A petition has been approved to allow Missouri cattle producers to vote on a proposed state beef checkoff program. The vote among producers will be whether to establish a $1.00 per head checkoff in addition to the national checkoff. That money would be spent to increase demand through research, education and promotion.
Department of Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce
Missouri Ag Director Richard Fordyce said he based his decision to hold a vote on testimony from more than 75 producers at a public hearing earlier this month in Sedalia.
“A common theme emerged through the testimony that producers really wanted an opportunity to vote on whether to move forward in collecting a dollar state specific checkoff on beef cattle,” said Fordyce.
Registration begins January 4. In order to vote, cattle producers have to register online at www.agriculture.mo.gov or at their county FSA office. Producers can also request a voter registration form by phone or by email, which is listed at www.brownfieldagnews.com.
Voter registration ends March 4 and ballots will be mailed out a month later. Results will be announced April 25.
Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News and Kyle Hill of KWIX contributed to this story.