The Beef Checkoff at Work

40 Years, 40 Facts

For four decades, beef producers and importers have built the Beef Checkoff into more  than a marketing tool — it’s a producer-led system for growing demand and keeping beef competitive.

Let’s dive into how the Checkoff is structured with our first 10 facts:

GOVERNANCE & REPRESENTATION

BEEF PRODUCERS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

1. Beef producers and importers on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) are nominated to the USDA by state certified nominating beef industry organizations and appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
2. The CBB is the governing producer and importer body for the Beef Checkoff.
3. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the Beef Checkoff and 21 other commodity Checkoff programs.
4. Board representation is based on the number of cattle in each state. Currently, the CBB has 99 members.
5. The number of members is reapportioned every 3 years, based on the cattle numbers in each state.
6. CBB members volunteer their time to serve on the board for one 3-year term, with the possibility of reappointment by the USDA for a second 3-year term.
7. When broken out, 92 members are producers (cow/calf, feeders, stockers, dairy) and 7 are importers.
8. The entire CBB only meets twice annually; the day-to-day business of the board is conducted by the Executive Committee (with ratification of decisions made by the full board at the next gathering).
9. All CBB meetings are open to those who pay into the Beef Checkoff. Contact the CBB office for more information.
10. The CBB cannot legally lobby or participate in policy discussions, per the Beef Act and Order. Their entire focus is driving beef demand.