National Cattlemen September 2026 | Page 24

Highlighting successful programs of NCBA as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

The National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association is a proud contractor to the Beef Checkoff. The work NCBA conducts on behalf of U. S. farming and ranching families is focused on the areas of Consumer Information, Promotion, Research and Industry Information.

The Research Authorization Request( AR) leverages beef research experts to strengthen understanding, support informed decision-making, and engage key audiences across academia, industry, health and consumer spaces. The five programs from Research are highlighted here.

THE BEEF SAFETY PROGRAM advances research focused on cattle-borne pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and production practices that may influence food safety outcomes. The program identifies pre-harvest strategies that reduce safety risks, support science-based improvements, and reinforce confidence in beef. Activations include peer-reviewed publications, such as the first publication on pre-harvest foreign material detection in beef. Other examples include research insights shared at scientific conferences and events, and the annual Beef Industry Safety Summit, which convenes food safety leaders and scientists to review emerging research, explore advancements in monitoring and testing, and collaborate on solutions that benefit the entire industry.

State Beef Council Extension- In 2026, state collaborations include co-funding two research projects around Salmonella detection and mitigation strategies – research that is critical for improving industry standards and keeping beef safe for all of our consumers.

THE PRODUCT QUALITY PROGRAM encompasses research on beef quality, including muscle characteristics, carcass traits, tenderness and yield, as well as flavor, palatability and the application of emerging technologies. In the past year, this work has been amplified through more than 15 placements across trade media, presentations, podcasts and video content. Additional visibility of a variety of funded research includes 27 accepted presentations at the annual American Meat Science Association( AMSA) Reciprocal Meat Conference( RMC)— a premier forum that convenes more than 900 scientists, educators, industry leaders, and students to share research and inform the future direction of the meat industry.

State Beef Council Extension- In 2026 at the AMSA RMC, state activations included 16 co-funded research abstracts presented focusing on critical quality dimensions such as freezing and thawing, shelf-life optimization, red meat yield and other key product attributes.

THE HUMAN NUTRITION PROGRAM advances research that deepens understanding of beef’ s role in a balanced, healthful diet and provides the scientific foundation for industry nutrition education and communication. Initiatives include peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and targeted outreach to academics, health professionals and consumers. For example, 13 publications were published in a variety of high-impact journals in 2026, and at the American Society of Nutrition annual meeting, research projects will be presented for experts in the field to gain insights into innovative beef nutrition research.

State Beef Council Extension- In 2026, state activations include seven engagements with SBCs focused on research insights and beef messaging review, alongside eight contracted research projects examining beef intake and its effects on gut, cardiovascular, muscle and reproductive health. These research initiatives also serve as foundational content for complementary programs, including medical and health professional toolkits provided to SBCs, reaching nearly 5,000 medical professionals and more than 500,000 consumers.

THE BEEF SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM is grounded in a commitment to responsibly produce beef for consumers. This research program evaluates sustainability through a comprehensive framework that balances environmental stewardship, economic viability and social responsibility across the beef value chain. In 2026, activations include advancing industry understanding of the unintended consequences associated with increasing cattle size and convening experts through the Welfare Working Group, which is focused on flagship research addressing today’ s most pressing animal welfare issues.

State Beef Council Extension- In 2026, state activations include a pertinent research project focused on assessing processing plant infrastructure in response to rising cattle sizes. Additional engagement includes a keynote presentation on water resilience at the Reciprocal Meat Conference, featuring speakers from multiple beef supply chain partners.

THE MARKET RESEARCH PROGRAM delivers critical insights and perspectives across the broader food landscape, with a focused emphasis on beef. In 2026, a key activation is the launch of the monthly Beef Marketplace Updates on BeefResearch. org, which provides timely retail snapshots and analysis of beef’ s performance in the marketplace designed to inform both producers and stakeholders, reinforcing the value and strength of beef as a leading protein choice.

State Beef Council Extension- Market Research maintains a strong partnership with SBCs through the State Dashboard initiative, which currently spans 43 states. These dashboards deliver localized insights into beef demand, profitability, and consumer behavior, enabling SBCs to tailor marketing and branding strategies to their specific regions.

24 SEPTEMBER 2026 www. NCBA. org