[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57698-57699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24223]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1221

[AMS-LPS-15-0055]


Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service; USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of the continuation of the sorghum promotion.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing that 
sorghum producers voting in a national referendum from March 23, 2015, 
through April 21, 2015, have approved the continuation of the Sorghum 
Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order).

DATES: Effective September 25, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Director, Research 
and Promotion Division; Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, AMS, 
USDA, Room 2608-S; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0251; Telephone 202/720-5705; Fax 202/720-1125; or email to 
[email protected], or Craig Shackelford, Marketing Specialist; 
Research and Promotion Division; Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, 
AMS, USDA; 22 Jamesport Lane; White, GA 30184; Telephone: (470) 315-
4246; or email to [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 March 23, 2015, 
through April 21, 2015, 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 1,202 valid ballots cast, 1,160 or 96.5 percent favored the 
program and 42 or 3.5 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 or importation of sorghum during the period January 1, 2011, 
through December 31, 2014.
    Therefore, based on the referendum results, the Secretary of 
Agriculture has determined that the required majority of eligible 
voters who voted in the

[[Page 57699]]

nationwide referendum from March 23, 2015, through April 21, 2015, 
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 will also be assessed, although, very limited 
imports exist at this time.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35), the information collection requirements have been approved under 
OMB number 0581-0093.

                        State Referendum Results
                [March 23, 2015, through April 21, 2015]
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                                                                  Total
                     State                        Yes     No    eligible
                                                 votes   votes    votes
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Alabama.......................................       0       0         0
Alaska........................................       0       0         0
Arizona.......................................       0       0         0
Arkansas......................................      41       0        41
California....................................       0       0         0
Colorado......................................      49       2        51
Connecticut...................................       0       0         0
Delaware......................................       0       0         0
Florida.......................................       0       0         0
Georgia.......................................       0       0         0
Hawaii........................................       0       0         0
Idaho.........................................       0       0         0
Illinois......................................      11       2        13
Indiana.......................................       0       0         0
Iowa..........................................       2       0         2
Kansas........................................     281      14       295
Kentucky......................................       2       0         2
Louisiana.....................................      34       0        34
Maine.........................................       0       0         0
Maryland......................................       3       0         3
Massachusetts.................................       0       0         0
Michigan......................................       0       0         0
Minnesota.....................................       0       0         0
Mississippi...................................       1       0         1
Missouri......................................       4       0         4
Montana.......................................       0       0         0
Nebraska......................................      27       0        27
Nevada........................................       0       0         0
New Hampshire.................................       0       0         0
New Jersey....................................       0       0         0
New Mexico....................................      27       1        28
New York......................................       0       0         0
North Carolina................................       4       0         4
North Dakota..................................       0       0         0
Ohio..........................................       0       0         0
Oklahoma......................................      57       1        58
Oregon........................................       0       0         0
Pennsylvania..................................       0       0         0
Rhode Island..................................       0       0         0
South Carolina................................       1       0         1
South Dakota..................................      34       0        34
Tennessee.....................................       0       0         0
Texas.........................................     580      22       602
Utah..........................................       0       0         0
Vermont.......................................       0       0         0
Virginia......................................       2       0         2
Washington....................................       0       0         0
West Virginia.................................       0       0         0
Wisconsin.....................................       0       0         0
Wyoming.......................................       0       0         0
                                               -------------------------
    Total.....................................   1,160      42     1,202
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    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7411-7425.

    Dated: September 18, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associated Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24223 Filed 9-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P