Checkoff Changes

Damn computers, I had a whole big commentary wrote up and the damn computer ate it. Sorry I can't recreate it.<br />n<br />n<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/22/news/state/52-cattlemen.txt">Cattlemen propose changes in federal beef checkoff law</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Cattle producers in Nebraska and other states are pushing for what would be the first significant changes to the national beef checkoff program since it started more than 20 years ago.<br />n<br />nIt's the program behind the popular "Beef, It's What's for Dinner" ads that feature the distinctive voice of actor Sam Elliott. At a dollar a head, the checkoff fee pools about $80 million annually for beef promotion, research and education, among other things.<br />n<br />nBut more than two decades of inflation have decreased the buying power of that dollar, checkoff supporters say. Some want to raise the checkoff to $2 and make other changes to the program, which remains much the same since Congress authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture to start in the mid-1980s, said Don Ricketts of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.</blockquote><br />n<br />nQuick and dirty. I oppose any raise in the rate for the checkoff and most guys I know do to. They feel the checkoff takes enough out of our pocket without raising it. I do like the idea of a periodic referendum about whether to keep it. Give the people paying the bills a little power over the situation. The Beef Board/<acronym title="National Cattlemans Beef Association, shills for the big meat packers">NCBA</acronym> will surely oppose this though so it will not happen.<br />n<br />nMentioned, but barely is the <acronym title="United States Cattleman's Association">USCA</acronym> proposal to use some of the <a href="http://www.uscattlemen.org/TheNewsRoom/2007_News/9-26AmendBeefAct.htm">Beef Checkoff funds to promote US beef</a>. I'm thinking this would garner a lot of support from Cattlemen if brought to a vote. Probably why we will never get the chance to vote on it, the Beef Board/<acronym title="National Cattlemans Beef Association, shills for the big meat packers">NCBA</acronym> won't want to allow it.<br />n<br />nLot's of talk of change in the Checkoff program. Whether that talk will involve any actual changes we will have to wait and see.<br />n<br />n<strong>They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol</strong>