March 4, 2009

Michigan dry bean producers will have an opportunity to vote on continuation of the Michigan Bean Commission and its activities in a referendum conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) beginning Monday, March 16, 2009 and ending Friday, March 27, 2009.

Ballots will be mailed to all known dry bean producers and will also be available at Michigan State University Extension offices in Arenac, Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties. Eligible producers with questions, or those not receiving a ballot, should contact MDA toll-free at 800-292-3939.

The Michigan Bean Commission, appointed to improve the economic position of the state’s dry bean producers, was last approved in 2004, and by law, must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years. Currently, the assessment is $.10 per hundredweight (a U.S. unit of weight equivalent to 100 pounds).

For the commission and its activities to be renewed, more than 50 percent of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total hundredweight represented on the cast ballots, must approve it.

Producers are eligible to vote if they produced dry beans for sale in any one of the last three years.  For the purpose of this referendum, each producer, partnership or corporation is entitled to one vote. All ballots must be filled out completely, signed and postmarked by March 27, 2009, and should be sent to Michigan Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.