Mississippi sweet potato producers are being asked to participate in the voluntary $5-per-acre checkoff program.

Bill Burdine, with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, told a recent meeting of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council the program usually finances promotional efforts.

Burdine says matching $40,000 to a federal grant would help to develop treatments for fusarium wilt and charcoal rot in sweet potatoes.

Council secretary-treasurer Benny Graves says the checkoff has been bringing in about $20,000 per year.

Burdine says full participation in the program by producers would bring in more than $100,000 per year.

Graves says if producers can knock back the diseases by 50 percent, it would mean a lot more money in their pockets.