Group proposes cattle ranchers pay $1 per head for promotion

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A coalition of beef business interests is proposing Oklahoma cattle ranchers pay $1 per head to help promote beef products to consumers.

Cattle producers already pay $1 per head to a national check-off program that’s produced programs such as the "Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner" campaign. The new proposal would be another $1 per head to be collected at the state level.

The group includes American Farmers and Ranchers, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma CattleWomen’s Association, Oklahoma Dairy Association, Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association.

The proposal needs at least 10 percent of Oklahoma’s estimated 51,000 cattle producers to sign a petition calling for a vote. Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey tells The Journal Record that goal is to gather at least 5,500 signatures.