Cattle producers who want a referendum held on whether to continue the beef checkoff program have delivered nearly 126,000 signatures to USDA supporting the vote. Ten percent, or 108,000 signatures, are required.

"USDA will see the support (for a referendum) in very concrete form when they open these boxes," said John McBride, a spokesman for the Livestock Marketing Association, Kansas City, MO, according to THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

This is the second referendum petition turned over to USDA in recent months. A vote on continuing the promotion program for pork is pending.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the organization that administers the beef promotion program, said it and the Beef Board "are focused on stabilizing and building demand."