(c) For agricultural liming material deficient in material passing a 60 mesh screen, the penalty shall be $.20 (twenty cents) per ton for each percentage point below the label guarantee with a tolerance of 5%. If the deficiency exceeds the 5% tolerance, then the $.20 (twenty cents) per ton penalty shall be assessed upon the total deficiency. See Table (3), Paragraph (g) below.(d) For an agricultural liming material that is mixed with enough water for application as a spray and is deficient in passing a 100 mesh screen, the penalty shall be $.20 (twenty cents) per ton of solution for each percentage point below the label guarantee. For deficiency in required neutralizing value, the penalty shall be $.20 (twenty cents) per ton of solution for each percentage point below the label guarantee.(e) For agricultural liming material deficient in the guaranteed magnesium, available phosphorus (P205), soluble potassium (K20), or other elements guaranteed by the label, the penalty shall be $.50 (fifty cents) per ton for each 10% deficient from the guaranteed analysis. See Table (4), Paragraph (7) below.(f) Agricultural liming material sold in Alabama shall have a moisture content as guaranteed on the label. When the maximum moisture content exceeds the guarantee a penalty of $.20 (twenty cents) per percentage point per ton shall be assessed. See Table (5), Paragraph (g) below.(g) The following tables are for use as guidelines to determine the amount of penalty assessments: Table (1)
Calcium Carbonate Guarantee Found Equivalent Penalty Per Ton
90% 85% or higher 0
84-84.9% $1.20
83-83.9% $1.40
82-82.9% $1.60
81-81.9% $1.80
80-80.9% $2.00
79-79.9% $2.20
75-75.9% $3.00
70-70.9% $4.00
Table (2)
Fineness Guarantee 10 Mesh Found Penalty Per Ton
90% 89-89.9% $.20
88-88.9% .40
85-85.9% 1.00
84-84.9% 1.20
80-80.9% 2.00
79-79.9% 2.20
75-75.9% 3.00
Table (3)
Fineness Guarantee 60 Mesh Found Penalty Per Ton
50% 45 or higher 0
44-44.9% $1.20
43-43.9% 1.40
42-42.9% 1.60
41-41.9% 1.80
40-40.9% 2.00
39-39.9% 2.20
35-35.9% 3.00
Table (4)
Element Guarantee - example magnesium
Guarantee Found Penalty Per Ton
6% 5.4-5.9% $.50
4.8-5.39% 1.00
4.2-4.79% 1.50
3.6-4.19% 2.00
3.0-3.59% 2.50
Table (5)
Moisture
Guarantee Found Penalty Per Ton
10% 10.1-11% $.20
11.1-12% .40
12.1-13% .60
13.1-14% .80
14.1-15% 1.00
Author: Charles H. Barnes
Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-1-7-.06
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 2-23-9.