July referendum planned for 25% increase of corn checkoff

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board plan to hold a referendum on July 10 to increase the corn checkoff by 0.25 cents per bushel.

The checkoff is currently 0.75 cents per bushel. If the increase is approved, the checkoff would be 1 cent per bushel.

Any producer who raised and marketed at least 250 bushels of corn from Sept. 1, 2010, to Aug. 31, 2011, is eligible to vote at any county extension office in the crop reporting district where they live. The voting will take place between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on July 10.

Growers can vote by absentee ballot by contacting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  Producers may call (515) 281-5321, email cornvote@IowaAgriculture.gov or visit the Henry Wallace Building, 502 E 9

^th

St. in Des Moines to get an absentee ballot request form.

The form must be signed and returned to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  The producer will then be mailed an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballot request forms must be postmarked by June 27 and absentee ballots must be postmarked by July 10.

The corn checkoff was last increased in 2008 to the current rate of 0.75 cents per bushel.  The checkoff is collected on corn that enters commercial channels, but not on grain used on the farm.  Producers are able to request a refund of their checkoff contribution and that will not be affected by the vote.

The Iowa corn checkoff was established by a referendum in 1977.  The Iowa Corn Promotion Board invests checkoff dollars for research, education, promotion, and market development.

The maximum checkoff allowed under Iowa code is 1 cent per bushel.

For more information on how checkoff dollars are used, contact the Iowa Corn Promotion Board at (515) 225-9242 or find out more online at www.iowacorn.org