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Frequently Asked Questions

In 1985, the Beef Checkoff was established as part of the Farm Bill, assessing $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. In a 1988 national referendum vote, 79 percent of producers voted to approve the mandatory program. For more than 35 years, the Beef Checkoff has worked to tell the story of everything beef offers, from producers’ commitment to their land and cattle, to beef’s superior taste and nutritional benefits.

“This is the producer’s money we’re handling, and it is a serious responsibility, in my opinion,” said Jo Ann Smith, the first Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) chair. To this day, the CBB’s 99 volunteer producer and importer leaders from across the U.S. take that responsibility very earnestly, working to represent America’s cattle producers and promote beef’s image.

The Beef Checkoff is a complex program with many moving parts and people, and as industry stakeholders, it’s important to understand the fundamentals. Let’s dive into the core of it all — Beef Checkoff collections and how they work.

BACK TO THE BASICS

  • As cattle move through the production cycle from birth to beef, the Beef Checkoff assessment is due each time cattle are sold. This is true for all cattle, regardless of the breed or age of cattle sold.
  • The Beef Checkoff assessment is due whether cattle are sold through a livestock market, an order buyer or sold directly to another producer. The assessment is also due when cattle are harvested.
  • The Beef Checkoff assessment is paid by the producer or withheld from the producer’s proceeds from the sale.In states where a brand inspection is required at the time of sale, the brand inspectors may collect the assessments from the seller on behalf of the Beef Checkoff program and remit the Beef Checkoff assessments.
  • Nineteen states currently have an additional state-authorized Beef Checkoff assessment: Alabama, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMITTING THE BEEF CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT?

Generally, the Buyer is responsible for collecting the Beef Checkoff assessment from the Seller. However, both the Buyer and the Seller are responsible for seeing that the Beef Checkoff is collected and paid. The $1 Beef Checkoff is sent to the Qualified State Beef Council. $0.50 is invested in national Beef Checkoff programs and the remaining $0.50 is invested in state Beef Checkoff programs.

LIVESTOCK MARKET

When cattle are sold through a livestock market or video market, the Market collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

CATTLE DEALER/ORDER BUYER

When cattle are sold to a Cattle Dealer or Order Buyer, the Dealer/Order Buyer collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

ANOTHER PRODUCER

Both the Buyer and Seller are responsible for making sure that the Beef Checkoff assessment is collected and remitted. For clarity and consistency, we encourage the Seller to take on this compliance responsibility.

VEAL GROWER

When dairy calves are sold to a Veal Grower, both the Buyer and Seller are responsible for making sure that the Beef Checkoff assessment is collected and remitted. For clarity and consistency, we encourage the Seller to take on this compliance responsibility.

CATTLE SHOWS AND FAIRS

When producers sell their animals at fairs or cattle shows (4H/FFA shows, Purebred cattle shows, etc.), the Organization that runs the sale collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

FEEDLOT

When cattle are sold directly to a feedlot, the Feedlot collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

PACKING PLANT

When cattle are sold to a packing plant, the Packing Plant collects and remits the Beef Checkoff assessment.

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER BEEF SALES

When producers market their cattle as beef, the Producer is responsible for remitting the Beef Checkoff assessment.

If you are a producer from one of these seven states — Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island — you will remit directly to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

Importers pay the dollar-per-head Beef Checkoff or the equivalent on imported cattle, beef, and beef products. These Beef Checkoff assessments are collected by U.S. Customs.

If you have any questions regarding who is responsible for remitting the Beef Checkoff assessment or how to remit payment, please contact your Qualified State Beef Council or contact the Cattlemen’s Beef Board at (303) 220-9890.

THE ROLE OF BRAND INSPECTORS

Many producers are familiar with brand inspection, with most of the Western U.S. requiring mandatory brand inspection on cattle every time an animal is sold. In most of the Western states, brand inspectors collect the Beef Checkoff assessment when cattle are sold or shipped out of state for sale, with the exception of when cattle are sold through a livestock market. In this case, the livestock market collects the assessment.

PAYING THE BEEF CHECKOFF ASSESSMENT

In most cases, the person or company paying the producer is responsible for collecting the Beef Checkoff assessment and remitting those assessments to their Qualified State Beef Council (QSBC) or to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) in the seven states that do not have a QSBC. These “collecting persons” include livestock markets, video and online markets, cattle buyers, feedlots, packing plants, etc. However, in some cases, the producer is responsible for self-reporting cattle sales and Checkoff assessments. Some of the situations where a producer should self-report assessments include:

  • Seedstock sales — if a producer is holding a production sale, the producer (or the sales management company assisting with the sale) is responsible for remitting Checkoff assessments on all cattle sold.
  • Private-treaty sales — if a producer sells cattle directly to another producer, both the buyer and the seller are responsible for ensuring that the Checkoff assessment is paid to the QSBC (or to CBB). Dairy calf sales — if dairies sell calves directly off the farm, the Beef Checkoff assessment is due at the time of sale.
  • Youth livestock sales — when youth exhibitors sell cattle through county, state, or national shows, the Beef Checkoff assessment is due. Typically, the organization managing the sale remits the assessments on behalf of all sale participants.
  • Direct-to-consumer beef sales — when producers harvest cattle with the intent of selling the beef, the assessment is due at the time of harvest.

If you have sold cattle through any of these situations and need to report Beef Checkoff assessments, visit your QSBC (or the CBB’s) website to find a Private Treaty Sales Checkoff Investment Form.

Since all producers benefit from the Beef Checkoff’s demand-building activities, all are required to pay the Beef Checkoff assessment each time they sell cattle – no matter how the cattle are marketed. By pooling resources, beef producers and importers collectively fund essential marketing, research and educational initiatives to enhance beef’s value, expand market opportunities and foster consumer confidence. All stakeholders are encouraged to actively participate in QSBC and CBB meetings to ensure their voices are heard in Beef Checkoff programming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting beef from the pasture to the consumer’s plate is a complex process, and successfully moving beef through the supply chain is just one part of it — then, the Beef Checkoff’s Channel Marketing Program comes in.

The Beef Checkoff-funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Channel Marketing Program promotes beef through various distribution channels, such as retail stores, distributors, manufacturers and restaurants. By building relationships with these channels and supply chain operators, the Beef Checkoff can effectively target and engage with customers directly where they shop and dine. The Channel Marketing Program provides knowledge, education and resources to drive supply chain operators’ marketing decisions to sell more beef.

A TRUSTED BEEF RESOURCE

The Beef Checkoff has established itself as the educational and promotional beef hub for its supply chain partners. How? By delivering high-value content about beef that informs their beef buying and marketing decisions.

The Beef Checkoff connects with its partners and food professionals through the popular Beef News Now newsletter. Distributed to 4,300 industry professionals, the bi-monthly newsletter delivers the latest foodservice and retail news, trends and hot topics from the beef industry. Additionally, these professionals are encouraged to attend Checkoff-funded educational webinars, which focus on topics like beef sustainability and consumer insights for both retail and foodservice.

Another resource available to food professionals is Beef University. Customers rely on foodservice professionals and butchers to be expert sources on the foods they purchase. The Beef University modules provide information on how beef is raised, how to select and prepare various cuts of beef, and the health and nutrition benefits of beef. Once food professionals understand beef’s ‘ins and outs’, they can deliver superior customer service and improve their bottom line.

EVENT ENGAGEMENT

The Channel Marketing team can also be seen at industry conferences and events, alongside key decision makers from across the supply chain. This past fall, the team was invited to present at the Performance Food Service (PFS) Protein Summit. PFS is a leading national foodservice distributor with operating companies across the U.S., servicing thousands of foodservice operators. Participating in the summit provided the opportunity to share beef insights and trends, arming protein specialists with information and resources they can use with their top beef customers. Additionally, the team was active at the Annual Meat Conference and National Restaurant Association show. These events allow the Beef Checkoff to deepen relationships with existing partners and establish relationships with new accounts to sell more beef.

Another event coming up this fall is the Beef Business Summit, an exclusive, immersive event for leaders from top retail, foodservice, distributor and manufacturing companies. The three-day event will focus on all things beef and provide solutions to optimize beef sales in the changing marketplace. The event’s goal is to build loyalty and partnership and ultimately drive beef sales.

Leading companies, from quick-service restaurants to fast-casual restaurants to manufacturer partners, also have the opportunity to work with the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Culinary Center1. Here, these partners can receive help with menu development, explore current trends and market insights, experiment with new cuts and cooking methods or expand existing beef items into new menu concepts.

Through these efforts, the Beef Checkoff works to provide industry professionals, partners and companies with valuable beef facts and insights they can apply to improve their businesses.

E-COMMERCE CAMPAIGNS

The Channel Marketing Program also directs e-commerce efforts, capitalizing on the growing trend of online food shopping. E-commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace. Looking only at grocery data, projections are that e-commerce will make up 20 percent of the grocery market by 20262.

The Beef Checkoff’s e-commerce projects involve partnering with national grocery and restaurant chains across the U.S. These projects meet consumers at their purchasing decision points and drive measurable results as the team can track a consumer from advertising to purchase, showing a direct return on investment. In 2023, e-commerce campaigns delivered an average return on ad sales of $47. This means that, on average, every $1 invested resulted in $47 in beef sales, a tremendous return on investment.

One recent e-commerce campaign with a national club store delivered the highest return on investment to date, with $18M in incremental beef sales. This campaign delivered an average return on ad sales of $93. This means that, on average, every $1 invested resulted in $93 in beef sales.

Beef nutrition was the focus of the most recent e-commerce campaign that ran during American Heart Month. “Lean Beef. Smart For Your Heart” ads were seen by consumers shopping on retailer websites and mobile apps, as well as on popular consumer websites like Weather. com, the Today Show online and more. Campaign results showed that 26 percent of the ad-exposed buyers were new and had not purchased beef from the retailer in the past year, demonstrating that e-commerce can be powerful in inspiring consumers to choose nutritious beef.

New this year is the addition of regional e-commerce campaigns, reaching a broader audience of online consumers. These campaigns will support the Checkoff-funded Little League effort by promoting beef in the cities where the Little League playoffs and Little League World Series will be held.

Also, coming up this fall, a national tailgating campaign promoting beef as the protein of choice for game day. Eighteen State Beef Councils and the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, will also participate in this campaign to extend the messaging into their local markets.

Through these collective efforts, the Beef Checkoff drives beef sales and empowers leading supply chain partners with solutions, expertise and resources to help them confidently menu and market beef.

Frequently Asked Questions


Jan Lyons of Manhattan, Kansas, was honored with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board’s (CBB) fourth annual Beef Checkoff Visionary Award during the General Session of the 2024 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, California. This award recognizes an individual in the beef industry who has demonstrated exemplary support of and commitment to the Checkoff’s goals and vision.

“Jan has been an important part of the beef industry for decades,” said Andy Bishop, 2024 CBB chair. “She had a vision and an energy that made a powerful imprint on the people and processes behind the Beef Checkoff program. She saw the strength of early Checkoff programs and the importance of having a consistent national Checkoff message across all states. For these and so many other reasons, Jan truly deserves the 2024 Visionary Award.”

Jan and Frank Lyons started the Lyons Ranch Angus cowherd south of Manhattan, Kansas, more than forty years ago. Jan was raised on a small Angus farm in eastern Ohio, helping her dad and brother with the farm and taking care of their cattle. She and Frank, whose family farmed as well, wanted to raise their daughters, Debbie and Amy, to appreciate good cattle and the ideals and work ethic they valued so much.

Over the years, Jan gave much of her energy and time to the beef industry and people she loved. She first volunteered as a 4-H leader at the local and county levels and for the Kansas Junior Angus Association. Jan was also the first woman president of the Kansas Angus Association, chair of the Kansas Beef Council, president of the Kansas Livestock Association, chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and, finally, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in 2004. During her time as NCBA president, Jan reassured the public that the U.S. beef supply was safe during the “Cow that Stole Christmas” bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) event in December 2003.

“Certainly, the Beef Checkoff as we know it today wouldn’t exist without Jan’s tireless efforts spanning decades of commitment and dedication to the beef industry,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “Her pioneering focus on pinpointing consumer demand drivers during the Checkoff’s early years led to tremendous growth for our industry. On behalf of everyone at the CBB, I congratulate Jan on this well-deserved award.”

Frequently Asked Questions

A recent economic analysis of the national Beef Checkoff program found that each dollar invested in its demand-driving activities for the most recent five-year period (2019–2023) positively impacted domestic beef demand and U.S. beef exports, creating a total financial benefit of $13.41 for the producers and importers who pay into the program.

This spring, the Beef Checkoff commissioned an independent economic analysis to thoroughly assess the effectiveness and additional financial benefits produced by the program’s demand-driving activities. Conducted by Dr. Harry M. Kaiser of Cornell University, this study’s objectives were to measure:

  • Whether national Beef Checkoff demand-driving activities increased demand for beef products (domestically and abroad)
  • The combined benefits of those activities in terms of their incremental financial impact to beef producers and importers
  • The indirect benefits of national Beef Checkoff demand-driving activities to the broader macroeconomy

“We’re extremely pleased with the results of this latest study,” said Cheryl DeVuyst of Morrison, Oklahoma, chair of the Beef Checkoff Evaluation Committee and current secretary-treasurer of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). “The Beef Checkoff’s primary goal is to increase beef demand here in the U.S. and worldwide. The statistics uncovered by this study tell us that we’re achieving that goal and providing producers and importers with an excellent return on their national Checkoff investments.”

Beef Checkoff’s Return-on-Investment (ROI):

In addition to calculating a ROI of $13.41, the ROI analysis enabled the study to simulate market conditions for beef demand in the absence of national Beef Checkoff investments. For the most recent five-year period, 2019-2023, had there not been any investments in national Beef Checkoff demand-driving activities:

  • Total domestic beef demand would have been 2.4 billion pounds (8.5%) lower per year than actual results.
  • The steer price would have been 7.8% lower per year than actual results.
  • U.S. export beef demand would have been 372 million pounds (11.5%) lower than actual results in the seven major importing countries included in the study.

Beef Checkoff’s Broader Economic Impact:

The study also evaluated the national Beef Checkoff’s direct effect on the beef industry (i.e. producers and importers that pay into the program) and its indirect effects on the broader U.S. economy. To quantify the total revenue impact of the national Beef Checkoff on the beef industry sector, the study utilized the beef demand (8.5%) and U.S. beef export (11.5%) percentages derived from the ROI market simulation analysis. Applying these percentages indicated that the national Beef Checkoff added an incremental $3.3 billion to the beef industry in 2023.

The direct effect of the national Beef Checkoff adding an incremental $3.3 billion to the beef industry sector had positive indirect effects on the broader U.S. economy, including increases in:

  • U.S. employment by almost 47,000 people
  • U.S. employment income by $2 billion
  • Total value added to the U.S. economy of $4.1 billion
  • U.S. GDP by nearly $9.5 billion

Furthermore, the national Beef Checkoff contributed to increased tax revenue at the federal, state, and local levels, amounting to a grand total of $743 million in 2023, distributed as follows:

  • $34 million in county tax revenue
  • $205 million in state tax revenue
  • $504 million in federal tax revenue

“While we’re pleased Beef Checkoff programs are having a positive impact, we know there’s always room for improvement,” DeVuyst said. “The CBB is dedicated to making the best possible decisions on behalf of beef producers and importers. As we head into the remainder of FY24, we’ll take what we’ve learned from this study and continue moving the needle forward.”

All commodity boards conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of their programs every five years, as outlined by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) guidelines for commodity research and promotion programs. To view the complete study, executive summary or to get more information about the Beef Checkoff and its programs – promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and producer communications – visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.

*This study only pertains to the funds collected for the national Beef Checkoff program. It does not assess the impacts of Beef Checkoff program dollars invested by Qualified State Beef Councils for state-level efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Today, approximately 400 veal farms are located in the U.S. These veal producers also pay into the Beef Checkoff, which helps the Beef Checkoff-funded National Veal Program. Managed by the Beef Checkoff contractor, Meat Institute, and subcontractor New York Beef Council (NYBC), this team produces promotional campaigns and develops educational pieces to increase consumers’ interest and trust in veal.

Here’s how the consumer-facing brand Veal – Discover Delicious capitalizes on veal’s unique taste, value and versatility through social media, e-commerce and more.

E-Commerce Success

E-commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace. Looking at grocery data, projections indicate that e-commerce will make up 20 percent of the grocery market by 20261. The Veal – Discover Delicious team has capitalized on this growing trend of online food shopping.

In a partnership with Giant Eagle, a regional supermarket chain with more than 470 locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana, a digital campaign beginning in March and running until the end of May encouraged consumers to purchase veal. More than 669,000 consumers explored veal options and 550 veal units were sold.

Social Media Impact

Veal – Discover Delicious also leverages social media to provide consumers with engaging content about veal meal solutions, nutrition information, preparation and veal versatility.

Last spring, the team launched its first TikTok ads, which were delivered to consumers more than 100,000 times, resulting in 1,282 link clicks to Veal.org. Across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, digital ad campaigns also garnered impressive performance, with nearly 3,000 link clicks and more than 67,000 views.

The goal of these social media efforts is to attract veal customers to Veal.org to explore recipes, receive veal information and purchase veal products. During the time period of April to June 2024, Veal.org reached 42,531 unique users.

Homemade Partnership

Another fun, exciting tactic Veal – Discover Delicious is executing is a partnership with Homemade Cooking. Managed by professional chefs, Homemade Cooking offers free online cooking classes.

Beginning in March, Veal – Discover Delicious kicked off the 2024 Culinary Series with Homemade and featured four cooking classes: Herb-Crusted Rack of Veal, Green Chile Enchiladas, Banh Mi Burgers and Lemony Veal Schnitzel. The first class attracted 870 registered participants. In these classes, attendees not only learn how to cook a delicious recipe but also learn about the difference between veal and other beef products by emphasizing its tenderness and mild, adaptable flavor.

Re-watch the classes on homemadecooking.com

Food Service Engagement

Veal – Discover Delicious also fosters relationships with chefs and food service partners and decision-makers to educate them about how to successfully utilize veal in their professional capacities.

One event in which Veal – Discover Delicious participated was the American Culinary Federation Webinar. Here, 110 chefs and culinary professionals listened to the Beef Checkoff’s veal team explain the ins and outs of the veal industry, veal cuts and price points, as well as how to incorporate veal into their menus.

It’s important that this group of professionals understand veal’s benefits and can advocate for the industry. At these events, attendees learn how veal is distinctive in the meat space. A three-ounce serving of cooked, trimmed, lean veal has just about 170 calories, making it one of the most nutrient-dense protein foods around2.

Also, veal provides 29 percent of the recommended daily intake of zinc, 36 percent of niacin and 23 percent of vitamin B-12. In short, it provides a fat and calorie profile similar to chicken but with the nutrient density of beef3.

Although veal represents a small portion of the protein market, it plays a significant role in the U.S. beef and dairy industries and helps contribute to the Beef Checkoff. As such, the Beef Checkoff actively works to share the progressive message of veal’s protein strength, versatility, transparency and sustainability.

To learn more about the National Veal Program and access educational resources, visit: Veal.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

While beef safety is still of utmost importance to industry stakeholders, research shows that it’s less relevant to today’s consumers. Consumers feel this way because they are confident about the safety of the beef products they buy at the store and cook at home, and this confidence can be attributed in part to Checkoff-funded beef safety research.

Ninety percent of consumers feel the beef they eat from the grocery store is safe, and of the top cooking concerns at home, foodborne illness concerns only 23 percent of consumers 1. Today, consumers’ main considerations when purchasing proteins are taste, cost, and whether it’s a good value for the investment and nutrition 2.

While consumers expect beef to be safe, the Beef Checkoff must foster and maintain that consumer confidence by continuing proactive beef safety research. With reliable food safety standards, beef is preserved as a preferred protein.

Here’s how the Beef Checkoff works to enhance beef safety measures.

Driving Progress

The Beef Checkoff has been at the forefront of developing solutions. During the 2000s, several ongoing Checkoff-funded studies evaluated interventions intended to reduce microbial contamination both on and inside animals. The Beef Checkoff’s research identified specific areas where carcass contamination was most likely to occur, making it possible to better target contamination prevention efforts. Thanks to Beef Checkoff dollars, scientists were able to evaluate the occurrence and prevention of pathogens throughout the processing chain. Processing facilities across the country implemented these safety interventions on a large scale, and they’re still utilized in processing beef and other proteins today. This Checkoff-funded research played a critical role in informing improvements in protein safety across the supply chain.

In 2007, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) set a goal to reduce infections from foodborne E. coli O157:H7 by 50 percent by 2010. The CDC met this “Healthy People” goal a year early in 2009, a feat that would have been much less likely to happen without the research and efforts conducted by the Beef Checkoff and the beef industry. The prevalence of Salmonella has also decreased with the occurrence in raw ground beef at a mere 2.2 percent 3.

Today, the momentum to develop solutions for both pathogenic Salmonella and E. coli. has continued with the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education (FMPRE) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), contractors to the Beef Checkoff. These contractors work together to identify and solve improvement areas in the beef safety profile through science-based research in pre- and post-harvest cattle.

This research prioritizes:

  • Identifying the combination of virulence factors that cause human illness in pathogenic Salmonella and E. coli.
  • Identifying pre-harvest challenges to beef safety.
  • Evaluating how Salmonella exists and moves throughout the supply chain, including regional, seasonal and production practice differences on the prevalence, level and serotype on products, including lymph nodes.
  • Evaluating the efficacy of interventions during the grinding process to maximize reduction of microbial contamination in ground beef.

Why is This Research Necessary?

Beef safety research goes far beyond growing consumer trust and driving demand for beef. The threat posed by pathogens is not static; instead, it is constantly evolving, and antimicrobial interventions and other process controls must be continuously upgraded to address these emerging threats.

Beef Checkoff research can help save people the costs of contracting one of these pathogens, from medical expenses to lost productivity.

Pathogen contamination presents the beef industry with another potential cost — the reduced value of products that test positive. When a raw material or finished product tests positive for a pathogen, it cannot enter commerce unless it is thermally processed. If the product has already entered commerce, it is subject to an expensive and reputation-damaging recall.

The total costs of safety interventions and processes, medical and missed opportunity claims, recalls and reduced value of contaminated products cannot always be passed on to consumers. Most often, these costs are borne by the industry and eventually passed on to beef producers through reduced live cattle values. Accordingly, beef producers have a direct economic incentive to invest in beef safety research to reduce further pathogenic contamination levels in raw materials and finished products to increase the value of their cattle and their return on investment.

Checkoff-funded beef safety research is essential to ensuring public health and the health of the beef industry.

Research Dissemination

NCBA and FMPRE work to ensure stakeholders understand the industry’s commitment to improving beef safety and that partners implement the updated process controls. Checkoff-funded resources like web content, peer reviews, fact sheets, videos and more share research results and answer tough questions about the safety of beef today and can be found on BeefResearch.org.

Additionally, beef safety research is showcased at the Beef Industry Safety Summit, an annual keystone event. For 21 years, industry safety leaders and scientists have come together to hear the latest research results, learn about advancements in food safety monitoring and testing methodology, and openly converse with competitors seeking solutions that will benefit the entire industry. The summit continues to be a hallmark event for the industry to gather in a non-competitive forum and address beef safety challenges for the benefit of consumers everywhere. This event attracts hundreds of leaders and top decision-makers in the beef safety business.

Continued Innovation

The Beef Checkoff’s Beef Safety Research Program will continue working towards ensuring consumer confidence in the beef products they choose to buy. With the support of the robust and comprehensive Checkoff-funded research program, the beef industry provides consumers worldwide with consistently safe beef products.

To learn more about the Beef Checkoff’s beef safety research program, visit our contractor’s websites at:

H5N1 VIRUS UPDATE:

On March 25, 2024, there were reports of a multi-state outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) bird flu in dairy cattle, the first time bird flu viruses had been found in bovine animals. One human that had been exposed to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with the HPAI A(H5N1) viruses also tested positive. The A(H5N1) virus has since been detected in 34 herds of cattle across nine states, including Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and most recently, Colorado.

On Monday, May 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it had collected 30 samples of ground beef sold at grocery stores for testing in states where outbreaks of H5N1 in dairy cows had occurred. On May 8, they announced all the samples tested were negative for the H5N1 bird flu virus. They remain confident that the meat supply is safe and does not pose a risk to humans.