Ranching group sues over Beef Checkoff program

The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday, alleging that the agency’s Beef Checkoff tax, which collected more than $80 million in FY 2015, is being unconstitutionally used to promote international beef, to the detriment of U.S. beef products and producers. R-CALF USA, whose members are independent cattle producers across the United States, says that while its members must pay a $1 per-head tax to the Checkoff program, funds from that tax are used to convince consumers that beef from R-CALF USA members’ cattle — raised domestically and in compliance with rigorous standards concerning safety, treatment and quality — is no different than beef produced under far less stringent procedures abroad. “The Checkoff’s implied message that all beef is equal, regardless of where the cattle are born or how they are raised, harms U.S. farmers and ranchers and deceives U.S. citizens,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “Despite what we know to be clear evidence about the high quality of beef raised by independent U.S. cattlemen, we are being taxed to promote a message that beef raised without the strict standards used by our members is the same as all other beef, a message we do not support and do not agree with.” Press Release

It would appear that R-CALF is still very miffed over losing COOL.