Non-Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) members have until September 18 while MLA members have until October 6 to cast their vote.

"Beef producers must act now to secure their voting entitlements to have their say on the future marketing investment of their levy," CCA president Greg Brown said.

"Beef producers spend $3.66 on beef marketing, out of the $5 cattle transaction levy, every time they sell an animal.

"Levy income is utilised by MLA to invest in marketing programs that maintain and grow domestic and international markets for Australian beef.

"We now have a formal opportunity to vote on whether to retain the additional $1.50 marketing component of the $5 transaction levy."

Non-members of MLA may participate in the Beef Levy Ballot 2009 by calling MLA on 1800 675 717 or registering online at the MLA website before September 18.

MLA members have until October 6 to return their levies notice to MLA for the opportunity to vote on the proposal through the 2009 MLA Annual General Meeting in Darwin on November 19.

Cattle Council is responsible for making recommendations to the Minister for Agriculture on the distribution of the cattle transaction levy income.

"Following discussions and debate with our members, Cattle Council’s policy is that we support the retention of the $1.50 as a result of MLA marketing programs delivering return on investment," Mr Brown said.

An independent report from the Beef Marketing Funding Committee found that the additional $1.50 has delivered five times the investment back to producers.

Mr Brown says that achieving doubling of beef exports to Indonesia over 4 years, increasing volumes of beef and veal by 190 per cent over 1 year to developing markets, the Middle East and Africa, and maintaining presence in key markets such as the US, Korea and Japan in light of competing imports, are good examples of the marketing levy at work.