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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14440-14441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05585]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 984

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-13-0099; FV14-984-1 CR]

Walnuts 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 California walnut growers to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts 
grown in California.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from April 1 through April 19, 
2014. To vote in this referendum, growers must have produced walnuts in 
California during the period September 1, 2012, through August 31, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California, 
93721-3129, or the

[[Page 14441]]

Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237, or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Ricci, Marketing Specialist, or 
Martin Engeler, Regional Director, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 
AMS, USDA; Telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906, or Email: 
Andrea.Ricci@ams.usda.gov or Martin.Engeler@ams.usda.gov, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 984, as 
amended (7 CFR part 984), 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 shall be conducted from April 1 through April 19, 2014, 
among eligible California walnut growers. Only current growers that 
were also engaged in the production of walnuts in California during the 
period of September 1, 2012, through August 31, 2013, 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 and 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of California walnuts 
represented in the referendum favor continuance of their program. In 
evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, USDA will 
consider the results of the continuance referendum and other relevant 
information regarding operation of the order. USDA will also consider 
the order's relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, 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 herein ordered 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under 
OMB No. 0581-0178, Walnuts Grown in California. It has been estimated 
that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 4,100 growers of California walnuts to cast a ballot. 
Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after April 19, 2014, 
will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Andrea Ricci and Terry Vawter of the California Marketing Field 
Office, Fruit and Vegetable 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 
900.400-900.407).
    Ballots will be mailed 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 984

    Marketing agreements, Nuts, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Walnuts.

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

    Dated: February 26, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-05585 Filed 3-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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