Tobacco InspectionGrowers Referendum

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

7 CFR Part 29

[Docket No. TB-95-18]

Tobacco Inspection--Growers Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a referendum will be conducted by

mail during the period of April 15-19, 1996, for producers of flue-

cured tobacco who sell their tobacco at auction in Sanford and

Carthage-Aberdeen, North Carolina, to determine producer approval of

the designation of the Sanford and Carthage-Aberdeen tobacco markets as

one consolidated auction market.

DATES: The referendum will be held April 15-19, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Fial, Assistant to the

Director, Tobacco Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United

States Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-

6456; telephone number (202) 260-0151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a mail referendum

on the designation of a consolidated auction market at Sanford and

Carthage-Aberdeen, North Carolina. Sanford, North Carolina, was

designated on June 26, 1942, and Carthage-Aberdeen, North Carolina, on

August 30, 1988, (7 CFR 29.8001) as flue-cured tobacco auction markets

under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.). Under this Act

both have been receiving mandatory grading services from USDA.

On September 12, 1995, an application was made to the Secretary of

Agriculture to consolidate the designated markets of Sanford and

Carthage-Aberdeen, North Carolina. The application, filed by Jeffrey S.

Smith, a warehouse operator in Sanford, was made pursuant to the

regulations promulgated under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR Part

29.1-29.3). On November 7, 1995, a public hearing was held in Sanford,

North Carolina, pursuant to the regulations. A Review Committee,

established pursuant to Sec

d markets of Sanford and

Carthage-Aberdeen, North Carolina. The application, filed by Jeffrey S.

Smith, a warehouse operator in Sanford, was made pursuant to the

regulations promulgated under the Tobacco Inspection Act (7 CFR Part

29.1-29.3). On November 7, 1995, a public hearing was held in Sanford,

North Carolina, pursuant to the regulations. A Review Committee,

established pursuant to Sec. 29.3(h) of the regulations (7 CFR

29.3(h)), has reviewed and considered the application, the testimony

presented at the hearing, the exhibits received in evidence, and other

available information. The Committee recommended to the Secretary that

the application be granted and the Secretary approved the application

on February 26, 1996.

Before a new market can be officially designated, a referendum must

be held to determine that a two-thirds majority of producers favor the

designation. It is hereby determined that the referendum will be held

by mail during the period of April 15-19, 1996. The purpose of the

referendum is to determine whether farmers who sold their tobacco on

the designated markets at Sanford and Carthage-Aberdeen are in favor

of, or opposed to, the designation of the consolidated market for the

1996 and succeeding crop years. Accordingly, if a two-thirds majority

of those tobacco producers voting in the referendum favor this

consolidation, a new market will be designated as and will be called

Sanford-Carthage-Aberdeen.

To be eligible to vote in the referendum a tobacco producer must

have sold flue-cured tobacco on either the Sanford or Carthage-

Aberdeen, North Carolina, auction markets during the 1995 marketing

season. Any farmer who believes he or she is eligible to vote in the

referendum but has not received a mail ballot by April 15, 1996, should

immediately contact Rebecca Fial at (202) 260-0151.

The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for

referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C

rthage-

Aberdeen, North Carolina, auction markets during the 1995 marketing

season. Any farmer who believes he or she is eligible to vote in the

referendum but has not received a mail ballot by April 15, 1996, should

immediately contact Rebecca Fial at (202) 260-0151.

The referendum will be held in accordance with the provisions for

referenda of the Tobacco Inspection Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 511d) and

the regulations for such referendum set forth in 7 CFR 29.74.

Dated: March 11, 1996.

Lon Hatamiya,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96-6347 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]

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