AMS Proposes Procedures for Sorghum Order Referendum
The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a proposed rule to establish procedures the U.S. Department of Agriculture would use to conduct the first (and any subsequent) required referendum on whether to continue the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order, which was established in May 2008.
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Comments are due by September 14, 2010.
(USDA is required to conduct referendums to determine whether those subject to research and promotion orders would like them to continue. The initial referendum must be conducted either prior to the order going into effect or within 3 years after assessments first begin. Assessments under the Sorghum Order began July 1, 2008)
Importers, Domestic Producers of Sorghum May Vote
Any person subject to the Order’s assessments, who during the representative period (in this case, from July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010) has engaged in the production or importation of sorghum, would eligible to participate in the referendum.
(According to USDA, less than $100 of the $6,000,000 total annual revenue for the Order comes from import assessments. However sorghum importers are still eligible to vote as they are also subject to assessment.)
Majority Must Approve Order for It to Continue
For the Sorghum Order to continue, it must be approved, with an affirmative vote, by at least a majority of those persons voting who were engaged in the production or importation of sorghum during the representative period.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 05/09/08 news, 08050920, for BP summary of the final rule establishing the Sorghum Order.)
(FR Pub 07/16/10, D/N AMS--LS--10--0003)