June 6, 2006

US beef industry to review beef checkoff programme

US beef industry leaders has come together to improve the national beef checkoff programme to strengthen its role in the US beef industry, a statement from the US Beef Checkoff Task Force said.

The Beef Checkoff Task Force said that it would be recommending improvements in the beef checkoff. Members of the task force identified critical issues that the checkoff may need to address.

The task force said that the beef checkoff has helped build beef demand and move production and has improved consumer perception of the nutritional value of beef and its products, the statement said.

An issue that would be included in the review would be if importers should be excused so that funds would not be used to promote imports to the US, something that was especially grating to local producers.

A second issue would be if the checkoff fee should be increased from the current $1 per head to a higher assessment to improve the programme's buying power.

The beef checkoff programme was established in 1985 and requires all beef and dairy cattle producers to pay US$1 per head in all cattle selling transactions to fund beef advertising and promotion, consumer information, industry research and producer education.