Grainnet

Bloomington, IL—Illinois soybean growers who voted in the recent referendum, voted overwhelmingly in favor of a state soybean checkoff amendment last month at their local Extension offices.

Growers voted 605 – 254 in favor of aligning the state checkoff rate with the national soybean checkoff rate of one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the net selling price of soybeans.

The state rate, which was established in 1973, was previously one-cent per bushel and has been suspended since 1991 when the national checkoff was established.

The state checkoff will only take over if the national checkoff rate is ever terminated.

Producers will see no change in the checkoff rate they are currently paying.

“While the soybean checkoff is currently not being questioned, national checkoff programs have been challenged by the Supreme Court in the past,” said David Hartke, Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) chairman and grower from Teutopolis.

“This amendment is a safety net for Illinois soybean producers.

"If the national soybean checkoff were to be dissolved, we would continue to fund the research and market development that is important to our producer’s bottom line.”

For more information, call Kayla Rassi at 309-662-3373.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Illinois Soybean Association

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