A federal court has granted a motion by R-CALF to expand its challenge of USDA’s beef checkoff program to possibly 13 more states. R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says they’re asking for the 13 states to be added to their challenge where they’re claiming producers were compelled to pay checkoff funds to the Montana State Beef Council. He says they were granted a preliminary injunction and are now seeking a permanent injunction.

He says the court’s granting of the expansion of their challenge is a good omen for their case moving forward.

NCBA CEO Kendall Frazier was quoted as saying that R-CALF is becoming nothing more than a front group for activists seeking to divide the beef industry, lessen beef demand and drive producers out of business. Bullard isn’t surprised by that attack on their court challenge.

Three of the 13 states included in the expansion of R-CALF court’s case include: South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.