OXFORD – Laura Rand, county executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oxford, has announced the final procedures for a continuance referendum under the lamb promotion, research and information order. This is more commonly known as the lamb checkoff program.

The referendum will be conducted through Feb. 28 at the county Farm Service Agency offices.

To be eligible, people must certify and provide documentation, such as a sales receipt or remittance form, that shows they’ve been engaged in the production, feeding or slaughtering of lambs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2004.

People may obtain form LS-86 to vote in the referendum from the county Farm Service Agency in person, by mail or by fax. Forms may also be obtained on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-lamb.htm.

People vote at the county Farm Service Agency office where their administrative farm records are. For people who don’t participating in FSA programs, the opportunity to vote will be provided at the County FSA Office where the person owns or rents land.

Form LS-86 and the accompanying documentation must be received at the appropriate County Office before the close of business on Feb. 28. If returned by mail, these must be postmarked no later by midnight Feb. 28 and received in the County FSA Office by March 7.