DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Referendum Order on Continuation of the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program [41 Pa.B. 1207]
[Saturday, March 5, 2011]I. The Pennsylvania Potato Research Program was established under the provisions of the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act. The Act requires that the Secretary of Agriculture call a referendum of affected producers every five years to determine whether or not a majority of those voting still desire the program. The program was last subjected to a review referendum conducted in 2006. It is now time for another review referendum to determine whether a majority of the potato producers desire the program to continue.
II. Referendum Period: The referendum period shall be April 4, 2011 until 4:00 p.m. on April 18, 2011. Completed ballots shall be mailed or hand-delivered to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Market Development, Room 310, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9408. Hand-delivered ballots must be received by 4:00 p.m. on April 18, 2011. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked no later than April 18, 2011 and received no later than April 22, 2011.
III. Notice of Referendum: This referendum order and an official ballot shall be mailed no later than March 28, 2011, to all affected producers whose names appear on the list of Pennsylvania potato growers maintained in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. Additional copies of the same materials shall be made available at the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
IV. Eligible Voters: The rules governing the eligibility of a producer for voting are as follows: The record date for determination of whether a producer is eligible to vote is April 4, 2011. All potato producers who produced or grew five (5) or more acres of potatoes within Pennsylvania in calendar year 2010 for sale or marketing are eligible to vote on the referendum if they confirm, in the voting ballot, that they intend to produce or grow five (5) or more acres of potatoes within Pennsylvania in calendar year 2011 for sale or marketing.
V. Counting of Ballots: The ballots will be canvassed and counted by a Teller Committee appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The counting of the ballots willbegin at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 29, 2011 in the State Agriculture Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Secretary will announce the results of the referendum within 30 days following the completion of the referendum period. The results will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and Harrisburg Patriot, and disseminated to the news media.
VI. Reporting Irregularities: Any irregularities or disputes concerning the referendum procedures must be reported in written form to the Secretary of Agriculture not later than seven (7) calendar days from the end of the referendum period.
VII. Publication: This referendum order shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Harrisburg Patriot.
VIII. Effective Date: The foregoing order shall be effective immediately.
GEORGE D. GREIG,
Acting Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-378. Filed for public inspection March 4, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
