Manitoba cattle producers have decided against raising the provincial
checkoff by 50 cents per head.
The checkoff, which supports development of the cattle industry, is $2
per head in Manitoba.
During the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association’s annual meeting,
producer Tom Baron argued in favour of adding another 50 cents to the
checkoff.
He suggested that at least a portion of the revenue from the increase
could be used to build a $250,000 reserve in case there are future
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“We’re definitely a vulnerable crowd,” said Baron, who farms near
Carberry, Man.
“We’ve got to get out of the shoestring business and recognize our
industry as one that needs to be supported.”
But those who argued against an increase said it was only a year ago
that the checkoff was raised to $2 per head from $1.
“I don’t know how much you can put to guys too quickly,” said Garry
Hill, a Langruth, Man., producer and former association director.
“You’re going to start ostracizing more and more producers.”
At the end of the debate, members defeated the motion to increase the
checkoff.
However, that does not mean Manitoba cattle producers are reluctant to
support their industry.
When the checkoff rose to $2 per head in 2000, there was almost no
increase in the number of producers requesting a refund, said
association executive director Wanda McFadyen.
The additional revenue from the $1 per head increase helped pay for
Manitoba’s share of the legal costs that arose from a trade challenge
of Canadian cattle exports into the United States a few years ago.
Some of it also replenished the industry development fund. The money
now goes toward funding national programs that promote industry
development.
Last month, Alberta Cattle Commission members also debated increasing
the checkoff. During the commission’s annual meeting in Calgary,
members decided to keep the checkoff at $2 per head.
Canada is expected to have a national checkoff in place sometime this
year, possibly as early as this summer.
