[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 314-315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33135]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-LS-10-0103]
Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Program: Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Opportunity to Participate in the Sorghum Promotion,
Research, and Information Referendum.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that a
referendum will be conducted among eligible sorghum producers and
importers on the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order
(Order), as authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and
Information Act of 1996 (Act).
DATES: Sorghum producers and importers will vote in the referendum
during a 4-week period beginning on February 1, 2011, and ending
February 28, 2011. To be eligible to participate in the referendum,
producers and importers must certify that they or the entity they are
authorized to represent are subject to the assessment and were engaged
in the production or importation of sorghum between July 1, 2008, and
December 31, 2010. An eligible person shall be entitled to cast only
one vote in the referendum.
Form LS-379, Sorghum Promotion and Research Order Referendum
Ballot, may be obtained by mail, fax, or in person from the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) county offices from February 1, 2011, to February
28, 2011. Form LS-379 may also be obtained via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketingprograms during the same time period.
Sorghum producers should return completed forms and supporting
documentation to the appropriate county FSA office by fax or in person
no later than close of business February 28, 2011; or if returned by
mail, must be postmarked by midnight February 28, 2011, and received in
the county FSA office by close of business on March 7, 2011. Sorghum
importers should return completed forms and supporting documentation
to: Craig Shackelford, Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed
Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0251; Telephone: (202) 720-1115; Fax: (202)
720-1125; [email protected] no later than close of
business February 28, 2011; or if returned by mail, must be postmarked
by midnight February 28, 2011, and received in the AMS office by close
of business on March 7, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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;
Telephone 202/720-1115; Fax 202/720-1125; or email to
[email protected] or Rick Pinkston, Field Operations Staff,
FSA, USDA, at Telephone (202) 720-1857, Fax (202) 720-1096, or by email
at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Act (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425), it
is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether
continuance of the Order is favored by those persons who have been
engaged in the production or importation of sorghum from July 1, 2008,
through December 31, 2010.
The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for
the referendum shall be the period from July 1, 2008, through December
31, 2010. Persons who were engaged in the production or importation of
sorghum who provide documentation, such as a sales receipt or
remittance form, showing that they were engaged in the production or
importation of sorghum from July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010,
are eligible to vote. Importers may provide U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Service form 7501.
Eligible voters will be provided the opportunity to vote at the
county FSA office where FSA maintains and processes the eligible
voter's administrative farm records. For the eligible voter not
participating in FSA programs, the opportunity to vote will be provided
at the FSA office serving the county where the person owns or rents
land. Eligible importers will be provided the opportunity to vote
through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) AMS office located
in Washington, DC. Participation in the referendum is not mandatory.
On November 18, 2010, USDA published in the Federal Register (75 FR
70573), a final rule that sets forth procedures that will be used in
conducting the referendum. The final rule includes definitions,
provisions for supervising the referendum process, eligibility,
procedures for obtaining and completing the form LS-379, required
documentation showing that the person was engaged in the production or
importation of sorghum from July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2010,
where the referendum will be conducted, counting and reporting results,
and disposition of the forms and records. Since the referendum will be
conducted primarily at the county FSA offices, FSA employees will
assist AMS by determining eligibility, counting requests, and reporting
results.
Pursuant to the Act, USDA is conducting the required referendum
from February 1, 2011, through February 28, 2011. Form LS-379 may be
requested in person, by mail, or by facsimile from February 1, 2011,
through February 28, 2011.
Form LS-379 may also be obtained via the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketingprograms during the same 4-week period.
Eligible voters would vote at the FSA office where FSA maintains and
processes the person's, corporation's, or other entity's administrative
farm records. For the person, corporation, or other entity eligible to
vote that does not participate in FSA programs, the opportunity to vote
would be provided at the FSA office serving the county where the
person, corporation, or other entity owns or rents land.
[[Page 315]]
Voters can determine the location of county FSA offices by
contacting (1) The nearest FSA office, (2) the State FSA office, or (3)
through an online search of FSA's Web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/default.asp. From the options available on this Web site select
``State Offices,'' click on your State, select ``County Offices,'' and
click on the map to select a county.
Form LS-379 and supporting documentation may be returned in person,
by mail, or facsimile to the appropriate county FSA office. Form LS-379
and accompanying documentation returned in person or by facsimile, must
be received in the appropriate FSA office prior to the close of
business on February 28, 2011. Form LS-379 and accompanying
documentation returned by mail must be postmarked no later than
midnight of February 28, 2011, and received in the county FSA office by
close of business on March 7, 2011.
In accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35),
the information collection requirements have been approved under OMB
number 0581-0093.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425.
Dated: December 15, 2010.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-33135 Filed 1-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P