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Michigan corn producers to vote on program amendment

Agency: Agriculture and Rural Development

March 13, 2014                    CONTACT: Deb Merrill, 517-284-5730

Michigan corn producers will have an opportunity to vote on a program amendment that would increase the assessment on corn grown in Michigan under the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act (1965 PA 232, as amended), Michigan Department of Agriculture Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams announced today.

Petitions signed by more than 200 producers were submitted to MDARD in September 2013 requesting an amendment to increase the assessment rate from one cent per bushel to two cents per bushel.  The additional one cent would be used for research, education and promotion of Michigan’s corn industry.

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.

The referendum will be held between April 14, 2014 and April 25, 2014.  Ballots will be mailed by MDARD to corn producers on Thursday, April 10, 2014 and must be returned by April 25, 2014 or be postmarked April 25, 2014 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 merrilld@michigan.gov.

For the amendment to pass, more than 50 percent 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 April 25, 2014 and should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909. 

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