LEDUC, Alta. —Alberta Lamb Producers is asking for a vote that will ultimately decide whether its checkoff will become non-refundable.
On Nov. 3, members of the commission voted overwhelmingly in favour of a plebiscite that would ask if they want a non-refundable checkoff. It’s now up to the Agricultural Products Marketing Council, which oversees crop and livestock commissions, to approve the plebiscite.
“It’s always a good day when producers can have choice,” Alberta Lamb chair Darlene Stein said following the organization’s annual general meeting in Leduc.
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She said all but three producers were in favour of a plebiscite, indicating many of them want a non-refundable checkoff.
“A lot of people want to have that vote … and the sense I got was a lot of people are in favour of a non-refundable checkoff, but we will see what happens.”
A non-refundable checkoff would make budgeting easier, she added. The commission brings in $170,000 to $200,000 per year and refunds about $18,000.
“When you’re a small industry, that makes up a good amount,” she said, adding that while only a small number of producers are receiving refunds, the loss in revenue is still significant.
“It shows there aren’t a lot of unhappy people, but it adds up to a significant chunk of change.”
If the marketing council approves the plebiscite, the vote will likely be held by the end of 2019 or early 2020.
