FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2004

For more information contact Carrie Longwood at:

605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com

www.southdakotastockgrowers.org

 

S.D. Stockgrowers Support LMA in Checkoff Case

 

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association joined 49 other signers to a brief of amici curiae filed Friday, October 15, 2004 urging support of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) in the Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of the Beef Checkoff.

 

Commonly referred to as a friend of the court brief, it argues that the current checkoff violates ranchers’ First Amendment rights of freedom of association and freedom of speech. A coalition of 50 family farm and ranch organizations opposed to current commodity checkoffs submitted the brief.

 

“In order to preserve and protect rural communities, Amici have advocated for many years for strengthening of the family farm and ranch system of agriculture,” reads the brief.  “Amici have witnessed firsthand the negative consequences the policies of checkoff-funded organizations have had on America ’s family farm and ranch system of agriculture.  Amici and their members object for economic, ideological, and political reasons to the beef checkoff and other mandatory checkoffs; they believe the mandatory checkoffs contribute to further industry vertical integration and consolidation to the detriment of the family farm and ranch system of agriculture.  The trends described above will only be exacerbated if the beef checkoff continues to compel ranchers to fund their own demise. Therefore, Amici fully support Respondents in urging the Court to affirm the Eighth Circuit’s ruling that the beef checkoff is unconstitutional and should be terminated.”

 

South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Marketing Committee Chairman Bob Fortune , Belvidere , S.D. , says that the Stockgrowers approved policy during their annual convention that opposes the current beef checkoff.  “Our members don’t believe that the beef checkoff, in its