USDA Conducts Cotton Order Poll

WASHINGTON - Sep 4/07 - SNS -- The USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is giving cotton producers a chance to decide whether they want a referendum over continuation of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program.

Producers have until November 30 to submit their requests at local FSA service centers. FSA is polling cotton producers on behalf of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

In 1991, USDA amended the Cotton Research and Promotion Order (the Order) by instituting non-refundable assessments on all U.S. Upland cotton and authorized the collection of assessments on imported cotton and imported cotton textiles. The Order implements the 1966 Cotton Research and Promotion Act (the Act). As required by the Act, USDA reviewed the Cotton Research and Promotion Program to determine whether a referendum on continuing these amendments was needed. USDA published a decision in the March 6, 2007, Federal Register, stating that a referendum was unnecessary. Accordingly, the Act requires such a decision to be followed with an opportunity for cotton producers and importers to request a referendum.

To hold a referendum, 10 percent of the cotton producers who voted in the last referendum, or 4,622 producers, would have to request a referendum. No more than 20 percent of all requests can come from one state or from importers.

Producers should make requests in the FSA service center that services the county 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" FSA service center. No action\is necessary if a referendum is not desired.