[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28625-28626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12134]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 18, 2011 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 28625]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR 1221

[AMS-LS-11-0040]


Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Program; State 
Referendum Results

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of referendum results.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that 
sorghum producers voting in a national referendum from February 1, 
2011, through February 28, 2011, have approved the continuation of the 
Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief; Marketing 
Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed Program; Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS), USDA, Room 2628-S; STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0251, telephone number 202/720-1115, fax 
number 202/720-1125, or by e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act 
of 1996 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425), the Department of Agriculture 
conducted a referendum from February 1, 2011, through February 28, 
2011, among eligible sorghum producers, and importers to determine if 
the Order would continue to be effective. A final rule was published in 
the November 18, 2010, Federal Register (75 FR 70573) outlining the 
procedures for conducting the referendum.
    Of the 1,204 valid ballots cast, 917 or 76.2 percent favored the 
program and 287 or 23.7 percent opposed continuing the program. For the 
program to continue, it must have been approved by at least a majority 
of those eligible persons voting for approval who were engaged in the 
production and sale of sorghum during the period July 1, 2008, through 
Dec. 31, 2010.
    Therefore, based on the referendum results, the Secretary of 
Agriculture has determined that the required majority of eligible 
voters who voted in the nationwide referendum from February 1, 2011, 
through February 28, 2011, voted to continue the Order. As a result, 
the Sorghum Checkoff Program will continue to be funded by a mandatory 
assessment on producers, and importers at the rate of 0.6 percent of 
net market value of grain sorghum and 0.35 percent of net market value 
for sorghum forage, sorghum hay, sorghum haylage, sorghum billets, and 
sorghum silage. Imports of such products would also be assessed, 
although, very limited imports exist at this time.

                                            State Referendum Results
                                  [February 1, 2011 through February 28, 2011]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total eligible
                              State                                  Yes votes       No votes          votes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.........................................................               0               0               0
Alaska..........................................................               0               0               0
Arizona.........................................................               0               0               0
Arkansas........................................................              18               0              18
California......................................................               0               0               0
Colorado........................................................              20              12              32
Connecticut.....................................................               0               0               0
Delaware........................................................               0               0               0
Florida.........................................................               0               0               0
Hawaii..........................................................               0               0               0
Idaho...........................................................               0               0               0
Illinois........................................................              21               7              28
Indiana.........................................................               2               4               6
Iowa............................................................               0               0               0
Kansas..........................................................             247             183             430
Maine...........................................................               0               0               0
Maryland........................................................               4               2               6
Massachusetts...................................................               0               0               0
Michigan........................................................               0               0               0
Minnesota.......................................................               0               0               0
Mississippi.....................................................               0               0               0
Missouri........................................................              12               7              19
Montana.........................................................               0               0               0
Nebraska........................................................              26               9              35
Nevada..........................................................               0               0               0
New Hampshire...................................................               0               0               0
New Jersey......................................................               0               0               0
New Mexico......................................................              26               3              29

[[Page 28626]]

 
New York........................................................               0               0               0
North Dakota....................................................               0               0               0
Ohio............................................................               0               0               0
Oklahoma........................................................              38              13              51
Oregon..........................................................               0               0               0
Pennsylvania....................................................               0               0               0
Rhode Island....................................................               0               0               0
South Dakota....................................................               6               0               6
Texas...........................................................             486              45             531
Utah............................................................               0               0               0
Vermont.........................................................               0               0               0
Washington......................................................               0               0               0
West Virginia...................................................               0               0               0
Wisconsin.......................................................               0               0               0
Wyoming.........................................................               0               0               0
Combined Total for States with 3 or Fewer Eligible Votes:                     11               2              13
 Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina,
 Tennessee & Virginia...........................................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             917             287           1,204
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

    Dated: May 12, 2011.
David R. Shipman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-12134 Filed 5-17-11; 8:45 am]
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