Legislation has been re-introduced in the U.S. House that its author says would bring transparency to checkoff programs. During a press conference with the Organization for Competitive Markets Wednesday, Nevada Democrat Dina Titus told reporters the USDA has had very lax regulation of checkoff programs. “The money now is often used with association groups to lobby for certain issues that may hurt some of the smaller ranchers and farmers who have to contribute by law.”
Titus says checkoff money is not only used to lobby for large farmers and ranchers, but to advocate against this bill.
