Groups file for injunction on vote to double checkoff on cattle

Some 40 Oklahoma ranchers are backing Montana-based Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund against the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s vote for an increase in the beef checkoff amount. On Monday, R-CALF and Nebraska-based Organization for Competitive Markets filed an application for an injunction with the state Supreme Court requesting it stop the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture from certifying the results of the Oklahoma beef checkoff referendum to take place Nov. 1. Ballots have already been mailed out to the 3,200 cattlemen registered with the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. If approved, the checkoff referendum would increase the drop-off fee from $1 per head sold to $2 per head. The fee hike would raise an additional $3.2 million annually to be used to promote beef sales. In a joint statement, the two organizations claim the petition that allowed the vote contains constitutional and legal irregularities. For 44-year-old Heavener rancher Kendall Stacy, who has 130 head of cattle, said it’s about time the vote was halted. Late Monday afternoon, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture issued a statement saying it was reviewing the lawsuit and is confident proper procedures were followed in approving the petition for the referendum...more