[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15289-15290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6767]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 58 / Thursday, March 25, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 15289]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[No. LS-04-05]


Notice of Opportunity to Request a Soybean Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 663,880 
eligible producers, as determined by the Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), 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 May 3, 2004, and ending on May 28, 2004. To be 
eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum, producers must 
certify and provide supporting documentation that shows they, or the 
producer entity they are authorized to represent, paid an assessment at 
sometime between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003.
    Form LS-51-1, Request for Referendum, may be obtained by mail, fax, 
or in person from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices from May 
3, 2004, through May 28, 2004. Form LS-51-1 may also be obtained via 
the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/re-soy.htm during the 
same time period. Completed forms and supporting documentation must be 
returned to the appropriate county FSA offices by fax or in person no 
later than close of business May 28, 2004, or if returned by mail must 
be postmarked by midnight May 28, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief; Marketing 
Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed Program; Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS), USDA, Room 2638-S; STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-02541, on telephone number 202/720-1115, fax 
number 202/720-1125, or by e-mail at [email protected] or Phil 
Brockman; DAFO, USDA, FSA; STOP 0542; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington DC 20250-0542, on telephone number 202/690-8034, fax number 
202/720-5900, or by e-mail on [email protected].

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 Act provides that the Secretary, 5 years 
after the conduct of the initial referendum and every 5 years 
thereafter, shall give soybean producers the opportunity to request an 
additional referendum on the Order. The initial referendum was held in 
February 1994. The last opportunity for producers to request a 
referendum on the Order was October 1999. Only 17,970 eligible soybean 
producers completed valid requests--far short of the 60,082 required to 
trigger a referendum.
    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 March 23, 2004,USDA published in the Federal Register a final 
rule (69 FR 13458) that sets forth procedures that will be used in 
conducting the Request for Referendum. The final rule includes 
definitions, provisions for supervising the process for requesting a 
referendum, eligibility, procedures for requesting and completing the 
required form, required documentation showing that assessment was paid, 
where the Request for Referendum will be conducted, counting and 
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 
requests, and reporting results.
    Pursuant to the Act, USDA is conducting the required Request for 
Referendum from May 3, 2004, through May 28, 2004.
    To be eligible to participate in the Request for Referendum 
producers or the producer entity they are authorized to represent must 
certify and provide supporting documentation that shows they paid an 
assessment sometime between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003.
    Form LS-51-1 may be requested in person, by mail, or by facsimile 
from May 3, 2004, through May 28, 2004. Form LS-51-1 may also be 
obtained via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/re-soy.htm 
during the same 4-week period. Individual producers and other producer 
entities would request a referendum at the county FSA office where FSA 
maintains and processes the producer's, corporation's, or other 
entity's administrative farm records. For the producer, corporation, or 
other entity 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, corporation, or other entity owns or 
rents land.
    Producers can determine the location of county FSA offices by 
contacting (1) the nearest FSA office, (2) the State FSA office, or (3) 
through an online search of FSA's Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/default.asp. From the options available on this Web site select 
``Your local office,'' click on your State, and click on the map to 
select a county.
    Form LS-51-1 and supporting documentation may be returned in 
person, by mail, or facsimile to the appropriate county FSA office. 
Form LS-51-1, and accompanying documentation may be returned in person 
or by facsimile, must be received

[[Page 15290]]

in the appropriate county office prior to the close of business of May 
28, 2004. Form LS-51-1 and accompanying documentation returned by mail 
must be postmarked no later than midnight of May 28, 2004.
    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: March 23, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6767 Filed 3-23-04; 11:40 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P