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Court denies request to stop MO beef checkoff referendum process

A lawsuit against the Missouri Agriculture Department seeking an injunction against the Missouri state beef checkoff referendum has been denied by the court. The lawsuit was filed in Cole county circuit court last week by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center.

The center, which opposes a state beef checkoff, alleged the department was negligent in its rule making process for the upcoming vote. It also alleged some voters were disenfranchised and that the process was unconstitutional.

Mike Deering, executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association says they’re pleased but not surprised by the court’s decision.  He tells Brownfield that it was a baseless lawsuit that – in his words – did nothing more than waste taxpayer dollars. Deering says the Missouri Department of Agriculture is following state statutes and giving beef producers the opportunity to decide if they want to approve a dollar-per-head state checkoff for additional education, research and promotion.

Producers must register by March 4th to vote. Election ballots will be mailed out April 4th and must be returned by April 15th.

Missouri Department of Agriculture – State beef checkoff referendum