CORRECTION: The $1 non-refundable portion of the Alberta beef checkoff is a national levy that funds Canada Beef International and the Beef Cattle Research Council, not the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association as this story originally stated .
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — Alberta cattle producers are considering a $4 per head checkoff, up from the current $3.
The proposal, which has been discussed at Alberta Beef Producers zone meetings, is for an additional $1 non-refundable levy that would be used for marketing, research and communication.
It would be added to the $1 per head earmarked for Canada Beef International and the Beef Cattle Research Council, which is non-refundable, and the $2 surcharge that goes to ABP, which is refundable.
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ABP chair Greg Bowie told producers Oct. 27 that the organization refunded $2.2 million in check-off money this year. ABP has refunded 30 percent of eligible funds since 2010, when a portion of the checkoff became refundable under provincial legislation, he added.
“In other (agricultural marketing) groups, losses are in single digits. It’s not a major concern,” he said.
“But when you hit 30 percent plus, it is a major concern.”
Bowie said 80 percent of the refunds are requested by feedlot operators, most of whom don’t redirect it to any other cattle organization.
Several producers said feedlot owners benefit from the work of ABP, so it is unfair of them to request refunds.
Cattle producer and feedlot operator Leighton Kolk agreed but said feeders might have had their reasons.
“Some of it is a little bit of a spanking from cattle feeders,” he said.
“Maybe some of those people have got it out of their systems.”
One producer asked whether the names of those getting refunds could be made public, but Bowie said shaming is likely not a good option.
“We’ve talked about it a lot and every time it comes up and there’s been a vote on it, we’ve chosen to leave the list as private information.”
Reasons for requesting refunds vary, said ABP director Cecilie Fleming.
“For some it may be economics, some maybe they’re unhappy with the organization. It’s a personal choice that was granted and we have to live with the reality of what was granted.”
