by Ben Nuelle LISTEN: Money Matters 9-9-16
More than 500 Iowa cattle producers signed a petition for a referendum to reinstate the Iowa beef checkoff.
Katie Olthoff is with Iowa Cattlemen?s Association. She says members and leaders want the checkoff reinstated to further invest in Iowa?s beef industry.
?The state checkoff can be used more flexibly than the federal checkoff. One of the more flexible uses we are interested in is production research. The federal checkoff can only be used on research related to the beef market. We feel right now, especially with volatility in the cattle markets and the way agriculture is changing so quickly, we really need to have resources for production research.?
While the federal checkoff has remained steady at $1/head since 1986, several other states have instituted state checkoffs.
Olthoff says state checkoff money would be assessed at $.50 per head of Iowa cattle sold.
?Anytime cattle changes hands there would be a $1.50 per head. $.50 would stay in the state with state control and the other dollar would be part of the federal checkoff and would be subject to their rules and regulations.?
Olthoff says there will be polling places at county extension offices across the state where cattle producers may vote November 30th.
