[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7199]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 25, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 58

                                             Friday, March 25, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 29

[TB-94-01]

 

Tobacco Inspection--Growers Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a referendum will be conducted by 
mail during the period of April 4 through April 8, 1994, for producers 
of flue-cured tobacco who sell their tobacco at auction in Windsor, 
Williamston, and Robersonville, North Carolina, to determine producer 
approval of the designation of the Windsor, Williamston, and 
Robersonville tobacco markets as one consolidated auction market.

DATES: The referendum will be held April 4 through April 8, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry L. Crabtree, Deputy Director, 
Tobacco Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; 
telephone number (202) 205-0567.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a mail referendum 
on the designation of a consolidated auction market at Windsor, 
Williamston, and Robersonville, North Carolina. Williamston and 
Robersonville, North Carolina, were separately designated on August 16, 
1941, and Windsor on June 16, 1950, (7 CFR 29.8001) as flue-cured 
tobacco auction markets under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 
et seq.). Under this Act the three markets have been receiving 
mandatory grading services from USDA.
    On October 14, 1993, an application was made to the Secretary of 
Agriculture to consolidate the designated markets of Windsor, 
Williamston, and Robersonville, North Carolina. The application, filed 
by warehouse operators in those markets, was made pursuant to the 
regulations promulgated under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR part 
29.1-29.3). On November 9, 1993, a public hearing was held in 
Williamston, North Carolina, pursuant to the regulations. A Review 
Committee, established pursuant to Sec. 29.3(h) of the regulations (7 
CFR 29.3(h)), has reviewed and considered the application, the 
testimony presented at the hearing, the exhibits received in evidence, 
and other available information. The Committee recommended to the 
Secretary that the application be granted and the Secretary approved 
the application on March 18, 1994.
    Before a new market can be officially designated, a referendum must 
be held to determine that a two-thirds majority of producers favor the 
designation. It is hereby determined that the referendum will be held 
by mail during the period of April 4 through April 8, 1994. The purpose 
of the referendum is to determine whether farmers who sold their 
tobacco on the designated markets at Windsor, Williamston, and 
Robersonville are in favor of, or opposed to, the designation of the 
consolidated market for the 1994 and succeeding crop years. 
Accordingly, if a two-thirds majority of those tobacco producers voting 
in the referendum favor this consolidation, a new market will be 
designated as and be called Windsor-Williamston-Robersonville.
    To be eligible to vote in the referendum a tobacco producer must 
have sold flue-cured tobacco on either the Windsor, Williamston, or 
Robersonville, North Carolina, auction markets during the 1993 
marketing season. Any farmer who believes he or she is eligible to vote 
in the referendum but has not received a mail ballot by April 4, 1994, 
should immediately contact Larry L. Crabtree at (202) 205-0235.
    The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for 
referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 511d) and 
the regulations for such referendum set forth in 7 CFR 29.74.

    Dated: March 22, 1994.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-7199 Filed 3-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P