By Maggie Edwards

Alabama catfish producers will head to the polls Thursday, Jan. 23, to decide if the state Catfish Checkoff program will continue for five more years at the current rate of $1 per ton of feed manufactured or sold in Alabama.  

All producers who purchased feed in Alabama during 2024 (not less than 30 days before the referendum) are eligible to vote.

The first Alabama catfish checkoff program was approved by a 91.7% vote in 1989. Alabama law requires a statewide producer referendum every five years. If approved, checkoff funds would finance research, education and promotional 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 & Industries, which transmits the funds monthly to the Alabama Catfish Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation. A committee of farmers determines how the funds are distributed.

Polling stations will be at the following locations:

• Dallas County – Alfa Insurance, Selma (Broad Street location)  
• Green County – Alfa Insurance, Eutaw 
• Hale County – Alabama Fish Farming Center, Greensboro 
• Marengo County – Alfa Insurance, Linden
• Perry County – Alfa Insurance, Marion
• Sumter County – Alfa Insurance, Livingston   

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

Alabama catfish farmers can vote between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at their respective county polling sites on the date of the referendum. No proxy voting will be allowed, and no ballots will be accepted by mail. Contact William Green at (334) 612-5235 or wmgreen@alfafarmers.org for more information.