[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01022]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 946

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0110; SC17-946-1 CR]


Irish Potatoes Grown in Washington; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible Washington potato producers to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Irish 
potatoes grown in Washington.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from June 9 through June 23, 
2017. Only current producers that were engaged in the production of 
fresh potatoes in Washington during the period of July 1, 2015, through 
June 30, 2016, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 
305, Portland, OR 97204; Telephone: (503) 326-2724; from the Office of 
the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty 
Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, 
Washington, DC 20250-0237; or on the Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Hutchinson or Gary D. Olson, 
Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-
2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or Email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 946 (7 CFR 
part 946), 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 producers. The referendum shall 
be conducted from June 9 through June 23, 2017, among eligible 
Washington potato producers. Only current producers that were also 
engaged in the production of fresh potatoes in Washington during the 
period of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, 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 less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum and 
producers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Washington potatoes 
represented in the referendum favor continuance of their program. In 
evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, USDA will not 
exclusively consider the results of the continuance referendum. USDA 
will also consider all other relevant information regarding operation 
of the order and relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, 
handlers, and consumers to determine whether continuing 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. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials used in the referendum herein ordered 
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 Crops. It has been estimated that it will take an average of 
20 minutes for each of the approximately 270 Washington potato 
producers to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots 
postmarked after June 23, 2017, will not be included in the vote 
tabulation.
    Teresa Hutchinson and Gary D. Olson of the Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Specialty Crops 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 part 
900.400 et seq.).
    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 946

    Marketing agreements, Potatoes, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: January 12, 2017.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-01022 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P