The current issue of the High Plains Journal, NE, SD, IA edition, carries a story about the new directors and leadership of R-CALF, with interviews of some of them.
A quote from Dennis McDonald states: "Finally, one of the great challenges for the live-cattle industry will be to put our own economic house in order". McDonald continued, "To be successful on other issues, grassroots producers need an organization that is economically sound, and key to achieving this goal are revisions to the Beef Checkoff so it becomes a program that works for family producers".
The Beef Checkoff has ALWAYS worked for family producers. It was family producers who worked to institute the checkoff, who designed it, who voted it into existence, and who continue to manage it well.
McDonald's phrasing indicates that R-CALF, as an organization needs to be economically sound and that the key to that goal is revisions to the Beef Checkoff.
That should concern all cattle producers because there is no profit allowed to any organization or group doing contract work for the Beef Checkoff.
All contracts with the CBB for the Beef Checkoff, by law, are on a cost recovery basis, and if the work isn't done properly the contractor is not paid. If the work is done efficiently and there is money 'left over', it must be returned to the CBB.
Finally, all financial business of the Beef Checkoff are audited by outside, professional companies, and scrutinized by even those who would love to find discrepancies to aid in ending the Beef Checkoff permanently.
MRJ