MONTANA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION

SUBMITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND BEEF CHECKOFF

Billings, Mont., ~ The Montana Cattlemen's Association (MCA) today submitted recommendations to amend the Cattlemen's Beef Board checkoff program as follows:

1.  Checkoff dollars be used to promote only U.S.A. beef from cattle born, raised, and processed in the United States of America.

2.  A periodic vote on the checkoff program (every five years).

3.  Prohibit any one cattle organization from serving as the "prime contractor" for the program, but allow all U.S. cattle organizations to participate in approved projects on a case-by-case basis.

4.  Reform the Cattlemen's Beef Board to reflect proportional representation from all national cattle organizations.

5.  Allow for checkoff expenditures to protect U.S.A. beef and cattle from unfair trade practices and to protect the U.S. cattle herd from import practices which threaten cattle herd health and beef consumers.

6.  Allow checkoff expenditures to promote branded products from small and large packing entities.

7.  Provide that 70% of all funds collected remain in the state where collected, and 30% to the national Cattlemen's Beef Board.

8.  Provide an exemption for producers contributing equal or greater funds into a private sector self-help effort.

In addition, the MCA Board recommends any increase in the checkoff assessment fee not be considered unless or until the above recommendations are implemented.