Beef Checkoff

The beef checkoff is a producer-funded marketing and research program designed to increase domestic and/or international demand for beef. This can be done through promotion, research and new product development, and a variety of other marketing tools. The Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversee the collection and spending of checkoff funds.

As mandated by law, checkoff dollars must be invested in programs to increase consumer demand for beef, and to create opportunities to enhance beef producer profitability. The act defines six program categories: promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications. It's important to note here that the law does not allow checkoff dollars to be invested in production research or to influence government policy or action, including lobbying.