[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04277]



[[Page 8628]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1216

[Document Number AMS-SC-18-0103]


Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order; Continuance 
Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notification of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of peanuts to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) regulations 
regarding a national peanut research and promotion program.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from April 15 through May 3, 
2019. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Department) will provide the 
option for electronic balloting. Further details will be provided in 
the ballot instructions. Mail ballots must be postmarked by May 3, 
2019. Ballots returned via express mail or electronic means must show 
proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 
3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information 
Order (Order) may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Promotion and 
Economics Division (PED), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), AMS, USDA, 
Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915; facsimile: (202) 205-2800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist, 
PED, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-9915; facsimile: 
(202) 205-2800; or electronic mail: [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 Order (7 CFR part 1216) is favored by producers of 
peanuts covered under the program. The Order is authorized under the 
Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 
2018. Persons who produced peanuts and were subject to assessments 
during the representative period are eligible to vote. The referendum 
shall be conducted by regular U.S. mail or by electronic means from 
April 15 through May 3, 2019. The Department will provide the option 
for electronic balloting. Further details will be provided in the 
ballot instructions.
    Section 518 of the 1996 Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes continuance 
referenda. Under section 1216.82 of the Order, the Department must 
conduct a referendum every five years or when 10 percent or more of the 
eligible peanut producers petition the Secretary of Agriculture to hold 
a referendum to determine if persons subject to assessment favor 
continuance of the Order. The Department would continue the Order if 
continuance is approved by a simple majority of the producers voting in 
the referendum.
    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. 0581-0093. It has been 
estimated that there are approximately 7,000 producers who 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.
    Jeanette Palmer and Heather Pichelman, PED, 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 7 CFR 1216.100 through 1216.107, 
which were issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to conduct the 
referendum.
    The referendum agents will distribute the ballots to be cast in the 
referendum and voting instructions by U.S. mail or through electronic 
means to all known producers prior to the first day of the voting 
period. Persons who produced peanuts and were subject to assessments 
during the representative period are eligible to vote. Any eligible 
producer who does not receive a ballot should contact a referendum 
agent as soon as possible. Ballots delivered to the Department via 
regular U.S. mail must be postmarked by May 3, 2019. Ballots delivered 
to the Department via express mail or electronic means must show proof 
of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 3, 
2019.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1216

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Marketing agreements, Peanut promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: March 5, 2019.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-04277 Filed 3-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P