[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