NOBULL: Beef council’s referendum voted down by producers
Beef council’s referendum voted down by producers
MINNESOTA BEEF PRODUCERS DECLINE FEE INCREASE
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s beef producers have rejected the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council’s proposed Referendum asking for an increase in check-off dollars. Sixty three percent of the 1,525 voting producers voted against the referendum. Thirty seven percent of voting producers voted for the referendum.
The Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council had asked the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to conduct the referendum proposing to increase the amount of the current state check-off by an additional $1.00 per head on all bovine animals.
The current $1.00 per head check-off supports the state and federal beef councils and will remain in effect. Half of this fee supports the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council and the other half supports the national beef check-off.
If you have any questions about the referendum please contact either the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council at 952-854-6980 or the MDA at 651-201-6013.
Through the automatic check-off program, farmers pay a percentage of their sale proceeds to their commodity council. Commodity councils use these funds to pay for promotion, communication and research activities aimed at increasing crop and livestock value for producers.