On November 13, 2018, Drovers issued a poll asking the question, “Do you believe the Beef Checkoff is helping to stimulate beef demand and support your cattle business?” Two days later, the polling showed that 70 percent of Drovers’ audience who responded voted no. Even more telling was the more than 50 comments on the poll, which were removed from Drovers’ website that afternoon. However, screenshots of the deleted comments were preserved. See all of the deleted comments Read More …
In a FOIA case four years in the making, USDA is forced to explain to the court why it will not release government audit documents Lincoln, NE — Yesterday marked the start of the most critical phase in a four-year legal battle between family farmers and ranchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over USDA’s refusal to release public audit and financial documents related to Beef Checkoff Program spending. By law, farmers and ranchers are mandated to Read More …
The 2019 beef checkoff budget is out, and global meatpacking corporations and their industry lobbying groups are the winners once again while American family farmers and ranchers continue to be taxed to fund their own demise. Under federal law, farmers of certain commodities (including pork, eggs, beef, and corn) are required to pay a portion of their sales into checkoff programs. These mandatory fees are intended to be used by the U.S. government to research and promote demand Read More …
Organization for Competitive Markets v. Office of Inspector General (Checkoff Lawsuit) In 2010, an audit of the equivalent of just nine days of beef checkoff program spending found more than $200,000 in improper spending by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), including the use of tax dollars for lobbying and overseas vacations. USDA then performed a full audit of the program but did not release it to the public, claiming it would cause embarrassment for USDA and fracturing Read More …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 2018 Checkoff Reform Amendment Withdrawn Amidst Failing House Farm Bill Today, U.S. Representatives Brat (R-VA) and Blumenauer (D-OR) withdrew from debate their checkoff reform amendment on the House floor, avoiding it getting tangled up in the broader political battle which led to the defeat of the 2018 House Farm Bill. Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and other advocates for checkoff program reform will now take the issue to the Senate as it begins Read More …
Checkoff programs have been instrumental in the history of agricultural advertising. Famous campaigns such as “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” have been paid for using family farmers’ checkoff tax dollars. However, checkoff programs have fallen under the control of big agribusiness interests, and oftentimes the billions of dollars paid into checkoff programs by hard working family farmers and ranchers end up being used to lobby for policies that hurt them. This could change in the 2018 Farm Bill Read More …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2018 OCM Applauds Brat-Blumenauer Checkoff Reform Amendment to Farm Bill Today, U.S. Representatives Brat (R-VA) and Blumenauer (D-OR) filed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would provide much-needed government accountability and transparency for the Commodity Research and Promotion Programs (checkoffs). The bipartisan amendment would ensure the authorizing checkoff laws prevent conflicts of interest, anticompetitive activities that harm other commodities, and governing boards of the checkoff programs from contracting with organizations that engage Read More …
Checkoff Programs and the Marketplace Under federal law, farmers of certain commodities (including pork, eggs, beef, corn, and even Christmas trees) are required to pay a portion of their sales into checkoff funds. These mandatory fees are intended to be used by the government to research and promote demand for those products. Well-known examples of past checkoff-funded advertising campaigns are “Pork, the Other White Meat,” “The Incredible, Edible Egg,” and “Beef, It’s What’s for Dinner.” Checkoff programs collect Read More …
