Docket Number: AMS–LPS–18–0005
Dates to Request Referendum: May 6, 2019, and ending May 31, 2019.
Summary
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine if producers want the Secretary to conduct a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). Participation in the Request for Referendum is voluntary. Producers should participate only if they wish to request a referendum on the program.
If at least 10 percent (not in excess of one-fifth of which may be producers in any one State) of the 515,008 eligible producers, as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 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. The results of the Request for Referendum will be published in a Notice in the Federal Register.
To Request Referendum
Soybean producers may request a referendum during a 4-week period beginning on May 6, 2019, and ending May 31, 2019.
To be eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum, producers must certify that they or the producer entity they are authorized to represent paid an assessment at any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018.
Form LS-51-1, Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request for Referendum, may be obtained by mail, fax, or in person from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices from May 6, 2019, to May 31, 2019. Form LS-51-1 may also be obtained via the internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean during the same time period. Completed forms and supporting documentation must be returned to the appropriate county FSA office by fax or in person no later than close of business May 31, 2019, or if returned by mail, must be postmarked by midnight May 31, 2019, and received in the county FSA office by close of business on June 6, 2019.
Contact
Kenneth R. Payne, Director, Research and Promotion Division, Livestock and Poultry Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2610-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0251; telephone (202) 720-1118; fax (202) 720-1125; or email to Kenneth.Payne@usda.gov; or Rick Pinkston, Field Operations Staff, FSA, USDA, at telephone (202) 720-1857; fax (202) 720-1096; or email at Rick.Pinkston@wdc.usda.gov.
Supporting Documents