The Federation of State Beef Councils unifies states and works to establish an effective state/national checkoff partnership. By law, the Qualified State Beef Councils (QSBC) may retain up to 50 cents of each dollar collected and may decide to contribute a portion of their 50-cent share of the checkoff to the Federation; these dollars in turn may be invested in the national checkoff programs. The Federation is made up of producers who are selected by each state to represent them, and certified by the Secretary of Agriculture. This structure ensure that grassroots interests and opinions are included in national efforts.
The Federation of State Beef Councils and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) each elect 10 members from their respective organizations to sit on the Beef Promotion Operation Committee, which is responsible for making the final decisions with regard to national checkoff funding initiatives, subject to approval by the CBB and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Federation has a long history, with roots stretching back to a voluntary checkoff in the 1920s. Formerly part of the National Livestock and Meat Board, the Federation is now a division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), following a USDA-approved industry merger in 1996. This system provides operational efficiencies, such as sharing offices and other business resources.
The Federation is responsible for its own business decisions and financial accountability. To further define and codify itself as an independent entity, the Federation as adopted a Resolution outlining its synergy with NCBA, as well as a Statement of Beliefs and a Charter of (Independent) Principles.