USDA announces referendum on sorghum program

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that a referendum on the Sorghum Promotion, Research and Information Order begins today and continues through February 28. For the program to continue, a simple majority of those voting must support the continuation of the program.

USDA will conduct the referendum at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices for producers and the Agricultural Marketing Service office, referenced below, for importers. Ballots may be obtained in person, by mail or facsimile at county FSA offices, or online at www.ams.usda.gov/sorghumpage or www.ams.usda.gov/sorghumreferendum.

To locate a county FSA office, voters can go to www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateOffices?area=stoffice&subject=landing&topic=landing.

Any eligible person engaged in the production and sale of sorghum or importation of sorghum from July 1, 2008, to December 31, 2010, is eligible to participate. Individuals are required to provide documentation such as a sales receipt or remittance form at the time a ballot is cast that shows they were engaged in the production and sale of sorghum or importation of sorghum.

The Sorghum Checkoff Program, and its 13-member board, is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The mandatory program is funded at the rate of 0.6 percent of the net market value on grain sorghum and 0.35 percent of the net market value of sorghum forage.

The Sorghum Checkoff Program is a national, coordinated, self-help marketing program designed to strengthen the position of sorghum in the marketplace, maintain and expand existing domestic and foreign markets and uses for sorghum, and develop new markets and uses for sorghum.

The final referendum procedures were published in the November 18, 2010, Federal Register. The notice announcing the dates of the referendum was published in the January 4, 2011, Federal Register.

For information regarding the sorghum referendum contact Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0251; by calling (202) 720-1115; or faxing (202) 720-1125.