R Calf seeks to end beef checkoff

Attorneys for R-CALF, USA last week asked the court to award the group summary judgment and immediately end the beef checkoff program. The motion was in response to the government’s August motion to dismiss or stay the lawsuit that R-CALF USA filed against the national beef checkoff program in May.  “There is no reason to continue unconstitutionally taxing America’s independent ranchers when the government already admits it should have never happened in the first place,” said David Muraskin, Food Project attorney with Public Justice, who represents R-CALF.  Dudley Butler, also representing R-CALF and a former USDA administrator, said, {The beef checdkoff) has subsidized meatpackers and special interest groups who want cattle ranchers to become serfs on their own land like poultry growers. All the while USDA has looked the other way.”