• Introduction to AHDB
• Background to AHDB
• AHDB board and minutes
• Remuneration
• Levy rates
• Levy ballot process
• Committees
• Procurement
• Office addresses
• Organogram

Ballot process for AHDB levies

The Statutory Instrument under which AHDB operates allows for levy payers, from 1 April 2012, to request a ballot on the continuance of a levy.

This section of the website enables you to download detailed guidance on what to do if you wish to request a ballot. There is also separate guidance on how to vote, in the event that a ballot is called.

The AHDB collects eight levies. They relate to pigs, cattle, sheep, milk, horticulture, potatoes, cereal and oilseeds.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2008 requires AHDB to hold a ballot on whether an individual levy should continue if it receives requests to hold a ballot on that levy signed by at least 5% of those entitled to vote in such a ballot, within a period of three consecutive calendar months.

If the 5% threshold is reached for any of the eight levies then AHDB will organise a ballot. The results will be independently verified and communicated to Ministers who will make a decision on the future of that levy; however Ministers are not bound by the results of any ballot.

Note that no threshhold has currently been met, so there are no ballots in operation.

AHDB estimates that in 2012 the 5% thresholds for each levy will be approximately:

Levy	5% Threshold		Levy	5% Threshold
Cattle	2500		Oilseeds	750
Cereal	2400		Pigs	1500
Horticulture	80		Potato	150
Milk	650		Sheep	2300

 

Guidance on how to request a ballot on whether a levy should continue

• Cattle levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference A)
  
  
• Cereal levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference B)
  
  
• Horticulture levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference C)
  
  
• Milk levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference D)
  
  
• Oilseeds levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference E)
  
  
• Pig levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference F)
  
  
• Potato levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference G)
  
  
• Sheep levy payer guidance on how to request a ballot (reference H)

Guidance on how to vote in a ballot, if one is called

• Cattle keeper, slaughterer and exporter guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference JK)
  
  
• Cereal buyer, grower and processor guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference LMN)
  
  
• Horticulture levy payer guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference P)
  
  
• Milk producer guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference Q)
  
  
• Oilseeds grower guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference R)
  
  
• Pig keeper, slaughterer and exporter guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference ST)
  
  
• Potato buyer and grower guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference VW)
  
  
• Sheep keeper, slaughterer and exporter guidance on how to vote in a ballot (reference XY)

Further information

Having read the relevant guidance, if you have a question or require any clarification on the ballot process, please write to:

AHDB Ballot Officer, AHDB, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL
or email ballot@ahdb.org.uk