The Agricultural Marketing Service offered lamb producers, feeders, and first handlers the opportunity to vote in a nationwide referendum on whether to continue or terminate the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, also known as the Lamb Checkoff Program. The Referendum was conducted on February 2, 2009 through February 27, 2009, at USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices. To be eligible to vote, persons had to certify and provide documentation, such as a sales receipt or remittance form, which shows they had been engaged in the production, feeding, or slaughtering of lambs during the period, Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008.

December 12, 2008 - USDA Sets Date for Lamb Referendum