[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 106 (Monday, June 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31427-31428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12220]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-LS-07-0056, LS-07-17]


Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information: Certification of 
Organizations for Eligibility To Make Nominations to the Sorghum 
Promotion, Research, and Information Board

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture's 
(USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications 
from State, regional, and national sorghum producer organizations or 
associations which desire to be certified as eligible to nominate 
sorghum producers for appointment to the Sorghum Promotion, Research, 
and Information Board (Board). To nominate a producer to the Board, 
organizations must first be certified by USDA. Notice is also given 
that upcoming appointments are anticipated and that during a period to 
be established by USDA, nominations will be accepted from eligible 
organizations.

DATES: Applications for certification must be received by close of 
business July 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Certification forms as well as information regarding the 
certification and nomination procedures may be requested from Kenneth 
R. Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch; Livestock and Seed Program; 
AMS; USDA; Room 2628-S; STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-0251 or obtained via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketingPrograms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing 
Programs Branch; Telephone: 202/720-1115; Fax: 202/720-1125; or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (a) The Commodity Promotion, Research, and 
Consumer Information Act of 1996 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) authorizes 
the establishment and implementation of the sorghum promotion, 
research, and information program. Pursuant to the Act, a proposed 
Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) was 
published in the Federal Register on November 23, 2007 (72 FR 65842). 
The final Order was published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2008 
(73 FR

[[Page 31428]]

25398). The Order provides for the establishment of an initial 13-
member Board of persons appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture with 
staggered terms as follows:
    The largest production State based on total production shall have 
five sorghum producers to serve as representatives.
    The second largest production State based on total production shall 
have three sorghum producers to serve as representatives.
    The third largest production State based on total production shall 
have one sorghum producer to serve as a representative.
    There shall be four sorghum producers to serve as at-large national 
representatives with at least two representatives appointed from States 
other than the top three sorghum producing States.
    If the value of assessments on imported sorghum reaches or exceeds 
the production of the third largest sorghum producing State, there 
shall be one importer to serve as a representative plus an additional 
at-large national representative, with the maximum number of producers 
from one State being increased from six to seven. The duties and 
responsibilities of the Board are set forth in the Order.
    The Order provides that USDA shall certify or otherwise determine 
the eligibility of any State, regional, or national sorghum producer 
organizations or associations that meet the eligibility criteria 
established under the Order. Those organizations that meet the 
eligibility criteria specified under the Order will be certified as 
eligible to nominate members for appointment to the Board. Those 
organizations should ensure that the nominees represent the interests 
of the sorghum industry.
    The Order provides that the members of the Board shall serve for 
terms of 3 years, except that appointments to the initially established 
Board shall be as follows:
    Largest Producing State--2 representatives shall serve a 2-year 
term, 1 representative shall serve a 3-year term, and 2 representatives 
shall serve a 4-year term;
    Second Largest Producing State--1 representative shall serve a 2-
year term, 1 representative shall serve a 3-year term, and 1 
representative shall serve a 4-year term;
    Third Largest Producing State--The representative shall serve a 3-
year term;
    At-large national--1 representative shall serve a 2-year term, 2 
representatives shall serve a 3-year term, and 1 representative shall 
serve a 4-year term.
    Representatives serving initial terms of 2 or 4 years shall be 
eligible to serve a single term of 3 years after their initial 2- or 4-
year term.
    Each representative shall continue to serve until a successor is 
appointed by the Secretary and has accepted the position. No person may 
serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms. USDA will announce when 
nominations will be due from eligible organizations and when any 
subsequent nominations are due when a vacancy does or will exist.
    Any eligible producer organization that is interested in being 
certified to nominate producers for appointment to the Board, must 
complete and submit an official ``Application for Certification of 
Organization'' form. That form must be received by close of business 
July 2, 2008.
    Only those organizations that meet the criteria for certification 
of eligibility specified under Sec.  1221.107 under the Order are 
eligible for certification.
    The eligibility of State, regional, or national organizations to 
participate in making nominations for membership on the Board shall be 
certified by the Secretary. Those organizations that may seek 
certification include:
    (1) State-legislated sorghum promotion, research, and information 
organizations;
    (2) Organizations whose primary purpose is to represent sorghum 
producers within a State, region, or at the national level; or,
    (3) Organizations that have sorghum producers as members.
    Eligibility shall be based, in addition to other information, upon 
a report submitted by the organization that shall contain information 
deemed relevant and specified by the Secretary for the making of such 
determination, including the following:
    (1) The geographic territory covered by the organization's active 
membership;
    (2) The nature and size of the organization's active membership, 
proportion of active membership accounted for by producers, a map 
showing the sorghum producing counties in which the organization has 
active members, the volume of sorghum produced in each such county, the 
number of sorghum producers in each such county, and the size of the 
organization's active sorghum producer membership in each such county;
    (3) The extent to which the sorghum producer membership of such 
organization is represented in setting the organization's policies;
    (4) Evidence of stability and permanency of the organization;
    (5) Sources from which the organization's operating funds are 
derived;
    (6) The functions of the organization; and
    (7) The ability and willingness of the organization to further the 
purpose and objectives of the Act.
    The primary consideration in determining the eligibility of an 
organization shall be whether its sorghum producer membership consists 
of a sufficiently large number of sorghum producers who produce a 
relatively significant volume of sorghum to reasonably warrant its 
participation in the nomination of State specific and national at-large 
members to the Board. Any sorghum producer organization found eligible 
by the Secretary under this section shall be certified by the 
Secretary, and the Secretary's determination as to eligibility shall be 
final.
    The information collection requirements referenced in this notice 
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C., 
Chapter 35) for review.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425.

    Dated: May 27, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-12220 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P