History:

Since 1954, North Dakota beef producers have worked together and supported using beef producer funds to promote beef to consumers. Over all those years, the beef checkoff in North Dakota has had one consistent objective. That objective has always been to provide a way to collect industry funds to be used to promote beef to consumers.  This effort began with an organization known as the North Dakota Beef Council. This organization was created by the ND Stockmen's Association in 1954 and was a totally voluntary beef checkoff program beginning at a rate of $.05 per head.  

Then, 19 years later, the North Dakota Beef Commission was legislated into existence during the 1973 legislative session with an effective date of July 1, 1973. The Commission office began operation in October of 1973. The rate of the beef checkoff began at $.10 per head. It was increased to $.25 per head during the 1981 legislative session and then again to $.50 per head in the 1983 legislative session. With the passage of the national Beef Promotion and Research Act as part of the 1985 Farm Bill, the beef checkoff became a nationwide uniform program at the rate of $1 per head. This went into effect on October 1, 1986, and still exists today.  

On August 1, 2015, following a change in the state enabling legislation during the 2015 legislative session, an additional state beef checkoff of $1 was added to all cattle sold in or from North Dakota. This brought the total amount assessed each time cattle change ownership to $2 per head, one national dollar and one state dollar. Through all the years of the Beef Checkoff, whether a voluntary or legislated program, the goal was to increase consumer demand for beef.  This purpose has been adopted into a formal mission statement of the North Dakota Beef Commission.