Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is moving ahead with plans to create a second beef check off. USDA is expected to file a notice in the Federal Register early this month seeking public comment on the proposal. Cattlemen Beef Board Operating Committee Member Linda Gilbert from Buffalo, South Dakota says she has many questions about the second program and its possible affects.
Gilbert says she’s not worried about a second program being put out because producers will eventually decide on which check off prevails.
Gilbert is hoping producers will weigh in with their comments and help give the Ag Secretary direction on where to go.
The parallel check off program the Ag Secretary is planning would likely be funded by an additional one dollar per head fee that producers would pay while continuing to pay a dollar per head to fund the current check off program.