The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the continuance referendum requirement under the federal marketing order for South Texas onions is suspended temporarily until 2032.
The committee recommended this action on Nov. 18, 2025, to avoid asking producers to vote on the continuance of the program during the period that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is conducting formal rulemaking on four proposed amendments to the federal marketing order for South Texas onions. This temporary suspension allows AMS time to complete the amendatory proceeding and provides industry time to operate under the amendments, if implemented, before the next continuance referendum.
The interim final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 26,2026 and becomes effective May 26, 2026.
More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of onions grown in South Texas is available on AMS’ South Texas Onions web page.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by using their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements to help ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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