FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2002
USDA POLLS COTTON INDUSTRY ON COTTON PROGRAM REFERENDUM
COLUMBIA---At the request of the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Farm Service Agency, headed by state executive director Ken Rentiers, is conducting a sign-up period from June 3 through August 30, 2002, to provide cotton producers an opportunity to request a referendum on whether to continue the 1991 amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.
In 1991, USDA instituted non-refundable assessments on all U.S. Upland cotton and the authority to collect assessments on imported cotton and cotton imported textiles as amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order. The Order implements the 1966 Cotton Research and Promotion Act.
As required by the Act, USDA reviewed the program to determine whether a referendum on continuing these amendments was needed. USDA issued a decision that a referendum was unnecessary in the January 14, 2002, Federal Register. However, the Act requires such a decision to be followed with an opportunity for producers and importers to request a referendum.
Producers desiring a referendum should make requests to the County FSA Office where the producer owns or rents land. If the producer owns or rents land in more than one county, the producer should make requests to their Control County Office. No action is necessary if a referendum is not desired.
To move to a referendum, the numerical equivalent of 10 percent (4,622) of the number voting in the last referendum would have to request a referendum, and no more than 20 percent of all requests can be from one state or from importers.
For more information, call Mack Eubanks, State FSA-USDA office, at 803-806-3856, or search the local phone directory or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/sc and click on Offices for South Carolina Counties to find the nearest local FSA-USDA office.