Public Hearing – Proposed Amendments to the South Texas Onion Marketing Order

On February 3-4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture held a two-day public hearing on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 959 (Order) that regulates the handling of onions grown in South Texas.  USDA conducted the in-person public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments recommended by the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the Order. 

The Committee proposes four amendments to the marketing order.  These proposals include lowering the threshold for continuance referenda; expanding research and promotion authority to include marketing promotion and paid advertising; adding authority to accept voluntary contributions; and increasing committee size by one seat to include a public member. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service proposes to make conforming changes to the Order that may be necessary as a result of the proposals presented during the hearing.

Links for the hearing transcript and exhibits appear below. 

Transcript Corrections and Filings

Transcript corrections are due March 25, 2026.

Objections to transcript corrections are due April 1, 2026

USDA will post certification of the transcript and will announce on this webpage deadlines for filing of proposed findings and conclusions, and post-hearing briefs. Please send all electronic filings to the Hearing Clerk’s email address at SM.OHA.HearingClerks@usda.gov.  For more information, please contact Christy Pankey, Marketing Specialist, or Matthew Pavone, Chief, Rulemaking Services Branch at Christy.Pankey@usda.gov or Matthew.Pavone@usda.gov.

Transcripts

Exhibits