# Alabama Voters Allow Cotton Growers to Determine Status of State Checkoff Fee

Author: Jim Steadman
Published: 2014-07-16
Canonical URL: https://www.cottongrower.com/cotton-news/alabama-voters-allow-cotton-growers-to-determine-status-of-state-checkoff-fee/

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Alabama voters [**approved a state constitutional amendment**](http://www.annistonstar.com/news/article_8daa255a-0c9c-11e4-803b-001a4bcf887a.html)July 15 allowing Alabama cotton growers to hold their own referendum to determine if post-harvest cotton checkoff fees to fund marketing and research of their crop should be mandatory.

Under the current system, growers can opt out of the program and receive a refund for the fee after their harvest. Proponents of the amendment say the checkoff fund benefits all cotton growers, regardless of whether they choose to participate.