In talking with U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Vice President Chuck Kiker last week, the Northern Ag Network learned that he was on his way to a meeting between himself, the National Farmers Union and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. Just a few weeks before the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Florida, where Beef Checkoff Program meetings will be held, the two groups were addressing that very topic with the Secretary.
In the wake of the very high profile resignations of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) CEO Tom Ramey and CBB Chairman Tom Jones, the USCA and NFU have been very vocal in their calls for USDA intervention into the Beef Checkoff Program.
In a letter sent to Secretary Vilsack on Tuesday (read it here), the groups reaffirm their commitment to the cause and state that they will “proceed with plans to host an industry-wide meeting on the beef checkoff.”
As details on that meeting do come available, the Northern Ag Network will announce them on air and post them online.
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Haylie Shipp
