Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves 2027 Checkoff Plan of Work

The Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $39.5 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2027, subject to USDA approval.

In action at the end of its September 2-3 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 12 "Authorization Requests" - or grant proposals - for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen's Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen's Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.

Nine contractors and four subcontractors brought 13 Authorization Requests worth approximately $49.6 million to the BPOC this week, approximately $10.1 million more than the funds available from the CBB budget.

"Each year, our contractors bring forward strong ideas for reaching consumers, strengthening demand for beef and addressing the issues that matter to our industry," said Cheryl DeVuyst, chair of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. "With limited Checkoff dollars available, our responsibility is to carefully evaluate those opportunities and invest in the programs we believe can deliver the greatest value for beef producers.

"I'm proud of the thoughtful work this committee put into reviewing the Authorization Requests and making some difficult funding decisions. We had productive discussions about where Checkoff dollars can make the greatest impact, and ultimately, we came together around a budget that supports important work in research, promotion, foreign marketing, industry and consumer information and producer communications. I appreciate the time and commitment of our committee members and contractors, and I'm looking forward to seeing this work come to life in FY27."

In the end, the BPOC approved proposals from eight national beef organizations for funding through the FY27 Cattlemen's Beef Board budget, as follows:

• American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture - $750,000
• Cattlemen's Beef Board - $2,000,000
• Meat Foundation - $750,000
• Meat Import Council of America / Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative - $1,000,000
• Meat Institute/New York Beef Council - $270,000
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association - $26,050,000
• United States Cattlemen's Association/Duke University/University of Florida - $598,000
• United States Meat Export Federation - $8,100,000

Broken out by budget component - as outlined by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 - the FY27 Plan of Work for the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board budget includes:

• $9,270,000 for promotion programs, including beef and veal campaigns focusing on beef's nutritional value, eating experience, convenience, and production.
• $9,598,000 for research programs focusing on pre- and post-harvest beef safety, scientific affairs, nutrition, sustainability, product quality, culinary technical expertise, and consumer perceptions.
• $7,850,000 for consumer information programs, including Northeast influencer outreach and public relations initiatives; national consumer public relations, including nutrition-influencer relations and work with primary- and secondary-school curriculum directors nationwide to get accurate information about the beef industry into classrooms of today's youth. Additional initiatives include outreach and engagement with food, culinary, nutrition and health thought leaders; media and public relations efforts; and supply chain engagement.
• $2,700,000 for industry information programs, including dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from other groups, as well as funding for Checkoff participation in the annual national industrywide symposium about antibiotic use. Additional efforts in this program area include beef advocacy training and issues/crisis management and response.
• $8,100,000 for foreign marketing and education, focusing on 13 regions, representing more than 90 countries around the world.
• $2,000,000 for producer communications, which includes investor outreach using national communications and direct communications to producers and importers about Checkoff results. Elements of this program include ongoing producer listening and analysis; industry collaboration and outreach; and continued development of a publishing strategy and platform and a state beef council content hub.

The full fiscal 2027 Cattlemen's Beef Board budget is approximately $43.9 million. Separate from the Authorization Requests, other expenses funded include $332,000 for program evaluation; $833,000 program development; $214,000 for Checkoff education resources; $540,000 for USDA oversight; $230,000 for state services; $200,000 supporting services and litigation; and approximately $2.0 million for CBB administration. The fiscal 2027 program budget represents an increase of 3.4% percent, or $1.5 million, from the $42.4 million FY26 budget.