By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter) with files from Alberta Cattle Producers

Cattle Feeders encourage participation in non-refundable checkoff plebiscite

Oct 10, 2018 | 3:57 PM

COALDALE —  Every Alberta cattle producer will soon have the chance to make a decision on future funding for their organizations and the industry.  For that reason,  Alberta Cattle Feeders are encouraging poducers to take advantage of the opportunities to make a decision on future funding for their organizations and the industry.
 
Ryan Kasko, Cattle Feeders’ Association Chair and a feedlot operator at Coaldale, says there are going to be 27 meetings  across the province where producers can hear the debate and make an informed decision about return to a non-refundable checkoff.
 
“I hope people will vote and if you can`t make it to the fall meetings, make sure you do a little bit of research into it. There`s an opportunity to do a mail-in ballot or to vote an AFSC offices across the province, so I`m hoping people will take that opportunity.“

 Kasko explains that from his perspective, a successful plebiscite would mean a return to a non-refundable check-off, which would mean stable funding for cattle organizations.

“Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and the Albeta Cattle Feeders have made an agreement to create the Alberta Beef Development Fund, whch is an excellent initiative to enhance the collaboration we have between our two organizations and to make sure we have good funding to continue to invest in research and technology transfer, market development in Alberta.“  
 
Kasko also noted, “Consumer education and advocacy is becoming more and more important.  There`s good reason to have stable funding and I want to make sure the people understand, too, that some of this money goes to the Canadian Cattlemen`s Association.“
 
“There are many good reasons why guaranteed funding will benefit the Alberta cattle industry,“ adds Kasko.
 
“We just went through pretty intense Nafta re-negotiations and we need to make sure the beef industry is well represented, so we can have the most positive outcome for our industry nationally, and of course, provincially, as well.“
 
“The Alberta Beef industry development fund is a real collaborative effort between ABP and the Alberta Cattle Feeders – it would afford differenet groups to come to our organizations and request funding to do research projects, mrketing initiatives and other things that are going to drive our industry forward.“
 
The Alberta Marketing Council will send information packages about the plebiscite directly to producers in the coming weeks. More informtion on the cattle producer plebiscite regulations can be found Farms.com