The Robeson County Tobacco Research Referendum Committee has released the list of polling places for the N.C. Tobacco Research Check-Off Referendum, which will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009. Larry Sampson, Rowland tobacco farmer and chairman of the committee, indicated that six polling places have been established in order to make it as convenient as possible for eligible voters to get to the polls.

According to Everett Davis, county Extension director with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, the polling locations are as follows:

Cooperative Extension Center, Highway 72 West, Lumberton; USDA Farm Service Agency, Highway 72 West, Lumberton; Cape Fear Farm Credit, 1902 North Cedar Street, Lumberton; Crop Protection Services, 2402 Fayetteville Road, Lumberton; Crop Protection Services, 200 Center Street, Fairmont; Helena, 13866 Highway 301 South, Rowland.

Sampson explained that the referendum is being held to let tobacco growers decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program. This program has been in place since 1991, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

A two-thirds favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support tobacco research and education. The assessment is 10 cents per 100 pounds of tobacco produced in North Carolina.

The check-off funds, about $300,000 annually, is collected at buying stations by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and then allocated by the N.C. Tobacco Research Commission to support research and Extension projects for tobacco at N.C. State University.

For more information on the referendum and projects funded by the check-off, please go to:

www.cals.ncsu.edu/ advancement09Tobacco

Referendum.htm