Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
North Carolina tobacco growers will vote Nov. 19 on whether to continue their self-assessment to support tobacco research and education. State law requires that a referendum be held every six years.
The assessment under the tobacco checkoff program is 10 cents per 100 pounds of flue-cured and burley tobacco sold. Since 1991, the program has provided about $300,000 annually to support tobacco-related research and extension projects at N.C. State University.
Funds from the self-assessment are allocated to N.C. State by the Tobacco Research Commission. Over the years, this program has supported a wide variety of research and education to help tobacco farmers with issues such as sucker control, improving leaf quality and boosting resistance to diseases and insects.
Tobacco growers may cast their ballot at their local Cooperative Extension office on Nov. 19.
If approved by a two-thirds majority, the assessment would be in effect from January 2016 through December 2021.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about the tobacco research referendum.
[Audio:/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_11-10-15.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Nov. 10]
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