Referendum on Iowa corn checkoff scheduled in July - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Iowa farmers are being asked if they will agree to a quarter-cent increase in the state's corn checkoff. The state Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board announced on Wednesday that they will conduct a referendum on July 10th to raise the checkoff from the current 3/4 of a cent per bushel to one cent per bushel.

The checkoff is collected on corn that enters commercial channels, but not on grain used on the farm. It was last increased in 2008 by a quarter percent.

Checkoff revenue goes toward corn research, promotion and market development.

Any producer who raised and marketed at least 250 bushels of corn from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011 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 10.

Growers who wish to vote by absentee ballot may do so by contacting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

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. The maximum checkoff allowed under Iowa code is 1 cent per bushel.