NEWS
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3624-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506


Release No. 1515.07

Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178

USDA POLLS COTTON PRODUCERS ON PROGRAM REFERENDUM

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture
 Farm
Service Agency (FSA) announced that beginning today and continuing
through Nov. 30, 2007, cotton producers can request a referendum on
whether to continue the 1991 amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Program.  Cotton producers may 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.

     For more information about the Cotton Research and Promotion
Program, visit:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/Cotton/r&pguide.htm.

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