[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07396]
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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. 88 , No. 67 / Friday, April 7, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 20780]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 927
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-22-0089]
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Referendum order.
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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible Oregon and Washington pear growers to determine whether they
favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of
pears grown in Oregon and Washington.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 8 through May 30,
2023. Only current pear growers who grew pears within the designated
production area during the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022,
are eligible to vote in this referendum.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
office of the referendum agents at 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305,
Portland, Oregon 97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724; or the Office of the
Docket Clerk, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or on the
internet https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-927.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Novotny or Gary Olson, Western
Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305,
Portland, Oregon 97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, or Email:
[email protected] or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 927, as
amended (7 CFR part 927), 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 pear growers.
The referendum shall be conducted from March 20 to March 31, 2023,
among pear growers in the production area. Only current pear growers
that were engaged in the production of pears during the period of July
1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, may participate in the continuance
referendum.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether growers favor continuation of marketing
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order if less
than two-thirds of growers voting in the referendum, and growers of
less than two-thirds of the volume 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 concerning the operation of the Order and the relative
benefits and costs to growers, 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 ballot materials used in the referendum have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been
assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated that it
will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 1,500
Oregon and Washington pear growers to cast a ballot. Participation is
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after March 31, 2023, will not be
included in the vote tabulation.
Dale Novotny and Gary Olson of the Western Region Branch, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing
Service, 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 eligible pear growers of record and
may also be obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 927
Marketing agreements, Pears, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07396 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P