Cattle farmers and ranchers can now register to vote in the upcoming state beef checkoff referendum.

Missouri Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce approved a petition from the Missouri Beef Industry Council after listening to both sides of the checkoff debate during a public hearing in December. The referendum of Missouri cattle producers is to establish a $1 per head state beef checkoff assessment.

RELATED: What cattle producers said about proposed state checkoff

The Missouri Cattlemen's Association is encouraging all cattle producers to take the time to register and vote. Below is the list of requirements to be eligible to vote on the $1 state checkoff by state law:

1. Any cattle producer or entity having sold at least one head of cattle in any of the three previous years is eligible to register.

2. A cattle producer is any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association engaged within this state in the business of producing bovine animals for market.

3. Marketing History is required by section 275.330.5 RSMo, and must be included for the registration to be valid, that is the number of head owned and marketed in the last three years.

4. Cattle producers may register marketing history using the number of cattle that represent their interest in the business. (For example: A father and son who marketed cattle together may each register to vote by filling out separate forms and only registering the number of cattle that represent their share on each form.)

To access online registration through the Missouri Department of Agriculture website click here.For a printable form to mail click here. Cattle farmers and ranchers can also register at their local USDA Farm Service Agency.

Voter registration will end on March 4. Ballots will be mailed to registered producers April 4. Ballots must be returned with a postmark deadline of April 15, to be considered valid. Results will be announced April 25.