Michigan corn producers will have an opportunity to vote on program amendments on corn grown in Michigan under the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act (1965 PA 232, as amended), according to Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams .

Petitions signed by more than 200 producers were submitted to MDARD in September 2015 requesting proposed amendments to increase the assessment rate on Michigan grown corn from 1 cent per bushel to 1.5 cents per bushel; require seed corn to be included in the assessment process; and include revisions to the nominations process and make grammatical updates.  

Michigan corn producers to vote on increased checkoff

The additional half cent increase would be used to increase the number of flex fuel and E-85 pumps available to consumers, to educate consumers on bioengineering, and to promote and facilitate exports.  A copy of the proposed program changes can be found on the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development website found at this link:  www.michigan.gov/mdard.

The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan was established in 1993 to enhance the economic position of Michigan corn growers by providing for growth and expansion of the corn industry in Michigan through foreign and domestic market development, promotion, and research to stimulate the demand for corn. Funding for these programs comes from the farmers themselves who grow the commodity, funds go directly to the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and are not taxpayer dollars.

The referendum will be held between March 14 and March 25.  Ballots will be mailed by MDARD to corn producers on Thursday, March 10, and must be returned by March 25, or be postmarked March 25, to be counted.  Eligible producers with questions, or those not receiving a ballot, should contact MDARD toll-free at 800-292-3939 or e-mail [email protected].

For the amendment to pass, more than 50% of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total number of bushels represented on the cast ballots must approve it.  

For the purpose of this referendum, each producer, partnership, or corporation is entitled to one vote.  All ballots must be filled out completely, signed, and postmarked by March 25, 2016 and should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.