Ohio beef marketing program referendum fails

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced it has certified the results of the 2012 Ohio Beef Marketing Program Referendum. The referendum, seeking to increase the state checkoff on cattle from $1 to $2, did not receive enough favorable votes to pass.

674 votes were certified. 47 percent of producers voted in favor of the increase. 53 percent of producers voted against the increase.

Producers were able to vote by absentee ballot, at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association office, and at OSU Extension offices.

“It is disheartening to learn the referendum did not pass,” says Sam Sutherly, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association president. “The Ohio Beef Council has an outstanding history of leveraging Ohio beef producers’ checkoff dollars to the fullest extent to promote our product to Ohio’s 11.5 million consumers. These results indicate there is more work to do to effectively communicate how existing checkoff funds are used to increase beef demand.”

“I would like to thank OCA members and all beef producers who turned out in support of the increase,” Sutherly says. “In 

doing so, you’ve proven your care and concern for the future of our industry and understand the need to increase our beef promotion efforts.”

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association is an affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and is the state’s spokesperson and issues manager for all segments of the beef cattle industry including cattle breeders, producers and feeders.