Posted September 10, 2014
The National Farmers Union (NFU) board of directors has voted to withdraw from the beef checkoff working group, according to a NFU release available here. MeatingPlace also published an article available here and Cattle Network here.
NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement:
“After three years of pushing for real reforms in the beef check-off program, NFU has decided that the process has become a bridge to nowhere and a waste of time and resources. The working group was designed to bring together vested parties from across the beef industry and to attempt to reach a consensus on substantial reforms that would make the check-off a stronger, more effective tool for the beef industry. Sadly, it has become clear that in reality, there is no willingness from key players within the group to allow real reforms to take place. NFU remains willing and eager to engage with others who are interested in reforming the beef checkoff, such that it operates in a manner like other checkoff programs.”
The NFU is asking U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consider several reforms such as allowing the Cattlemen’s Beef Board to conduct checkoff projects on its own, according to MeatingPlace.
The NFU recommends that USDA consider rewriting the program under the 1996 generic research and promotion act, according to Cattle Network.
For more information on commodity programs, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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