If you raise corn and soybeans you should have or soon will receive a ballot in the mail for the Research and Promotion Council Elections. Elections are being held for the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. These councils are often referred to as the "check-off."

Every time a farmer sells a bushel of corn or soybeans a small fee is collected and sent into the Minnesota Corn Growers and Minnesota Soybean Growers. The funds raised can be used only for research, education and promotion. These Council Elections elect corn and soybean farmers to the board that determines how the check-off funds are allocated. All the check-off or councils are overseen by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture which also conducts the elections.

Because the check-off is a Federal Law, the USDA has responsibility to audit the books of the check-off to make certain the money is spent in accordance with the law.

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