Category: Checkoff Program Reform

Rancher vows to continue checkoff lawsuit

Mike Callicrate

By Mateusz Perkowski | Capital Press A rancher vows to continue his legal challenge against the national Beef Checkoff even though his original attorneys have decided to exit the court battle. “We fully intend to pursue the case,” said Michael Callicrate, a Colorado rancher and plaintiff in the litigation. A federal judge recently allowed attorneys to withdraw from Callicrate’s lawsuit, which alleges that national Beef Checkoff dollars intended for promotions were unlawfully misused for lobbying. The complaint claims Read More …

Lawyers to Bail on Checkoff Lawsuit

Mike Callicrate

By Mateusz Perkowski | Capital Press Attorneys involved in a lawsuit against the national Beef Checkoff program want to quit the case, citing a conflict of interest. Michael Callicrate, the Colorado rancher who filed the complaint, said he believes the law firm has caved in to pressure from the meat industry. “I am very skeptical,” said Callicrate. “They have no legitimate basis for withdrawing from this lawsuit.” Gabriel Zorogastua, an attorney with the Polsinelli Shughart law firm who Read More …

The Progressive Farmer | Checkoff Spat Sparks Pushback: OCM Director May Lose Seat on State Farm Bureau Board

Mike Callicrate

Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor | Mon Oct 8, 2012 12:54 PM CDT OMAHA (DTN) — The Mississippi Farm Bureau\board of directors may vote to boot a director off its board because of his role in litigation involving the beef checkoff. Fred Stokes, a 77-year-old retired Army veteran who has run a small cattle operation in Mississippi, has spent much of his time over the past several years raising Cain against large market forces in agriculture such Read More …

What Hasn’t the HSUS Done Lately?

Mike Callicrate

Ag and Trade | Food | By Ben Gotschall | 09/04/2012 The U.S. didn’t lose 91% of its pork producers, 82% of its dairy producers, 42% of its beef producers and 33% of its sheep producers overnight. It has happened by degrees since 1980, during my lifetime, and isn’t going to be slowed down, stopped, or even partially “fixed” in less than a year. In a recent column entitled “Waiting for the HSUS,” Daily Yonder co-editor Bill Bishop Read More …

Lies, distortions and lawsuits

Mike Callicrate

Farm and Food File for the week beginning Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 by Alan Guebert Somewhere along the line it became acceptable to bend and break the record of public figures and firms without any consequence whatsoever. Shortly thereafter distortion and deception replaced discussion and debate and yelling and lying replaced compromise and progress. And that’s just in agriculture; in politics it’s even worse. The latest farm and food fight centers on the legal battle that pits the Read More …

“You’re Right, They’re Wrong.” -Will Harris, White Oak Pastures

Mike Callicrate

Will Harris, White Oak Pastures, in support of HSUS help on checkoff lawsuit: [audio:http://NoBull.MikeCallicrate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/willharrishsussupport.mp3] “Hey Mike, this is Will Harris in Georgia, White Oak Pastures, and I don’t expect you to call me back. I called to tell you that I read where the cattle folks castagated ya pretty good for partnering up a little bit with the HSUS, and I wanted you to know that you were right and they’re wrong. “I think that the HSUS agenda Read More …