The Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off is set to increase from $1.00 to $2.50 per head in most Provinces by the spring of 2018.

The National Check-Off Organization has made the suggestion, but each Province is responsible for deciding how much more they want to contribute to the national check-off.

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), is funded by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off, and BCRC Chair, Bryan Thiessen, says the progress of this change varies across Canada.

"Right now, I do know that the East Coast, I believe P.E.I and Nova Scotia, have already increased their check-off. I believe all the Provinces are working towards this manner. The Western Provinces, like Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and B.C., are all pretty committed to doing it. A lot of it's just working through the progress to get to that point."

Thiessen says, overall producers have been quite positive about moving in this direction.

"The increase amount is to allow us to focus more on research within our own industry. It also allows us to get that research out to producers, so that they're seeing their money is being well spent, and learning from what we are learning."

In Alberta, the check-off is set to increase to $2.50 per head by April 1, 2018. Theissen says, this is so it's in place for the Alberta Beef Producer's next fiscal period.

The money allocated to the BCRC will be going towards improving forage and grassland productivity, food safety, animal health and safety, and much more.

As it is, existing funding is too low to continue supporting research in the beef industry. Greater investment is needed from the industry, because without industry investment, the Government won't invest either, Thiessen says.

For more details, you can read BCRC's latest blog post.

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