Docket Number: AMS-LP-21-0028
Dates: The voting period is January 13, 2025 through February 11, 2025. To be eligible to vote, current natural grass sod producers must have sold natural grass sod products in the United States during the representative period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. Anyone who believes that they are eligible to vote in the referendum must request a ballot from the Referendum Agents by emailing the contact provided in the ADDRESSES section below. Eligible producers must provide evidence of natural grass sod sales during the representative period. Ballots will be mailed to all known eligible natural grass sod producers on or before January 10, 2025. Ballots must be received by the Referendum Agents no later than the close of business 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on February 11, 2025.
Summary
This document proposes to establish an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for natural grass sod products. The proposed program, the Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), was submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a group of natural grass sod producers. The purpose of the program would be to maintain and expand markets for natural grass sod products and the program would be financed by an assessment on domestic sod producers. This proposed Order also announces that USDA is conducting a referendum among eligible producers to determine whether they favor establishing the program. The program would be established if it is favored by a majority of industry producers voting in the referendum. A separate final rule on referendum procedures is published in this issue of the Federal Register. This proposed Order also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new information collection requirements to implement the program.
Addresses
Copies of the proposed Order may be obtained from the Referendum Agents, Research and Promotion Division; Livestock and Poultry Program, AMS, USDA; Room 2092-S, STOP 0249; 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0249; Telephone: (202) 302-1139; Email: Maribel.Reyna@usda.gov or can be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov.
Contact
Maribel Reyna; Director; Research and Promotion Division; Telephone: (202) 302-1139 or Email: maribel.reyna@usda.gov.
Supporting Documents