The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed changes to both the beef and soybean checkoff programs that would allow producers, under certain circumstances, to request that their assessments paid to a qualified state board or council be redirected to the national program.

The beef and soybean programs authorize the collection of assessments from cattle and soybean producers. In most cases, assessments are collected by a qualified state board or council – either Qualified State Beef Councils or Qualified State Soybean Boards – that retain a portion of the assessments. The state boards and councils forward the remainder of the assessments to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board or United Soybean Board, which administer the national programs. Some states have laws that allow state assessments, but some do not.

Therefore, AMS is adding a provision to these two promotion and research orders to allow beef and soybean producers to redirect assessments to the national program in certain cases, also ensuring that producers pay the full assessment as required by the beef or soybean legislation.

To read more about the proposed changes to the checkoff, click here.

You might also like:

4 facts to debunk "Meat is horrible" article

60 stunning photos that showcase ranch work ethics

Best risk strategy options for cattle producers

Does it really take six years to cover your costs on a cow? NO!

Photo Gallery: Get to know the 2016 Seedstock 100 operations