ROCKINGHAM — Farmers will have an opportunity to vote whether or not a tax put on feed and fertilizer for agricultural research will continue.
Susan Kelly, director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office for Richmond County, explained that the Nickles for Know-How referendum is being held to let users and produces of feed or fertilizer decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program.
The funds, about $1.4 million annually, are collected by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and then allocated by the N.C. Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.’s 148 volunteer Board of Directors to support agricultural research and extension projects at N.C. State University benefiting agriculture in North Carolina.
This program has been in place since 1948, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.
A two-thirds favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support agricultural research and education. The assessment is $0.15 per ton on feed and fertilizer produced in North Carolina.
The Richmond County Nickels for Know-How referendum will be held on Thursday, November 1.
Kelly said six polling places have been established in the county:
• Richmond County Extension Office — 123 Caroline Street, Suite 100, Rockingham
• USDA Farm Service Agency — 123 Caroline Street, Suite 400, Rockingham
• E.E. Vuncannon Inc. — 150 Railroad Street, Ellerbe
• Mercantile on Broad — 1708 E. Broad Ave., Rockingham
• Hamlet ACE Hardware – 28 W. Hamlet Ave., Hamlet
• Rockingham Farm Supply – 304 W. Greene St., Rockingham
For more information on the referendum please call the extension office at 910-997-8255.
http://yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_bees_tractor.jpg
For the Daily Journal