Ag News

Georgia corn, peach, pecan and tobacco commissions holding referendums

Georgia producers of corn, peaches, pecans and tobacco have the opportunity to vote on whether they will continue to fund the commissions that work to promote and educate consumers about their respective crops and fund research to benefit growers.

The 1969 Georgia Agricultural Commodities Promotion Act requires that all marketing orders now in existence be reaffirmed by a vote of affected producers at least 30 days prior to the termination date of the order. Under the law, a reaffirmation vote must be taken every three years, and two thirds of the votes cast must be in favor of continuation for each commodity’s marketing order to continue.

The marketing order referendum for the ACC for Tobacco is underway and ballots will be accepted until midnight on March 30.

The Georgia Marketing Order for Tobacco allows for a maximum assessment rate of $0.75 per hundred pounds and sets the current assessment rate at $0.50 per hundred pounds and cannot be raised without proper producer notification.

The Agricultural Commodity Commissions (ACCs) for corn, peaches and pecans have reaffirmation referendums that begin in April. Each one was last reaffirmed in 2023.

In each referendum, ballots are mailed to that commodity’s producers. Submitted ballots are only valid if the producer signs the certification on the back of the return envelope.

Peaches

The 10 cent ($0.10) per bushel and 5 cent ($0.05) per half bushel assessment established at that time has funded programs of research, promotion, and education on behalf of Georgia peaches.

The balloting period for the continuation of the Georgia Marketing Order for Peaches for an additional three-year period has been set from April 1-30.  All ballots must be postmarked prior to midnight April 30, to be eligible to be counted.

Pecans

The one ($0.01) cent per pound assessment has funded programs of research, promotion, and education on behalf of Georgia Pecans.

The balloting period for the continuation of the Georgia Marketing Order for Pecans for an additional three-year period has been set from April 1-30.  All ballots must be postmarked prior to midnight, April 30th, 2026, to be eligible to be counted.

Votes can only be cast by eligible producers – those who have at least 30 acres of pecans with an average of 13 trees per acre.

Corn

  The 1 cent ($0.01) per bushel assessment has funded programs of research, promotion, and education on behalf of Georgia corn.

The balloting period for the continuation of the Georgia Marketing Order for Corn for an additional three-year period has been set from April 15 - May 15.  All ballots must be postmarked prior to midnight May 15, to be eligible to be counted.

For more information, or to receive a ballot, contact Fred Rayfield at 404-586-1405 or fred.rayfield@agr.georgia.gov.

---

• Categories:

• Tags:

---