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CHECKOFF PROGRAM 

What is the beef checkoff program?

The national beef checkoff program is administered by the Beef Board, which contracts with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and other national producer-controlled organizations to develop research, promotion and information programs funded through the checkoff.  

The beef industry set many goals for increasing beef demand when it launched the $1-per-head national beef checkoff program 15 years ago in October 1986.   Checkoff efforts have focused on a wide array of issues from improving overall quality to expanding our export markets. 

Beef checkoff highlights.

All producers and importers pay the same $1 per head;  One-half of the money collected by state beef councils is controlled by producers in that state, the other half goes to the beef board;  All checkoff funded national programs are budgeted and evaluated by the beef board, an independent organization of 110 check-off-paying volunteers;  Beef board members are nominated by fellow state producers. 

15^th anniversary Checkoff accomplishments:

Beef Quality Assurance: The industry strives to set standards to improve beef consistency and competitiveness -- choice and prime carcasses rose 3 percent from 1995 to 2000, and fat thickness is vastly below what it was 10 years ago.

Consumer Advertising:   The highly recognizable “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner®” campaign continues to reach more than 80% of it’s target audience.  Also, positive messages about beef’s nutrition and convenience are also in print and being aired.

Exports: – Checkoff programs are in place to take advantage of the huge growth potential for U.S. beef products in the world market; record-level exports are up 325 percent in volume and 393 percent in value since the checkoff began.

Food Communications: Beef promotions, recipes, and articles promote beef demand to media. As a result, in 2000, nearly 7,000 placements were made in publications and on television, with a total reach of as many as 1.1 billion.

Foodservice:  Seeking to put more beef on more restaurant menus, the industry partners with companies like Taco Bell and its Grilled Steak promotion, which sold more than 2 million pounds of beef during the first two weeks.

Health Influencer Partnerships:  The industry has teamed up with many health organizations like the American Dietetic Association, and has established a team of women’s health experts to deliver credible, nutrition messages about beef.

Instrument grading:  Checkoff-funded research helped support development of instrument grading systems that may help predict quality, cutability and tenderness of beef carcasses.

New Product Development:  Checkoff dollars are developing and promoting convenient and versatile beef product’s for today’s time-crunched consumers.  Since the beef industry starting focusing around the convenient category, more than 300 new products have been introduced.

Nutrition and health:  Modern beef is now lower in fat and has been shown to be higher in essential nutrients and lower in calories and cholesterol, thanks in part to checkoff research, which has also revealed other health attributes of beef.

Youth Education: On average, 3-4 million American youth are being reached each year with checkoff-funded educational materials.

PRIVATE TREATY SALES REMITTANCE FORM

Click here to get the Private Treaty Sales Remittance Form 

1. $1 Beef Checkoff must be collected and remitted on all private cattle sales, just as it is at collection points, like sale barns and packers.

2. Either the buyer or seller may collect and remit, so decide which of you will be responsible. Both the buyer and seller remain liable until the money is received.

3. Fill out the form above and send it to the Delaware Beef Advisory Board.