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Your Beef Checkoff

National Beef Checkoff

Legislation was passed in the 1985 Farm Bill that established the first national checkoff program. This self-help assessment program provides a vehicle for producers to pay one dollar per head each time cattle are sold. These funds are collected at the state level with half of these monies staying instate and the other half going to the national Cattlemen’s Beef Board where they are pooled to provide programs to increase consumer demand for beef.

In 1988, cattle producers throughout the U.S. voted overwhelmingly to make the checkoff program mandatory with 79 percent voting in favor. Producer support over the years has been strong with approximately 70 percent of the producer’s surveyed voicing support for the national program. In Alabama, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is the qualified state beef council. The ACA collects and administers the national beef checkoff program in the state. All programs are approved and overseen by the Beef Checkoff Council.

FAVORITE LINKS

Beef. It's What's For Dinner.
National Beef Checkoff YouTube Channel
Cattlemen's Beef Board
Beef. It's What's For Dinner- Facebook
MyBeefCheckoff on Twitter

Alabama State Beef Checkoff

Alabama has one of the oldest state checkoff programs in the nation, being enacted into law in 1962. A 10-cent deduction was taken from each head of cattle sold in the state over the next 23 years resulting in more than 1.7 million dollars collected for beef promotion. The state checkoff was placed on the shelf when the national checkoff program went into effect in 1986. In 2003, producers voted to re-activate the state checkoff program with a 50-cent assessment on all cattle sold. In October of 2011, producers voted to increase the state checkoff assessment to $1, a change effective as of January 1, 2012.

The state checkoff program differs from the national checkoff program in three major ways:

State Checkoff program has a refund provision.
State Checkoff monies can be spent in a much broader area of programs including production and rural youth education.
A producer referendum is held every five years on whether or not to continue the State Checkoff program.

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is the organization certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture Board to manage the program. A producer task force representing all segments of the cattle industry and beef organizations meets annually to develop a marketing plan on how checkoff dollars will be spent. The annual marketing plan receives final approval by the Beef Checkoff Council.

Important Beef Checkoff Documents

2025 Alabama Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan

Producer Redirection Form

Your Checkoff Dollars at Work

Beef Education

Your Beef Checkoff takes cattle producers and meat scientists on the road to teach industry influencers about beef from pasture to plate. This has created a more educated consumer-base which means more demand for beef.

Beef Promotion

Your Beef Checkoff Program has promoted beef everywhere from the highway to the World Wide Web. Through a variety of events and targeted social media advertising, beef is sure to find a way into consumers' minds.

Consumer Events

By taking beef to consumer events and putting it on the television screen, your Beef Checkoff is providing an opportunity for consumers to learn more about beef. This better understanding of beef products means more consumer confidence in our product.

Producer Education

By implementing the Alabama BQA program, sponsoring cattle production conferences, funding research and training future cattlemen, your Beef Checkoff Program is teaching producers how to raise higher-quality beef cattle and practice improved animal husbandry and environmental stewardship.

Farm Tours

Your Beef Checkoff has brought the urban dwellers to the farm to experience all that comes with raising cattle. This hands-on approach to beef education has given pasture experience to the chefs, nutritionists and dietitians who are serving and recommending beef on a daily basis.

Teacher Education

By providing continuing education opportunities through Beef 101 and the development of beef lesson plans, your Beef Checkoff has equipped Family and Consumer Sciences and Agriscience teachers across the state to teach their students about beef from pasture to plate.

Issues Management

When issues affect the beef industry, the media wants answers. Your Beef Checkoff provides programs that train industry spokespeople on how to respond in crises. If you're not fond of standing in front of a camera, the Beef Checkoff will find someone who is,

Youth Programs

Alabama's youth are learning about beef product and cattle at events across the state. Your Beef Checkoff works to teach tomorrow's leaders about beef from pasture to plate through a variety of fun, educational events.