AMS No. 177-09

Sam Jones (202)720-8998

Billy Cox (202)720-8998

WASHINGTON, October 5, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that a referendum will be conducted among U.S. Upland producers and importers. The referendum is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2009, through Nov. 10, 2009.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to amend the Cotton Research and Promotion Order (Order) to implement section 14202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) that amended the Cotton Research and Promotion Act (Act). The 2008 Farm Bill provided that the states of Kansas, Virginia and Florida be separate states in the definition of “cotton-producing state.”

According to the Act, a referendum among cotton producers and importers is required to implement, amend, continue, or when appropriate, to suspend, or to terminate the Order or any of its provisions. According to the Act, the AMS will provide an opportunity for all eligible persons to vote on the amendments to the Order.

Producers will have an opportunity to vote by mail or through their respective Farm Service Agency County office and by mail for importers. All known cotton importers will be mailed a ballot and referendum instructions. Ballots will also be available on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cotton.

The final referendum rules and the proposed rule and referendum order will be published in the Oct. 5, 2009, Federal Register, and can be found on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov. For more information, contact Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2639-S, Washington, D.C. 20250-0224, telephone (202)720-6603, facsimile (202)690-1718, or email at Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.