We would like to thank you for your support on behalf of the Stop QIP Dairy Tax Coalition. A big thank goes out to Eugenio Azevedo who stepped up to be our petitioner. Thank you, Eugenio!
We'd like to provide you with a brief update on our efforts to date. As of today, our petition is currently sitting on the desk of Secretary Ross and her staff. They will be checking the accuracy of the petition, counting signatures and verifying that we have met all the necessary requirements to get us to a referendum.
The Secretary has 90 days to check the signatures and post the Petition on the CDFA's website. Thereafter, the Petition is referred to the Producer Review Board to make a recommendation. The Secretary has 30 days to consider the recommendation of the Producer Review Board and submit the matter for referendum. The referendum period is for 60 days with an option of 30 days if the Secretary feels circumstances warrant an extension.
We understand the Secretary needs time to review the petition, but rest assured, we will remain vigilant. We continue to pay Quota holders (the "Favored 300"), $433,000 per day and sadly, since our last update, we've lost 29 dairies due to economic pressures like QIP. The time to end the QIP is now.
As cows and dairies continue to leave this state, the tax will only go up and we will all be paying much more to the Favored 300.
Be on the lookout for a mail piece heading your way soon. We are planning an informative Town Hall meeting at the Chowchilla Portuguese Hall next month - May 21st at 2 PM - please mark your calendars. This will be a great time to learn more about this effort and support your fellow California dairymen.
We also encourage you to write or call the CDFA and voice your concerns about this unfair assessment
!
Donald Shippelhoute
Phone: 916-900-5014
Thank you,
The Stop QIP Dairy Tax Coalition