NICKELS REFERENDUM SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 16, 2011!
Click here for links to the downloadable information for County Extension Offices.

Click HERE for the polling locations in every county.

Nickels for Know-How Makes Good Sense!
And so much more...

Nickels for Know-How means:
Keeping a Good Thing Going!

It means vital funds for agricultural research, Extension activities, scholarships, fellowships, university faculty support...the kind of Know-How that advances agriculture in North Carolina.

Johnny Wynne

It’s a self-help program for farmers!

• Nickels for Know-How is a 60-year-old voluntary assessment on feed and fertilizer produced and purchased in North Carolina. The money is collected and deposited with The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., which uses the funds to support research, teaching and extension projects at NC State University.
• There have been 13 Nickels for Know-How referenda since 1951 - and all have passed at approximately 90 percent or more.
• Every year North Carolinians support research and education that can help keep agriculture profitable through Nickels for Know-How.
• On November 16, voters will have the opportunity to renew this program and assess themselves three nickels for each ton of feed and fertilizer they purchase.

How it began:                  

• Farmers started Nickels for Know-How in a referendum held November 3, 1951.
• The General Assembly authorized a vote on this self-help program after it had been requested by the North Carolina Farm Bureau and the NC State Grange.

How it works:

• NC Department of Agriculture collects the money from the manufacturers of feed and fertilizer.
• The manufacturers build the extra cost—three nickels per ton—into the price of their products.
• Feed and fertilizer consumers have an opportunity every six years to decide if they wish to continue the program.  Next referendum is November 16!

• Nickels for Know-How now raises about $1,200,000 annually. That’s an average of $25 per farm.
• The volunteer members of the Board of Directors of the NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc. decide how the money is spent. The volunteers include farmer members from each county, as well as agribusiness leaders who approve each proposal for support from faculty at NC State.

For a brochure listing many of the important Nickels-funded projects over the years, click here. (pdf)

County Extension Office Information for Downloading:

Nickels Ballot
Nickels Brochure (also above)
Nickels Poster
Nickels Powerpoint
Nickels Registration Sheet
Nickels Vote Here Poster