USCA supports Beef Checkoff

The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued a statement in support of the Beef Checkoff program “that is in support of the people it intends to serve” after a petition drive was launched to terminate the program. USCA questioned if the program is terminated, do the petitioners plan to establish a new program under the 1996 Commodity Checkoff Act? Asking the organizations to work together to bring reform, “we are concerned that a vote to do away with the Beef Checkoff program only terminates the national component of the Beef Checkoff,” USCA Checkoff Committee Chairman Chuck Kiker said in a statement. “The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and oversight provided by USDA will be terminated, leaving only the State Beef Councils and Federation of State Beef Councils, who can still be funded with state dollars.” WLJ