DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTUREPennsylvania Peach and Nectarine Research Program [36 Pa.B. 834] Under 3 Pa.C.S. §§ 4501--4513 (relating to Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act), a referendum was held from December 19, 2005, to January 3, 2006, to determine if the producers affected by the Pennsylvania Peach and Nectarine Research Program (Program) want to have the Program increase the assessment fee per acre from $5 to $8. To pass, a simple majority of eligible producers voting had to vote in favor of the assessment fee increase. In addition, voters in favor of the increase had to represent the majority of production acreage among all eligible voters who participated in the referendum.
An impartial Teller Committee met on January 13, 2006, to count the ballots. The following results were submitted by the Teller Committee: a total of 49 eligible votes were cast, with 25 producers voting in favor of and 24 producers voting against the proposed assessment increase. Eligible votes favoring the assessment increase represented 51% of eligible votes cast and those against represented 49% of eligible votes cast. (Two additional, ineligible ballots were cast.) The program members voting in favor of the assessment increase represented 1,136 acres of peach and nectarine production in this Commonwealth and those voting against represented 414 acres of production. Because a majority of the votes representing a majority of production were cast in favor of the assessment increase, the Pennsylvania Peach and Nectarine Research Program's assessment fee will increase to $8 per acre, effective immediately.
DENNIS C WOLFF,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 06-276. Filed for public inspection February 17, 2006, 9:00 a.m.]
