Proposed Rule2024-26048
Almonds Grown in California; Continuance Referendum
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 8, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible almond growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of almonds grown in California.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 217 (Friday, November 8, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 88661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26048]
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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. 89, No. 217 / Friday, November 8, 2024 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 88661]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 981
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0050]
Almonds Grown in California; 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 almond growers to determine whether they favor continuance of
the marketing order regulating the handling of almonds grown in
California.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from December 4 through
December 20, 2024. Only current growers of almonds within the
production area that grew almonds during the period August 1, 2023,
through July 31, 2024, are eligible to vote in this referendum. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide the option for
ballots to be returned electronically. Further detail will be provided
in the ballot instructions. Ballots returned via express mail or
electronic mail must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m.
Eastern time on December 20, 2024, to be counted.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the West
Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program,
AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721-
3129; Telephone: (559) 487-5901; the Office of the Docket Clerk, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237;
Telephone: (202) 720-8085; or on the internet: <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/commodities">https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/commodities</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Sommers, Marketing Specialist,
or Abigail Maharaj, Branch Chief, West Region Branch, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey
Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, CA 93721-3129; Telephone: (559) 487-5901,
or Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f0f3a2b3a2d710c3032323a2d2c1f2a2c3b3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cccf9e8f9eeb2cff3f1f1f9eeefdce9eff8fdb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d4c6f646a6c646123406c656c7f6c674d787e696c236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a5b78737d7b737634577b727b687b705a6f697e7b347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 981, as
amended (7 CFR part 981), 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 growers. The
referendum will be conducted from December 4 through December 20, 2024,
among almond growers in the production area. Only current almond
growers that were engaged in the production of almonds during the
period of August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024, may participate in the
continuance referendum.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether growers favor the continuation of
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order
if less than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum, or
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of almonds 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
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Fruit Crops. It has been
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the
approximately 9,500 almond growers to cast a ballot. Participation is
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after December 20, 2024, will not be
included in the vote tabulation.
Abigail Maharaj, Jeffery Rymer, and Peter Sommers of the West
Region Branch, Market Development Division, 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 and voting instructions will be sent by U.S. Postal
Service, or through electronic mail to all growers of record and may
also be obtained from the referendum agents or from their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 981
Marketing agreements, Nuts, and Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674)
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26048 Filed 11-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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