[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23727]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 176 / Monday, September 13, 1999 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 49349]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1220
[No. LS-99-12]
Notice of Opportunity to Request a Soybean Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of opportunity to request referendum.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that
soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers
want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order)
as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer
Information Act (Act).
If at least 10 percent (not in excess of one-fifth of which may be
producers in any one State) of the 600,813 eligible producers as
determined by the Department of Agriculture (Department) nationwide
participate in the Request for Referendum, a referendum will be held
within 1 year from that determination. If results of the Request for
Referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum
would not be conducted.
DATES: Soybean producers may request a referendum during a 4-week
period beginning on October 20, 1999, and ending on November 16, 1999.
Producers who certify that they were engaged in the production of
soybeans anytime between January 1, 1997, and November 16, 1999, and
who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of those soybeans are
eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum.
Forms may be obtained by mail, fax, or in person from the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) county offices from October 20, 1999, through
November 16, 1999. Completed forms must be returned to FSA offices by
fax or in person no later than November 16, 1999, or if returned by
mail must be post marked by November 16, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph L. Tapp, Chief; Marketing
Programs Branch, Room 2627-S; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA;
STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-0251.
Telephone number 202/720-1115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Act (7 U.S.C. 6301
et. seq.), this Notice announces the dates when the Request for
Referendum will be conducted and the place where soybean producers may
request a referendum on the Order. The Order appears in the Code of
Federal Regulations at 7 CFR Part 1220. The Act provides that the
Secretary, 5 years after the conduct of the initial referendum, shall
give soybean producers the opportunity to request an additional
referendum on the Order. Individual producers and other producer
entities will be provided the opportunity to request a referendum, at
the county FSA office where FSA maintains and processes the producer's
administrative farm records. For the producer not participating in FSA
programs, the opportunity to request a referendum will be provided at
the county FSA office serving the county where the producer owns or
rents land. Participation in the Request for Referendum is not
mandatory.
On August 20, 1999, the Department published in the Federal
Register (64 FR 45413) a final rule that sets forth procedures the
Department will use in conducting the Request for Referendum. The final
rule includes definitions, provisions for supervising the process for
requesting a referendum, eligibility, certification procedures for
requesting the required forms, where the Request for Referendum will be
conducted, counting forms, reporting results, and disposition of the
forms and records. Since the Request for Referendum will be conducted
at the county FSA offices, FSA employees will assist AMS by determining
eligibility, counting ballots, and reporting results.
Pursuant to the Act the Department is conducting the required
Request for Referendum from October 20, 1999, through November 16,
1999.
Producers who certify that they where engaged in the production of
soybeans anytime between January 1, 1997, and November 16, 1999, and
who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of those soybeans are
eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum. Only those
producers who are in favor of a referendum on the Order would
participate.
Forms may be requested in person, by mail, or by facsimile from
October 20, 1999, through November 16, 1999. Individual producers and
other producer entities would request a referendum at the county FSA
office where FSA maintains and processes the producer's administrative
farm records. For the producer not participating in FSA programs, the
opportunity to request a referendum would be provided at the county FSA
office serving the county where the producer owns or rents land.
Completed forms must be postmarked, faxed, or returned in person no
later than November 16, 1999.
The purpose of the Request for Referendum is to determine whether
eligible producers favor the conduct of a referendum on the Order.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C.
3501 et. seq.], the information collection requirements made in
connection with the Request for Referendum have been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB control number
0581-0093.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6301-6311.
Dated: September 8, 1999.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 99-23727 Filed 9-8-99; 4:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
