[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 82190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23446]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 197 / Thursday, October 10, 2024 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 82190]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 982

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0040]


Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and 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 Oregon and Washington hazelnut growers to determine whether 
they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling 
of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from October 28 through 
November 18, 2024. Only current hazelnut growers who have grown 
hazelnuts within the designated production area during the period July 
1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, are eligible to vote in this 
referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agents at 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, 
Portland, Oregon 97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724; or the Market 
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
Telephone: (202) 720-8085; or on the internet https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-982.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia Tjemsland or Barry Broadbent, 
Northwest Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, Portland, Oregon 
97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, or Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#24524d56434d4a4d450a480a504e41495748454a4064515740450a434b52"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="62140b10050b0c0b034c0e4c1608070f110e030c0622171106034c050d14">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d7b5b6a5a5aef9b5a5b8b6b3b5b2b9a397a2a4b3b6f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="096b687b7b70276b7b66686d6b6c677d497c7a6d68276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 982, as 
amended (7 CFR part 982), 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 hazelnut 
growers. The referendum shall be conducted from October 28 to November 
18, 2024, among hazelnut growers in the production area. Only current 
hazelnut growers that were also engaged in the production of hazelnuts 
during the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, may 
participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order if less 
than two-thirds of growers voting in the referendum, or growers of less 
than two-thirds of the volume represented in the referendum, favor 
continuance. 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 concerning the operation of the Order and the relative 
benefits and costs to growers, handlers, and consumers to determine 
whether continued operation of 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 have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been 
assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crops. It has been 
estimated that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 1,100 Oregon and Washington hazelnut growers to cast a 
ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after November 
18, 2024, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Virginia Tjemsland and Barry Broadbent of the Northwest Region 
Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops 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 through 900.407).
    Ballots will be mailed to all hazelnut growers of record and may 
also be obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 982

    Marketing agreements, Nuts, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-23446 Filed 10-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P


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