HURON, SD (KELO AM) - “Our members spent considerable time on this topic at our annual meeting in November, discussing our support for the current beef checkoff and the efforts of the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group. We are pleased with Secretary Vilsack’s decision not to go forward with a separate checkoff. Now the Working Group, including Farm Bureau, can continue to work on solutions that will be in the best interests of beef producers and the beef industry as a whole,” said Wanda Blair, SDFB Vice President and rancher from Vale, S.D. ?
In its annual meeting delegate session, held Nov. 21-22 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Farm Bureau members passed a resolution that reiterates support for the current national beef checkoff and the Federation of State Beef Councils. Farm Bureau members also penned official comments that were submitted to Secretary Vilsack in response to his series of questions about how producers want to see a checkoff structured and operated. SDFB members emphasized their desire for the state-level Qualified Beef Councils to maintain their authority.
The appropriations bill passed recently by Congress directed USDA not to implement a second beef checkoff, leading Secretary Vilsacks to announce that he was stopping pursuit of that option.
South Dakota Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general agriculture organization, representing more than 14,300 farm, ranch, and rural families across the state.