[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 8, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17578]


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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. 85, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 8, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 55388]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 959

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-20-0046; SC20-959-2 CR]


Onions Grown in South Texas; 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 onions grown in South Texas to determine whether 
they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling 
of onions produced in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from September 21 through 
October 13, 2020. Only current producers of South Texas onions within 
the production area that produced onions 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 
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; or 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: Abigail Campos, 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. 959, as amended (7 CFR part 959), 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 shall be conducted from September 21 through 
October 13, 2020, among onion producers in the production area. Only 
current Texas onion producers who were also engaged in the production 
of onions grown in South Texas 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 producers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. The Order will continue in effect if two-
thirds or more of the producers voting in the referendum, or producers 
of more than two-thirds of the volume of onions grown in South Texas 
represented in the referendum, favor continuance. 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 the operation of the 
Order and relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, handlers, 
and consumers to determine whether continued operation of 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 100 
onion producers to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots 
postmarked after October 13, 2020, will not be included in the vote 
tabulation.
    Abigail Campos 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 959

    Marketing agreements, Onions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17578 Filed 9-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P