USDA Listens to Producers, Will Not Create New Beef Checkoff Program

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) -- a member of the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee -- today welcomed the news that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack will not move forward with the creation of a new beef checkoff program under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. Last month, Sen. Moran sent a letter to Sec. Vilsack expressing his deep concern with USDA creating a new checkoff under the 1996 Act against the wishes of cattle producers.

"I am pleased that USDA will not move forward with the creation of a new beef checkoff," Sen. Moran said. "Changes to the beef checkoff should be supported by producers, not forced upon them administratively by the federal government. I appreciate that Secretary Vilsack listened to the voices of cattle producers from across the country who clearly objected to a new checkoff."

Last month, Sen. Moran called on Sec. Vilsack to listen to feedback from producers in Kansas and across the country who have real concerns about the creation of a new beef checkoff under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.

"Cattlemen have been loud and clear in their objections to a new beef checkoff," Sen. Moran said when he sent his November letter to Sec. Vilsack. "I am deeply concerned that USDA is ignoring the voices of producers."

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