The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced natural sod grass producers are not in favor of issuing a final rule and establishing an industry-funded program for natural grass sod products. In a referendum, conducted Jan. 13- Feb. 11, 2025, 63.51% of eligible natural grass sod producers voted against establishing the proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order.
The proposed Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order; and the Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Referendum Procedures final rule required USDA to conduct an upfront referendum to determine whether eligible natural grass sod producers favor the issuance of the order.
The referendum met the requirement that a simple majority of those voting would determine if a final order to establish a program would be issued.
Referendum Voting Results
| Number | |
|---|---|---|
Yes | 127 | 36.49% |
No | 221 | 63.51% |
Total Valid Ballots | 348 | 100% |
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provided natural grass sod producers by mail, a 30-day advance notification of the start of the referendum. The notification detailed the dates of the referendum and expected time when ballots would be mailed and contact information should they have questions.
At the beginning of the referendum period, AMS provided a referendum package that included a voting checklist, ballot and hard copies of the Federal Register rules.
When submitting their ballot back to USDA, natural grass sod producers were required to provide a document that demonstrated they were eligible to vote. Detailed instructions about how to return ballots were also provided in the referendum package.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight to 22 boards. Oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.
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