02/07/06 R-CALF and the beef checkoff

American Rancher February 7, 2006 During its recent annual convention in Denver, R-CALF USA held an inaugural Beef Checkoff Committee meeting. R-CALF leaders and members were expressing concerns about the checkoff and wanted the organization to be more involved. But R-CALF president Chuck Kiker, is quick to point out his organization is not anti-checkoff. Kiker: "I found out when I got into R-CALF and I support the checkoff. I think it has done a lot of good for us. I think the biggest rub on the checkoff is the lead contractor and the policy side of that organization. And that is the big problem. That is what people are really against and not the checkoff and giving a dollar in promoting beef." Kiker, who is a member of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, which administers the checkoff, says R-CALF has no interest in contracting with the checkoff. R-CALF believes that groups which lobby for particular policy positions should not be checkoff contractors. R-CALF members are voting by mail on resolutions regarding the checkoff. Those resolutions encourage R-CALF affiliates and members to become active in the process used to select members of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and state beef councils and commissions. Others seek the necessary changes to allow for the promotion of U.S. born and raised beef and to the ability of a larger portion of funds to be used for "in state" projects. The resolutions also would seek changes that would initiate periodic referendum on the beef checkoff. I'm Bob Hoff.