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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1424]

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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. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 4254]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 945

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-10-0109; FV11-945-1]

Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and 
Malheur County, Oregon; 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 producers of Irish potatoes in certain designated counties in 
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Irish 
potatoes grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from March 5 to March 18, 2011. 
To vote in this referendum, producers must have produced Irish potatoes 
for the fresh market within the designated production area in Idaho, or 
Malheur County, Oregon, during the period August 1, 2009, through July 
31, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agents at 805 SW Broadway, Suite 930, 
Portland, OR 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: Barry Broadbent or Gary Olson, 
Northwest Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 805 SW Broadway, Suite 
930, Portland, OR 97205; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-
7440, or E-mail: Barry.Broadbent@ams.usda.gov or 
GaryD.Olson@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 945 (7 CFR 
part 945), 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 the producers. The referendum 
shall be conducted from March 5 to March 18, 2011, among eligible Irish 
potato producers in the production area. Only producers that were 
engaged in the production of Irish potatoes for the fresh market in 
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon, during the period of August 1, 2009, 
through July 31, 2010, may participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether producers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order if less 
than two-thirds of producers voting in the referendum and producers of 
less than two-thirds of the volume of Irish potatoes 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 disadvantages to producers, handlers, and consumers in 
order 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 to be used in 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--Vegetable 
and Specialty Crop Marketing Orders. It has been estimated that it will 
take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 990 
producers of Irish potatoes in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon, to 
cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after 
March 18, 2011, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Barry Broadbent and Gary 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 producers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 945

    Irish potatoes, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: January 19, 2011.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1424 Filed 1-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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