Members of the Saskatchewan Cattlen's Association have passed resolutions asking for better communication at the district level before motions appear at the annual meeting. | Screencap via saskbeef.com

Producers want more notice of beef check-off increases

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — When and how provincial beef checkoffs are increased continues to concern Saskatchewan producers. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association administers the checkoff and recently applied for a 75-cent increase on the provincial portion. If approved, the increase would take effect in August 2025. However, the application comes after a motion passed at the […] Read more

Members of Alberta Beef Producers have been able to apply for refunds since 2009 for all or part of the organization’s checkoff, with the exception of the non-refundable mandatory national portion.  |  File photo

Alta. beef producers target checkoff

CALGARY — Alberta Beef Producers is going to take another run at making its checkoff non-refundable. Members passed a resolution at its recent annual meeting directing the organization to take steps to move away from a refundable checkoff. Related stories: Alta. beef producers reduce CCA contribution ABP ponders cut to CCA funding ABP check-off refunds […] Read more

Whether it is by the head or by the tonne, at the beginning or at the end, checkoffs pay for the future of farming. | File photo

There is no accounting for some folks’ opinions

Farm commodities and farming in general are under tremendous pressure to be better and be better understood. Better able to stand a highly variable climate. Better able to meet rapidly evolving regulatory change. Better able to provide market demands for new nutrition and energy sources. Better able to produce ever-more with ever-less. And they need […] Read more


At times, KAP has struggled with grain buyers who have resisted collecting the levies, which fund the farm organization. | File photo

Checkoffs can be elusive

Seventy-two farmers in the Swan River, Man., district were members of Keystone Agricultural Producers general farm group in October 2020. In October 2021, that number had jumped to 237. Rather than being a sign that scores of new farmers had been discovered, it was evidence of the constant challenge of ensuring that grain buyers make […] Read more