---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2905"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2905"
heading: "Certification of organizations to nominate"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2905"
units:
  - "Chapter 62 — Beef Research and Information"
---

# §2905. Certification of organizations to nominate

- (a) **Eligibility of State organization certified by Secretary; eligibility criteria—** The eligibility of any [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) organization to represent [producers](/usc/7/2902.md?p=12) and to participate in the making of nominations under [section 2904(1) of this title](/usc/7/2904.md?p=1) shall be certified by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2902.md?p=16). The [Secretary](/usc/7/2902.md?p=16) shall certify any [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) organization that the [Secretary](/usc/7/2902.md?p=16) determines meets the eligibility criteria established under [subsection (b)](#b) and such determination as to eligibility shall be final.
- (b) **State cattle association or State general farm organization—** A [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) association or [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) general farm organization may be certified as described in [subsection (a)](#a) if such association or organization meets all of the following eligibility criteria:
  - (1) The association or organization’s total paid membership is comprised of at least a majority of [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) [producers](/usc/7/2902.md?p=12) or the association or organization’s total paid membership represents at least a majority of the [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) [producers](/usc/7/2902.md?p=12) in the [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17).
  - (2) The association or organization represents a substantial number of [producers](/usc/7/2902.md?p=12) that produce a substantial number of [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) in the [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17).
  - (3) The association or organization has a history of stability and permanency.
  - (4) A primary or overriding purpose of the association or organization is to promote the economic welfare of [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) [producers](/usc/7/2902.md?p=12).
- (c) **Factual report basis for certification of State cattle association and State general farm association—** Certification of [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) [cattle](/usc/7/2902.md?p=4) associations and [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) general farm organizations shall be based on a factual report submitted by the association or organization involved.
- (d) **Certification of more than one State organization; caucus—** If more than one [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) organization is certified in a [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17) (or in a unit referred to in [section 2904(1) of this title](/usc/7/2904.md?p=1)), such organizations may caucus to determine any of such [State](/usc/7/2902.md?p=17)’s (or such unit’s) nominations under [section 2904(1) of this title](/usc/7/2904.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–294, § 6, May 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 531; Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1601(b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1603.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1985—Pub. L. 99–198 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to certification of organizations to nominate for provisions relating to findings and issuance of orders.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–198 effective Jan. 1, 1986, see section 1601(c) of Pub. L. 99–198, set out as a note under section 2901 of this title.