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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16323-16324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6829]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 946

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-11-0010; FV11-946-1 CR]

Irish Potatoes Grown in Washington; 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 Washington potato growers to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Irish 
potatoes grown in Washington.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from June 11 through June 24, 
2011. To vote in this referendum, growers must have grown potatoes for 
the fresh market in Washington during the period July 1, 2009, through 
June 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 805 SW. Broadway, Suite 930, Portland, Oregon 97205, or 
the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order Administration Branch, 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Hutchinson, Marketing 
Specialist, or Gary D. Olson, Regional Manager, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 
326-7440, or e-mail: Teresa.Hutchinson@ams.usda.gov or 
GaryD.Olson@ams.usda.gov, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 946 (7 CFR 
part 946), 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 June 11 through June 24, 2011, among eligible Washington 
potato growers. Only growers that were engaged in the production of 
fresh potatoes in Washington during the period of July 1, 2009, through 
June 30, 2010, 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 fewer than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum and 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Washington potatoes 
represented in the referendum favor continuance of their 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 as well as 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

[[Page 16324]]

the referendum herein ordered have been submitted to and approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB 
No. 0581-0178. It has been estimated that it will take an average of 20 
minutes for each of the approximately 267 Washington potato growers to 
cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after 
June 24, 2011, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Teresa Hutchinson and Gary D. Olson of the Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 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 946

    Marketing agreements, Potatoes, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: March 16, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6829 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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