Growers who have produced peanuts and paid assessments from Jan. 1, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2013, are eligible to vote. If a simple majority of eligible producers vote in favor, the program will continue.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will conduct the referendum by mail ballot. Ballots and voting instructions will be mailed to all known eligible producers by April 7, 2014. Eligible producers who do not receive a ballot, have questions or need additional information may contact the referendum agent, Ms. Jeanette Palmer, by e-mail at Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov, by telephone either toll free (888) 720-9917 or (202) 720-9915, or by U.S. mail at Promotion and Economics Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, D.C. 20250-0244. Visit www.regulations.gov for more information.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.