050108 Voting Dates Set For Referendum On Lamb Check-OffJanuary 6, 2005Washington - Federal officials have announced that voting for the national referendum on the Lamb Checkoff Program will begin Jan. 31 and end Feb. 28. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service also announced the final referendum rules under the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Order, more commonly known as the American Lamb Board or Lamb Checkoff Program. The referendum will be conducted at USDA's county Farm Service Agency offices. To be eligible to participate, voters must provide documentation, such as a sales receipt, that shows that they were engaged in the production, feeding or slaughtering of lambs from Jan. 1, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2004. The Lamb Checkoff Program, authorized in 1996, requires that a referendum be conducted within three years after assessments first began to determine whether the program should be continued, according to the USDA. The 13-member Lamb, Promotion, Research and Information Board authorized by the check-off program law, administers the lamb promotion and research program designed to expand markets for lamb and lamb products. The mandatory program is financed by an assessment of one-half-cent per pound on ovine animals of any age, including ewes and rams, sold by producers, seedstock producers and feeders. First handlers pay an assessment of 30 cents per head for ovine animals bought for slaughter. Assessments began July 1, 2002. The Referendum Final Rules, the Notice of Opportunity to Participate or a sample copy of the ballot (LS-86) are available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-lamb.htm.
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