Justification for Change Mushroom Ballot

Justification for Change

0581-0093

March 2009

This Justification for Change requests OMB approval to reinstate the Official Referendum Ballot for the Mushroom, Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order. The ballot was last used in a 1998 referendum. The 2002 submission included the ballot with 184 respondents for a burden of 9 hours. The burden was dropped from future submission packages because of the infrequency of use, once every 5 years and only then if a referendum is needed. The ballot is used interchangeably to meet industry needs or changes to regulations, and allow eligible members to vote in a referendum and to verify their eligibility.

Due to the 2008 Farm Bill, we are required to reapportion membership of the Mushroom Council (Council) to reflect shifts in United States mushroom production as well as to add language allowing the Council the power to develop and propose good agricultural and handling practices and related activities for mushrooms.

Therefore, this request is to reinstate the ballot and increase the voluntary responses and burden currently approved by 125 respondents x 0.20 responses x 0.25 hours per response = 6.25 burden hours rounded to 6 burden hours and 25 responses.