For Immediate Release
Cattle Producers Welcome National Levy
(Calgary, Alberta) December 1, 2010 – Cattle producers across Alberta and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) are very pleased to see the implementation of a $1 non-refundable levy to support important national market development, promotion, and research programs. The levy was implemented through regulation amendments that were filed on November 30, 2010. The filing of these last regulation amendments was the final stage in a process that was started by the Memorandum of Agreement signed by ABP and the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) in September with the encouragement of Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Jack Hayden and his senior department staff.
The non-refundable levy will provide stable and secure funding for the national and international marketing and research activities that are so vital to the sustainability and competitiveness of the cattle and beef industry in Alberta and across Canada. Industry dollars collected through the levy can be leveraged with outside funding at a typical rate of 6:1 to generate funding for programs that provide substantial economic benefits for cattle and beef producers. The implementation of a non-refundable levy in Alberta also will set the stage for Canada to begin collecting a levy on imported cattle and beef, a fee that is expected to provide a further $600,000 to 800,000 annually in funding for marketing and research programs.
With these amendments to ABP regulations, cattle producers will continue to pay a $3 check-off on the marketing of each head of cattle that now will include the $1 non-refundable levy and a $2 service charge that is refundable at the request of the producer. The regulation amendments authorizing the collection of the non-refundable levy are due to expire on March 31, 2013, but the levy can be extended if there is industry agreement to continue with it. Over the next two and a half years, ABP is committed to working with ACFA and our national marketing and research organizations to provide sufficient value from the investment of levy dollars that producers will support extension of the levy.
The nearly 28,000 beef producers in this province have an organization which represents their collective interests – the Alberta Beef Producers. Run by producers for producers, ABP is dedicated to supporting a truly sustainable, competitive and profitable cattle and beef industry for the benefit of all Albertans.
Cattle Producers Welcome National Levy
(Calgary, Alberta) December 1, 2010 – Cattle producers across Alberta and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) are very pleased to see the implementation of a $1 non-refundable levy to support important national market development, promotion, and research programs. The levy was implemented through regulation amendments that were filed on November 30, 2010. The filing of these last regulation amendments was the final stage in a process that was started by the Memorandum of Agreement signed by ABP and the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) in September with the encouragement of Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Jack Hayden and his senior department staff.
The non-refundable levy will provide stable and secure funding for the national and international marketing and research activities that are so vital to the sustainability and competitiveness of the cattle and beef industry in Alberta and across Canada. Industry dollars collected through the levy can be leveraged with outside funding at a typical rate of 6:1 to generate funding for programs that provide substantial economic benefits for cattle and beef producers. The implementation of a non-refundable levy in Alberta also will set the stage for Canada to begin collecting a levy on imported cattle and beef, a fee that is expected to provide a further $600,000 to 800,000 annually in funding for marketing and research programs.
With these amendments to ABP regulations, cattle producers will continue to pay a $3 check-off on the marketing of each head of cattle that now will include the $1 non-refundable levy and a $2 service charge that is refundable at the request of the producer. The regulation amendments authorizing the collection of the non-refundable levy are due to expire on March 31, 2013, but the levy can be extended if there is industry agreement to continue with it. Over the next two and a half years, ABP is committed to working with ACFA and our national marketing and research organizations to provide sufficient value from the investment of levy dollars that producers will support extension of the levy.
The nearly 28,000 beef producers in this province have an organization which represents their collective interests – the Alberta Beef Producers. Run by producers for producers, ABP is dedicated to supporting a truly sustainable, competitive and profitable cattle and beef industry for the benefit of all Albertans.
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