Agricultural News
NCBA Board Approves Memorandum of Understanding
Mon, 09 Feb 2015 12:32:03 CST
This past week at the Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas, three separate votes were held regarding the Memorandum of Understanding that came from the Beef Checkoff Working Group trying to enhance the $1 a head beef checkoff. This would primarily get a vote to increase the checkoff assessment to $2 per head. The first vote was the American National Cattlewomen and they voted in favor of it. They are a member of the Beef Checkoff Working Group. Then the National Cattlemen's Beef Association had two separate votes, but they only have one position on the Working Group. One vote was tallied from the Federation Division of State Beef Councils and they voted in favor of moving forward with the MOU. Then the policy division of NCBA also had a unanimous vote in favor of the MOU.
NCBA 2014 Past President Scott George has been representing the organization on the Beef Checkoff Working Group over the last three years. He explained there are about four major components to the MOU. One is raising the assessment rate from $1 to $2 per head. The second one provides a refund provision for those who don't feel they want to support this and they can get their money back. The third one is a referendum process where the producers will be able to vote on this before it ever goes into effect and they will have a chance to change the beef checkoff going forward without having to go through Congress. The fourth area would make the selection process more inclusive for the operating committee, which is the decision making group that determines how those funds are spent.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays featured Scott George on the Beef Buzz feature. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz.
In addition the American National Cattle Women and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association voting in favor of the Memorandum of Understanding, the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA) had already voted in favor of the MOU. Others groups still to consider the MOU include American Farm Bureau, which will vote in early March. George said the March vote is critical because that is when the Beef Checkoff Working Group comes back together. The Working Group will meet March 12 and 13th. This is the day after the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting. George said they had timed this meeting for March because they wanted all of the groups to consider the MOU and come back with their input from their members.
At the Beef Checkoff Working Group in March, George said they hope to finalize and sign this Memorandum of Understanding and begin working forward. This is a multi-year process but another step has been taken in enhancing the nation's beef checkoff.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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