SC-160 905-Citrus Grown in FL. Official Producer Referendum Bal

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0189

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

SOUTHEAST MARKETING FIELD OFFICE

1124-1^st STREET SOUTH

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA 33880

_______________________________, 20___

TO: PRODUCERS OF FLORIDA CITRUS FOR THE FRESH MARKET

Enclosed is a voter Ballot for the referendum of Marketing Order No. 905 regulating the handling of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida. The Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) recently held an industry hearing to amend the Marketing Order. As a consequence, an order directing that a referendum be held was published in the Federal Register on _________________________, 20___. A referendum has been scheduled during the period _______________________, 20___ through _______________________, 20___ to determine whether citrus producers favor or oppose the amendments to the Marketing Order.

To meet referendum requirements, each amendment must be favored by at least two-thirds of the eligible producers voting in the referendum or by producers representing at least two-thirds of the eligible volume voted in the referendum. This Ballot gives an eligible grower the opportunity to vote in favor of or against each amendment to the Marketing Order.

A Producer Referendum Ballot is attached. Also attached are:

1. Rules Governing Grower Eligibility to Vote and Voting Instructions;

2. News Release concerning the referendum;

3. Copy of the Referendum Order, dated _____________________, 20___; and

4. A preaddressed envelope for returning the Ballot.

Again, the referendum voting period is _________________________, 20___ through ________________________, 20___. Please complete and return your Ballots promptly. All Ballots must be postmarked by ________________________, 20___, or they cannot be counted. If you have any questions, please call (863) 324-3375.

Sincerely,

__________________________________________

Referendum Agent

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB 0581-0189. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

OFFICIAL PRODUCER BALLOT

MARKETING ORDER NO. 905, REGULATING

ORANGES, GRAPEFRUIT, TANGERINES AND TANGELOS GROWN IN FLORIDA

This Ballot will be held in strict confidence. Be sure Parts II, III and IV of your Ballot are completed. Unsigned Ballots, or Ballots that cannot be validated because Parts II, III and IV are incomplete, will not be counted.

PART I - REFERENDUM INSTRUCTIONS

A. REFERENDUM PERIOD: Producers may vote on this Marketing Order from ______________________, 20___ through ________________________, 20___.

This Referendum is being held to determine producer support for amendments to Marketing Order No. 905 regulating the handling of citrus grown in Florida. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will consider termination of this Order if less than two-thirds of those voting and less than two-thirds of the volume represented in the Referendum favor its continuance.

B. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Any person who produced Florida citrus for the fresh market during the period of __________________________, 20___, through ___________________________, 20___, and who is also now a producer, is eligible to vote. Such persons may vote on the continuance of the Marketing Order using the attached Ballot.

1. A producer (or grower) is defined as:

   1. any person who produces oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or tangelos grown in Florida for the fresh market in the designated production area;

   2. a renter or tenant of acreage in Florida producing oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or tangelos for the fresh market; or

   3. a landlord who receives from a renter or tenant oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or tangelos grown in Florida as rent for the land on which such Florida citrus is grown for the fresh market.

2. A cash landlord, lien holder, or person having only a financial interest in the crop is not an eligible voter.

3. A business unit, partnership, family enterprise, corporation, association, estate, or firm may vote. Each such entity is entitled to one vote.

3. Proxy voting is not authorized.

C. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING: Provide the voter information requested in Part II. In Part III, mark the block for or against the Marketing Order. Certify your vote by signing the appropriate section of Part IV. If you do not complete Parts II, III, and IV, your Ballot cannot be validated, and your vote will not be counted.

Please remove the page containing Parts II, III, and IV, and return in the envelope provided.

PART II - VOTER INFORMATION

This information will be held in strict confidence.

1. Name

2. What is the specific location of your Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine, or Tangelo acreage represented in this Ballot?

(Highway or street address, if applicable, and county)

(City, State, and ZIP Code)

3. Do you reside on the above property that produces the Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, or Tangelos?

□ YES □ NO

If no, please provide your residence address and telephone number:

(Street and No. or R.F.D. No., City, State, and ZIP Code)

(Telephone number, including area code )

3. If you are not voting as an individual producer, please check the appropriate box indicating your voting status and write the name and address of the business unit you represent.

□ Partnership □ Corporation □ Other (specify) _____________________

(Name and address of business unit)

3. What is the number of 1-3/5 bushel boxes or equivalent of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, or Tangelos you produced for the fresh market during the period ______________________, 20___ through ____________________________, 20___?

	Boxes of Oranges		Boxes of Tangerines
	Boxes of Grapefruit		Boxes of Tangelos

6. What is the number of acres of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, or Tangelos you harvested during the period ________________________, 20___ through __________________________, 20___?

	acres of Oranges		acres of Tangerines
	acres of Grapefruit		acres of Tangelos

6. Which packinghouse(s) handled your Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, or Tangelos during the period ________________________, 20___ through __________________________, 20___?

(Name and address of business unit)

COMPLETE BOTH SIDES OF FORM

PART III - REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

"YES" vote means you favor continuance of Marketing Order No. 905 regulating the handling of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida.

"NO" vote means you do not favor continuance of Marketing Order for No. 905 regulating the handling of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida.

Do you favor the continuance of Marketing Order No. 905 regulating the handling of Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida?

□ YES □ NO

PART IV - VOTER CERTIFICATION

All information provided in this Ballot will be subject to verification by officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The information on this Ballot is required to determine the voter eligibility and vote of Florida citrus producers. Falsification of information on this government document may result in a fine or imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C. 1001).

A. Your signature, if signing as an individual.

I am the producer named in Part II of this Ballot, and I certify that I am not a cash landlord, lienholder, or person having only a financial interest in the crop, and that the information provided on this Ballot and any attachment hereto is accurate and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Signature

Date

B. If signing as the representative of a producing entity other than an individual, designate your title and sign below.

I am the representative named in Part II D of this Ballot: A partner casting the Ballot for a partnership; or an officer or employee casting the Ballot for a cooperative association, corporation, school, institution, or similar business unit; or the administrator, executor, or trustee casting the Ballot for a producing estate; and, by signing this Ballot, I agree to provide evidence thereof at the request of an authorized agent of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Signature and Title

Date

BALLOTS POSTMARKED AFTER _______________________, 20___ WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE REFERENDUM.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

SC-160 (Exp. X/XXXX) Destroy previous editions.