Debra Davis
(334) 613-4686

Alabama Catfish Producers will go to the polls Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, to decide whether the state catfish checkoff program should be continued for five more years at the current rate of $1.00 per ton of feed manufactured or sold in Alabama. Producers who have purchased feed within 30 days of the referendum will be eligible to vote.

The first ever Alabama catfish checkoff program was approved by a 91.7% vote in 1989. Alabama law requires a statewide producer referendum be held every five years on whether the program should be continued. If approved, checkoff funds would be used to finance research, education and promotion activities aimed at further developing the state’s multi-million-dollar catfish industry.

Funds collected from feed manufacturers are remitted to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, which transmits the funds monthly to the Alabama Catfish Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation. A producer committee representing Alabama Catfish Producers members determines how the funds are distributed to advance the industry.

Polling stations will be at the following locations:

• Dallas Co. – ALFA Office, Selma (Broad St. location)  
• Greene Co. – ALFA Office, Eutaw 
• Hale Co. – Alabama Fish Farming Center
• Marengo Co. – ALFA Office, Linden
• Perry Co. – ALFA Office, Marion
• Sumter Co. – ALFA Office, Livingston   

Catfish farmers may petition to have additional poll locations in counties that are not listed above.  Those requests must be received in writing no later than January 9, 2020.  Additional poll locations will only be added if the request is justified by the Alabama Catfish Producers.   

Alabama catfish farmers will be able to vote between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at their county polling sites on the date of the referendum. No proxy voting will be allowed, and no ballots will be accepted by mail. For more information, contact Mitt Walker at 1-800-392-5705, ext. 4757, or by email at mwalker@alfafarmers.org.