Anybody on their local cattle associations?

[15444]

Would you be in favour of a refundable levy if the proposed increase goes through 15444?

Absolutely. And if that fails, I guess I will have to start looking at selling to dealers to avoid paying checkoff as well. Industry is sending clear message that they don't care who pays, as long as someone does and the gross dollars never change.

[BFW]

I believe that these checkoffs should be refundable to provide some accountability to the whole process. The possible exception may be the National portion used for promotion and research but even then we need to ensure that there is proper governance and some method to help determine that we are getting some kind of value for the investment. At the provincial level in my mind a producer should have the right to request a refund. All this talk of freeloaders and people not paying their fairshare sounds a lot like the whole federal wealth distribution talk. These associations need committed, intelligent people willing to invest their time and experience. That's what drives success, not sitting around worrying about tracking every last person that may or may not be paying his fair. That is what will help move the cattle industry forward in my mind and we are stuck until we get that.

[DaneG]

In theory a refundable checkoff works but in reality there will be those who will refund because they can ( cheap) also there will be the large operators cow calf and feedlot that will refund for individual wants or issues over looking the collective betterment of the industry a lot of this is because of not being involved with in the nitty gritty provincial business. I realize cattlemen are busy running their own operations and time is a valuable commoditee, for the most part provincial checkoff is spent wisely.

[BFW]

in Alberta there is a refundable checkoff. No one from ABP has ever asked me why I take it back. Now they and others complain that they need more funding to advance the industry and need to have a mandatory checkoff to stop the freeloaders. I am not cheap and I believe the checkoff system is not relevant to the way the industry is structured today especially at the provincial levels.

[BFW]

tend to agree with Grassfarmers comments in regards to marketing.

[BFW]

and Grassfarmers thoughts on research and promotion of the actual cattle industry and its practices.

[Horse]

The only aim of the ABP is to keep there welfare coming from crown lands, and they need numbers to try to make there point.
I would like to see 1 tangable thing they have dpne for the betterment of the industry as a whole.

[Horse]

The only aim of the ABP is to keep there welfare coming from crown lands, and they need numbers to try to make there point.
I would like to see 1 tangable thing they have dpne for the betterment of the industry as a whole.

[comtex]

I agree 100% with Grassfarmers comments in regards to marketing. That is an underhanded way of getting someone else to pay for their advertising

[grassfarmer]

It's a widespread and long standing tradition though - we had similar levies in Scotland as far back as the 1970's always the primary producer paying to promote the end product. I never thought it strange until someone here brought up the steel/car analogy. Now I can't get past that. Don't know of any other industry that has this funding structure other than agriculture.

[Happytrails]

I will second BFWS experience re: the ABP having no interest in why a refund is requested. They could make use of the opportunity to feel out producers but don't. Don't care about being more relevant apparently.

FWIW I have been taking back a small half of my check off deductions mostly as a matter of principle. Never a question asked.