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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77367-77368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30391]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 981

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-13-0082; FV14-981-1 CR]

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 growers of almonds in California to determine whether they 
favor continuance of the marketing order that regulates the handling of 
almonds grown in California.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from February 18 through March 
7, 2014. To vote in this referendum, growers must have produced almonds 
in California during the period of August 1, 2012, through July 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 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: regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Stobbe, 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: 
Maria.Stobbe@ams.usda.gov or Martin.Engeler@ams.usda.gov, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 981 (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 shall be 
conducted from February 18 through March 7, 2014, among eligible 
California almond growers. Only current growers that were also engaged 
in the production of almonds in California during the period of August 
1, 2012, through July 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 fewer than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum and 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of California almonds 
represented in the referendum favor continuance. 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 evaluate 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, Almonds Grown in California. It has been estimated 
that it will take an average of 10 minutes for each of the 
approximately 6,400 growers of California almonds to cast a ballot. 
Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after March 7, 2014, 
will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Martin Engeler and Maria Stobbe 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

[[Page 77368]]

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 981

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

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

    Dated: December 17, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30391 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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