SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — By a landslide margin, corn growers approved raising the state’s checkoff rate by an additional 1/4-cent per bushel.

The vote took place throughout the state on March 28; the Illinois Department of Agriculture tallied and certified ballots and released the results April 11. Slightly more than 78 percent of corn growers who voted supported the measure; the vote total was 1,137-317 in favor.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) requested the referendum in large part to fund additional research projects and for infrastructure improvements. The checkoff increase passed in 71 of 102 Illinois counties, and the support this year surpassed the last time corn growers opted to increase the rate, in 2007.

That year, the rate was bumped to its current 3/8-cent-per-bushel and just shy of 70 percent of voters supported the measure. This year’s increase was supported by the state’s top corn group, the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc., and its president, Jeff Scates.

Bill Christ, chair of the ICMB – charged with overseeing funds raised from the checkoff – said in a statement, “We understand that it is important that we continue to invest these checkoff dollars with integrity to achieve the goals and meet the needs of corn farmers in Illinois.

“The ICMB has determined four major areas of investment for the increased checkoff proceeds. They are infrastructure development, supporting science-based research and data that can be used to fight regulations, public education and outreach and ethanol market development for E15.”

Christ noted that surveys of growers in advance of the vote also were important. Scates said an overwhelming number of the 4,000 association members surveyed ahead of the vote favored the increase.

Christ continued, “We surveyed corn farmers and considered the input provided by the members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. We feel a sense of obligation and duty to be sure that corn checkoff dollars are wisely invested to enhance the profitability of corn farmers in Illinois.”

About $7 million was raised last year from the checkoff; with the rate increase, which takes effect Oct. 1, an additional $4 million is expected to be collected annually.

One farmer who voted against the increase told Farm World back in February he did so because he believes the current checkoff rate is high enough.

“After we talked a few weeks back, I thought about it some more, but I still came to the conclusion that it was raising a pretty good amount already,” said Keith Mitchell, a farmer in Williamson County, last week.

Growers established the Illinois Corn Marketing Act in 1982 as a way to help pay for corn market development, research, promotion and education efforts. It is only the second time the checkoff rate has been increased since then.