The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announces a referendum on the proposed Amended Tobacco Marketing Order in which all producers and handlers of tobacco in Florida are invited to participate.

TIME PERIOD FOR REFERENDUM: Ballots and copies of the proposed order will be mailed to all tobacco producers or handlers affected who are in the state and whose names and addresses are known on April 20, 2009. Ballots and copies of the proposed order may be obtained from county extension offices in Alachua, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee counties by producers or handlers not receiving them by mail, or by calling: Marshall Wiseheart at (850)488-4366.

The date by which ballots must be returned to the Department is Monday, May 11, 2009.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REFERENDUM: The Department received application from over 10 percent of the affected producers via the Tobacco Production Research Advisory Council who stated they have reason to believe that an increase in the rate of assessment under the marketing order will tend to effectuate the declared policy of Sections 573.101-.124, Florida Statutes.

On February 16, 2009, the Department held a public hearing concerning the potential amendment of the Tobacco Marketing Order. The Department finds that the proposed amended order will tend to accomplish the objectives and purposes of Sections 573.101-.124, Florida Statutes.

The proposed amended marketing order raises the assessment from 25 cents to one dollar per hundred pounds of tobacco sold, but not to exceed 50 cents per hundred pounds of tobacco sold during the 2009 state fiscal year.

If you have any questions, please call: Marshall Wiseheart at (850)488-4366.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this referendum is asked to advise the Department by contacting: Marshall Wiseheart at (850)488-4366. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TTY) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).