Montana BeeF Council
The Montana Beef Council was created by cattlemen and for cattlemen on August 8, 1954. These visionary cattlemen were seeking a way to ensure their product had a market and find ways to build demand for beef. The Montana Beef Council is organized to protect and increase demand for beef and beef products through state, national and international consumer marketing programs of beef promotion, education and research, thereby enhancing profit opportunities for Montana beef producers. As a qualified State Beef Council under the Beef Promotion and Research order, the Montana Beef Council is responsible for collecting the nationally legislated $1 per head checkoff on all cattle marketed in Montana.
Our Mission: "The Montana Beef Council is organized to protect and increase demand for beef and beef products through state, national and international consumer marketing programs of beef promotion, education and research, thereby enhancing profit opportunities for Montana beef producers."
CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD
The National Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. The checkoff is collected by qualified state beef councils, which retain up to 50 cents on the dollar. The state councils forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which oversees the national checkoff program, subject to USDA review. The checkoff program was designed to stimulate others to sell more beef and stimulate consumers to buy more beef. This can be accomplished through initiatives such as consumer advertising, marketing partnerships, public relations, education, research and new-product development.
READ: Top 5 Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Beef Checkoff
DID YOU KNOW?
Every time you sell live cattle of any age, breed, purpose or number directly to another person, you are responsible for making sure that the $1-per-head beef checkoff assessment is sent to the Montana Beef Council.
The dollar is to be collected by the buyer from the seller, although both parties are responsible.
If you sell meat from your cattle, you are also required to send one dollar per head to the Montana Beef Council.
The checkoff is designed so that everyone pays their fair share.
HOW ARE THE CHECKOFF DOLLARS BEING USED?
- Beef and veal television, radio and print advertising.
- Food safety, health and nutritional research.
- Product technology and development.
- Educating consumers and children about beef's role in a healthy diet.
- Refuting issues that could negatively impact the industry.
WHO PAYS?
By federal law, all producers selling cattle or calves, for any reason and regardless of age, breed or purpose, must pay $1 per head to support beef/veal promotion, research and information through the Beef Promotion and Research Act. The person buying the cattle is responsible for collecting $1 per head from the seller and remitting these assessments to the Beef Checkoff Program. However, failure of the buyer to collect and remit the $1-per-head beef checkoff assessment does not relieve the seller of their obligation to pay the assessment. In addition, producers harvesting their own cattle with the intent of selling beef or beef products are responsible for remitting the beef checkoff assessment. Failure to remit the $1-per-head beef checkoff assessment is a violation of the law and may be subject to a $7,500 penalty.
HOW DO YOU PAY?
For Auction Markets, and other states please send to:
Montana Beef Council
P.O. Box 80865
Billings, MT 59108
For private treaty/country sales send to:
Montana Beef Council
301 N. Roberts
P.O. Box 202020
Helena, MT 59620