[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31573-31574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13500]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[AMS-CN-11-0036; CN-11-003]
Cotton Research and Promotion Program: Request for Comments To Be
Used in a Review of 1990 Amendments to the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As provided for by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
Amendments of 1990, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
announcing its intention to conduct a review to ascertain whether a
referendum is needed to determine whether producers and importers favor
continuation of amendments to the Cotton Research and Promotion Order.
This notice invites all interested parties to submit written comments
to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA will consider these
comments in determining whether a referendum is warranted. USDA should
announce review results sometime during the latter part of 2011.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 1, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to Shethir M. Riva,
Chief, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS,
USDA, Stop 0224, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2635-S, Washington,
DC 20250-0224; fax: (202) 690-1718. All comments should reference the
docket number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal
Register and will be made available for public inspection in the above
office during regular business hours or can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to this notice
will be included in the record and will be made available to the
public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or
entities submitting comments will be made public on the Internet at the
address provided above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shethir M. Riva, Chief, Research and
Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0224,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2635-S, Washington, DC 20250-0224,
telephone (540) 361-2726, facsimile (202) 690-1718, or e-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cotton Research and Promotion Act of
1966 (7 U.S.C. 2101-2118) authorized a national Cotton Research and
Promotion Program which is industry operated and funded, with oversight
by USDA. The program's objective is to enable cotton growers and
importers to establish, finance, and carry out a coordinated program of
research and promotion to improve the competitive position of, and to
expand markets for cotton.
The program became effective on December 31, 1966, when the Cotton
Research and Promotion Order (7 CFR part 1205) was issued. Assessments
began with the 1967 cotton crop. The Order was amended and a
supplemental assessment initiated, not to exceed one percent of the
value of each bale, effective January 26, 1977.
The program is currently financed through assessments levied on
domestic and imported cotton and cotton-containing products.
Assessments under this program are used to fund promotional campaigns
and to conduct
[[Page 31574]]
research in the areas of U.S. marketing, international marketing,
cotton production and processing, and textile research and
implementation.
The program is administered by the Cotton Board, which has 41
members, 41 alternate members and one consumer advisor. The Cotton
Board is composed of representatives of cotton producers and cotton
importers, each of whom has an alternate selected by the Secretary of
Agriculture from nominations submitted by eligible producer and
importer organizations. All members and their alternates serve terms of
3 years. The Cotton Board's responsibility is to administer the
provisions of the Cotton Research and Promotion Order issued pursuant
to the Act. These responsibilities include collecting, holding and
safeguarding funds; making refunds when refunds are a provision of the
Order; contracting with an organization for the development and
implementation of programs of research and promotion; reviewing and
making recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on proposed
programs and budgets; and making funds available for such programs when
approved. The objective of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program is
to strengthen cotton's competitive position and to maintain and expand
domestic and foreign markets and uses for cotton. The Cotton Board is
prohibited from participating in any matters influencing governmental
policies or action except recommendations for amendments to the Order.
Amendments to the Act were enacted under subtitle G of title XIX of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (Pub. L.
101-624, 104 stat. 3909, November 28, 1990). These amendments provided
for: (1) Importer representation on the Cotton Board; (2) the
assessment of imported cotton and cotton products; (3) increasing the
amount the Secretary of Agriculture can be reimbursed for conduct of a
referendum from $200,000 to $300,000; (4) reimbursing government
agencies who assist in administering the collection of assessments on
imported cotton and cotton products; and (5) terminating the right of a
producer to demand a refund of assessments. The Act Amendments of 1990
were approved by a majority (60 percent) of importers and producers of
cotton voting in a referendum conducted July 17-26, 1991, as required
by the Act. Results of this referendum were announced in a nationally
distributed press release dated August 2, 1991.
The Cotton Research and Promotion Act Amendment of 1990, Section
8(c) provides that once every 5 years after the July 1991 referendum,
the Secretary of Agriculture is to conduct a review to ascertain
whether a referendum is needed. In such a referendum, producers and
importers would determine whether they favor continuation of the
amendments to the Order provided for in the Cotton Research and
Promotion Act Amendments of 1990. These amendments to the Order were
promulgated in final rules published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 1991 (56 FR 64470), corrected at (56 FR 66670).
The results of the most recent review report of the Cotton Research
and Promotion Program were issued on March 6, 2007. USDA announced its
view (72 FR 9918) not to conduct a referendum regarding the 1991
amendments to the Order. In accordance with Section 8(c)(2) of the Act,
USDA provided an opportunity for all eligible persons to request a
continuance referendum on the 1991 amendments by making such a request
during a sign-up period. During the period of September 3-November 30,
2007, the Department conducted a sign-up period for all eligible
persons to request a continuance referendum on the 1990 Act amendments.
The results of the sign-up period did not meet the criteria established
for a continuance referendum by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act
and therefore, a referendum was not conducted.
In 2011, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture will conduct its review of the Cotton Research
and Promotion Program Act amendments to ascertain whether a referendum
is needed to determine whether producers and importers support
continuation of the amendments to the Order, as provided for by the
1990 Act amendments. The Secretary of Agriculture should make a public
announcement of the results of the review on September 24, 2011 (60
days after each fifth anniversary date of the referendum). If the
Secretary of Agriculture determines that a referendum is needed, the
Secretary of Agriculture should conduct the referendum by September 24,
2012 (within 12 months after a public announcement of the determination
to conduct the referendum).
If the Secretary determines that a referendum is not warranted, a
sign-up period to request such a referendum will be made available to
cotton producers and importers. A referendum will be held if requested
by 10 percent or more of those voting in the most recent referendum as
long as not more than 20 percent are from any one State or importers of
cotton. This sign-up period would be announced in the Federal Register.
A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to provide
comments to be used by USDA in its review. All interested persons are
invited to submit written comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118.
Dated: May 24, 2011.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-13500 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
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