The Manitoba Cattle Producers Association was grilled by some of its members last week about why it did not support a checkoff to help raise money for construction of a cull cow slaughter plant planned for the province.
During the MCPA annual meeting in Brandon, there were concerns raised about a decision to deem out of order three resolutions calling for the association to support a $2 checkoff.
The mandatory, refundable checkoff would have helped fund construction of a plant at Dauphin, Man., to process cull cows and bulls under the name Ranchers Choice Beef Co-op.
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MCPA members were told the resolutions were reviewed by a lawyer and also by the association’s resolutions committee and board of directors.
It was concluded that the organization would be in violation of its own regulations and would also be in contravention of provincial securities commission rules.
“That was the process that led us to do what we did,” said Bill Finney, chair of the association’s resolutions committee.
The resolutions calling for support of the checkoff were submitted from three different MCPA districts. All three favoured raising as much as $2.5 million through the checkoff for the Ranchers Choice plant.
Because they were dubbed out of order, the resolutions were not put to the membership for a vote during last week’s annual meeting. Those critical of the decision felt they were being stonewalled while pressing for explanations.
“It’s pretty disturbing when the executive of an organization can make those moves in direct contravention to what people at a district meeting think,” said Goldwyn Jones, in a later interview.
“I thought the whole thing was unbelievable.”
Preparations continue for construction of the Ranchers Choice plant, which proponents now hope will be in operation next fall with a capacity to process 250 head per day on a single shift.
