A coalition of U.S. cattle producers, farm and ranch groups led by the South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association has launched a national petition drive calling for a referendum on the beef checkoff. R-CALF is part of that coalition. CEO Bill Bullard says they have to get close to 89,000 cattle producers signatures by July 1 2021 to get the referendum held.

He says only eligible U.S. cattle producers are allowed to sign the petition.

Bullard says the coalition’s goal is to get the current beef checkoff program terminated.

Bullard says one of the main problems with the current beef checkoff is that America’s cattle producers are not allowed to promote USA beef and are forced to promote the beef from their competitors.

To sign the petition calling for the referendum an eligible cattle producer can log onto weneedabeefcheckoffvote.com.