Justification for Change Raisins & Walnuts

Change of Worksheet

OMB Vegetable and Specialty Crops

OMB No. 0581-0178

Raisins Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 989 (7 CFR Part 989) and

Walnuts Grown in California, Marketing Order No. 984 (7 CFR Part 984)

September 2017

This change of worksheet addresses modifications to three forms currently approved under OMB No. 0581-0178, OMB Vegetable and Specialty Crops. Two of these forms are part of the Raisin Marketing Order (989) and are used for producers and cooperatives to vote on amendments. The third form is used by walnut handlers of the California Marketing Order (984) to report walnut receipts from growers.

The information collected on the two raisin forms is to be used for voting on proposed amendments to the marketing order. The original forms are designed to be tailored to each specific election. The hours per response for these two forms will remain at 20 minutes. Below is a justification for the changes to forms SC-224 and SC-225B.

SC-224 Producer Referendum Ballot on Proposed Amendments, is to be filled out by each producer. The changes to this form are specifically tailored for this election. Number 3, 4, and 5 have been replaced by bullet points.

“Is your business entity a voting member of Fresno Cooperative (Co-op) Raisin Growers” has been added after 2. on the old form. The next four questions are to provide more information about the raisin deliveries.

• Did the entity deliver raisins for cash to Sun-Maid during the representative period? □ Yes □ No

• What was the tonnage delivered to Sun-Maid as a cash grower during that period? ______ tons

• Did the entity deliver raisins for cash to Fresno Co-op during the representative period? □ Yes □ No

• What was the tonnage delivered to Fresno Co-op as a cash grower during that period? ______ tons

The next section has been expanded for voting options on the eight proposed amendments:

1. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.53 to authorize production research?”

2. “Do you favor whether to amend §§ 989.29 and 989.129 to authorize separate nominations for independent producer member and independent producer alternate member seats?”

3. “Do you favor whether to amend §§ 989.58, 989.59, and 989.61 to add authority to regulate quality, and whether to revise the heading prior to § 989.58 to include quality?”

4. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.59 to add authority to establish different regulations for different markets?”

5. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.91 to require continuance referenda?”

6. “Do you favor whether to amend the order to remove volume regulation and reserve pool authority? This would include: removing §§ 989.91 989.55 and 989.56, §§ 989.65 through 989.67, §§ 989.71, 989.72, 989.82, 989.154, 989.156, 989.166, 989.167, 989.221, 989.257 and 989.401; revising §§ 989.11, 989.53, 989.54, 989.58, 989.59, 989.60, 989.73, 989.79, 989.80, 989.84, 989.158, 989.173 and 989.210; and re-designating § 989.70 as § 989.96. In addition, whether corresponding changes should be made to the following headings: “volume regulation’’ prior to §§ 989.65; ‘‘volume regulation’’ prior to § 989.166; and ‘‘subpart—schedule of payments’’ prior to § 989.401.”

7. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.28 to establish term limits?”

8. “Do you favor any conforming changes needed to be made as a result of the above proposed amendments? Conforming changes may also include non-substantive, typographical errors.”

The rest of the changes are to re-arrange the signatory lines at the bottom of the page and to provide clarifying text to producers filling out the form.

SC-225B Cooperative Association Ballot, is also being specifically tailored to this voting period. One clarifying sentence has been added to the top part of the form; “This ballot will be kelp confidential. Please read the following certification and voting instructions before completing this ballot. Your ballot envelope must be postmarked by ______________, 20___ to be valid”.

The other changes are the inclusion of the eight proposed amendments:

1. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.53 to authorize production research?”

2. “Do you favor whether to amend §§ 989.29 and 989.129 to authorize separate nominations for independent producer member and independent producer alternate member seats?”

3. “Do you favor whether to amend §§ 989.58, 989.59, and 989.61 to add authority to regulate quality, and whether to revise the heading prior to § 989.58 to include quality?”

4. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.59 to add authority to establish different regulations for different markets?”

5. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.91 to require continuance referenda?”

6. “Do you favor whether to amend the order to remove volume regulation and reserve pool authority? This would include: removing §§ 989.91 989.55 and 989.56, §§ 989.65 through 989.67, §§ 989.71, 989.72, 989.82, 989.154, 989.156, 989.166, 989.167, 989.221, 989.257 and 989.401; revising §§ 989.11, 989.53, 989.54, 989.58, 989.59, 989.60, 989.73, 989.79, 989.80, 989.84, 989.158, 989.173 and 989.210; and re-designating § 989.70 as § 989.96. In addition, whether corresponding changes should be made to the following headings: “volume regulation’’ prior to §§ 989.65; ‘‘volume regulation’’ prior to § 989.166; and ‘‘subpart—schedule of payments’’ prior to § 989.401.”

7. “Do you favor whether to amend § 989.28 to establish term limits?”

8. “Do you favor any conforming changes needed to be made as a result of the above proposed amendments? Conforming changes may also include non-substantive, typographical errors.”

CWB 1: California Walnut Board’s “Crop Acquisition Report, By Country and Variety, For Crop Year 20___” is to add the additional variety Livermore. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is revising the U.S. Standards for Walnuts in the Shell and for Shelled Walnuts to allow grade certification of the Livermore (red) colored variety of walnuts. The demand for the walnut variety is growing internationally. The hours per response for this form will remain at 5 minutes.