Commodity Checkoff Support Reiterated

December 13, 2011

Honorable Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman
Honorable Pat Roberts, Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
328A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts:

The undersigned organizations reiterate our strong support for the various state and federally authorized research and promotion programs, commonly known as checkoffs, in which our members participate.

Recent distorted media attacks and ill-conceived legislative proposals ignore how these programs are established and approved in referenda by producers who fund the programs with their own money.With oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), producers have taken it upon themselves to fund over $905 million of research, promotion and consumer education programs annually through checkoff activities at no cost to the federal government.In these austere budgetary times, our producers should be commended and certainly deserve the support of the authorizing committees and USDA.

Our members see the checkoff program as an investment in their families' future, an investment which they and their fellow producers have voluntarily adopted.We support these programs and look forward to working with you to ensure their continued success.

Sincerely,

American Beekeeping Federation
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Mushroom Institute
American Sheep Industry Association
American Soybean Association
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Sorghum Producers
National Watermelon Association
Produce Marketing Association
United Dairymen of Arizona
United Egg Producers
United Fresh Produce Association
Western Peanut Growers Association