Agricultural Marketing Service May 30, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement No. 143 and Order No. 959 (order), which regulate the handling of onions grown in South Texas. Four amendments are proposed by the South Texas Onion Committee (committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These proposed amendments would: Add authority to the order to establish supplemental assessment rates on specified containers; authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments not paid within a prescribed time period; add authority for the committee to engage in marketing promotion and paid advertising activities; and authorize container marking requirements on containers of onions prior to shipment. Three additional amendments are proposed by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). These amendments would: (1) Require that a continuance referendum be conducted every six years to determine grower support for the order; (2) limit the number of consecutive terms of office a member can serve on the committee; and (3) make such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform with any amendment thereto that may result from the hearing. The proposals are intended to provide the industry with additional tools to aid in the marketing of onions and to improve the operation and administration of the order.