The recent Nickels for Know-how referendum held in North Carolina, assessing feed and fertilizer produced and sold in the state passed once again. Keith Oakley President of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.:
“This year it passed by a little more than 96 percent favorable vote. In fact, in the history of the Nickels referendum the vote has never been less than a 90 percent favorable rate.”
While the number of eligible voters is difficult to pinpoint, Oakley says the turnout was good:
“We had a total 2,806 votes, with again, 98.6 percent of those being favorable.”
The Foundation, which dates back to the 1940’s, distributes collected funds exclusively for agricultural research:
“Part of it is, I think, is the network of supporters that we have, and really the understanding that the ag community has in terms of the importance of research. Because, what happens with these funds is they are used to support research projects that are very relevant to the current needs of the agricultural community in North Carolina, whether it be crop production, or animal feed related. In fact, the Ag Foundation Board of Directors which is made up of 100 representatives, one from every county, and 48 agribusiness representatives, actually do a call for proposals, with priorities, that goes out to our college faculty, and they submit proposals, and then it is a budget review committee, out of that board, along with the full board, on how those funds are utilized.”
Oakley says that in these days of tight budgets, the funding is more important that ever:
“If you look at reduced state and federal support for research, and as well in general, as we know we’ve had continuous issues with budget cuts at the state and federal level, it does make these kinds of funds even more important. It means that if we’re going to continue to progress, in terms of our efficient and effective research and extension programs that helps us produce food that feeds a hungry world, we’re going to need more of this type of support.”
Nickels for Know-How raises about $1.3 million annually. The estimation is that the cost to the average family farm is about $30 a year.
|