Fri., July 04 03 -- The State’s Role in National Checkoff Programs

Suggested Lead:

State beef councils play a key role in the national beef checkoff program.  Sallie Atkins is the executive director of the Nebraska Beef Council and represents state councils on the national scene.  She says state beef councils in strong cattle producing states look rationally at how their dollars are invested.  

Cut #1    :33       Outcue: "...efforts that are there."

According to Atkins, states help roll out nationally developed programs.  That’s not the only function they have.

Cut #2    :17       Outcue: "...on the same page."

Atkins says that reporting these programs back to producers must be done often – and efficiently.

Cut #3    :20       Outcue: "...purchase beef more often."

According to Atkins, this kind of feedback to producers will be done more frequently in the future.

Cut #4    :17       Outcue: "...are doing to producers."

State beef councils, which collect the $1-per-head national beef checkoff, control 50 cents of each dollar collected in their state, with the remaining 50 cents going the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for national and international research, information and promotion programs.  By law, less than 5 cents of each dollar may be spent for national administration of the program.