Today’s Topic: Small-grain farmers to vote on assessment Aug. 7

by | Jul 30, 2013

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”

Southern Farm Network logo

North Carolina’s small-grain growers will vote Aug. 7 on whether to continue an assessment on their crops. The N.C. Small Grain Growers Association is sponsoring the referendum, asking farmers to renew the assessment for another six growing seasons.

The assessment amount would be half of 1 percent on sales of wheat, rye, oats, barley, rapeseed, canola and grain sorghum. Farmers pay the assessment when they sell these crops. The assessment period would run from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2019.

All North Carolina small-grain growers who are at least 18 years old by Aug. 7 are eligible to vote. Growers can vote during regular business hours at their local N.C. Cooperative Extension office.

The assessment supports the association’s work in grower education, research, marketing and other ways to help small-grain farmers be more profitable.

Farmers who have questions about the referendum should contact the Small Grain Growers Association at 919-809-8657.

Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about the referendum and why numerous N.C. commodities use assessments.

[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_7-30.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for July 30]

Southern Farm Network is a division of Curtis Media Group.