Through the Federation of State Beef Councils – grassroots producers at the state level were funding national beef promotion programs for many years before the Beef Checkoff Program got its start in 1985. In fact – the Federation will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2013. Federation of State Beef Councils Chairman Craig Uden says the mandatory national checkoff likely wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without the efforts at the state level – which provided assurances that producers from state councils would have a say in how the program was set up and run.
Uden notes Qualified State Beef Councils collect the dollar-per-head checkoff assessment and can retain control of half of the funds collected. He adds there are about seven-hundred producers on state beef council boards helping to make decisions about in-state promotions and supplements to national and international demand-building programs. This decision-making process – Uden says – is one way ownership of the beef checkoff remains in the hands of the producers who pay the dollar. He says it also increases confidence that the dollars collected will be used to strengthen beef demand.
Beyond that – Uden says the Federation selects half of the members of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee – which determines which checkoff programs to fund and at what amount. Representatives of State Beef Councils also sit on committees that help determine which programs are recommended for funding. State Beef Councils are often involved in the input, planning and development of beef checkoff programs as well. Uden says all of these elements are vital in a successful state/national partnership. He says that partnership is crucial to a successful beef checkoff program.
Source: NAFB News Service