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Anonymous
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“Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer”
For Immediate Release Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator
May 15, 2008 ; Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail: [email protected]"
Members Approve Policy to Enhance Beef Checkoff
Billings, Mont. – Ninety-five percent of R-CALF USA members – through mail-in ballots – have approved new policy regarding the National Beef Checkoff Program.
The new policy states: “In an effort to enhance the Beef Promotion and Research Act to better benefit cattle producers in the United States, BE IT RESOLVED,
1) R-CALF USA will support no consideration of an increase in the $1.00 per head assessment until and unless all of the conditions and requirements of Checkoff Resolution No. 4, 2007, as approved by the membership by mail-in ballot are accomplished (see note below).
2) In addition, to help USDA formulate an effective and workable structure to conduct any future referendum, R-CALF USA proposes and supports the following procedures:
a) No one under 18 years of age shall be eligible to vote in any referendum.
b) All partners 18 years and older involved in enterprises that result in contributions of more than $10 be eligible to vote. This shall include both spouses involved in a sole proprietorship venture.
c) Any operation responsible for the collection and remittance to the Qualified State Beef Councils of more than $1,000 be qualified polling places to cast ballots. Such locations shall have the responsibility to assemble ballots for totaling, bundling, and passing both ballots and totals on to USDA for final tallying.
d) Official ballots shall be sent by USDA by mail to all producers showing proof of payment of more than $20 per year. These ballots may be cast at any polling place including FSA offices, extension offices or other qualifying polling places as outlined in c).
3) Importers be considered a Qualified State Beef Council entitled to retain one-half of their contributions for qualified purposes under the Act and Order.
4) Qualified State Beef Councils may advertise exclusively United States’ beef or may advertise generic beef if they so desire, but nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any Qualified State Beef Council from advertising U.S. beef only.
5) The Act and Order shall be modified to allow Checkoff funds to be spent on projects and research to enhance raising of live cattle, including improving pastures, handling procedures or transportation methods.
Note – Checkoff Resolution No. 4, 2007, states: “WHEREAS, R-CALF USA believes a producer-driven, beef promotion program is vital to the future of the cattle industry and,
WHEREAS, this program must be focused on promoting the products of the stakeholders, not just those of the beef production sector and,
WHEREAS, the majority of dollars collected by the Beef Checkoff come directly from U.S. cattle producers,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that R-CALF USA finds the following to be vital and necessary amendments to be made to the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985:
1. Sec. 2904, paragraph (6) be modified to eliminate the requirement that the Operating Committee contract only with “established, national nonprofit industry-governed organizations.” This would allow the Committee to contract directly with vendors and avoid possible conflicts of interest generated by policy positions of any national organization.
2. Provide for a periodic referendum every five years.
3. Include language that would assure the proportion of representation on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and its attendant committees does not exceed 40 percent of producer-members who would represent any one national policy organization.
4. Direct Beef Checkoff dollars collected from U.S. cattle producers to be used to promote products from cattle that are specifically born, raised and processed in the United States.
5. Remove the requirement that contracting organizations must have been in existence prior to the implementation of the current Act and Order.
6. No person, organization, corporation, entity, nor any of their associates, subsidiaries, affiliates, etc., shall be awarded a contract or contracts in an amount or aggregate amount which would exceed 30 percent of the total amount available for contracts during any fiscal year.”
For Immediate Release Contact: Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator
May 15, 2008 ; Phone: 406-672-8969; e-mail: [email protected]"
Members Approve Policy to Enhance Beef Checkoff
Billings, Mont. – Ninety-five percent of R-CALF USA members – through mail-in ballots – have approved new policy regarding the National Beef Checkoff Program.
The new policy states: “In an effort to enhance the Beef Promotion and Research Act to better benefit cattle producers in the United States, BE IT RESOLVED,
1) R-CALF USA will support no consideration of an increase in the $1.00 per head assessment until and unless all of the conditions and requirements of Checkoff Resolution No. 4, 2007, as approved by the membership by mail-in ballot are accomplished (see note below).
2) In addition, to help USDA formulate an effective and workable structure to conduct any future referendum, R-CALF USA proposes and supports the following procedures:
a) No one under 18 years of age shall be eligible to vote in any referendum.
b) All partners 18 years and older involved in enterprises that result in contributions of more than $10 be eligible to vote. This shall include both spouses involved in a sole proprietorship venture.
c) Any operation responsible for the collection and remittance to the Qualified State Beef Councils of more than $1,000 be qualified polling places to cast ballots. Such locations shall have the responsibility to assemble ballots for totaling, bundling, and passing both ballots and totals on to USDA for final tallying.
d) Official ballots shall be sent by USDA by mail to all producers showing proof of payment of more than $20 per year. These ballots may be cast at any polling place including FSA offices, extension offices or other qualifying polling places as outlined in c).
3) Importers be considered a Qualified State Beef Council entitled to retain one-half of their contributions for qualified purposes under the Act and Order.
4) Qualified State Beef Councils may advertise exclusively United States’ beef or may advertise generic beef if they so desire, but nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any Qualified State Beef Council from advertising U.S. beef only.
5) The Act and Order shall be modified to allow Checkoff funds to be spent on projects and research to enhance raising of live cattle, including improving pastures, handling procedures or transportation methods.
Note – Checkoff Resolution No. 4, 2007, states: “WHEREAS, R-CALF USA believes a producer-driven, beef promotion program is vital to the future of the cattle industry and,
WHEREAS, this program must be focused on promoting the products of the stakeholders, not just those of the beef production sector and,
WHEREAS, the majority of dollars collected by the Beef Checkoff come directly from U.S. cattle producers,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that R-CALF USA finds the following to be vital and necessary amendments to be made to the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985:
1. Sec. 2904, paragraph (6) be modified to eliminate the requirement that the Operating Committee contract only with “established, national nonprofit industry-governed organizations.” This would allow the Committee to contract directly with vendors and avoid possible conflicts of interest generated by policy positions of any national organization.
2. Provide for a periodic referendum every five years.
3. Include language that would assure the proportion of representation on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and its attendant committees does not exceed 40 percent of producer-members who would represent any one national policy organization.
4. Direct Beef Checkoff dollars collected from U.S. cattle producers to be used to promote products from cattle that are specifically born, raised and processed in the United States.
5. Remove the requirement that contracting organizations must have been in existence prior to the implementation of the current Act and Order.
6. No person, organization, corporation, entity, nor any of their associates, subsidiaries, affiliates, etc., shall be awarded a contract or contracts in an amount or aggregate amount which would exceed 30 percent of the total amount available for contracts during any fiscal year.”