With the national Beef Checkoff still in the midst of litigation and supreme court deliberations, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association has organized a referendum that, if passed, would increase the Ohio Beef Checkoff from fifty cents to one dollar per head in the event that the national Beef Checkoff program ceases operation. The statewide referendum on the Ohio Beef Checkoff Program will be held January 12-14, 2005 . Producers may vote at their local Extension offices.
Those wanting to vote by mail can do so by calling the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets at 800/282-1955 to request absentee ballots. Ballots also will be available through the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association office by calling 614/873-6736. Additional voting eligibility questions should be directed to Bruce Benedict at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets at 800/282-1955 or to the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association office at 614/873-6736 or at www.ohiocattle.org.
For a summary of the court cases that have led to the Supreme Court case and a history of checkoff program impacts, see John Anderson’s ( University of Mississippi Livestock Extension Economist ) article on the topic: http://msucares.com/ag_markets/farmbill/newsletters/2004/200406.pdf.