Welcome to Maine's $1 beef checkoff  -
a program that's funded by Maine beef producers in partnership with
the National Beef Promotion and Research Program. 

We're here to assist consumers, retailers, foodservice providers,
health professionals, shools and teachers improve access to accurate
and timely information about beef. This site is administered by
the Maine Beef Industry Council.

According to the Beef Act, promotion means any action aimed at advancing the image and desirability of beef and beef products with the express intent of improving the competitive position and stimulating sales of beef and beef products in the marketplace. Among checkoff programs in promotion are paid consumer advertising; retail and foodservice marketing; food-media communications; veal marketing; new-product development; beef recipe development and other culinary initiatives; and the National Beef Cook-Off.

Maine's $1 beef checkoff is administered by the Maine Beef Industry Council. The MBIC is non-profit and works on behalf of beef, dairy, and veal producers. The Maine Beef Industry Council (MBIC) is producer-directed. Producers oversee the collection of checkoff monies and the implementation of programs to increase consumption of beef and veal products. Members of the board of directors are listed at this site.

Federal law passed in 1985 requires $1 per head be sent in when any bovine is sold - whether for consumption, breeding stock, replacements, feeders, or bob calves. This applies to all beef and dairy producers/marketers.

History: The 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. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. The checkoff assessment became mandatory when the program was approved by 79 percent of producers in a 1988 national referendum vote. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.

To learn more about Maine beef and program options, please visit within this site.


Judy Powell manages the MBIC at 149 Clark Lane, Whitefield, Maine 04353
mbic@midmaine.com207/549-5972; 207/549-4602 (fax).
 note: Please e-mail or leave a phone message as we're staffed only part-time.

Suggestions re this site? Questions or comments?  Please direct these to mbic@midmaine.com.