DES MOINES – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board today announced plans to conduct a referendum on July 8 to increase the corn checkoff by ¼ cent per bushel.

Any producer who raised and marketed at least 250 bushels of corn during 2006-07 is eligible to vote at any county extension office in the crop reporting district where they live from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 8.

Growers who wish to vote by absentee ballot may do so 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 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319 to solicit an Absentee Ballot Request Form.

The Absentee Ballot Request 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 26, 2008 and Absentee Ballots must be postmarked by July 8, 2008.

The current corn checkoff, last increased in 1995, is one-half cent per bushel marketed.  For an average Iowa yield of 170 bushels per acre, it translates to a checkoff contribution of 85 cents per acre of corn.  The checkoff is collected on corn that enters commercial channels but not on grain used on-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 producer referendum in 1977.  The Iowa Corn Promotion Board, made up of farmers elected by their peers, invests checkoff dollars for research, education, promotion, and market development.  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.

In accordance with Chapter 185C of the Iowa Code, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for holding corn checkoff referendum votes.  All costs incurred by the Department will be reimbursed by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board

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