DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Referendum on Continuation of the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program [31 Pa.B. 540] The Pennsylvania Potato Research Program (Program) was initially established in 1976 under the provisions of the act of September 20, 1961 (P. L. 1541, No. 657) known as the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act of 1968 repealed and reenacted by the act of March 24, 1998 (P. L. 217, No. 39) known as the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act (act). The program was last continued by a referendum conducted in 1996. The act and the Program require that the Secretary of Agriculture call a referendum every 5 years of affected producers to determine whether or not a majority of those voting still desire to continue the program.
Referendum Period: The referendum period shall be February 9, 2001, until 4 p.m. on February 23, 2001. Ballots shall be cast by mail or hand carried and shall be received by the Secretary of Agriculture in Harrisburg, PA until 4 p.m. on February 23, 2001.
Notice of Referendum: Affected producers whose names shall be taken for the list maintained in the office of the Secretary of Agriculture shall be notified by mail of the referendum period and of the voting procedure and requirements. Distribution of the Notice of Referendum and official ballot shall be made on February 9, 2001. Additional copies of the same material may be made available at the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408.
Eligible Voters: The rules governing the eligibility of a producer for voting are as follows: Each producer who grows five or more acres of potatoes for sale as of the record date of December 31, 2000, is entitled to vote.
Counting of Ballots: The ballots will be canvassed and counted by a Teller Committee appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The results of the referendum count will be announced publicly as soon as practicable, following the counting of the ballots that will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2001, in the State Agriculture Building, Harrisburg, PA.
Reporting Irregularities: Any irregularities or disputes concerned with the referendum procedures must be reported in written form to the Secretary of Agriculture not later than 7 calendar days from the day of the referendum.
Publication: This referendum order shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Patriot-News in Harrisburg.
Effective Date: The foregoing order shall be effective from and after the ninth day of February, 2001.
SAMUEL E. HAYES, Jr.,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-128. Filed for public inspection January 26, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]
