Plans for a proposed Minnesota beef checkoff increase were outlined Friday at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association Convention. The checkoff is done on a per-head basis. As a result, Minnesota Beef Council CEO Kelly Schmidt says the state checkoff revenues have been pinched. “The reality of it is our cow herd is at its smallest level in 70-plus years, so because of that, we have less animals that are actually qualified or getting checkoff dollars coming in, so suddenly we have a reduced budget,” said Kelly. “At $1 per head, when you have less head you have to look at a way to continue to have the revenues to do the good things that we feel we’re doing; the Board said we have to find a way to increase revenue and this is the way to do it and still have producers have a say into it all through the referendum process.” In addition to the public hearing on Friday, two virtual hearings are scheduled for January.
