SMITHERS, B.C. — British Columbia cattle producers will start to pay a $5 checkoff for every animal sold as of July 1.
The money will be split with half going to the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-off Agency and the rest staying in B.C.
The provincial portion is refundable but little is rebated, said Linda Allison, chair of the cattle industry development council.
“Our refunds are very minimal. I would estimate they are likely under one percent of the total amount collected. It shows us the ranchers in British Columbia really appreciate the work that is able to be done with the money they pay out,” she said at the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting in Smithers held May 31-June 2.
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B.C. is unique because the checkoff is collected through a special council consisting of the B.C. Association of Cattle Feeders, B.C. Breeders and Feeders Association, B.C. Cattlemen’s Association and B.C. Dairy Association.
The council collects the funds that are distributed among the four groups, which must outline how they plan to spend the money.
Collections for the 2017-18 fiscal year were $744,474 on 248,158 head.
All provinces but Ontario have agreed to increase the fee to $2.50, which is up from the previous $1 per head.
The money is split among the marketing and promotion entity Canada Beef, Beef Cattle Research Council and the newly created issues management division.
Each province designates how its money is divided among the groups.
Most is designated for Canada Beef.
Melinda German, general manager of the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency, said more money was needed because the buying power of the $1 checkoff was reduced to 70 cents as the value of the Canadian dollar fell.
In 2016-17 about $7.3 million was collected. She said for every dollar spent, $14 is returned to the industry.
“We always like to see a high rate of return on investment for a program, but on the flip side, this analysis also tells us we continue to under invest in these areas,” she said.
Research demands are also greater with more funding requested for projects studying improved animal care, forage, antimicrobial resistance, environment and climate change.
