Great Lakes Wire

Michigan potato producers will soon vote on a proposed amendment to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. The announcement was made by Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD). The voting period is scheduled for February 3-14, 2025.

The proposal follows petitions submitted in October 2024 by potato producers. The amendment suggests an increase in the assessment cap from five and a half cents to nine and a half cents per hundredweight for potatoes grown in the state. This change would apply only to growers with at least 20 acres dedicated to potato production.

MDARD has begun mailing ballots to eligible producers as of January 28, 2025. To participate in the referendum, producers must have fully paid all assessments by July 15, 2024. Each producer is entitled to one vote, which can represent various forms of ownership including firms or family businesses.

All completed ballots need to be signed and postmarked by February 14, 2025. They should be sent to MDARD's Executive Office at P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI.

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission focuses on research and development activities aimed at promoting the state's potato industry through advertising and market expansion efforts.

Producers with inquiries or those who do not receive a ballot are advised to contact MDARD at their toll-free number: 800-292-3939.