Case Law Index Checkoff Programs

January 1, 1941 – June 27, 2024

This index provides a comprehensive though not necessarily exhaustive compilation of reported and unreported federal and state court decisions involving the Checkoff Programs that were decided between the dates listed above. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order. The “Text” link goes to the freely available Google Scholar text of the opinion. These listings are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for legal counsel.

SUPREME COURT

Johanns v. Livestock Mktg. Ass’n, 544 U.S. 550 (2005) (beef checkoff) Text

Johanns v. Cochran, 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) remanded to No. 03-2522, 2005 WL 2755711 (3d Cir. Sept. 15, 2005) (dairy checkoff)

Landreneau v. Pelts & Skins, LLC, 544 U.S. 1058 (2005), remanded to 448 F.3d 743 (5th Cir. 2006) (state alligator checkoff) Text

Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n v. Campaign for Family Farms, 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (pork checkoff, remanded) Text

Johanns v. Campaign for Family Farms, 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (pork checkoff, remanded) Text

United States v. United Foods, Inc., 533 U.S. 405 (2001) (mushroom checkoff) Text

Glickman v. Wileman Bros. & Elliott, Inc., 521 U.S. 457 (1997) (tree fruits checkoff) Text

SECOND CIRCUIT

Robbins v. New York Corn & Soybean Growers Ass’n, Inc., 244 F.Supp.3d 300 (N.D.N.Y. 2017) (soybean checkoff) Text

THIRD CIRCUIT

Cochran v. Sec’y of Agric., No. 03-2522, 2005 WL 2755711 (3d Cir. Sept. 15, 2005), remanded from 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (dairy checkoff)

Cochran v. Veneman, 359 F.3d 263 (3d Cir. 2004), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005), remanded to No. 03-2522, 2005 WL 2755711 (3d Cir. Sept. 15, 2005) (dairy checkoff) Text

Cochran v. Veneman, 252 F. Supp. 2d 126 (M.D. Pa. 2003), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005), remanded to No. 03-2522, 2005 WL 2755711 (3d Cir. 2005) (dairy checkoff)

United States v. Frame, 885 F.2d 1119 (3d Cir. 1989) (beef checkoff) Text

United States v. Frame, 658 F.Supp.1476 (E.D. Pa. 1987) aff’d, 885 F.2d 1119 (3d Cir. 1989) (beef checkoff) Text

FOURTH CIRCUIT

Greenblatt v. Nat’l Pork Bd., No. CV ELH-15-00054, 2015 WL 6549578 (D. Md. Oct. 27, 2015) (unlawful termination, pork checkoff)

FIFTH CIRCUIT

Pelts & Skins, LLC v. Landreneau, 448 F.3d 743 (5th Cir. 2006), remanded from 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (state alligator checkoff) Text

Pelts & Skins, LLC v. Landreneau, 365 F.3d 423 (5th Cir. 2004), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005), remanded to 448 F.3d 743 (5th Cir. 2006) (state alligator checkoff) Text

Pelts & Skins, LLC v. Jenkins, 259 F. Supp. 2d 482 (M.D. La. 2003), aff’d in part and vacated in part 365 F.3d 423 (5th Cir. 2004), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005), remanded to 448 F.3d 743 (5th Cir. 2006) (state alligator checkoff) Text

In re Commodity Exch. Services Co., 67 B.R. 313 (N.D. Tex. 1986) (dispute over unpaid assessments) Text

In re Commodity Exch. Servs. Co., 62 B.R. 868 (Bankr. N.D. Tex.), aff’d and remanded 67 B.R. 313 (N.D. Tex. 1986) (dispute over unpaid assessment) Text

United States v. Ellis, 427 F.2d 132 (5th Cir. 1970) (action to recover cotton research and promotion assessments) Text

SIXTH CIRCUIT

Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n v. Veneman, 348 F.3d 157 (6th Cir. 2003), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (pork checkoff) Text

Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n v. Campaign for Family Farms, 229 F.Supp.2d 772 (W.D. Mich. 2002), aff’d sub nom. Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n v. Veneman, 348 F.3d 157 (6th Cir. 2003), vacated by 544 U.S. 1058 (2005) (pork checkoff) Text

Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n, Inc. v. Campaign for Family Farms, 174 F.Supp.2d 637 (W.D. Mich. 2001) (dispute over termination of the Pork Checkoff Program) Text

Nature’s Dairy v. Glickman, 173 F.3d 429 (6th Cir. 1999) (dairy checkoff)

United Foods, Inc. v. United States, 197 F.3d 221 (6th Cir. 1999), aff’d 533 U.S. 405 (2001) (mushroom checkoff) Text

Newark Gardens, Inc. v. Michigan Potato Indus. Comm’n, 847 F.2d 1201 (6th Cir. 1988) (potato checkoff) Text

In re Flowers, Deverell & Crawford, 66 B.R. 607 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 1986) (cotton checkoff) Text

EIGHTH CIRCUIT

J.W. DeWit Farms, Inc., v. Minn. Cultivated Wild Rice Council, 393 F.Supp.2d 847 (D. Minn. 2005) (state cultivated wild rice checkoff) Text

Livestock Mktg. Ass’n v. USDA, 335 F.3d 711 (8th Cir. 2003), vacated by 544 U.S. 550 (2005) (beef checkoff) Text

Livestock Mktg. Ass’n v. USDA, 207 F.Supp.2d 992 (D.S.D. 2002), aff’d 335 F.3d 711 (8th Cir. 2003), vacated by 544 U.S. 550 (2005) (beef checkoff) Text

Jacobson v. Veneman, 18 F. App’x. 441 (8th Cir. 2001) (dispute over referendum on beef checkoff program)

Campaign for Family Farms v. Veneman, 2001 WL 1631459 (D. Minn. 2001) (pork checkoff)

Livestock Mktg. Ass’n v. USDA, 132 F.Supp.2d 817 (D. S.D. 2001) (beef checkoff) Text

Mich. Pork Producers Ass’n, Inc. v. Campaign For Family Farms, 174 F.Supp.2d 637 (W.D. Mich. 2001) (pork checkoff) Text

Campaign for Family Farms v. Glickman, 200 F.3d 1180 (8th Cir. 2000) (pork checkoff) Text

NINTH CIRCUIT

Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Vilsack, 6 F.4th 983 (9th Cir. 2021) (alleging violation of First Amendment) Text

Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Vilsack, No. CV-16-41-GF-BMM, 2020 WL 2477662 (D. Mont. Feb. 9. 2021) (alleging violation of First Amendment) Text

Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Perdue, 449 F.Supp.3d 944 (D. Mont. 2020) (alleging violation of First Amendment) Text

Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Perdue, 718 F. App’x 541 (9th Cir. 2018) (alleging violation of First Amendment) Text

Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Perdue, No. CV 16-41-GF-BMM, 2017 WL 2671072 (D. Mont. June 21, 2017), aff’d sub nom. Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. Perdue, 718 F. App’x 541 (9th Cir. 2018) (alleging violation of First Amendment) Text

Delano Farms Co. v. Cal. Table Grape Comm’n, 586 F.3d 1219 (9th Cir. 2009) (generic advertising constituted government speech) Text

Asociacion De Productores v. California Avocado Comm’n, No. SACV08570JVSFFMX, 2009 WL 10698881 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 2, 2009) (avocado checkoff)

Californians for Humane Farms v. Schafer, No. C 08-03843 MHP, 2008 WL 4449583 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 29, 2008) (injunction to prevent checkoff dollars from being used in state ballet initiative campaign) Text

Delano Farms Co. v. Cal. Table Grape Comm’n, 546 F.Supp.2d 859 (E.D. Cal. March 31, 2008) (summary judgment) Text

Paramount Land Co. LP v. Cal. Pistachio Comm’n, 491 F.3d 1003 (9th Cir. 2007) (alleging pistachio commission violates First Amendment) Text

Am. Honey Producers Ass’n, Inc. v. USDA, No. CV-F-05-1619 LJO, 2007 WL 1345467 (E.D. Cal. May 8, 2007) (honey checkoff)

Dixon v. Johanns, No. CV-05-03740-PHX-NVW, 2006 WL 3390311 (D. Ariz. Nov. 21, 2006) (upholding watermelon check-off)

Charter v. USDA, 412 F.3d 1017 (9th Cir. 2005) (beef checkoff) Text

Charter v. USDA 230 F.Supp.2d 1121 (D. Mont. 2002), vacated and remanded sub nom. Charter v. USDA, 412 F.3d 1017 (9th Cir. 2005) (beef checkoff) Text

Delano Farms Co. v. Cal. Table Grape Comm’n, 318 F.3d 895 (9th Cir. 2003) (grape checkoff) Text

Cal-Almond Inc. v. USDA, 192 F.3d 1272 (9th Cir. 1999) (almonds checkoff) Text

Gallo Cattle Co. v. USDA, 189 F.3d 473 (9th Cir. 1999) (dairy checkoff and bovine growth hormone)

Gallo Cattle Co. v. Cal. Milk Advisory Bd., 167 F.3d 1247 (9th Cir. 1999) opinion withdrawn and superseded 185 F.3d 969 (9th Cir. 1999) (milk and dairy checkoff) Text

Duarte Nursery, Inc. v. Cal. Grape Rootstock Imp. Comm’n, 166 F.3d 342 (9th Cir. 1998) (grape checkoff)

TENTH CIRCUIT

Goetz v. USDA, 12 F.App’x 718 (10th Cir. 2001) (beef checkoff)

Goetz v. United States, 99 F.Supp.2d 1308 (D. Kan. 2000) aff’d sub nom. Goetz v. USDA, 12 F.App’x. 718 (10th Cir. 2001) (beef checkoff) Text

Goetz v. Glickman, 149 F.3d 1131 (10th Cir. 1998) (beef checkoff) Text

Goetz v. Glickman, 920 F.Supp. 1173 (D. Kan. 1996), aff’d 149 F.3d 1131 (10th Cir. 1998) (challenging constitutionality of Beef Promotion and Research Act) Text

D.C. CIRCUIT

Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of Am. v. USDA, 573 F.Supp.3d 324 (D. D.C. 2021) (challenging USDA use of MOUs to increase control over QSBCs) Text

Resolute Forest Prod., Inc. v. USDA, No. CV 14-2103 (JEB), 2019 WL 6770571 (D. D.C. Dec. 12, 2019) (challenging its Checkoff Order)

Humane Soc’y of the U.S. v. Perdue, 935 F.3d 598 (D.C. Cir. 2019) (pork checkoff funds) Text

Humane Soc’y of U.S. v. Perdue, 290 F.Supp.3d 5 (D. D.C. 2018), amended in part sub nom. Humane Soc’y of U.S. v. Visack, No. CV 12-1582 (ABJ), 2018 WL 1964305 (D.D.C. Apr. 16, 2018) (pork checkoff) Text

Resolute Forest Prod., Inc. v. USDA, 219 F.Supp.3d 69 (D. D.C. 2016) (constitutional challenges to Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act) Text

Resolute Forest Prod., Inc. v. USDA, No. CV 14-2103 (JEB), 2016 WL 1714312 (D. D.C. Feb. 2, 2016) (challenge to Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act)

Resolute Forest Prod., Inc. v. USDA, 187 F.Supp.3d 100 (D. D.C. 2016) (challenging lumber checkoff order) Text

Resolute Forest Prod., Inc. v. USDA, 130 F.Supp.3d 81 (D. D.C. 2015) (constitutional challenges to Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act) Text

Humane Soc’y of U.S. v. Vilsack, 19 F.Supp.3d 24 (D. D.C. 2013), rev’d sub nom. Humane Soc’y of the U.S. v. Vilsack, 797 F.3d 4 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (pock checkoff) Text

Avocados Plus, Inc. v. Johanns, No. 02-1798, 2007 WL 172305 (D. D.C. Jan. 23, 2007) (summary judgment granted on an “as applied” challenge to avocado checkoff) Text

Avocados Plus Inc. v. Johanns, 421 F.Supp.2d 45 (D. D.C. 2006) (summary judgment granted on facial challenges to the avocado checkoff) Text

Avocados Plus Inc. v. Veneman, 370 F.3d 1243 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (avocado checkoff) Text

Humane Soc’y of the U.S. v. Vilsack, 797 F.3d 5 (D. D.C. 2015) (pork checkoff) Text

FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Orleans Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 334 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (beef checkoff) Text

In re S.N.A. Nut Co., 188 B.R. 392 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1995) (walnut checkoff) Text

In re Flowers, Deverell & Crawford, 66 B.R. 607 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 1986) (cotton checkoff) Text

UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Cricket Hosiery, Inc. v. United States, 30 C.I.T. 576 (2006) (cotton checkoff)

Cricket Hosiery, Inc. v. United States, 28 C.I.T. 925 (2004) (cotton checkoff)

Orleans Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 26 C.I.T. 1016 (2002) (beef checkoff)

Orleans Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 26 C.I.T. 543 (2002), rev’d by 334 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (challenging constitutionality of beef assessments)

Agrexco, Agr. Exp. Co., Ltd. v. United States, 9 C.I.T. 40 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1985) (foreign government’s contributions of research and development)

ARKANSAS

Leathers v. Gulf Rice Ark., Inc., 338 Ark. 425 (Ark. 1999) (rice checkoff) Text

CALIFORNIA

Delano Farms Co. v. Cal. Table Grape Comm’n., 233 Cal.Rptr.3d 45 (Cal. 2018) (holding grape advertising assessments were not unconstitutional) Text

Delano Farms Co. v. Cal. Table Grape Comm’n., 185 Cal.Rptr.3d 771 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015) superseded by 233 Cal.Rptr.3d 45 (Cal. 2018) (holding grape advertising assessments were not unconstitutional)

Gallo Cattle Co. v. Kawamura, 72 Cal.Rptr.3d 1 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (upholding state milk checkoff) Text

Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. A.G. Kawamura, 14 Cal.Rptr.3d 14 (Cal. 2004) (California plum checkoff) Text

Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. California Table Grape Comm’n, No. F035605, 2001 WL 1613853 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 17, 2001) (plum checkoff)

Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Veneman, 72 Cal.App.4th 1025 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999), review granted and opinion superseded 983 P.2d 728 (Cal. 1999)

Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Lyons, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 470 (Cal. 2000) (plum checkoff) Text

California Kiwifruit Com. v. Moss, 45 Cal.App.4th 769, (Cal. Ct. App. 1996) review granted and opinion superseded sub nom. California Kiwifruit Corp. v. Moss, 920 P.2d 1252 (Cal. 1996) (kiwifruit checkoff)

FLORIDA

Fla. Dept. of Citrus v. Graves Bros. Co., 912 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 2005) (citrus checkoff) Text

Fla. Dept. of Citrus v. Graves Bros. Co., 889 So.2d 831 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2004) (citrus checkoff) Text

MAINE

State v. Stinson Canning Co., 211 A.2d 553 (Me. 1965) (sardine checkoff) Text

MICHIGAN

Dept. of Agric. v. Appletree Mktg., L.L.C., 485 Mich. 1 (Mich. 2010) (whether state check-off program abrogates common law remedies) Text

Dukesherer Farms, Inc. v. Dir. of Dept. of Agric., 172 Mich. App. 524 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988) (cherry checkoff) Text

Miller v. Michigan State Apple Comm’n, 296 Mich. 248 (Mich. 1941) (apple checkoff)

NORTH DAKOTA

Teigen v. State, 749 N.W.2d 505 (N.D. 2008) (wheat checkoff did not violate state constitution) Text

TENNESSEE

Carolyn B. Beasley Cotton Co. v. Ralph, 59 S.W.3d 110 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000) (cotton checkoff) Text

TEXAS

United States v. Ellis, 311 F.Supp. 1394 (N.D. Tex. 1969), aff’d 427 F.2d 132 (5th Cir. 1970) (action to recover cotton research and promotion assessments) Text