Tennessee Eying Corn Checkoff Vote

Beginning next year, Tennessee corn growers could see over a million dollars invested annually in research, promotion and education activities. That is if they pass a one cent per bushel corn checkoff during the checkoff authorization vote this week. Tennessee Corn Growers Association President Mike Holman says: “A state corn checkoff with a refund provision will provide help in achieving both yield increases and better demand." If passed, Tennessee will join the other 20 top corn-producing states in the nation in collecting a checkoff. The state corn checkoffs invest almost $90 million annually to improve farmer profitability. Some of those funds are spent in-state with universities and other partners, especially on vital research. State and federal ag research dollars are declining and little of the corn research being done by large seed companies is specific to Tennessee, according to the National Corn Growers Association.