Jul 12, 2017Michigan producers of onions to vote on program continuation
Michigan’s onion producers have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue the Michigan Onion Promotion and Development Program in a referendum conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development beginning Monday, July 17, 2017 through Friday, July 28, 2017. Ballots were mailed to onion producers on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Producers are eligible to vote if they produced onions valued at more than $800 at first-point-of-sale in any of the last three years. The Michigan Onion Promotion and Development Program was developed to improve the economic position of Michigan onion producers by creating greater marketing opportunities for Michigan onions. The program was established in September 1977. By law, it must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years. Currently, the assessment is $.06 per hundredweight of onions. For the program to be renewed, more than 50 percent of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total unit of measure represented on the cast ballots, must approve it. For the purpose of this referendum, each producer is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership, or a husband-wife or family ownership. All ballots must be filled out completely, signed and postmarked by July 28, 2017, and should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909. Eligible producers with questions or those who have not received a ballot should contact MDARD toll-free at 800-292-3939. |