FV-114A Cooperative Assoc. Referendum Ballot (Walla Walla Onions

OMB 0581-0178

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include fonn nwnber and date on all reproductions

COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION REFERENDUM BALLOT
Marketing Order No. 956: Sweet Onions Grown in the Walla Walla Valley
of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon
Please read the attached VOTING INS1RUCTIONS AND RULES GOVERNING PRODUCER EliGIBIliTY
TO VOlE before completing this ballot. This referendum is being held to determine producer support for the
federal marketing order regulating the handling of sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of
Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. The Secretary of Agriculture will consider termination of this
order if less than two-thirds of those voting and less than two-thirds of the volume represented in the
referendum favor continuance.
A.

Do you favor continuance of the Marketing Order No. 956, regulating the handling of sweet onions
grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon?

DYES

DNO

COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION ELIGmn...ITY STATEMENT
B.

Contact Name

Phone Number

Name of Cooperative Association
Mailing Address
City

State

Zip

What is the total hundredweight of sweet onions produced for fresh market in
the production area by the member producers of this cooperative association
durin the re resentative eriod of
throu
?
What is the total number of producers for which this cooperative association
is casting this ballot?
C.

I hereby certify that the information I provided on this baDot is accurate and correct to the best
of my knowledge.
Signature*

Title

*Your signature certifies that you have the authority to take such action and will submit supplementary evidence of such authority at the request of an agent ofthe
Secretary of Agriculture. The information provided in this ballot is required to determine voter eligibility and vote of sweet onion producers. Falsification of
information on this government document may resuh in a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or both (18 U.S.C. 1001).
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0178. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The u.S. Department of Agricuhure (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or becanse all or part of an individual's income is derived nom any public assistance
program (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TOD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720.0382
(TOD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
FV-1l4A(09/03)

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES GOVERNING PRODUCER ELGIBIL TY TO VOTE

I.

VOTING PERIOD:

through

II.

REPRESENTATIVEPERIOD:

III.

PRODUCTION AREA: Designated area in Umatilla County, Oregon, and Walla Walla County,
Washington

IV.

PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: Any cooperative association engaged in the marketing of fresh sweet
onions grown in the production area during the representative period. Section 608c(l2) of the Agricultural
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 provides, in part, that the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider the
approval or disapproval by any cooperative association, bona fide engaged in the marketing of the commodity
covered by the subject marketing order, as the approval or disapproval of the producers who are members of,
stockholders in, or under contract with, such cooperative association. Cooperative associations are defined in
the Capper-Volstead Act (7 V.S.C. 291, 292). Each separate business unit, partnership, LLC, family
enterprise, corporation, association, estate, or firm that is a member of the cooperative association is
entitled to one vote.

through

"Producer" means any individual, partnership, LLC, corporation, association, institution, estate, or other
business unit who:

V.

·

Owns and farms land resulting in ownership of the sweet onions produced thereon;

·
·

Rents and farms land resulting in ownership of all or a portion of the sweet onions produced thereon; or
Owns land from which, as rental for such land, ownership is obtained of a portion of the sweet onions
produced thereon. (A lien holder, cash landlord, or person having only a financial interest in the sweet
onion crop is not eligible to vote.)

HOW TO VOTE:
A. Indicate your vote by placing an "X" in the appropriate box.
B. Print or type the information requested under the eligibility statement. All information must be provided
to ensure the validity of the ballot.
C. Sign below the certification. Incomplete or unsigned ballots cannot be counted.
Attach to the ballot a list of sweet onion producers in the production area who are currently members of,
stockholders in, or under contract with the cooperative association named herein as of the date this ballot is
cast, and who produced sweet onions for fresh market during the representative period. For each such
producer provide the following:
a. Address (street and house number, rural route number, city, state, zip code).
b. Volume of sweet onions produced for fresh market during the representative period in hundredweight.
Attach to the ballot a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the individual
signing this ballot to cast the ballot on behalf of the cooperative association.
Mail the completed ballot, producer list, and corporate resolution in the enclosed envelope and return to
Referendum Agent, VSDA-AMS-FV-NWMFO, 1220 SW 3RD AVE, SUITE 385, PORTLAND, OR 972042807. For further information, please call (503) 326-2724.

Ballots must be postmarked by