The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Beef Checkoff Programme is constitutional, and will allow the programme's demand-building efforts to continue. The decision overturns a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that found the federal Beef Promotion and Research Act in violation of the First Amendment. The checkoff has helped grow consumer demand for beef more than 25% since 1998 and has increased the prices that producers receive for their cattle.

"We are elated," said Jim McAdams, an Adkins, Texas, cattleman and president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). "Throughout the lengthy litigation process, we believed in the merits of our case and the merits of the beef checkoff." He said, "We anticipated a positive decision. This is a victory for all producers who want demand-building efforts in beef safety, nutrition and promotion continued."

The beef checkoff is said to have stimulated the development of more than 2,100 new beef products since 1998.

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