AUSTIN, Texas–After a successful inaugural year, the Texas state beef checkoff program began its second year of collections that fund programs aimed at strengthening and expanding beef demand.
Texas beef producers voted in June 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.
“As beef and dairy farmers and ranchers, every dollar we invest into the program goes to help increase profit opportunities by keeping beef top-of-mind with consumers,” Austin Brown III, Beeville cattleman and BPRCT chairman, said. “I’m proud of my fellow cattlemen and women for standing up for our industry and recognizing the importance and need for this program. We are working to continue to grow beef demand by investing in program areas such as retail and foodservice, international export marketing and digital consumer marketing.”
The fiscal 2016 year began Oct. 1, 2015 for the BPRCT with a budget of $9.51 million.