AMES, Iowa — The new Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) Executive Committee met on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 for the first meeting of the Iowa State Beef Checkoff. The IBIC Executive Committee consists of five elected Iowa cattle producers, two producers appointed by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, one appointed livestock market representative, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture or a designee, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University or designee serving on the IBIC board to oversee funds and programming through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff. For listing of these new members visit the “About Us” section of the website www.iabeef.org.
The Iowa State Beef Checkoff was recently reinstated through a producer referendum. Cattle producers across Iowa voted on November 30, 2016 in favor of the Iowa State Beef Checkoff. The official vote was certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on December 14, 2016.
The IBIC Executive Committee is responsible for determining use of the additional $0.50 per head assessment from the sale of cattle sold in Iowa and on the sale of Iowa cattle marketed outside the state that begins March 1, 2017. The Iowa State Beef Checkoff assessment may be used for, but is not limited to, enhancement of the National Beef Checkoff Program; marketing and promoting Iowa’s beef and beef products; enhancing Iowa’s beef industry image; production research; expanding international trade relationships; and providing producer, consumer, and youth educational opportunities in Iowa, the U.S. and/or internationally. The law does not allow checkoff funds to be used for lobbying activities to influence public policy or government affairs.
Payment of the $0.50 per head Iowa State Beef Checkoff is mandatory; however, a refund is optional. A producer who has paid an assessment to the mandatory Iowa State Beef Checkoff may obtain a refund of the amount paid by filing an application for refund with the IBIC and postmarked within 90 days of the sale of cattle. The application must be in writing, on a form provided by the IBIC, and accompanied by proof of payment of the assessment. The national beef checkoff $1 per head continues to be non-refundable.
Payment for both the National and State Beef Checkoff Programs can be made with one form and one check (National & State Checkoffs payable to: Iowa Beef Industry Council), which is due by the 15th of the month following the month in which the assessment is collected. New forms and instructions will be available prior to the start of collections for the Iowa State Beef Checkoff beginning March 1, 2017.
For additional information about the Iowa State Beef Checkoff, please contact IBIC at 515-296-2305, beef@iabeef.org, or visit www.iabeef.org/iowastatecheckoff.
— Iowa Beef Industry Council
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