At the end of last week, the Iowa Cattleman’s Association delivered a petition containing over 500 signatures of cattle producers to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. These Iowa producers are requesting a referendum to reinstate the 1970’s Iowa State Beef Checkoff, which was discontinued with the implementation of the federal checkoff program in 1986. A survey conducted by the Iowa Cattleman’s Association in the fall of last year found that over 80 percent of producers were in favor of bringing back the program that is estimated to raise nearly $1.5 million each year. Producers have been paying $1 per head since 1986 for the federal checkoff and the state checkoff proposal would call for producers to pay 50 cents for each head of cattle they raise to support marketing, research, international trade expansion and educational efforts. If the referendum passes, collections will begin March 1, 2017, and the distribution of funds will be determined by the Iowa Beef Industry Council officer team. Collections will be mandatory, but refunds will be available. Voting on the beef checkoff will take place at county extension offices on Wednesday, Nov. 30, or by absentee ballot beginning on Monday, Oct. 10. More information can be found by following the link included with this story on our website.
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http://www.iacattlemen.org/news.aspx?NewsID=1477
