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SC-167 (Rev. 5/2017) Destroy previous editions.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

Specialty Crops Program

California Marketing Field Office

2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102-B

Fresno, CA 93721

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

IMPORTANT: YOUR REFERENDUM BALLOT TO VOTE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF 

MARKETING ORDER No. 993 FOR DRIED PRUNES

To: The Dried Prune Producer Addressed

The Secretary of Agriculture has announced the decision to submit for industry approval a proposed 

amendment of the marketing agreement, as amended, and Marketing Order No. 993, as amended, regulating 

the handling of dried prunes produced in California. The referendum is being held during the period of 

__________, 20___, through ___________, 20___, to determine whether producers of dried prunes favor or 

disfavor issuance by the Secretary of Agriculture of the proposed amended marketing order.

The proposed amendment will not be made effective unless its issuance is favored by at least two-thirds of 

the eligible producers voting in the referendum or by producers representing at least two-thirds of the volume 

of dried prunes voted in the referendum.

Proposed changes in the marketing order were submitted by the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee) to 

the Secretary of Agriculture, and a public hearing on the proposals was held in _____________, 20___.

On the reverse side of this page is the REFERENDUM BALLOT for your use in indicating whether you 

favor or disfavor issuance of the proposed amendment. Also enclosed are the following: (1) Rules governing 

producer eligibility to vote and voting instructions; (2) Summary and copy of the proposed amendment; and 

(3) Envelope for returning Ballot – no postage required.

Please read the rules governing producer eligibility to vote and the voting instructions before filling out the 

Ballot. Be sure your Ballot is complete. BALLOTS, THAT DO NOT SHOW YOUR TONNAGE OR 

DRIED PRUNES PRODUCED FOR MARKET, YOUR VOTE, AND YOUR SIGNATURE, CANNOT BE 

COUNTED. Please vote promptly; to be counted, Ballot envelopes must be postmarked not later than 

midnight, _________________, 20___.

Sincerely,

_________________________________________

Referendum Agent

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 

information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0178. The time 

required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 

searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

VOTER ELIGIBILITY AND VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

I. REFERENDUM PERIOD: ____________________, 20___ - _____________________, 20___

II. ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

A. Producer means: (a) a person who owns and farms land producing prune plums used in the 

production of dried prunes for market; (b) a renter or tenant of a farm producing prune plums used in the 

production of dried prunes; (c) a landlord who received from a renter or tenant a portion of the production as 

rent for the land on which the prune plums were produced for market. (NOTE: A landlord who rents for 

cash, a lien-holder or a person having only a financial interest in the crop is ineligible to vote.)

B. A person buying prune plums either on the tree or after they have been harvested is not a producer of 

such prune plums and therefore is not eligible to vote.

C. A business unit (partnership, family enterprise, corporation, association, estate, firm) may cast only 

one vote, but each separate unit is entitled to vote.

D. Any producer who is now engaged in producing prune plums in California for drying or dehydrating 

into dried prunes for market and was so engaged during the representative period of August 1, 20___, 

through July 31, 20___, is eligible to vote in this referendum. A producer who had no production during the 

representative period is not eligible to vote.

III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING – YOUR BALLOT MUST CONTAIN:

A. The tonnage of dried prunes which was produced for market by you (or by the producer for whom 

this Ballot is cast) during the period August 1, 20xx, through July 31, 20___.

B. Your vote: place an “X” by either “Yes” or “No”.

C. Your signature and mailing address in Item 3 if you are casting your Ballot in your own behalf as an 

individual owner.
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SC-167 (Rev. 5/2017) Destroy previous editions.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

PRODUCER REFERENDUM BALLOT

ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE MARKETING ORDER, AS AMENDED,

REGULATING THE HANDLING OF DRIED PRUNES PRODUCED IN CALIFORNIA

This Ballot will be held confidential. Please read the cover letter and the attached voter eligibility and voting 

instructions before completing this Ballot. Your Ballot envelope must be postmarked no later than 

_______________, 20___.

1. I hereby certify that I am, or the producer’s name I have inserted in Item 3 below is, now an eligible 

producer in California of prune plums used in the production of dried prunes for market. I have produced for 

market during the period August 1, 20___, through July 31, 20___, following quantity of dried prunes: 

__________ dried tons. (NOTE: if you are renting on a share crop basis, report only that part of the tonnage 

representing your share.)

2. Do you favor issuance of the proposed amendment? (Please place an “X” in the appropriate space)

Yes □ No □

3. ______________________________________________________________________________

(Producer’s Signature – or name if Item 4 is applicable)

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________

Street City State Zip Code

4. If this Ballot is cast on behalf of a partnership or by an officer or employee of a producer 

(corporation, institution, school, or college), or by an administrator, executor, or trustee of a producing estate, 

the following must also be completed:

I hereby certify to the Secretary of Agriculture that I have the authority to cast this Ballot for the producer 

named above in Item 3 and that I will submit evidence of such authority at the request of an Agent of the 

Secretary.

Signature: ________________________________ Title or Capacity: ________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________

Street City State Zip Code
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SC-167 (Rev. 5/2017) Destroy previous editions.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT

1. __________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, 

offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity 

conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through 

the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 

information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-

9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.