Notice2026-07828
Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order; 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
April 22, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers and importers of Christmas trees to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding the National Christmas tree research and promotion program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 21396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07828]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 91 , No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 21396]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-26-0232]
Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order;
Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notification of referendum.
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SUMMARY: This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers and importers of Christmas trees to determine
whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's
(AMS) regulations regarding the National Christmas tree research and
promotion program.
DATES: This referendum will be conducted by mail and electronic ballot
from May 22, 2026 through June 2, 2026. Ballots delivered to AMS via
express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no
later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 2, 2026. Eligible persons
will receive a ballot through the mail and may cast it either through
mail or electronic ballot. To be eligible to vote, domestic producers
and importers must have produced or imported 500 or more Christmas
trees from September 1, 2025, through March 15, 2026, and must be
subject to assessment under the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and
Information Order (Order).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent,
Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-
0244; via telephone: (202) 720-8085; or by contacting George Webster
via electronic mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aaedcfc5d8cdcf84fdcfc8d9decfd8eadfd9cecb84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2a5878d908587ccb5878091968790a297918683cc858d94">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Webster, Marketing Specialist,
or Alexandra Caryl, Branch Chief, Mid-Atlantic Region Branch, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program; telephone: (202) 720-
8085; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f183a302d383a71083a3d2c2b3a2d1f2a2c3b3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eea98b819c898bc0b98b8c9d9a8b9cae9b9d8a8fc0898198">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b6a474e534a454f594a05684a5952476b5e584f4a054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="77361b120f1619130516593416050e1b370204131659101801">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion,
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether
continuance of the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information
Order (Order) (7 CFR part 1214) is favored by a majority of eligible
domestic producers and importers covered under the program.
The representative period for establishing voter eligibility is
September 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Producers who domestically
produced 500 or more Christmas trees and importers who imported 500 or
more Christmas trees into the United States during the representative
period are eligible to vote. Persons who received an exemption from
assessments pursuant to Sec. 1214.53 for the entire representative
period are ineligible to vote. The referendum will be conducted by
express mail and electronic ballot from May 22, 2026 through June 2,
2026. Further details will be provided in the ballot instructions.
Section 518 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 7417) authorizes continuance
referenda. Under Sec. 1214.81(b) of the Order, USDA must conduct a
referendum every seven years, at the request of the Board established
in the Order, 10 percent or more of the number of persons eligible to
vote in a referendum, or at any time as determined by the Secretary.
The program's last continuance referendum was conducted in 2019;
therefore, a referendum must be held in 2026 to comply with the Order.
USDA would continue the Order if it is favored by a majority of
eligible domestic producers and importers voting in the referendum. If
not favored, USDA would comply with the suspension and termination
procedures at Sec. 1214.82 and conduct appropriate rulemaking in
accordance with the Order.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0268.
Approximately 1,200 persons will be eligible to vote in the referendum.
It will take an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting
instructions and complete the referendum ballot.
Referendum Order
George Webster, Marketing Specialist, and Alexandra Caryl, Branch
Chief, Mid-Atlantic Region Branch, Market Development Division, SCP,
AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents to
conduct this referendum. The referendum procedures at Sec. Sec.
1214.100 through 1214.108 of the Order, which were issued pursuant to
the Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agents will mail ballots and voting instructions,
including how to vote electronically, to all known, eligible domestic
producers and importers prior to the first day of the voting period.
Any eligible domestic producer or importer who does not receive a
ballot should contact a referendum agent no later than three days
before the end of the voting period. Ballots delivered to AMS via
express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no
later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 2, 2026 to be included in
the vote tabulation.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.
Erin Morris,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07828 Filed 4-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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