Texas State Beef Checkoff Program Begins Fiscal Year
AUSTIN, TX – With two years under its belt, the Texas state beef checkoff program began its third year of collections that fund programs aimed at strengthening and expanding beef demand.
Texas beef producers voted in 2014 to establish a state-level beef checkoff program, which was approved by a wide margin of 66 percent of voters. The Texas Department of Agriculture conducted the referendum upon petition by cattle industry organizations under the authorities designated by the Texas Legislature.
The program is funded through a refundable $1 per head assessment on cattle at each point of ownership transfer in Texas. The funds are managed in accordance with Texas law by the Beef Promotion Research Council of Texas (BPRCT). The BPRCT consists of 20 Texas cattle producers appointed by the Texas commissioner of agriculture. All state beef checkoff programs are overseen by the BPRCT.
The BPRCT contracts with the Texas Beef Council to conduct demand-building programs in the areas of promotion, research and education. Some efforts made possible by the support of state checkoff dollars in FY17 will include enhanced international marketing efforts, extending the Beef Loving Texan brand, and amplifying the MD outreach program.
“The state beef checkoff program has allowed us to enhance our efforts of growing beef demand by investing more checkoff dollars into program areas that help increase profit opportunities by keeping beef top-of-mind with consumers,” said Jason Beyer, Stephenville beef producer and BPRCT chairman. “The state program has allowed us to make great strides in promoting, defending and marketing our product on behalf of my fellow Texas cattlemen and women.”
The fiscal 2017 year began Oct. 1, 2016 for the BPRCT with a budget of $10.51 million.
