With two years under its belt, the Texas beef checkoff program began its third year of collections that fund programs aimed at strengthening and expanding beef demand.
Texas ranchers voted to invest in the state beef checkoff program in 2014. The program was approved by a wide margin of 66 percent of voters.
The fiscal 2017 year began Oct. 1, 2016 for the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas (BPRCT).
“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 cattleman 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 checkoff funds help improve producer communication and education through websites like txbeef.org and texasbeefcheckoff.com. These websites provide recipes and a platform for consumers to share their reviews of products. They also contain videos, stories and photos to help encourage a strong connection to the faces and stories behind beef.
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 BPRCT. The BPRCT consists of 20 Texas cattlemen and cattlewomen appointed by the Texas commissioner of agriculture. All state beef checkoff programs are overseen by the BPRCT.
The use of funds is limited by the parameters established in state law, which are beef promotion, marketing, research and consumer education for beef and beef products.
The BEEF loving Texans campaign was launched this summer through state checkoff funds.
The consumer-driven campaign was created to share unique recipes, stories, cooking and shopping tips and expert nutrition information. The campaign is run online, on TV, radio, billboards and at retail stores and events.