Soybean Farmers May Ask for Referendum

September 10

USDA will give soybean farmers a chance to ask for a referendum on the soybean promotion and research order. The law authorizing the order requires that every five years soybean producers be given the opportunity to vote on continuing the program.

Producers may obtain a form to request a referendum Oct. 20-Nov. 16 from county Farm Service Agency offices. Mailed-in requests must be postmarked by Nov. 16 and received in the county FSA office by Dec. 2. USDA will conduct a referendum on the order if at least 10% of the 600,813 soybean producers ask for a referendum if not more than one-fifth are from any one state. The notice of the referendum request will be published in the Sept. 13 Federal Register.