[Federal Register: June 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 31427-31428]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn08-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-LS-07-0056, LS-07-17]
Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information: Certification of
Organizations for Eligibility To Make Nominations to the Sorghum
Promotion, Research, and Information Board
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications
from State, regional, and national sorghum producer organizations or
associations which desire to be certified as eligible to nominate
sorghum producers for appointment to the Sorghum Promotion, Research,
and Information Board (Board). To nominate a producer to the Board,
organizations must first be certified by USDA. Notice is also given
that upcoming appointments are anticipated and that during a period to
be established by USDA, nominations will be accepted from eligible
organizations.
DATES: Applications for certification must be received by close of
business July 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Certification forms as well as information regarding the
certification and nomination procedures may be requested from Kenneth
R. Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch; Livestock and Seed Program;
AMS; USDA; Room 2628-S; STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.;
Washington, DC 20250-0251 or obtained via the Internet at http://
www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketingPrograms.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing
Programs Branch; Telephone: 202/720-1115; Fax: 202/720-1125; or e-mail
Kenneth.Payne@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (a) The Commodity Promotion, Research, and
Consumer Information Act of 1996 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) authorizes
the establishment and implementation of the sorghum promotion,
research, and information program. Pursuant to the Act, a proposed
Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) was
published in the Federal Register on November 23, 2007 (72 FR 65842).
The final Order was published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2008
(73 FR
[[Page 31428]]
25398). The Order provides for the establishment of an initial 13-
member Board of persons appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture with
staggered terms as follows:
The largest production State based on total production shall have
five sorghum producers to serve as representatives.
The second largest production State based on total production shall
have three sorghum producers to serve as representatives.
The third largest production State based on total production shall
have one sorghum producer to serve as a representative.
There shall be four sorghum producers to serve as at-large national
representatives with at least two representatives appointed from States
other than the top three sorghum producing States.
If the value of assessments on imported sorghum reaches or exceeds
the production of the third largest sorghum producing State, there
shall be one importer to serve as a representative plus an additional
at-large national representative, with the maximum number of producers
from one State being increased from six to seven. The duties and
responsibilities of the Board are set forth in the Order.
The Order provides that USDA shall certify or otherwise determine
the eligibility of any State, regional, or national sorghum producer
organizations or associations that meet the eligibility criteria
established under the Order. Those organizations that meet the
eligibility criteria specified under the Order will be certified as
eligible to nominate members for appointment to the Board. Those
organizations should ensure that the nominees represent the interests
of the sorghum industry.
The Order provides that the members of the Board shall serve for
terms of 3 years, except that appointments to the initially established
Board shall be as follows:
Largest Producing State--2 representatives shall serve a 2-year
term, 1 representative shall serve a 3-year term, and 2 representatives
shall serve a 4-year term;
Second Largest Producing State--1 representative shall serve a 2-
year term, 1 representative shall serve a 3-year term, and 1
representative shall serve a 4-year term;
Third Largest Producing State--The representative shall serve a 3-
year term;
At-large national--1 representative shall serve a 2-year term, 2
representatives shall serve a 3-year term, and 1 representative shall
serve a 4-year term.
Representatives serving initial terms of 2 or 4 years shall be
eligible to serve a single term of 3 years after their initial 2- or 4-
year term.
Each representative shall continue to serve until a successor is
appointed by the Secretary and has accepted the position. No person may
serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms. USDA will announce when
nominations will be due from eligible organizations and when any
subsequent nominations are due when a vacancy does or will exist.
Any eligible producer organization that is interested in being
certified to nominate producers for appointment to the Board, must
complete and submit an official ``Application for Certification of
Organization'' form. That form must be received by close of business
July 2, 2008.
Only those organizations that meet the criteria for certification
of eligibility specified under Sec. 1221.107 under the Order are
eligible for certification.
The eligibility of State, regional, or national organizations to
participate in making nominations for membership on the Board shall be
certified by the Secretary. Those organizations that may seek
certification include:
(1) State-legislated sorghum promotion, research, and information
organizations;
(2) Organizations whose primary purpose is to represent sorghum
producers within a State, region, or at the national level; or,
(3) Organizations that have sorghum producers as members.
Eligibility shall be based, in addition to other information, upon
a report submitted by the organization that shall contain information
deemed relevant and specified by the Secretary for the making of such
determination, including the following:
(1) The geographic territory covered by the organization's active
membership;
(2) The nature and size of the organization's active membership,
proportion of active membership accounted for by producers, a map
showing the sorghum producing counties in which the organization has
active members, the volume of sorghum produced in each such county, the
number of sorghum producers in each such county, and the size of the
organization's active sorghum producer membership in each such county;
(3) The extent to which the sorghum producer membership of such
organization is represented in setting the organization's policies;
(4) Evidence of stability and permanency of the organization;
(5) Sources from which the organization's operating funds are
derived;
(6) The functions of the organization; and
(7) The ability and willingness of the organization to further the
purpose and objectives of the Act.
The primary consideration in determining the eligibility of an
organization shall be whether its sorghum producer membership consists
of a sufficiently large number of sorghum producers who produce a
relatively significant volume of sorghum to reasonably warrant its
participation in the nomination of State specific and national at-large
members to the Board. Any sorghum producer organization found eligible
by the Secretary under this section shall be certified by the
Secretary, and the Secretary's determination as to eligibility shall be
final.
The information collection requirements referenced in this notice
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.,
Chapter 35) for review.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425.
Dated: May 27, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12220 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P