12/06/06 Checkoff checkup

Checkoff Checkup It seems like anytime money is collected from producers to promote a product there just has to be a controversy. I'm Jeff Keane. I'll be back in one minute to discuss what should be a non-controversy. The beef checkoff will be twenty years old this year and has produced some excellent results for beef producers concerning beef product research, customer education, and innovative advertising and promotion. The controversy the beef checkoff faces stems from concerns different beef industry groups have. Certain groups even tried to get the checkoff declared unconstitutional, but that failed. Other groups tried to promote an even larger checkoff collection. This division in the industry paved the way for an "industry wide" task force to research problems and direction for the beef checkoff. Now that seems logical, but the recommendation of the task force only brought more division by groups fighting for their agendas. I have seen panel discussions with pro and con checkoff speakers, read beef checkoff articles and listened to one-on-one discussions. Concerns some groups have are who contributes to the checkoff or more appropriately, who doesn't, how advertising and research contracts are awarded, and that only U.S. beef should be promoted with checkoff dollars. I hope the disgruntled factions can solve their problems since even groups with concerns support the beef checkoff as a concept. I do know those checkoff dollars our ranch contributes is money well spent. I'm Jeff Keane. Farm Journal November 2006