[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20571]
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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. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2019 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 51068]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 955
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-19-0065; SC19-955-1 CR]
Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; 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 producers of Vidalia onions to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Vidalia
onions produced in Georgia.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from October 7 through October
28, 2019. Only current producers of Vidalia onions within the
production area that produced onions during the period January 1, 2018,
through December 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 Marketing
Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237;
Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or on the internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven W. Kauffman, 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. 955, as amended (7 CFR part 955), 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 October 7 through
October 28, 2019, among Vidalia onion producers in the production area.
Only current Vidalia onion producers who were also engaged in the
production of Vidalia onions during the period of January 1, 2018,
through December 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 two-thirds of the producers in the referendum, and
producers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Vidalia onions
voting 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 ballots used in the referendum have been 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 it
will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 65
Vidalia onion producers to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary.
Ballots postmarked after October 28, 2019, will not be included in the
vote tabulation.
Steven W. Kauffman 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
900.400 through 900.407).
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 955
Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: September 18, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20571 Filed 9-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P