The plan to add another $1 per head checkoff collection on each cattle sale came this fall when Vilsack said the current $1 checkoff is not keeping up with inflation amid a declining herd population – something agreed upon by most of the beef industry.
But Vilsack’s plan was to use a different law, the 1996 Generic Commodity Research and Information Act, rather than a 1985 law that allows states to administer the checkoff. Vilsack wanted federal agencies to collect and administer the fees, something the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and 45 state cattlemen groups opposed.
“We greatly appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s action, allowing the industry stakeholders to continue working together to enhance the Beef Checkoff Program," says Bob McCan, president of the NCBA. "All of us involved in this process have been very mindful of the tremendous producer support of the checkoff, and we will continue to work with the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group and our members to enhance the program while building on that support.” 
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