The U.S. Department of Agri culture (USDA) is announci ng
proced ures for the upcomi ng referendum regarding the continuation of the Sorghum Checkoff Program and is announcing the dates i t will conduct the referend um.

The Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order requires that a referend um be conducted no later than seven years after the start of assessments, which began on July I , 2008. For the program to continue, a majority of those voting must favor the continuation of the order.

USDA will conduct the referendum begi nning on March 23, 2015, through April 21, 2015, at county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices for prod ucers and the Agricultural Marketi ng Service office for importers. Ballots may be obtained in person, by mail or facsimile at county FSA offices, or via the Internet.

Any eligible person engaged in the production or importation of sorghum from January 1, 201 1, to December 31, 2014, is eligible to participate. Individuals are requi red to provide documentation such as a sales receipt or remittance form that shows they engaged i n the prod uction or importation of sorghum.

The Sorghum Checkoff Program, and i ts 13-member board, is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The Sorghum Checkoff i s intended to be a national , coordinated, self-help marketi ng program designed to strengthen the posi tion of sorghum i n the marketplace, maintai n and expand existing domestic and foreign markets and uses for sorghum, and develop new markets and uses for sorghum.

The final procedures were published in the Nov. 1 8, 2010, Federal Register. The notice announcing the dates of the referendum were published i n the Feb. 19, 2015, Federal Register.

For more information, contact 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; craig.shackelford@ams.usda.gov. Procedures and additional information about the referendum can be found at: www.ams.usda.gov/SorghumReferendum.