For immediate release: March 1, 2018 Contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-284-5725

LANSING – Michigan’s corn producers have approved a referendum to continue the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. Established in March 1993, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan was developed to increase the utilization of Michigan corn through market development, education, and research.

The program is a public body independent of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. It is comprised of seven corn farmers appointed by the Governor. The MDARD Director and a person appointed by the Dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources are non-voting ex-officio members. The board is responsible for the implementation of the program.

The program will continue for an additional five years beginning March 1, 2018, and ending February 28, 2023. The current assessment rate is $.01 per bushel. A total of 2,041 ballots were cast in the referendum. Of those, 1,659 producers voted yes (81 percent), representing 75,497,508.61 bushels (83 percent of the production represented) and 382 producers voted no (19 percent) representing 15,894,989.03 pounds (17 percent of the production represented).

For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing more than 50 percent of the production of those voting, must have approved it.

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