Beef Cattle Checkoff
This info was pulled from the Texas Department of Agriculture Website.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension does not offer an opinion on the checkoff, but we encourage everyone that qualifies to get out and vote!!! Please carefully read this information if you are ANY AGE and have owned cattle as an individual or legal business
entity any time in Texas from June 6, 2013 to June 6,
2014. This
does include youth in 4-H and FFA that have carried cattle projects.
WHAT IS THE TEXAS BEEF CHECKOFF?
Upon request of the Texas cattle industry and in accordance with
provisions of Texas Agriculture Code, Ch. 41, Subchapter H and Texas
Department of Agriculture (TDA) rules 4 TAC, Ch. 17, Subchapter A, Div.
2, TDA will conduct a referendum on the establishment of a refundable
assessment on cattle sales or ownership transfer in Texas.
Eligible Texas producers of cattle will vote to determine if a
refundable maximum assessment of $1.00 per head of cattle will be
collected at each point of ownership transfer. The Beef Promotion and
Research Council of Texas (BPRCT) will set the assessment rate each
year, not to exceed the maximum assessment rate. The assessment will be
used for promotion, marketing, research and educational efforts
regarding beef and beef products.
If approved, collection of the assessment will begin on October 1,
2014 and continue until the BPRCT notifies cattle collection points to
cease collection. Each collection point that makes payment to a producer
for cattle purchased shall collect the assessment by deducting the
applicable assessment from the final amount paid to the producer. No
later than the 15th day of each month, the collection point shall remit
the amount collected during the previous month to the BPRCT, along with a
completed form prescribed by the BPRCT reflecting such amount.
CONDUCT OF THE REFERENDUM
In accordance with provisions of Texas Agriculture Code and Texas
Department of Agriculture (TDA) rules, TDA will conduct a referendum to
allow cattle producers the opportunity to vote on establishing the Texas
Beef Checkoff program.
WHO CAN VOTE
An eligible cattle producer is any individual or legal business
entity who owned cattle any time in Texas from June 6, 2013 to June 6,
2014. An individual or legal business entity shall not be considered a
producer, referred to as a non-producer, if: (A) the person's only share
in the proceeds of a sale of cattle or beef is a sales commission,
handling fee, or other service fee; or (B) the person: (i) acquired
ownership of cattle to facilitate the transfer of ownership of such
cattle from the seller to a third party; (ii) resold such cattle no
later than ten days from the date on which the person acquired
ownership; and (iii) certified, as required by procedures prescribed by
the BPRCT, that the requirements of this provision have been
satisfied.
If an eligible producer is younger than 16 years of age, the ballot
must be co-signed by a parent or guardian in order to be valid.
HOW TO VOTE
The referendum will be held by physical balloting. Ballots will be
available at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county offices
beginning June 2, 2014. Eligible producers may vote at Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service county offices June 2-6, 2014 during each
office’s regular business hours. For a list of AgriLife Extension
Offices, visit their
website.
If an eligible producer is unable to access a Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service county office, a ballot may be requested from TDA no
earlier than May 19, 2014 and no later than June 2, 2014, to ensure
receipt prior to the postmark deadline.
All ballots must be cast or postmarked no later than June 6, 2014, in order to be considered.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers, go to:
https://www.texasagriculture.gov/Home/ProductionAgriculture/TexasBeefCheckoff/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
I look forward to seeing our cattle producers in the office during the week of June 2-6, 2014.
The address for the Travis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service:
1600 B. Smith Rd.
Austin, TX 78721
Please e-mail me with questions once you have read the FAQ website.
