REFERENDUM TO REINSTATE THE IOWA BEEF CHECKOFF PASSES
Iowa Department of Agriculture
Official Results Yet to Be Certified
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced the passage of the referendum to reinstate the $.50 per head Iowa beef checkoff that was held November 30th.
The preliminary results show a positive vote of 56 percent to 44 percent in favor of reinstating the assessment. A simple majority was needed for passage.
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.
A petition to vote on the state beef checkoff was delivered to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on September 2 by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The petition contained over 500 signatures of cattle producers in the state of Iowa who are interested in a referendum.
For information about the beef checkoff and beef checkoff programs, contact the Iowa Beef Industry Council at (515) 296-2305 or email beef@iabeef.org.
In accordance with Chapter 181 of the Iowa Code, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for holding beef checkoff referendum votes. All costs incurred by the Department will be reimbursed by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.
