On July 29th, cattle owners
in Alabama will have the opportunity to vote to continue a voluntary
self-help program that works to improve the business climate for beef
production in the state by advertising beef, educating consumers,
supporting youth programs, and keeping cattlemen informed on ways to
remain profitable.
The program, funded by producers at a level of 50 cents
per head of cattle marketed, was reinstated five years ago and has since
shown its worth by developing new programs and adding to the promotion
efforts of the National Beef Checkoff program. Each year, a group of
cattlemen, stockyard operators, cattlewomen, educators, and other
industry leaders meet to past checkoff programs and develop a plan for
spending checkoff dollars during the coming year in Alabama.
“As cattle producers, we’re lucky to have the Alabama
State 50 Cent Checkoff program in this state. It helps promote our
product but it also does so much more for us. We’re able to host media
spokesperson training meetings, youth events, and educational meetings
for cattlemen. We need it to stay progressive in Alabama,” says Orland
Britnell, ACA President and cattle producer from Russellville.
The referendum vote will be held on July 29th from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. at each county extension office in the state. All cattle
owners are eligible to vote once in-person regardless of their county of
residence or the county where they own cattle. No proxy or absentee
voting will be allowed.
Since 1962, nine statewide referendums have been held;
all yielding a positive majority vote to continue the program. In a
recent survey, nearly 80% of cattlemen approved of the Alabama State 50
Cent Checkoff program.
The 2008 Checkoff Marketing Plan, detailing exactly how
and where checkoff dollars are spent, can be viewed by visiting the Beef
Checkoff link on www.bamabeef.org or by contacting the Alabama
Cattlemen’s Association at 334-265-1867. |