Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; Continuance Referendum
| Published date | 18 April 2019 |
| Record Number | 2019-07810 |
| Section | Proposed rules |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07810]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 16217]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 929
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-19-0019; SC19-929-1 CR]
Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon,
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; 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 cranberry producers to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of
cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon,
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 6 through May 28,
2019. Only current producers of cranberries within the production area
that grew cranberries during the period September 1, 2017, through
August 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 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: Jennie M. Varela, 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. 929, as amended (7 CFR part 929), 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 May 6 through May 28,
2019, among cranberry producers in the production area. Only current
cranberry producers that were also engaged in the production of
cranberries during the period of September 1, 2017, through August 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 50 percent of the producers voting in the referendum and
producers of less than 50 percent of the volume of cranberries
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 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 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. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the
approximately 1,100 cranberry producers to cast a ballot. Participation
is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after May 28, 2019, will not be
included in the vote tabulation.
Jennie M. Varela 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 929
Cranberries, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: April 12, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07810 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
