LP-27 Application for Certification to Make Nominations to the

_{OMB NO. 0581-0093}

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION TO MAKE NOMINATIONS TO THE SORGHUM PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION BOARD

(Under the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order)

This information is requested in order to certify sorghum producer organizations as eligible to nominate members to the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Board pursuant to §1221.107 of the Sorghum Promotion and Research Order ("Order"), (7 CFR

§1221.107). For purposes of this Application, the term "Act" shall mean the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996, Subtitle E of Title XIX of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-624, and any amendments thereto. The term "Board" shall mean the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information

_Board.

Organizations receiving certification from the Secretary will be entitled to make nominations for persons to serve on the Board pursuant to §1221.101 of the Order. Prior to the establishment of the initial Board and thereafter, the Secretary shall announce when a vacancy does or will exist. When there is more than one certified eligible organization representing the State or unit or when the Secretary solicits nominations from organizations and persons residing in that State or unit, eligible certified organizations may caucus and jointly nominate two qualified producers for each position representing that State or unit on the Board for which a representative is to be appointed. If joint agreement is not reached with respect to any such nominations, or if no caucus is held, each eligible organization may submit to the Secretary two nominees for each appointment to be made to represent that State or unit.

Qualification shall be based, in addition to other available information, upon a factual report submitted by the organization that shall contain information deemed relevant and specified by the Secretary for the making of such determination, including the following:

a) The geographic territory covered by the organization’s active membership;

b) The nature and size of the organization’s active membership, proportion of active membership accounted for by producers, a map showing the sorghum producing counties in which the organization has active members, the volume of sorghum produced in each such county, the number of sorghum producers in each such county, and the size of the organization’s active sorghum producer membership in each such county;

c) The extent to which the sorghum producer membership of such organization is represented in setting the organization’s policies;

d) Evidence of stability and permanency of the organization;

e) Sources from which the organizations operating funds are derived;

f) The functions of the organization; and

g) The ability and willingness of the organization to further the purpose and objectives of the Act.

h) The primary consideration in determining the eligibility of an organization shall be whether its sorghum producer membership consists of a sufficiently large number of sorghum producers who produce a relatively significant volume of sorghum to reasonably warrant its qualification to submit requests for funding to the Board. Any sorghum producer organization found eligible by the Secretary under this Section will be qualified by the Secretary, and the Secretary’s determination as to eligibility shall be

_final.

(2) In addition to statements addressing the eligibility requirements, the applicant organization should provide the following information:

a) Name and address of applicant organization;

b) The name, title, phone number, and email address of the Chairperson or other chief elected officer;

c) The name, title, phone number, and email of the chief staff officer; and

d) If this entity is authorized by state statute, please identify the statute by title

_{(and attach a copy).}

Note: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

^{LP-27 (Expiration Date XX/XX/XXXX)}

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