Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 3/29/17

Lawmakers proposed twin legislation in the Senate and House of Representative calling for strengthening pork and beef checkoff program prohibitions against engaging in government policy advocacy, conflicts of interest or anticompetitive activities.
Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act in the Senate while Reps. Dave Brat (R-Va.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.), introduced similar legislation in the House.

The Humane Society of the United States and its legislative affiliate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, support this legislation and issued a news release announcing the bills, taking aim specifically at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producer’s Council, which receive checkoff funds to promote beef and pork products.

“For too long, America’s family famers have been forced to fund programs that undermine their efforts to preserve rural communities and to use traditional methods of farming,” said Joe Maxwell, a Missouri hog farmer and political director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Farmers should have guarantees these programs are working for them, and shouldn’t have their hard earned money going toward a slush fund for big ag.”

In response to the legislation, NPPC CEO Neil Dierks said, “The National Pork Producers Council is a voluntary funded association, representing U.S. pork producers. The National Pork Board, which administers the pork Checkoff, uses producer-provided funds for the benefit of all pork producers, such as through programs that promote pork and research on pork production.”

The NCBA did not respond to requests for comment.

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