Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order: Referendum, 25543 [2024-07725]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
25543
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 89, No. 71
Thursday, April 11, 2024
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 1223
[Doc. No. AMS–SC–23–0078]
Pecan Promotion, Research, and
Information Order: Referendum
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notification of referendum.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given of a
referendum to be conducted among
eligible producers and importers of
pecans to determine whether they favor
continuance of the Agricultural
Marketing Service’s (AMS) regulations
regarding a national pecan research and
promotion program.
DATES: This referendum will be
conducted by mail and electronic ballot
from May 10, 2024, through June 10,
2024. Ballots delivered to AMS via mail
or electronic ballot must show proof of
delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time on June 10, 2024, to be
counted.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Pecan
Promotion, Research, and Information
Order may be obtained from:
Referendum Agents, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406–
S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250–
0244, Telephone: (202) 720–8085 or
contact Matthew Collins at (972) 210–
9109 or via Email: MatthewB.Collins@
usda.gov, or Katie Cook at (202) 617–
4760 or via Email: Katie.Cook@
usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Matthew Collins, Marketing Specialist,
Market Development Division, SCP,
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Room 1406–S, Stop 0244,
Washington, DC 20250–0244, Matthew
Collins (972) 210–9109 or via Email:
MatthewB.Collins@usda.gov or Katie
Cook, Marketing Specialist, Market
Development Division, SCP, AMS,
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:46 Apr 10, 2024
Jkt 262001
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Room 1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington,
DC 20250–0244, Katie Cook (202) 617–
4760 or via Email: Katie.Cook@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the Commodity Promotion, Research,
and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
7411–7425) (Act), it is hereby directed
that a referendum be conducted to
ascertain whether continuance of the
Pecan Promotion, Research, and
Information Order (Order) (7 CFR part
1223) is favored by eligible producers
and importers of pecans covered under
the program. The Order is authorized
under the Act. The Order is
administered by the American Pecan
Promotion Board (Board) with oversight
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
The representative period for
establishing voter eligibility for the
referendum shall be the period from
October 1, 2022, through September 30,
2023. Persons who are producers or
importers who have produced or
imported 50,000 pounds of inshell
pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled
pecans) during the representative period
are eligible to vote in the referendum.
Persons who received an exemption
from assessments pursuant to § 1223.53
for the entire representative period are
ineligible to vote. AMS will provide the
option for electronic balloting. The
referendum will be conducted by mail
and electronic ballot from May 10
through June 10, 2024. Further details
will be provided in the ballot
instructions.
Section 518 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7417)
authorizes required referenda. Under
§ 1223.71(a)(1) of the Order, the USDA
must conduct a referendum not later
than three years after assessments first
begin. The program became effective on
February 12, 2021, with the collection of
assessments, as required by §§ 1223.52
and 1223.53, and compliance with
reporting and recordkeeping
requirements under §§ 1223.60 and
1223.61, beginning on October 1, 2021.
USDA would continue the Order, if
continuance is favored by a majority of
producers and importers voting in the
referendum, and who, during the
representative time period engaged in
the production or importation of pecans.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and
assigned OMB No. 0581–0328. It is
estimated that approximately 725
entities will be eligible to vote in the
referendum. It will take an average of 15
minutes for each voter to read the voting
instructions and complete the
referendum ballot.
Referendum Order
Matthew Collins, Marketing
Specialist; Katie Cook, Marketing
Specialist; and Alexandra Caryl, Branch
Chief, Market Development Division,
SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room
1406–S, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20250–0244, are
designated as the referendum agents to
conduct this referendum. The
referendum procedures at 7 CFR
1223.100 through 1223.107, which were
issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used
to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agents will mail or
provide electronically the ballots to be
cast in the referendum and voting
instructions to all known, eligible
producers and importers prior to the
first day of the voting period. Any
eligible producers or importers who do
not receive a ballot should contact a
referendum agent no later than three
days before the end of the voting period.
Ballots delivered via mail or electronic
ballot must show proof of delivery by no
later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
June 10, 2024, to be counted.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1223
Administrative practice and
procedure, Advertising, Consumer
information, Marketing agreements,
Pecan promotion, Nuts, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411–7425; 7 U.S.C.
7401)
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–07725 Filed 4–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
E:\FR\FM\11APP1.SGM
11APP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07725]
========================================================================
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. 89, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 2024 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 25543]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1223
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-23-0078]
Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order: Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notification of referendum.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a referendum to be conducted among
eligible producers and importers of pecans to determine whether they
favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS)
regulations regarding a national pecan research and promotion program.
DATES: This referendum will be conducted by mail and electronic ballot
from May 10, 2024, through June 10, 2024. Ballots delivered to AMS via
mail or electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no later than
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 10, 2024, to be counted.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information
Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agents, Market Development
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244, Telephone: (202)
720-8085 or contact Matthew Collins at (972) 210-9109 or via Email:
[email protected], or Katie Cook at (202) 617-4760 or via
Email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Collins, Marketing Specialist,
Market Development Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244, Matthew Collins
(972) 210-9109 or via Email: [email protected] or Katie Cook,
Marketing Specialist, Market Development Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-
0244, Katie Cook (202) 617-4760 or via Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion,
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether
continuance of the Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order
(Order) (7 CFR part 1223) is favored by eligible producers and
importers of pecans covered under the program. The Order is authorized
under the Act. The Order is administered by the American Pecan
Promotion Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for
the referendum shall be the period from October 1, 2022, through
September 30, 2023. Persons who are producers or importers who have
produced or imported 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of
shelled pecans) during the representative period are eligible to vote
in the referendum. Persons who received an exemption from assessments
pursuant to Sec. 1223.53 for the entire representative period are
ineligible to vote. AMS will provide the option for electronic
balloting. The referendum will be conducted by mail and electronic
ballot from May 10 through June 10, 2024. Further details will be
provided in the ballot instructions.
Section 518 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes required
referenda. Under Sec. 1223.71(a)(1) of the Order, the USDA must
conduct a referendum not later than three years after assessments first
begin. The program became effective on February 12, 2021, with the
collection of assessments, as required by Sec. Sec. 1223.52 and
1223.53, and compliance with reporting and recordkeeping requirements
under Sec. Sec. 1223.60 and 1223.61, beginning on October 1, 2021.
USDA would continue the Order, if continuance is favored by a majority
of producers and importers voting in the referendum, and who, during
the representative time period engaged in the production or importation
of pecans.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0328. It is
estimated that approximately 725 entities will be eligible to vote in
the referendum. It will take an average of 15 minutes for each voter to
read the voting instructions and complete the referendum ballot.
Referendum Order
Matthew Collins, Marketing Specialist; Katie Cook, Marketing
Specialist; and Alexandra Caryl, Branch Chief, Market Development
Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, are designated as the referendum
agents to conduct this referendum. The referendum procedures at 7 CFR
1223.100 through 1223.107, which were issued pursuant to the Act, shall
be used to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agents will mail or provide electronically the
ballots to be cast in the referendum and voting instructions to all
known, eligible producers and importers prior to the first day of the
voting period. Any eligible producers or importers who do not receive a
ballot should contact a referendum agent no later than three days
before the end of the voting period. Ballots delivered via mail or
electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on June 10, 2024, to be counted.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1223
Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer
information, Marketing agreements, Pecan promotion, Nuts, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401)
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07725 Filed 4-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
