Reader Opinion - All Indications are that the Beef Checkoff is Brain Dead

Controversy and dissatisfaction plague the beef checkoff. Finally, there is a chance to reform this tax. The “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act” (OFF Act) is a bipartisan bill which would allow for long needed accountability and transparency. For many producers, concerns date back to 1996 when the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) absorbed the Federation of Beef Councils. The Federation consists of the state level beef boards which collects and administrates the beef tax in their respective states. What happened in 1996 is that the NCA, a private beef industry association, absorbed the quasi-governmental federation of tax collectors to become the...Article Link