Washington, DC
May 5, 2008
The
U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued a final order
that establishes an industry-funded promotion, research and
information program for sorghum. Assessments will begin July 1,
2008. The order is authorized under the Commodity Promotion,
Research and Information Act of 1996.
“An order would provide for assessments on sales of grain
sorghum and for sorghum silage,” said Lloyd C. Day,
administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. “We
anticipate that this program will generate about $12 million
annually to benefit producers, marketers and processors.”
The assessment for grain sorghum will be 0.6 percent of net
market value and 0.35 percent of net market value for sorghum
forage, sorghum hay, sorghum haylage, sorghum billets and
sorghum silage. Imports of such products also would be assessed,
although, limited imports exist at this time.
Similar research and promotion programs currently exist for
beef, lamb, pork, soybeans, cotton, dairy products, eggs, fluid
milk, mushrooms, watermelons, potatoes, popcorn, kiwifruit and
others. USDA has responsibility for oversight of these programs.
Details of the final order will be published in the May 6, 2008,
Federal Register. The new research and promotion program for
sorghum will become effective on May 7, 2008.
For further information, contact, in writing, R. Craig
Shackelford, Agricultural Marketing Specialist; Marketing
Programs Branch, Room 2629-S; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS,
USDA; STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC
20250-0251; call (202) 720-1115; or fax (202) 720-1125.
Copies of the final rule:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-9327.pdf |
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