REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0189

SC-288 (Exp. 01/31/2027. Destroy previous editions.)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

TO: Cranberry Growers

FROM: ______________________________, Agent of the Secretary of Agriculture

SUBJECT: Referendum Instructions - Cranberry Marketing Order No. 929

I. REFERENDUM PERIOD

___________________________, 20___ through __________________________, 20___ is the 

referendum period during which producers may vote for or against proposed amendments to the 

Marketing Order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode 

Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island 

in the State of New York. All votable issues have been included in this Ballot.

For an amendment to the Marketing Order to pass, it must be supported by at least two-thirds of the 

growers voting or the growers representing at least two-thirds of the volume of production represented in 

the referendum.

II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING -- YOUR BALLOT MUST SUPPLY:

1. Your vote. Mark in the block of your choice.

2. The number of barrels of cranberries produced in the 20___ crop year and acreage and 

the State where produced.

3. Your cooperative affiliation, if any.

4. Your signature and address. If voting for a corporation, estate, or producer, show its 

name and your title. Enclosed is an envelope for returning the Ballot. No postage is 

required.

III. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

1. Any producer who produced cranberries for market during the 20___ crop year from 

September 1, 20___, through March 31, 20___, and is now a producer.

2. For the purposes of this referendum, a producer is defined as: (a) an owner of a cranberry 

bog or marsh that produces cranberries; (b) a renter or tenant of a cranberry bog or marsh 

that produces cranberries; or (c) a landlord who received from a renter or tenant 

cranberries as rent for land on which cranberries are grown. A cash landlord, lienholder 

or person having only a financial interest in the crop is ineligible.

3. A business unit partnership, family enterprise, corporation, association, estate, or firm 

may cast only one vote; however, each separate entity is entitled to one vote.

______________________________________

Agent of the Secretary

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 OMB 

0581-0189. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 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.
REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0189

SC-288 (Exp. 01/31/2027. Destroy previous editions.)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

AMENDATORY GROWER REFERENDUM BALLOT

This Ballot MUST be signed and postmarked by ___________________________, 20___, to be 

counted in this referendum.

1. I hereby certify that I am a cranberry producer, and that during the 20___ crop year (September 1, 

20___, through March 31, 20___) I produced ________ barrels of cranberries on _____ acres in 

the State of _________________________ within the defined production area. (If you did not 

harvest cranberries from your acreage during 20___ because of crop failure or non-bearing 

acreage, check “None” below).

□ None

(If you are renting on a share crop basis, report only that part of the crop represented by your 

share).

2. If you marketed any of the above cranberries through a cooperative marketing association, please 

list the cooperative’s name.

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. Name of Producer:

*By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________

(signature)

Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

* If the vote is cast on behalf of a corporation, estate or producer, my signature certifies that I 

have the authority to take such action. (In such case, show name of such corporation, estate or 

producer and your title below).

______________________________________________ ________________________________ Name of corporation, estate, or producer Title
REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0189 

SC-288 (Exp. 01/31/2027. Destroy previous editions.)

U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

A “YES” vote means you favor the change. A “NO” vote means you oppose the change.

YES NO Note: Where referenced, “Committee” means the Cranberry Marketing 

Committee.

( ) ( ) 1. Do you favor adding authority for the Committee to conduct 

production research and development projects? (§ 929.45)

( ) ( ) 2. Do you favor adding authority for a method whereby annual 

allotments are calculated on the basis of sales histories and adding 

provisions regarding excess cranberries? (§§ 929.10, 929.13, 929.15, 

929.48, 929.49, 929.50, 929.52, 929.59, 929.60, and 929.61)

( ) ( ) 3. Do you favor limiting Committee member tenure to three 

consecutive two-year terms? (§ 929.21)

( ) ( ) 4. Do you favor requiring handlers to pay assessments on the weight 

of cranberries acquired rather than on the weight of cranberries 

handled? (§ 929.41)

( ) ( ) 5. Do you favor adding a definition for the term “barrel?”(§ 929.17)

Minor conforming, editorial, and non-substantive modifications of the Order language included in the 

Secretary’s Decision have not been specifically described in the five referendum questions presented for 

voting, but will be incorporated in the Order as appropriate.

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: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 

employer, and lender.