The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that peanut producers voted to continue their federal research and promotion program. Peanut producers voted in a referendum held April 15 through May 3, 2019.
In the referendum, 93 percent of peanut producers voting were in favor of continuing the program. For the peanut research and promotion program to continue, it must be favored by a majority of peanut producers voting in the referendum.
Peanut producers who were subject to assessments during the period of June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018, were eligible to participate in the referendum. The order establishing the program requires USDA to conduct a continuance referendum every five years to determine whether the industry is in favor of continuing the program.
The peanut research and promotion program was developed to strengthen the position of peanuts in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for peanuts and develop new uses for peanuts within the United States. The National Peanut Board has administered the program since 1999.
Research and promotion programs help to expand, maintain and develop markets for individual commodities in the United States and abroad. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
More information about the peanut program is on the National Peanut Board page on the AMS website and on the board’s website at www.nationalpeanutboard.org.