[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05586]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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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. 79, No. 50 / Friday, March 14, 2014 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 14440]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 959
[Docket No. AMS-FV-13-0098; FV14-959-1 CR]
Onions Grown in South Texas; 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 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.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 12 through May 27,
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 799 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884, 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, 799 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884;
Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 325-8793, or Email:
[email protected] or [email protected].
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 May 12 through May 27, 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.
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 100 producers of onions grown
in South Texas to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots
postmarked after May 27, 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: February 21, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-05586 Filed 3-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P