Producer-led committees review the work 
and send recommendations to the Beef 
Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC), 
a group of 20 beef producers from the CBB 
and the Federation of State Beef Councils.
The Beef Promotion Operating Committee 
(BPOC) develops funding recommendations 
for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, which 
approves the final plan of work for the next 
fiscal year, subject to USDA approval.
Contractors do not decide how Checkoff 
dollars are invested; they are reimbursed for 
approved work on a cost-recovery basis and 
cannot make a profit from Beef Checkoff work.
Checkoff-funded programs are evaluated 
throughout the year using contractor updates, 
program goals, key performance indicators and 
external reviews to measure results, identify 
opportunities for improvement and help 
ensure Checkoff dollars are used effectively.
The Beef Checkoff is a grassroots program led by volunteer cattle producers and importers  
and overseen by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  
Here’s a quick, simple snapshot of how Checkoff-funded work moves from an idea to action:
To see who serves in your state, visit: beefboard.org/beef-board/
about-beef-board/members/ 
Who Makes Beef 
Checkoff Decisions? 
After being nominated by a certified state beef 
industry organization and appointed by the 
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, volunteer beef 
industry leaders set the direction on the CBB.
The CBB is made up of producer and importer 
volunteers from across the country who help 
guide, approve and evaluate how Checkoff dollars 
are invested. These leaders represent every 
segment of the beef industry, from small cow/calf 
producers to backgrounders to feedlot operators. 
Importers also serve on the CBB because they  
pay into the Beef Checkoff through assessments 
on imported beef, beef products and live cattle. 
National, nonprofit, industry-governed 
organizations (known as Checkoff contractors) 
submit project ideas annually to the CBB via  
“Authorization Requests.”
These Authorization Requests are proposals 
for Checkoff-funded programs in areas 
such as promotion, research, consumer 
information, industry information, foreign 
marketing and producer communications.
Program committees, composed of producers 
and importers on the CBB and Federation 
of State Beef Councils, review proposals, 
evaluate ongoing programs, and consider 
whether the work aligns with industry priorities 
and the Beef Industry Long Range Plan.
The Beef Checkoff is producer and importer-led 
from start to finish. Contractors help implement the work, 
but volunteer industry leaders guide the priorities, review the 
programs and make the funding decisions. 

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