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Frequently Asked Questions

Cattle producers Ryan Moorhouse of Texas, Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst of Oklahoma and Terry Quam of Wisconsin are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). Elected by their fellow CBB members at the 2025 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, this new officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2025. Moorhouse, the 2024 vice chair, is now the CBB’s chair, while DeVuyst will transition from her role as the 2024 secretary-treasurer to become the 2025 vice chair. Quam is the newest member of the officer team, taking on DeVuyst’s former responsibilities as secretary-treasurer.

Ryan Moorhouse

Moorhouse grew up in North Central Texas on his family’s cow/calf and stocker operation. After graduating from Texas A & M University, he went to work for Continental Grain Cattle Feeding (now Five Rivers). He currently serves as the general manager for Hartley Feeders, a Five Rivers Cattle Feeding operation. A resident of Amarillo, Texas, Moorhouse, his wife Colette and their two sons also operate a stocker operation back home on part of the family ranch.

“As we look ahead to 2025, the beef industry continues to face new challenges and opportunities,” Moorhouse said. “From navigating changing consumer preferences to addressing sustainability and global competition, the role of the Beef Checkoff has never been more critical. I’m honored to serve as chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and to work alongside other dedicated producers and industry leaders. Together, we’ll continue to identify innovative ways to drive demand for beef, ensuring its place on plates and in hearts worldwide while upholding the values and traditions that make our industry strong.”

Cheryl DeVuyst

Vice Chair DeVuyst and her husband, Eric, own DeVuyst Ranch, a cow-calf and stocker operation. DeVuyst is also a professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University and head of its Ag Econ department. DeVuyst is involved with numerous agricultural organizations, including Oklahoma CattleWomen, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Pawnee County CattleWomen, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and American National CattleWomen. She’s also a faculty advisor for the Oklahoma Collegiate CattleWomen and is a past board member of the Western Agricultural Economics Association.

Terry Quam

Secretary-Treasurer Terry Quam operates an Angus seedstock operation, Marda Angus Farms, in Lodi, Wisconsin. Since 1940, the farm has raised cattle that meet the needs of commercial cattlemen and purebred producers throughout the country. Quam has been a longtime, active member of his community and the agricultural industry at large. His activities and leadership roles include the Wisconsin Beef Council, NCBA, Farm Bureau, local and state Cattlemen’s associations, president of the Lodi Agricultural Fair, chairman of the University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms, the Cotton and Wisconsin Corn Boards and Wisconsin Corn Growers.

“I’m excited to welcome this exceptional officer team as they step into their leadership roles for 2025,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “Each of them brings a unique perspective and a shared passion for advancing our industry. I’m confident their dedication and vision will help the Beef Checkoff continue to create meaningful opportunities and overcome the challenges we face. Together, we’ll build on our shared commitment to driving beef demand and ensuring a brighter future for all beef industry stakeholders.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Wondering where your Beef Checkoff dollars go? In a new episode of Ranch It Up, Andy Bishop, Kentucky producer and chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, breaks down the Beef Checkoff’s purpose and return on investment and dives into the 2025 budget. Get answers on how your dollars drive beef promotion. Listen here.

Frequently Asked Questions

For beef farmers and ranchers across the country, the Beef Checkoff plays a crucial role in funding research, education and promotion efforts that help strengthen the beef industry by driving demand. However, the producer and importer-led program can be complex. Where the money goes, who sits on the board, and whose watchful eye keeps everything following USDA-AMS guidelines can be confusing and is not always straightforward. To bridge this knowledge gap, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) created the Checkoff Academy — a unique educational initiative that provides producers and industry stakeholders with an in-depth look at how their Checkoff dollars are being used and managed.

What is the Checkoff Academy?

The Checkoff Academy is designed to educate beef producers on the inner workings of the Beef Checkoff program. This academy offers customized sessions that each qualified state beef council or other beef group can tailor to meet the specific needs and priorities of their local producers. This customization ensures that each session is as relevant and impactful as possible, addressing specific topics that resonate with attendees.

Sessions can range from shorter introduction sessions to a full-day program and cover a variety of topics that help deliver Beef Checkoff information in an in-person format.

“The Checkoff Academy was designed with transparency in mind,” said Andy Bishop, CBB chair. “This allows producers to gain a clearer understanding of the program and encourages them to get involved.”

Key Topics

Each Checkoff Academy begins with an interactive “get to know you” activity, helping the team understand participant backgrounds and expectations. From there, topics are tailored to the specific needs of the audience. Common topics include:

  • History of the Beef Checkoff: This session explores the challenges the beef industry faced in the 1970s and 1980s that led to the creation of the Beef Checkoff program.
  • Beef Checkoff 101: An overview of the program’s structure, how funds are regulated and the CBB board member selection process.
  • Checkoff Collections 101: A deep dive into the complex collections process, often the most interactive segment as it addresses specific questions from producers, sale barns, importers, direct-to-consumer businesses and more.
  • QSBC and CBB Relationship: An explanation of the roles of the Qualified State Beef Councils (QSBCs) and the CBB and how they work together to benefit the beef industry.
  • Funding & Program Successes: A showcase of current programs funded by the Checkoff, emphasizing real-world impact.

In addition to these core topics, the Academy explains how producers can access online resources about the Beef Checkoff, helping them stay informed and engaged with the program.

Reaching Producers Across the Country

Since its inception in 2022, the Checkoff Academy has been held in numerous locations across the U.S., including Oklahoma, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Washington, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, California and New York. To date, more than 700 producers have participated, gaining valuable insights into the program’s structure and objectives.

The Academy also works to clear up common misconceptions about the Checkoff program. “There’s a lot of misperceptions about the Checkoff, and we really feel that it’s important for producers to understand how their Checkoff money is being spent,” said Carey Brown, COO of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, while at the Checkoff Academy in Lexington, Kentucky over the summer.

Expanding the Reach of the Checkoff Academy

Moving forward, the CBB aims to extend the Checkoff Academy beyond state beef councils and cattle associations, hoping to reach members of other industry organizations like Farm Bureaus, cattlewomen groups and breed associations. This expansion will help more beef producers access the Academy’s resources, fostering greater transparency and engagement in the Checkoff program.

“The biggest key message of the Beef Checkoff Academy is that we want producers to know that their dollars are being used effectively…in the most meaningful way to drive demand for beef,” said Davis Gidney, CBB Checkoff education manager and program facilitator.

How to Get Involved

Producers interested in learning more about the Checkoff Academy or hosting a session for their association group are encouraged to reach out to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board office. With its focus on education and transparency, the Checkoff Academy empowers producers to better understand the program they fund and trust that their dollars are being managed responsibly and strategically to support the future of beef.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this podcast episode of Casual Cattle Conversations with Shaye Koester – Wanner, Kentucky cattle producer and Cattlemen’s Beef Board chair Andy Bishop and North Dakota rancher Jason Schmidt explain how the Beef Checkoff operates and address producer concerns. Learn more about how your contributions are making a difference and get answers to some of your most-asked questions submitted by producer listeners. Listen to the episode here.

Frequently Asked Questions

On this episode of The Stock Exchange podcast, Sarah Metzler, Cattlemen’s Beef Board’s Senior Director of Organizational Communications, chats with Will Jordan about the Beef Checkoff. Get the inside scoop on who can be a contractor, the role of USDA oversight and how the CBB financial team operates. Tune in here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ryan Moorhouse

Beef Country is in my blood. My wife and I live in Amarillo now, but I grew up near Benjamin in North Central Texas on my grandfather’s cow-calf and stocker operation. After graduating from Texas A&M in 1998, I went to work in the feedyards just to learn more about the beef industry and ended up making a career with Five Rivers Cattle Feeding. Today, in addition to working at Five Rivers, I also manage my portion of the family’s dryland wheat and grass stocker operation with a business partner.

One thing I’ve learned over my years in this industry is that there is a need for producers to stand up and let their voices be heard. As the current vice chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), I’m able to help represent all phases of the industry, from cow-calf to cattle feeder, using my experience to help promote beef. I try to talk with producers all over the country – generational or new to the business – and understand their points of view.

When those producers learn about my role on the CBB, we often end up discussing the Beef Checkoff. We ask you to invest your hard-earned money to advance the entire beef industry, so many of you want to share your opinions about the Checkoff and its value. Lately, I’ve been referring producers to the results of the recent independent, third-party return on investment (ROI) study.

Every five years, all U.S. commodity boards commission an independent study to evaluate their programs’ effectiveness, a requirement of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversight of these programs. Even if the CBB wasn’t required to commission this study, this information is essential. You wouldn’t invest money without expecting – and deserving – updates on your investment’s performance. Checkoff investments should be no different.

Released in early July, the latest ROI study, conducted by Dr. Harry Kaiser of Cornell University, found that each dollar invested in national Beef Checkoff demand-driving activities from 2019 to 2023 positively impacted domestic beef demand and U.S. beef exports. In fact, it created a total financial benefit of $13.41 for producers and importers who paid into the program.

Dr. Kaiser’s analysis also examined what beef demand would have been over the past five years without investments in the national Beef Checkoff. The study found that total domestic beef demand would have been 8.5% lower per year, steer prices would have been 7.8% lower per year and U.S. export beef demand would have been 11.5% lower. All in all, the national Beef Checkoff added an incremental $3.3 billion to the beef industry in 2023 alone. That $3.3 billion also had positive indirect effects by adding $4.1 billion to the U.S. economy and generating a nearly $9.5 billion increase in the U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

CBB’s hope is that the study’s findings will give more producers confidence in the Beef Checkoff and help you all trust that we’re spending your money wisely. We want producers to know that by investing our national Checkoff dollars into bigger and better demand-driving promotional, research and educational programs, we’re creating opportunities to increase overall revenue for those who pay into the program, which can lead to greater financial benefits for everyone involved over time.

But the value of the ROI study doesn’t end there. The CBB takes this data very seriously, and while a return of $13.41 sounds great, we want to do even better. The ROI study isn’t simply a platform for the CBB and the national Beef Checkoff to rest upon. It gives us information that we can use, in coordination with organizational long-term goals and the strategic initiatives of the Beef Industry Long Range Plan (LRP), to help shape current and future national Beef Checkoff programs.

As we move into the last month of FY 2024 and begin allocating national Beef Checkoff program funds for FY 2025, the ROI study’s data will be a tool to help make the best possible decisions on behalf of beef producers and importers – with the goal that those decisions will continue to propel the industry forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where the Money Goes: The Breakdown of 2025 Beef Checkoff Funding

The Beef Promotion and Research Act and Order authorizes Beef Checkoff funds to only be spent in the following program areas: beef promotion, research, consumer and industry information, foreign-market development and producer communications.

Each September, beef industry organizations present proposals – referred to as Authorization Requests, or “ARs” – to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee, comprised of members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils, to request funding for year-long marketing, education and research projects in these program areas. Those organizations approved for Beef Checkoff-funded work are referred to as Beef Checkoff contractors.

For FY25, the Beef Checkoff has eight contractors and two subcontractors. The contractors and their programs and projects are approved within each of the program areas for the fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025).

INDUSTRY INFORMATION

Strives for an accurate understanding of the beef industry and helps maintain a positive cattle-marketing climate.

Meat Institute (MI): Administers the Veal Quality Assurance (VQA) program and fosters public awareness regarding VQA’s positive impact on animal well-being. 2025 Funding: $60,000

National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA): Promotes responsible antibiotic use and combats antimicrobial resistance by maintaining consistent scientific collaboration between the animal agriculture and human health sectors. 2025 Funding: $95,000

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA): Conveys the message that beef offers unparalleled taste and nutrition while dispelling myths about beef to consumer audiences. 2025 Funding: $2,800,000

CONSUMER INFORMATION

Strengthens beef’s image by proactively sharing nutritional data and positive messages with influential stakeholders, including media, food editors, dietitians, physicians and other key figures who shape consumers’ food knowledge.

Meat Import Council of America (MICA) with subcontractor Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI): Builds beef consumption in highly populated Northeastern U.S. cities by working with restaurants and grocery store chains, marketing to specific consumer groups and garnering support from regional nutrition influencers. 2025 Funding: $900,000

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA): Provides science teachers with high-quality immersive experiences and materials to teach science through the lens of beef production. 2025 Funding: $600,000

NCBA: Increases consumer awareness of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand campaign and positions beef as the number one protein with restaurants, culinary leaders, grocery stores and other markets. 2025 Funding: $6,000,000

PROMOTION

Includes advertising, merchandising and new product development as well as training and promotional partnerships with restaurants and supermarkets that stimulate sales of beef and veal products.

MI with subcontractor New York Beef Council (NYBC): Empowers consumers with innovative approaches to access and purchase veal, elevating their veal-eating experiences through creative meal solutions that maximize taste, value and versatility. 2025 Funding: $220,000

NCBA: Connects directly with consumers to promote beef through the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand. Through beef marketing and merchandising, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. educates and inspires consumers to purchase, prepare and enjoy beef. 2025 Funding: $8,900,000

RESEARCH

Provides the foundation for virtually all Beef Checkoff-funded information and promotion by providing science related to beef nutrition, beef safety and pathogen resistance.

Meat Foundation (MF): Conducts post-harvest beef safety and science-based research on processed beef’s nutritional and health benefits. 2025 Funding: $600,000

NCBA: Works alongside universities and institutions to conduct high-quality scientific research on beef’s nutritional benefits, providing a sound factual basis to promote beef’s role in a healthy diet. 2025 Funding: $8,000,000

PRODUCER COMMUNICATIONS

Informs producers and importers about how their Beef Checkoff dollars are invested through a variety of efforts and initiatives.

Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB): Communicates to producers where their Checkoff dollars are spent through The Drive newsletter (printed and electronic versions), media relations, attendance at producer meetings, social media and other tactics. 2025 Funding: $1,800,000

FOREIGN MARKETING

Develops international markets for U.S. beef through programs aimed at expanding market penetration, gaining new market access, improving global consumer perceptions and building trust.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF): Maximizes market access for U.S. beef around the globe, develops demand among new and existing buyers overseas and increases the value of the entire carcass through export support. 2025 Funding: $8,000,000

Frequently Asked Questions

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


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

Cattle producers Andy Bishop of Kentucky, Ryan Moorhouse of Texas and Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst of Oklahoma are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2024.

Bishop, Moorhouse and DeVuyst were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during their Winter Meetings, held during the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention in Orlando, Florida. Bishop, the 2023 vice chair, will now serve as the CBB’s chair, while Moorhouse will transition from his role as the 2023 secretary-treasurer to become the 2024 vice chair. DeVuyst is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Moorhouse’s former responsibilities as secretary-treasurer.

2024 Chair Andy Bishop and his wife Meagan of Cox’s Creek, Kentucky are raising their four children on their registered Angus seed stock operation, Fairfield Farm. Bishop began his career teaching agriculture and moved into the field of agriculture lending in 2007. Bishop is the former chair of the Kentucky Beef Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference. Bishop also served as a member of the Long Range Planning Task Force and as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Young Producers Council and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Young Producers group.

“The beef industry is in a unique situation as 2024 gets underway,” Bishop said. “Producers have been dealing with adverse weather and production cost conditions over the past few years, leading to herd liquidation. While things do seem to be improving, the Beef Checkoff must continue to be vigilant, developing the right programs and messaging to keep beef demand high. I’m excited to lead the CBB as we navigate the opportunities and challenges this year sends our way.”

Vice Chair Moorhouse grew up in North Central Texas on his family’s cow/calf and stocker operation. After graduating from Texas A & M University, Moorhouse went to work for Continental Grain Cattle Feeding (now Five Rivers). He currently serves as the general manager for Hartley Feeders, a Five Rivers Cattle Feeding operation. A resident of Amarillo, Texas, Moorhouse, his wife Colette and their two sons also operate a stocker operation back home on part of the family ranch.

Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst and her husband, Eric, own DeVuyst Ranch, a cow-calf and stocker operation. DeVuyst is also a professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University and head of its Ag Econ department. DeVuyst is involved with numerous agricultural organizations, including Oklahoma CattleWomen, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Pawnee County CattleWomen, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and American National CattleWomen. She’s also a faculty advisor for the Oklahoma Collegiate CattleWomen and is a past board member of the Western Agricultural Economics Association.

“Our CBB members and staff are incredibly fortunate to have three strong beef industry leaders and advocates like Andy, Ryan and Cheryl at the helm of this organization,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “Each has unique experience and perspective to share, representing producers from across the U.S. As we begin our journey through 2024, I’m looking forward to working with this leadership team to launch programs and initiatives that drive beef demand and benefit producers nationwide.”