Out Of Touch – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

You might remember that I commented the other day on the results of the <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/2431-Checkoff-Survey.html">Beef Checkoff survey</a>. Now I see something that proves some people are out of touch with producers. n nIt appears the Montana Stock Growers Association (MSGA) thinks that the <a href="http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2007/02/03/ag_news/local_and_regional_news/local03.txt">Beef Checkoff fee should be raised to $2 dollars from it's existing $1 fee</a>. They give themselves an out by claiming that producers should vote on it, but the vote itself tells how they feel. You will remember that in the survey I mentioned above, 91% of respondents felt the one dollar fee was more than enough to pay. Ninety one percent. That's an extremely large number. It just shows you how out of touch with the common producer the MSGA is. n nLet me extend this a little. The MSGA is the Montana affiliate of the <acronym title="National Cattlemans Beef Association, shills for the big meat packers">NCBA</acronym>. The Beef Board, who controls the money raised by the Checkoff fee, is controlled by the <acronym title="National Cattlemans Beef Association, shills for the big meat packers">NCBA</acronym>, at least that is the perception. So, is it any surprise the MSGA wants the Checkoff fee raised? It will only help the <acronym title="National Cattlemans Beef Association, shills for the big meat packers">NCBA</acronym> and the Beef Board raise more money. n nThis survey and the vote by the MSGA just show how out of touch these organizations that claim they represent cattle producers are with the average producer out there. I just have to laugh at the whole situation. If you ask me the MSGA really embarrassed themselves here. n nI am generally way out of touch with trends, except now and then I am surprised to find myself leading one, like sympathetic vampires. Fred Saberhagen