The sign-up period will be from September 4, 2007, through November 30, 2007. Those persons who favor the conduct of a continuance referendum and who wish to request that USDA conduct such a referendum may do so by submitting such request in accordance with this section. All requests must be received by the appropriate USDA office by November 30, 2007.
(a) Before the sign-up period begins, FSA shall establish a list of known, eligible, Upland cotton producers in the country that it serves during the representative period, and AMS shall also establish a list of known, eligible Upland cotton importers.
(b) Before the start of the sign-up period, AMS shall mail a request form to each known, eligible, cotton importer. Importers who wish to request a referendum and who do not receive a request form in the mail by September 4, 2007, may particiapte in the sign-up period by submitting a signed, written request for a continuance referendum, along with a copy of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection form 7501 showing payment of a cotton assessment for calendar year 2006. Importers must submit their requests and supporting documents to USDA, FSA, DAFO, Attention: Rick Pinkston, P.O. Box 23103, Washington, DC 20026-3103. All requests and supporting documents must be received by November 30, 2007.
(c) Each person on the county FSA office lists may participate in the sign-up period. Eligible producers must date and sign their name on the ``County FSA Office Sign-up Sheet.'' A person whose name does not appear on the county FSA office list may participate in the sign-up period.
Such person must be identified on FSA-578 during the representative period or provide documentation that demonstrates that the person was a cotton producer during the representative period. Cotton producers not listed on the FSA-578 shall submit at least one sales receipt for cotton they planted during the representative period. Cotton producers must make requests to the county FSA office where the producer's farm is located. If the producer's land is in more than one county, the producer shall make request at the county officer where FSA administratively maintains and processes the producer's farm records. It is the responsibility of the person to provide the information need by the county FSA office to determine eligibility. It is not the responsibility of the county FSA office to obtain this information. If any person whose name does not appear on the county FSA office list fails to provide at least one sales receipt for the cotton they produced during the representative period, the county FSA office shall determine that such person is ineligible to participate in the sign-up period, and shall note ``ineligible'' in the remarks section next to the person's name on the county FSA office sign-up sheet. In lieu of personally appearing at a county FSA office, eligible producers may request a sign-up form from the county FSA office where the producer's farm is located. If the producer's land is in more than one county, the producer shall make the request for the sign-up form at the county office where the FSA administratively maintains and processes the producer's farm records. Such request must be accompanied by a copy of at least one sales receipt for cotton they produced during the representative period. The appropriate FSA office must receive all completed forms and supporting documentation by November 30, 2007. [72 FR 51161, Sept. 6, 2007]