[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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  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]
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