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NCBA launches petition drive against checkoff proposal

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is encouraging producers to sign an online petition opposing Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s proposal for a second national beef checkoff.

The effort, called “Don’t Hijack the Beef Checkoff”, has a goal of 100-thousand signatures by November 12th.

Vilsack says he has the authority to create a supplemental checkoff under the 1996 General Commodity, Promotion, Research and Information Act.  But Wyoming cattleman and NCBA president-elect Philip Ellis says such a move would create a “top-down” checkoff run by the federal government.

And unlike the 1985 law creating the current beef checkoff, Ellis says the 1996 act assures no protection to state beef councils.

“One of the things that was very important back in the 80’s when that was worked on was the state beef councils—the qualified state beef councils—and the state-national partnership where producers at every state level would have say, control, input—and have their own state promotion,” Ellis says.

Vilsack has indicated that he would consider dropping his proposal if the beef industry can agree to changes to the current checkoff.

The online petition can be found at beefusa.org.