[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 33861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15059]


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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. 136 / Tuesday, July 16, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 33861]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 981

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-19-0041; SC19-981-3 CR]


Almonds Grown in California; 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 almond growers to determine whether they favor continuance of 
the marketing order regulating the handling of almonds grown in 
California.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from August 5 through August 
16, 2019. Only current growers of almonds within the production area 
that grew almonds during the period August 1, 2018, through July 31, 
2019, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, 
Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721-3129; Telephone: (559) 538-1670; 
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: Peter Sommers, Marketing Specialist, 
or Terry Vawter, Regional Director, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, CA 93721-3129; 
Telephone: (559) 538-1670, Fax: (559) 487-5906, or Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 981, as amended (7 CFR part 981), 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 
growers. The referendum will be conducted from August 5 through August 
16, 2019, among almond growers in the production area. Only current 
almond growers that were also engaged in the production of almonds 
during the period of August 1, 2018, through July 31, 2019, may 
participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order 
if less than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum and 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of almonds 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 growers, 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. 0581-0178, Vegetable Crops. It has been 
estimated it will take an average of 10 minutes for each of the 
approximately 8,000 almond growers to cast a ballot. Participation is 
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after August 16, 2019, will not be 
included in the vote tabulation.
    Peter Sommers and Terry Vawter of the California 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 growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 981

    Almonds, Marketing agreements, Nuts, and Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: July 11, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-15059 Filed 7-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P