USDA REVIEWS 1990 AMENDMENTS TO COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION ACT

USDA REVIEWS 1990 AMENDMENTS TO COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION ACT    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service will consider the continuation of various amendments made to the Cotton Research and Promotion Act in 1990.
   The act, authorized a national Cotton Research and Promotion Program in 1966, which is industry operated and funded, with oversight from USDA. The objective of the program is for U.S. cotton growers and importers to expand the cotton market. The program is funded through assessments levied on domestic and imported cotton and cotton-containing products.
   In 1990, the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act called for an importer representation on the Cotton Research and Promotion Program board. It also included provisions for reimbursing government agencies who collect the cotton promotion fees and terminates the right for a producer to demand a refund of assessments. Sixty percent of importers and domestic cotton producers approved of the amendment in 1991, USDA said.
   However, every five years the amendment must be evaluated to determine if a referendum is necessary. The last review in 1996 did not lead to a referendum.
   The Agricultural Marketing Service in Washington will take written comments from cotton importers and domestic producers on whether to continue with the amendments through June 25 and report the results by September 2001.