(a) Any referendum held under this part shall be conducted statewide, under the control and direction of the commissioner. The polling place in each county shall be the offices of the University of Tennessee agricultural extension office. All ballots shall be provided at the polling places.

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 43-20-207

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Board: means the Tennessee soybean promotion board established by §. See Tennessee Code 43-20-203
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of agriculture. See Tennessee Code 43-20-203
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Department: means the department of agriculture. See Tennessee Code 43-20-203
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Producer: means a person who produces soybeans as an ongoing commercial operation and includes any landowner who shares in the production costs or the proceeds of the sale of any soybeans that are grown on the landowner's land. See Tennessee Code 43-20-203
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Each person seeking to vote in the referendum shall be required to sign an affidavit stating that the person is a producer as defined in § 43-20-203. Upon signing an affidavit, the person shall be eligible to vote. Any producer that is a corporation shall have only one (1) vote.
(c) The question to be decided at the first referendum shall be in the following form:

“Shall the producers of soybeans assess themselves at the rate of ____________________ cents per bushel of soybeans sold, and use the funds so collected by the department of agriculture and paid over to the Tennessee soybean promotion board to finance a program of research, education, market development, marketing, advertising and other methods designed to promote the increased production, consumption, use and sale of soybeans and soybean products?”

(d) The affirmative vote of a majority of the number of votes cast shall adopt the proposed assessment.
(e) Within ten (10) days after the referendum, the commissioner shall canvass the votes and publicly announce the result of the referendum.
(f) The expenses of referenda held under this part shall be paid by the department until an assessment is levied. Expenses of subsequent referenda shall be paid from the Tennessee soybean promotion fund.
(g) No referendum pursuant to this part shall be held within one (1) year of any preceding referendum.