Yesterday the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship certified the July 10th referendum results to increase the corn checkoff rate by a quarter of a cent.
The final numbers showed that the increase was popular — nearly 74 percent of producers voted in favor of the increase. Only a simple majority was needed to pass the referendum.
The new total rate of one cent per bushel marketed will go into effect on September 1, 2012. The last time the checkoff increased was in 2008, when it went up to three quarters of a cent.
The corn checkoff is collected on corn that enters the market, not grain used on-farm. Corn growers can also request a refund of their checkoff contribution; refund of checkoff money was unaffected by the vote.
The Corn Promotion Board will reimburse the Iowa Department of Agriculture for the cost of having the referendum vote.
The Iowa Corn Checkoff was established by producer referendum in 1977. The Iowa Corn Promotion Board, made up of farmers elected by their peers, invests checkoff dollars for research, education, promotion, and market development. If you’d like more information on how checkoff dollars are used, contact the Iowa Corn Promotion Board at 515 225-9242 or find out more online at their website.
