Article in Green Sheet

[Tommy]

South Dakota Beef Council demands dollars but refuses to protect investments




By Vaughn Meyer from Reva , SD Special to the Farm Forum

At the recent South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) meeting on March 8th at Pierre , S.D. a motion was made and seconded to sign on to the Joint Letter of Opposition to the USDA's OTM Rule. The "Letter of Opposition" which was signed on by over 100 cattlemen organizations and sale barns was a nonpartisan effort asking the United States Senate Agricultural Committee to intervene and prevent the USDA from implementing the over 30 month rule. The signing organizations were seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the importation of additional BSE cases into the United States as well as preventing lost international and domestic markets due to the blending of the Canadian over 30 month beef with our U.S. beef. By requesting a delay to the USDA's OTM Rule these organizations were also asking for additional time to investigate and document that Canada 's ruminant feed ban policy is being strictly enforced.

In making the motion to join the letter of opposition it was the intent of several SDBIC organizations and their members to protect the domestic and international markets which have been established through the collection of billions of Beef Check Off dollars. The Beef Promotion Act specifically spells out that Check Off funds are to be used to promote, improve, maintain and develop markets for cattle, beef and beef products. Through executive order the motion was ruled out of order and no vote was allowed; resulting in the blatant disregard for the maintaining of established markets created by hard earned producer Check Off dollars.

Through executive privilege and the denial of member participation this situation sends a message to all cattle producers that their state and national beef councils demand your dollar but the future of your investment lies in the hands of the USDA and the corporate processors and retailers. My family was very supportive with time and money to help bring about the Beef Promotion Act and I am a firm believer in the power of product promotion however, this total disregard for our investment should serve as a sober reminder in all future requests for any increases of the Beef Check Off assessment.

 

[mrj]

Apparently, Mr. Meyer, a member of SD BIC, fails to understand that such action is not legal for Beef Checkoff boards or funding. This is a real cause for concern for this rancher!

The only other action the chairman could have taken might have been to make the point the action would not be legal and ask the person making the proposal to withdraw it.

The Canadian border issue IS political, and whether or not the 'letter' is bi-partisan or not bi-partisan is a matter of differing opinions.

MRJ

 

[Tommy]

MJ...The only other action the chairman could have taken might have been to make the point the action would not be legal and ask the person making the proposal to withdraw.

Maybe it is time to change the chairman. It is amazing to me how you can have an even number of NCBAers on the SDBIC when you have so few members statewide.

 

[EJ]

The motion was made and seconded and there was dicussion. That left 2 options: withdraw the motion or vote. That motion may still be on the floor.

 

[Sandhusker]

The chairman's actions were compliant with Robert's Rules of Order? I've never heard of an "executive order" to kill motions.

 

[mrj]

MJ...The only other action the chairman could have taken might have been to make the point the action would not be legal and ask the person making the proposal to withdraw.

Maybe it is time to change the chairman. It is amazing to me how you can have an even number of NCBAers on the SDBIC when you have so few members statewide.

So, Tommy, how many DUES PAYING members of NCBA are there on the board of directors of SD BIC?

MRJ

 

[mrj]

Since Tommy is still ducking my question, I will point out that Mr. Mayer, who wrote this unsupported allegation of misdeed by the chair of SDBIC, is a member of the SD Farmers Union to the SDBIC.

That organization was not supportive of the Beef Checkoff and chose not to participate in the SDBIC for some years, until they introduced politics as a means of getting 'one of their own' appointed to the Cattlemens Beef Board (the board governing the national half of the Beef Checkoff Dollar).

The previous method had been for a coalition of SD cattle organizations to nominate a person, or people whom they agreed was well able to serve the state cattle industry. Politics was not involved, demonstrated by the fact the nominee by the coalition at that time, and who was neglected in favor of the SDFU candidate, was a woman and a Democrat. Their candidate, was, of course, a Democrat and Tom Daschle was instrumental in the appointment. Before you claim I have not presented a source, or proof, I will state clearly that this is from memory and also anecdotal accounts of others as I was close to the issue at the time.

MRJ

 

[Tommy]

MJ...So, Tommy, how many DUES PAYING members of NCBA are there on the board of directors of SD BIC?

There are 24 total members on the SD BIC. Near as I can tell there are at least 10 maybe 12 out of 24. 4 of the 8 organizations represented on the beef council are tied to NCBA . In a state where NCBA membership is less than 200 and R-CALF membership is 1,700 or so, don't you think you have more than your share of members on the board?


Not ducking your question mj, just not been online.

 

[sodak]

MRJ if you research the Beef Promotion Act you will discover 3 key items which are: 1. the act orders the council to maintain established markets as well as ceating and improving them. 2.No check off funds can be used for lobbing and 3. no use of time when reimbursed by check off dollars may be used for lobbing purposes. Since no funds were asked for in the motion and council members do not receive compensation for their time and effort I don't see any laws being broken! The only thing I see is a disrespect for the democratic process which veterans and their families have and are currently giving the ultimate sacrifice to insill democracy around the world.