News

NCBA and HSUS remain at odds over Beef Check Off

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) remain at odds over the Beef Check Off program.

NCBA announced this week it will intervene in a lawsuit involving HSUS and the Organization for Competitive Markets stemming from two USDA Office of Inspector General audits of the Beef Check Off dating back to 2011.

NCBA CEO Kendal Frazier says both audits verified all contractors involved with check off funds were in full compliance, and this is just the latest attempt by HSUS to undermine the cattle industry.

“I think their ultimate motivation is to do anything they can to weaken the Beef Check Off and divert precious resources in our industry away from promoting beef and educating consumers about beef consumption and the attributes of beef.”

However, HSUS special counsel Matthew Penzer says NCBA is being less-than-forthcoming in seeking to keep certain court documents concealed.

“When we were in grade school and the teacher said ‘in order to get full credit, you need to show your work.’  And we’re telling the Inspector General, ‘in order for us to give credit to the conclusions of your audit, show us the data on which it was based.”

Frazier says NCBA has been completely transparent and the documents in question contain private business information.

“And we don’t want those to get in the hands of a radical animal-rights group.”

The judge in the case is expected to decide whether to allow the NCBA to intervene within the next 30 days.

NCBA CEO Kendal Frazier

 

 

HSUS counsel Matthew Penzer