Onions Grown in South Texas; Continuance Referendum, 64335 [2014-25653]
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64335
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 79, No. 209
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 959
[Docket No. AMS–FV–14–0076; FV14–959–
2 CR]
Onions Grown in South Texas;
Continuance Referendum
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
AGENCY:
This document directs that a
referendum be conducted among
eligible producers of onions grown in
South Texas to determine whether they
favor continuance of the marketing
order that regulates the handling of
onions produced in the production area.
This is the second referendum being
conducted this year; the first was
conducted in May 2014. The results of
the first referendum revealed that the
producer list used to mail ballots was
not updated; consequently, USDA has
determined that a second referendum
should be conducted using an updated
producer list to ensure all eligible
producers have an opportunity to vote
on whether to continue their Federal
marketing order.
DATES: The referendum will be
conducted from November 3 through
November 17, 2014. To vote in this
referendum, producers must have
produced onions within the designated
production area in Texas during the
period of August 1, 2012, through July
31, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing
order may be obtained from the
referendum agents at 1124 First Street
South, Winter Haven, FL 33880, or the
Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing
Order and Agreement Division, Fruit
and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP
0237, Washington, DC 20250–0237; Fax:
(202) 720–8938; or Internet:
www.regulations.gov.
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
13:59 Oct 28, 2014
Jkt 235001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist, or
Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director,
Southeast Marketing Field Office,
Marketing Order and Agreement
Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program,
AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South,
Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone:
(863) 324–3375, Fax: (863) 325–8793, or
Email: Doris.Jamieson@ams.usda.gov or
Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Marketing Order No. 959, as amended
(7 CFR Part 959), 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 producers. The
referendum shall be conducted from
November 3 through November 17,
2014, among onion producers in the
production area. Only Texas onion
producers that were engaged in the
production of onions grown in South
Texas during the period of August 1,
2012, through July 31, 2013, may
participate in the continuance
referendum.
Section 959.84 of the order requires
USDA to conduct a continuance
referendum every six years. The May
2014 referendum (79 FR 14440) was the
first to be conducted since adding this
requirement to the order on February
29, 2008. During the subsequent
tabulation of the May 2014 referendum
ballots, USDA learned that the producer
list used to mail the ballots was not
accurate. As a result, USDA has
determined that a second referendum
should be conducted using an updated
producer list, thereby ensuring all
eligible producers have an opportunity
to vote on the future of the marketing
order.
USDA has determined that
continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether
producers favor the continuation of
marketing order programs. USDA would
consider termination of the order if
fewer than two-thirds of the producers
voting in the referendum and producers
of less than two-thirds of the volume of
onions grown in South Texas
represented in the referendum favor
continuance. In evaluating the merits of
continuance versus termination, USDA
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
will consider the results of the
continuance referendum. USDA will
also consider all other relevant
information concerning the operation of
the order and the relative benefits and
disadvantages to producers, handlers,
and consumers in determining whether
continued operation of 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. 3501–
3520), the ballot materials to be used in
the referendum have been submitted to
and approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and
have been assigned OMB No. 0581–
0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crop
Marketing Orders. It has been estimated
that it will take an average of 20 minutes
for each of the approximately 55
producers of onions grown in South
Texas to cast a ballot. Participation is
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after
November 17, 2014, will not be
included in the vote tabulation.
Doris Jamieson and Christian D.
Nissen of the Southeast Marketing Field
Office, Fruit and Vegetable Program,
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 900.400–900.407).
Ballots will be mailed to all producers
of record and may also be obtained from
the referendum agents, or from their
appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 959
Marketing agreements, Onions,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.
Dated: October 23, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–25653 Filed 10–28–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
E:\FR\FM\29OCP1.SGM
29OCP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25653]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 209 / Wednesday, October 29, 2014 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 64335]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 959
[Docket No. AMS-FV-14-0076; FV14-959-2 CR]
Onions Grown in South Texas; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers of onions grown in South Texas to determine whether
they favor continuance of the marketing order that regulates the
handling of onions produced in the production area. This is the second
referendum being conducted this year; the first was conducted in May
2014. The results of the first referendum revealed that the producer
list used to mail ballots was not updated; consequently, USDA has
determined that a second referendum should be conducted using an
updated producer list to ensure all eligible producers have an
opportunity to vote on whether to continue their Federal marketing
order.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from November 3 through
November 17, 2014. To vote in this referendum, producers must have
produced onions within the designated production area in Texas during
the period of August 1, 2012, through July 31, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
referendum agents at 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880,
or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement
Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938;
or Internet: www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist,
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field
Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable
Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880;
Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 325-8793, or Email:
Doris.Jamieson@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 959, as
amended (7 CFR Part 959), 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 producers.
The referendum shall be conducted from November 3 through November 17,
2014, among onion producers in the production area. Only Texas onion
producers that were engaged in the production of onions grown in South
Texas during the period of August 1, 2012, through July 31, 2013, may
participate in the continuance referendum.
Section 959.84 of the order requires USDA to conduct a continuance
referendum every six years. The May 2014 referendum (79 FR 14440) was
the first to be conducted since adding this requirement to the order on
February 29, 2008. During the subsequent tabulation of the May 2014
referendum ballots, USDA learned that the producer list used to mail
the ballots was not accurate. As a result, USDA has determined that a
second referendum should be conducted using an updated producer list,
thereby ensuring all eligible producers have an opportunity to vote on
the future of the marketing order.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether producers favor the continuation of
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order
if fewer than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum and
producers of less than two-thirds of the volume of onions grown in
South Texas represented in the referendum favor continuance. In
evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, USDA will
consider the results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also
consider all other relevant information concerning the operation of the
order and the relative benefits and disadvantages to producers,
handlers, and consumers in determining whether continued operation of
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.
3501-3520), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum have been
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crop
Marketing Orders. It has been estimated that it will take an average of
20 minutes for each of the approximately 55 producers of onions grown
in South Texas to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots
postmarked after November 17, 2014, will not be included in the vote
tabulation.
Doris Jamieson and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast Marketing
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 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
900.400-900.407).
Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 959
Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: October 23, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25653 Filed 10-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P