In accordance with USDA marketing regulations, commodity boards are obliged to conduct a referendum on check-off programs at four-year intervals.  The recent referendum on the cranberry check-off disclosed that only 26 percent of cranberry growers representing 20 percent of production volume approved of the check-off program, falling far short of the 50 percent support required.

The Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 facilitated the establishment of commodity boards to allow for expenditure on research and promotion. Activities of Boards are subject to  oversight by the Agricultural Marketing Services.

There has been considerable opposition by cattlemen to state and national boards concerning the use of funds collected from farmers as evidenced by extensive and expensive litigation.

When producers feel that their check-off funds do not contribute to expanded markets and hence prices and margins, disaffection with check-offs occurs. This leads to changes in the structure, staffing or activities of commodity boards or in extreme cases as with cranberries, dissolution of programs.