Beef Checkoff Program
Stored: Beef Checkoff Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board |
| Top Organization | Department of Agriculture |
| Creation Legislation | Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Beef Checkoff Program collects funds from beef producers and importers to promote and research beef and beef products. It aims to increase consumer demand domestically and globally through marketing, education, and innovation efforts. |
| Program Start | 1986 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations and producer assessments |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Beef Checkoff Program (BCP) is a producer-funded initiative overseen by the Department of Agriculture that collects a $1-per-head assessment on cattle sales and equivalent fees on imported beef to promote and research beef and beef products, enhancing consumer demand both domestically and internationally. Established through the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), it supports initiatives like the “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” campaign, funding promotion, research, consumer education, and foreign marketing, with an estimated return of $11.91 per dollar invested from 2014-2018, operating across all 50 states and key export markets as of 2025.[1]
Goals
- Increase consumer demand for beef through promotion, advertising, and public relations.[2]
- Enhance beef industry profitability by funding research into product quality and nutrition, targeting measurable demand growth.
- Expand international markets for U.S. beef, aligning with the Beef Industry Long Range Plan.
Organization
The Beef Checkoff Program was administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), a 99-member body appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversight.[3] Funding came from a mandatory $1-per-head assessment on cattle sales, split with Qualified State Beef Councils (QSBCs) retaining up to 50 cents and forwarding the rest to CBB, supplemented by equivalent import fees. The Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) within CBB allocated funds to contractors like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), with strict legal prohibitions on lobbying.
The leader of the program at the Department of Agriculture level is the Secretary of Agriculture, currently Tom Vilsack (as of February 19, 2025), with CBB leadership handled by its elected Chair.
History
The Beef Checkoff Program was authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985, part of the 1985 Farm Bill, following advocacy from state beef councils to boost demand amid declining beef consumption trends.[4] It began assessments on October 1, 1986, after a 1988 referendum approved it with 79% producer support, evolving from voluntary state efforts into a mandatory national framework. Key events include Supreme Court rulings in 2005 affirming its constitutionality as government speech (Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Association) and ongoing debates over transparency, with a 2021 petition for termination failing to meet signature thresholds. As of 2025, it continues driving demand through modern campaigns and research.
Funding
Initial funding in 1986 combined Congressional appropriations with producer assessments of $1 per head on cattle sales and equivalent import fees, starting October 1, 1986.[5] Annual collections now approximate $75 million, with FY 2024 allocating $38 million, of which over $25 million went to NCBA. Funding continues without an end date, supported by state councils and the Commodity Credit Corporation, though controversies over fund use persist, as noted in a 2010 audit finding $200,000 in improper NCBA spending.
Implementation
The program was implemented through a mandatory $1-per-head assessment collected by buyers at cattle sales, remitted to QSBCs or directly to CBB, with importers paying equivalent fees on beef products.[6] Funds supported six categories—promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications—executed by contractors under CBB oversight. It operates continuously with annual budget approvals, focusing on consumer demand without a set end date.
Related
External links
- https://www.beefboard.org/
- https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/beef - USDA AMS oversight
- https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/ - Consumer campaign site
- wikipedia:Beef Checkoff Program
Social media
References
- ↑ "Beef Checkoff Program Overview," Cattlemen’s Beef Board, https://www.beefboard.org/checkoff/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "About the Beef Checkoff," Cattlemen’s Beef Board, https://www.beefboard.org/about/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Cattlemen’s Beef Board," USDA AMS, https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/beef, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Beef Act & Order," Cattlemen’s Beef Board, https://www.beefboard.org/beef-act-order/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Beef Checkoff Funds," Cattlemen’s Beef Board, https://www.beefboard.org/beef-checkoff-funds/, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Checkoff Compliance," Montana Beef Council, https://www.montanabeefcouncil.org/checkoff-information/, accessed February 19, 2025.