NFU Considering Leaving Beef Checkoff Working Group

NFU Considering Leaving Beef Checkoff Working Group

For three years, the Beef Checkoff Working Group has been meeting to discuss reforming the Checkoff program. The group is made up of beef industry stakeholders but one of them is thinking about leaving. Roger Johnson is the President of the National Farmers Union.
Johnson: “Currently it is a recommendation that we pull out. And I’ll tell you that it was very strongly supported. And it was supported because there is a sentiment that it is a waste of time.”
The suggestion has been made by the National Farmers Union Legislative Committee that NFU leave the Beef Checkoff Working Group.  That move will be formally voted on by the Board in September.
The decision will now go before the NFU Board which meets early in September.  Along with wanting to separate the policy organization from the Checkoff, the National Farmers Union has other suggestions for reform.
Johnson: “The CBB — which is the checkoff organization — should be the authority to determine how those dollars are to be spent — just like other checkoff boards. So that was the first fundamental reform that our folks would require.”
Johnson says that there is also the belief that the Beef Checkoff should be fully refundable
Johnson: “ That is a provision that applies in many other checkoffs. It is designed to be a mechanism for folks who are paying into the checkoff but really disagree with what the checkoff board is doing. It is a way for them to very clearly register their disagreement.”

 

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