by Ben Nuelle
The referendum to reinstate the Iowa beef checkoff passed Thursday.
The referendum passed 56 to 44 percent.
Dr. Phil Reemtsma is Iowa Cattlemen?s Association President.
?We?re pretty happy with the results. We feel we went about it the right way with educating as many people as possible about what a yes vote would mean. The results are favorable to reinstate the Iowa beef checkoff. Now the real work begins to make sure those funds are collected and spent properly.?
The referendum will reinstate the $.50 per head Iowa beef checkoff.
Reemtsma says to folks who voted no, give it a chance.
?What I would ask to those people who voted no is to give this an opportunity to see if it can be a good thing and I think that it will be. We have to make sure those funds are allocated properly to good projects that help the producers of Iowa.?
Producers identified three initiatives they would like the money to be spent on.
?Number one would be enhancing the image of Iowa?s cattle producers, the second one was promoting Iowa?s beef products, and the third one was production research.?
The Department has until December 30th to certify the referendum results. Collection of the checkoff will begin March 1, 2017.
The Iowa beef checkoff will be mandatory, but refunds will be available to interested producers.
The federal beef checkoff of $1 per head remains in place and would not be affected by the Iowa vote.
