Release No. 090-15
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold three public hearings on a proposed federal marketing order for pecans grown in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
A request for a public hearing on the proposed program was submitted by the American Pecan Board, the proponent group representing growers and handlers throughout the proposed fifteen-state production area. The proposed order would authorize data collection, research and promotion activities, and grade, size, quality, pack and container regulation. If implemented, an administrative council of 17 grower and handler representatives, including designated representation for small businesses, would be established. The program would be financed with assessments collected from handlers handling pecans grown within the proposed production area.
The hearings are open to the public and scheduled to begin at each location at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m. (local time), or any other time as determined by the presiding administrative law judge. This excludes potential hearing sessions on July 22 and 25, which would conclude at 12:00 p.m. The hearing dates and locations are:Las Cruces, N.M.:
July 20 - 21, 2015
New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum
Rio Hondo Room and Auditorium
4100 Dripping Springs Rd.
Las Cruces, N.M. 88011
If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 22.
Richardson, Texas:July 23-24, 2015
Hilton Double Tree
Azalea Room
1981 North Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 25.
Tifton, Ga.:
July 27- 29, 2015
Hilton Garden Inn
Magnolia Room
201 Boo Dr.
Tifton, Ga. 31793
If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 30.
The proposal and the hearing notice will be published in the July 2, 2015, Federal Register. Copies may be obtained from Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Rulemaking Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, Post Office Box 952, Moab, UT 84532, telephone: (202) 557-4783, fax: (435) 259-1502; or Michelle P. Sharrow, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Rulemaking Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: (202) 720-2491, fax: (202) 720-8938. An electronic version of this news release can be obtained via the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/newsrel.html.
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