MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- On April 1, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced results of the proposed referendum by the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Council that sought to increase the existing beef check-off by an additional dollar per head. Sixty three percent (960) of the 1,525 voting producers voted against the referendum with just thirty-seven percent (564) voting in favor.
Passage of the referendum would have increased what Minnesota cattle producers are required to pay through the beef check-off by a full dollar -- an expected collection of nearly $700,000 per year. This would have been in addition to the mandatory one dollar per head check-off currently collected on cattle sold in the state.
The rejection by Minnesota cattle producers to shoulder another one dollar per head in check-off remittance puts to rest the issue for at least a full year. According to Minnesota Administrative Rules, if a referendum fails the MDA commissioner is prohibited from issuing another referendum on any promotional order on the same agricultural commodity until one year has elapsed.
