Callicrate sued the USDA and other entities seeking a court order prohibiting any beef promotion program dollars from going to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
His legal move comes a week after the department's Office of Inspector General released a report finding no evidence that the association board's activities did not comply with legislation.
The inspector general's office said it examined more than a thousand invoices amounting to more than $20.5 million in reimbursement payments from the beef checkoff fund. 
—From AP Newsfinder
