Statewide Beef Checkoff Referendum Passes by Wide Margin

The Illinois Beef Association (IBA) announced today that the recently held statewide referendum to restart the Illinois Beef Checkoff passed with an 88 percent majority vote. 1,057 ballots were cast with 934 for and 123 against. The vote totals were certified this week by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“We’re proud to participate in this process whereby cattle producers in Illinois are taking progressive steps to promote the beef industry in Illinois,” said Philip Nelson, acting director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“We are very pleased with the results of the referendum. Restarting our voluntary state checkoff has been a priority mission for the beef association over the last year and we’ve been encouraged at each step in the process by the support of cattle owners around the state and our VOTE YES coalition,” said IBA Executive Vice President Reid Blossom.

The referendum spanned 12 days from Feb. 16-27 with cattle owners across the state casting ballots by mail, in person at local FSA offices, and in person at the 2015 Illinois Beef Expo. Clear majorities for support were evident in each venue with mail in ballots showing a 68 percent yes vote, FSA office polling showing 73 percent in favor, and Illinois Beef Expo polling returning a 97 percent supportive vote.

“This is tremendous news for cattlemen in Illinois. We are very grateful for all the support this effort saw from cattlemen statewide. Now, the real work begins and that’s putting into effect programs that will benefit all beef producers in Illinois by promoting our product and our industry,” said Alan Adams, a cow-calf producer and cattle feeder from Sandwich, who serves as IBA president.

The Illinois Beef Checkoff was originally created by state statute in 1983, three years before the start of the national $1 beef checkoff. When the national program started, Illinois’ state checkoff was shelved and required a full petition and referendum process to be reinstated. The favorable results from February’s referendum are not unique for beef checkoff votes in Illinois; in 1988 cattlemen in the state voted 83 percent in favor to support the national beef checkoff program in a referendum that made that program permanent.

The Illinois Beef Checkoff is different from the national checkoff in three distinct ways: the state checkoff is voluntary, all money collected stays in Illinois, and the state checkoff has more flexibility; meaning money can be spent additionally on youth and producer profitability or specifically promoting Illinois-raised beef. The program will be administered by the 14 cattle producers serving on the IBA Board of Governors’ Checkoff Division. The assessment of 50 cents per head is collected each time an animal is sold in addition to the national checkoff and any producer can receive a refund of their state checkoff. Collections of the Illinois Beef Checkoff are set to begin July 1, 2015. For more information, contact the IBA at 217-787-4280.

IBA Announces Environmental Consulting Service

New member benefit provides assistance on various farm specific issues.

Members of Illinois Beef Association (IBA) now have a new membership benefit available  - a consulting service, which will assist with various issues that confront their farms.

IBA has retained the services of Ted Funk, a licensed professional engineer and former University of Illinois (U of I) agricultural engineering professor, to visit individual farms by request of producer members. IBA will share in the cost of this confidential professional service. Examples of assistance include:

• Identifying areas of the farm facility or manure handling system that might be out of compliance with environmental regulations or could potentially cause problems with water quality or odor concerns

• Basic review of the farm’s manure nutrient management plan to help identify parts that need to be updated or improved

• Assist producers in providing a response to a regulatory agency’s visit or written notice or help in preparation of an upcoming visit

• Suggest areas where the farm might begin or expand work with a Technical Service Provider or other consultant

“Beef producers are committed to environmental responsibility in every aspect on our farms,” said Alan Adams, a LaSalle County cattleman and current IBA president. “We take a number of steps each day to ensure we are caring for our land, air and water. This new membership benefit is providing cattlemen with risk aversion and management options from an industry expert in a low-pressure atmosphere that will help producers continue to further enhance the beef industry’s commitment to the environment.”

According to Funk, there are a number of reasons why a producer might be contact due to environmental risk factors, including: manure management, facility construction, and livestock mortality. The biggest blind spot for beef producers is open, outdoor lots with the need to control run-off.

“An outdoor lot as a facility opens beef producers to regulatory risk,” Funk said. “Beef producers don’t really go into the business to manage manure and as a facility morphs over time it’s not uncommon to have the potential for run-off into a ditch or stream. It can be a tough situation to handle, but with some forward planning we can anticipate how to comply with regulations.”

Funk also encourages producers get past the mindset that regulators are out to get them. It’s important to look at one’s system objectively and plan to make changes and if these changes are going to require extensive capital then there are cost-share programs available to lessen the burden. And, oftentimes, when a cattleman enters into an EQIP contract with the NRCS it will build credibility with the EPA.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with livestock producers,” Funk said. “I’ve been doing farm visits all over the state as an Extension agricultural engineer for more than thirty years; now that I’ve retired from the University of Illinois and have more time to focus on this type of service, I am sure I can help our Illinois beef producers gain confidence that they are doing the best possible job of environmental stewardship.”

Interested producers should contact the IBA directly to sign up for and schedule the service. For more information, contact Reid Blossom at reid@illinoisbeef.com or 217-787-4280.