The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court ruling on April 9 that the USDA's Beef Checkoff program is being administered in a way that interferes with ranchers' First Amendment rights, and that the government should be enjoined from collecting funds for the program without rancher consent.
The Beef Checkoff is a federal tax that compels producers to pay $1 per head every time cattle are sold, half of which is used to fund the advertisements of private state beef councils, like the Montana Beef Council. The Montana Beef Council is a private corporation whose members include representatives of the largest multinational beef packers.
The plaintiff in the case is independent rancher organization the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA). Public Justice is lead counsel in this constitutional challenge.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: RCALF USA