[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07810]


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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. 84, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 16217]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 929

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-19-0019; SC19-929-1 CR]


Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, 
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; 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 cranberry producers to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of 
cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, 
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 6 through May 28, 
2019. Only current producers of cranberries within the production area 
that grew cranberries during the period September 1, 2017, through 
August 31, 2018, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, 
Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375; 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: Jennie M. Varela, Marketing 
Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast 
Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter 
Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or 
Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 929, as amended (7 CFR part 929), 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 will be conducted from May 6 through May 28, 
2019, among cranberry producers in the production area. Only current 
cranberry producers that were also engaged in the production of 
cranberries during the period of September 1, 2017, through August 31, 
2018, 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 50 percent of the producers voting in the referendum and 
producers of less than 50 percent of the volume of cranberries 
represented in the referendum favor continuance of the 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 have been 
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been 
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 1,100 cranberry producers to cast a ballot. Participation 
is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after May 28, 2019, will not be 
included in the vote tabulation.
    Jennie M. Varela and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast 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 929

    Cranberries, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: April 12, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07810 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P