ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Farmers who belong to the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council vote next month on a proposed increase to their checkoff amount.

The proposal is to raise the rate from 1 to 2 cents per bushel. The 1-cent-per-bushel rate has been in place since the wheat checkoff was established 30 years to fund research and promotion.

Voting will be conducted at several communities in wheat growing areas across Minnesota Jan. 15-25, and Jan. 19-22 at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture offices in St. Paul.

The department also announced Monday that the Minnesota Sunflower Growers Research and Promotion Council has approved its first promotional checkoff program. The rate of 4 cents per hundredweight becomes effective during the next growing season.