Illinois corn producers voted in favor of increasing the corn checkoff rate to 3/8 of a cent-per-bushel, up from the old ¼-cent rate.

The March 29 referendum was passed by corn growers by a margin of 69% to 31%, or in 70 of Illinois' 102 counties, according to Illinois Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke.

The program will retain the right to refund and the new rate will take effect Oct. 1.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Act was established by growers in 1982 as a means to fund corn market development, research, promotion and education efforts. The rate increase, equivalent to about 20 cents-an-acre, will be the first since the program was initiated.

The formal results of the referendum, which passed 1,180 votes to 520, were announced April 11 after an IDOA-appointed teller committee completed its review of ballots and certified the statewide vote.