7 U.S.C. § 2113 — Certification of cotton producer organizations

The Secretary^* must certify each cotton^* producer organization eligible to represent producers in a cotton-producing State^* when requesting an order under section 2103 or participating in nominations under section 2106(b). The decision must use available information and a factual report from the organization containing information the Secretary requests, including: (a) the geographic area covered by active members; (b) the nature and size of active membership, the farmer share, a county map, cotton volume, producer numbers, and the organization’s producer membership in each cotton-producing county; (c) how members participate in setting policy; (d) evidence of stability and permanence; (e) sources of operating money; (f) the organization’s functions; and (g) its ability and willingness to advance this chapter’s aims. The primary consideration is whether the organization has enough cotton-farmer members who produce a relatively significant volume to reasonably justify participation in nominating Cotton Board members. The Secretary must certify an organization found eligible, and the eligibility decision is final.