Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is keeping their chin up after the results of the recent plebiscite.

Producers voted to keep their check-off refundable, which the association was hoping would change to non-refundable to invest more dollars into industry initiatives.

Since 2010, ABP has issued over $20 million in check-off refunds to producers.

Alberta Beef Producers' Chair, Charlie Christie, says he was disappointed in voter turnout, which saw 1,874 producers vote out of the roughly 18,000 beef producers the association represents.

"We need to engage, there's a problem with engagement. That's what we're focusing on going forward in the near term, and we're going to focus on where it is we can best serve our industry."

He says, they've heard from some producers saying the don't believe the association is doing what they should be.

"There might be some misplaced mistrust. I don't want to say misguided, because producers are pretty smart people, and I will never say they don't understand the issues, but they may not have all the information on the issues."

He says, they would like to thank everyone who did vote in the plebiscite, and he's asking for people to take responsibility for their industry by attending fall meetings and staying up to date with their newsletter if they would like to direct the association.

 

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