The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association along with 41 other state cattle groups and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have written Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him not to go forward with a second beef check off program. Earlier the Secretary said he’d move forward based on the 1996 act with a second program. Nebraska Cattlemen’s Executive Director Pete McClymont says the present check off, the 1985 act benefits producers better than the 1996 act would.
McClymont say the Ag Secretary has done a good job consulting with the beef check off working group but needs to let the present check off work and not confuse producers with a second program.
McClymont says the recent Cornell University study shows the value of the present beef check off and its return to investment for producers at $ 11.20 for every dollar invested.