The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Beef Checkoff Program to be constitutional, overturning a previous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit which found the natonional Beef Promotion and Research Act to be in violation of the First Amendment.
The Beef Checkoff program provides farmers the means to advertise their products on a national scale with the program’s fee of $1 per head of cattle. Through the program, funding is also provided for education, research and issues management, in addition to beef promotion.
Following is a statement from Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen regarding the Supreme Court ruling:
"We are extremely pleased. The U.S. cattle industry and our economy as a whole have greatly benefited from the beef checkoff. This is a great victory for our beef producers.
The ability to create healthy, convenient products, build consumer confidence, and promote the industry at home and abroad using checkoff dollars has been invaluable to the beef industry.
Statistics have proven the beef checkoff has increased demand for beef products. Through research, education and promotion, the beef checkoff has been and will continue to be a tremendous asset to the industry."
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For more information, contact OFB President Steve Kouplen, a beef producer from Beggs, Okla., at (405) 820-2019 or (405) 523-2458.
