09/26/06 Two dollar beef checkoff

A beef industry task force has come up with four recommendations to enhance the beef checkoff program. Retired beef promotion executive John Huston facilitated the 12 members of the task force representing national organizations and six who were state appointed. He said each of their recommendations had to have a two thirds majority to be adopted. HUSTON "The opportunity to petition for a referendum with a structure and so forth. Every five years USDA would activate that system. An adjustment to the checkoff rate of two dollars per head. An enhancement of the federation of state beef councils. And then the final one is to take off the charter date on the qualifications for an organization to contract with the operating committee." Now state and national beef and dairy organizations will have their say on the recommendations and if approved federal government action would be needed. HUSTON "If those amendments are passed by Congress then there will be a referendum of all producers to determine if they want to increase the rate and make these other changes to the action order." That could mean that it will take at least two years before any of the recommendations would become reality. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott