Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Continuance Referendum, 25207 [E7-8573]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 86 (Friday, May 4, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8573]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 86 / Friday, May 4, 2007 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 25207]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 955

[Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0040; FV07-955-1]


Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible growers of Vidalia onions in Georgia, to determine whether 
they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling 
of Vidalia onions grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from September 10 to September 
28, 2007. To vote in this referendum, growers must have been producing 
Vidalia onions within the designated production area in Georgia during 
the period January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agents at the Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 799 Overlook Dr., Suite A, Winter Haven, FL 33884-1671, 
Fax: (863) 325-8793, or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: 
(202) 720-8938, or Internet: https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist, 
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Manager, Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 325-8793 or 
E-mail: Doris.Jamieson@usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@usda.gov, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 955 (7 CFR part 955), hereinafter referred to as the ``order,'' and 
the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 
of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the 
``Act,'' it is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to 
ascertain whether continuance of the order is favored by the growers. 
The referendum shall be conducted from September 10 to September 28, 
2007, among Vidalia onion growers in the production area. Only growers 
that were engaged in the production of Vidalia onions in Georgia, 
during the period of January 1 to December 31, 2006, may participate in 
the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order if less 
than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum, and growers of 
less than two-thirds of the volume of Vidalia onions represented in the 
referendum favor continuance. In evaluating the merits of continuance 
versus termination, USDA will consider the results of the continuance 
referendum and other relevant information regarding operation of the 
order. USDA will evaluate the order's relative benefits and 
disadvantages to growers, handlers, and consumers to determine whether 
continuing the order would tend to effectuate the declared policy of 
the Act.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum herein 
ordered, are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), under OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crops. It has 
been estimated that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of 
the approximately 101 growers of Vidalia onions in Georgia to cast a 
ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after September 
28, 2007, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Christian D. Nissen and Doris Jamieson of the Southeast Marketing 
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are hereby 
designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary of Agriculture to 
conduct this referendum. The procedure applicable to the referendum 
shall be the ``Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection 
With Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as Amended'' (7 CFR part 
900.400 et seq).
    Ballots will be mailed to all growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 955

    Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: May 1, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-8573 Filed 5-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P