Signatures gathered by Ohio cattlemen for checkoff referendum October 2, 2013 The Ohio Cattlemens Association has collected

the 1,000 signatures required to undergo a referendum on the Ohio Beef Checkoff, which will ask producers to increase the state checkoff from $1 per head to $2 per head to support market research, promotion and education that aim to increase consumer demand for beef. The Ohio Department of Agriculture will oversee the referendum process, which will lead to a vote in the first half of 2014. Currently, 50 cents of every dollar invested stays in Ohio, and the rest goes to support national beef checkoff programs, such as the Beef. Its Whats for Dinner campaign, said Bill Sexten, Ohio Beef Council Chairman, which oversees programs funded by the checkoff. With the increase, 100% of the second dollar will stay in Ohio, so 75% of the total checkoff will benefit Ohio producers. A study by the University of Florida estimates that for every $1 invested in beef checkoff programs, more than $5 is returned to producers in enhanced market opportunity and value. Its important to me as a farmer to contribute to the Ohio Beef Checkoff because I produce a commodity and dont have a direct retail or communication opportunity with my customers, said Frank Phelps, a cattle farmer from Logan County. The Ohio Beef Council is the voice for me, and they can accomplish so much more than I can as an individual producer to ensure I will have the opportunity to raise cattle, earn a good profit and talk with customers about my product. The national checkoff, which started in 1985 with an overwhelming majority of producers support, currently assesses $1 per head for each beef animal marketed. The checkoff has not increased since that time, but beef prices have increased to $5.02/lb. compared to $2.29 per pound, and the dollar purchases only 47 cents of what it did in 1985. The Ohio Beef Checkoff currently generates $305,000 in operating funds for the Ohio Beef Council. The Ohio Beef Council develops and supports educational programs, such as Beefonomics, which bring information about beef production and nutrition into the classroom. It also supports retail grocery promotions by providing research and merchandizing ideas through a website and monthly newsletter. The checkoff increase would generate approximately $900,000 that would stay in Ohio and allow the Council to extend beefs presence in Ohios schools, conduct more public relations outreach with Ohio food publications, directly connect with consumers through spokesperson training programs, provide nutrition seminars for health professionals and develop a greater statewide media presence through radio and print, all which help to reach Ohios 11.5 million consumers. A referendum was held in 2012 to ask for the increase, but only 674 farmers participated in the process. The increase was voted down by 53% of participants. We defeated ourselves with last years vote, as everyone thought someone else would get out and vote, Phelps said. Whats different this time is the enthusiasm and agreement among producers that this increase is about protecting our future and the

future of Ohios beef industry. The Ohio Beef Checkoff and referendum is regulated by Chapter 924 of the Ohio Revised Code under the Ohio Beef Marketing Program. Any producer among the more than 17,400 families that market cattle in Ohio in the last 12 months will be eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum, including youth who market 4-H and FFA beef projects. Though the Ohio Cattlemens Association initiated the referendum, the organization will not benefit from a checkoff increase. A public hearing at the Ohio Department of Agriculture will be scheduled for later this year for producers to provide comment about the proposed increase.