Viewpoint of Former USDA AMS Official turned meat packer executive on beef checkoff
North American Meat Association
November 10, 2014
Beef Promotion, Research, and Information Order
Research and Promotion Division
Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA
Room 2096-S, STOP 0249
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-0249
The Notice of Proposed Rule Making, published today in the Federal Register, by the
Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, requests
comments on a new Beef Promotion, Research, and Information Order, pursuant to the authority
provided in the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The Notice is
seeking comments following recommendations made to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack by a
Cross Industry Working Group (CIWG) and some unidentified organizations that have
approached the Secretary.
NAMA represents meatpackers and processors who are not contemplated as paying participants
in the new Checkoff. However, these same packers and processors are cooperators with the
existing Checkoff program, and are very much engaged in both research and marketing activities
within the scope of this program. In addition, many of our members are cattle producers or
feeders.
In making this proposal, we respectfully request to be provided by USDA their views about the
efficiency, or more likely the inefficiency, of managing two programs designed to do the same
thing – namely to provide funding for research and promotion of beef. Also, did the proponents
consider the potential challenges of coordinating projects, and if so what were their findings?
While we commend Secretary Vilsack for recognizing the need for additional funding, it would
be appropriate to be able to show that a second program would be a more cost-effective and
better focused approach than would be working with Congress to increase the funds through the
current program. NAMA respectfully requests further information from the Department with
respect to these initial comments so that we may more fully respond within the rather short
timeframe for comments. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Barry Carpenter
CEO