SC-288 929-Cranberries Grower Referendum Ballot

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

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

TO: Cranberry Growers

FROM: ______________________________, Agent of the Secretary of Agriculture

SUBJECT: Referendum Instructions - Cranberry Marketing Order No. 929

I. REFERENDUM PERIOD

___________________________, 20___ through __________________________, 20___ is the referendum period during which producers may vote for or against proposed amendments to the Marketing Order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island in the State of New York. All votable issues have been included in this Ballot.

For an amendment to the Marketing Order to pass, it must be supported by at least two-thirds of the growers voting or the growers representing at least two-thirds of the volume of production represented in the referendum.

II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING -- YOUR BALLOT MUST SUPPLY:

1. Your vote. Mark in the block of your choice.

2. The number of barrels of cranberries produced in the 20___ crop year and acreage and the State where produced.

3. Your cooperative affiliation, if any.

4. Your signature and address. If voting for a corporation, estate, or producer, show its name and your title. Enclosed is an envelope for returning the Ballot. No postage is required.

III. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

1. Any producer who produced cranberries for market during the 20___ crop year from September 1, 20___, through March 31, 20___, and is now a producer.

2. For the purposes of this referendum, a producer is defined as: (a) an owner of a cranberry bog or marsh that produces cranberries; (b) a renter or tenant of a cranberry bog or marsh that produces cranberries; or (c) a landlord who received from a renter or tenant cranberries as rent for land on which cranberries are grown. A cash landlord, lienholder or person having only a financial interest in the crop is ineligible.

3. A business unit partnership, family enterprise, corporation, association, estate, or firm may cast only one vote; however, each separate entity is entitled to one vote.

Agent of the Secretary

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.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

AMENDATORY GROWER REFERENDUM BALLOT

This Ballot MUST be signed and postmarked by ___________________________, 20___, to be counted in this referendum.

1. I hereby certify that I am a cranberry producer, and that during the 20___ crop year (September 1, 20___, through March 31, 20___) I produced ________ barrels of cranberries on _____ acres in the State of _________________________ within the defined production area. (If you did not harvest cranberries from your acreage during 20___ because of crop failure or non-bearing acreage, check “None” below).

□ None

(If you are renting on a share crop basis, report only that part of the crop represented by your share).

2. If you marketed any of the above cranberries through a cooperative marketing association, please list the cooperative’s name.

3. Name of Producer:

*By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________

(signature)

Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

* If the vote is cast on behalf of a corporation, estate or producer, my signature certifies that I have the authority to take such action. (In such case, show name of such corporation, estate or producer and your title below).

______________________________________________ ________________________________

Name of corporation, estate, or producer Title

U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

A “YES” vote means you favor the change. A “NO” vote means you oppose the change.

YES	NO	Note: Where referenced, “Committee” means the Cranberry Marketing Committee.
( )	( )	1. Do you favor adding authority for the Committee to conduct production research and development projects? (§ 929.45)
( )	( )	2. Do you favor adding authority for a method whereby annual allotments are calculated on the basis of sales histories and adding provisions regarding excess cranberries? (§§ 929.10, 929.13, 929.15, 929.48, 929.49, 929.50, 929.52, 929.59, 929.60, and 929.61)
( )	( )	3. Do you favor limiting Committee member tenure to three consecutive two-year terms? (§ 929.21)
( )	( )	4. Do you favor requiring handlers to pay assessments on the weight of cranberries acquired rather than on the weight of cranberries handled? (§ 929.41)
( )	( )	5. Do you favor adding a definition for the term “barrel?”(§ 929.17)

Minor conforming, editorial, and non-substantive modifications of the Order language included in the Secretary’s Decision have not been specifically described in the five referendum questions presented for voting, but will be incorporated in the Order as appropriate.

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-288 (Exp. X/XXXX) Destroy previous editions.