GREAT FALLS — The national beef checkoff has been in place since 1986, which is a $1 fee for each head of cattle sold. It goes to support research, marketing, and other beef endeavors.
Now, there is Montana House Bill 119, which is suggesting a second, statewide checkoff in Montana, which would fund the Montana Cattle Committee.
Watch the full story:
“This would add a dollar to all livestock that are being sold in Montana to each animal," Montana Farmer’s Union President Walter Schweitzer said.
Schweitzer’s main concern is that other states who have a state checkoff use the agencies that monitor the federal checkoff to manage it.
Creating a new agency is unnecessary and a poor use of the money.
Schweitzer said, “First and foremost is that it creates a second bureaucracy that's not necessary.”
“It promotes beef but it… doesn't do so on a state level," Montana Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Casey Mott said.
Mott explains that this bill would simply be the first step, setting up a vote for cattle producers.
“The producers themselves are going to vote whether they would like to have this committee”
Although one dollar sounds small, it would quickly add up.
“One dollar on any given year here in Montana would be about a million and a half to two million dollars collected," Schweitzer said.
While the Farmers Union is concerned with the money going toward creating the Montana Cattle Committee, the Farm Bureau Federation says the money would be invaluable to research and promotion of Montana beef.
“The research that we could do within the state would, would reap more return than a dollar per head," Motts said.
Another concern for the Farmers Union is the committee itself.
The members would be nominated by cattle producers, but they would need to be appointed by the governor.
“This checkoff creates a committee, a politically appointed committee by the governor," Schweitzer told MTN.
However, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation says that, because of the nomination process, the vote would be in the hands of the people.
“This is going to be run by ranchers," Mott noted. "It's not…run by the government. It's run by ranchers.”
Another important factor the Farm Bureau stressed is that you can opt out of the program altogether.
“If you really don't want to participate, you can request a refund,” Mott said
The Montana Farmers Union is not opposed to the idea of a state checkoff altogether.
They just do not agree with the current writing of House Bill 119.
“We can only support one that's going to do it right," Schweitzer said.
Both organizations suggesting reaching out to local legislators to voice your opinion on the bill.
House Bill 119 passed the House on Jan. 7.
The next step is a hearing with the Senate Ag Committee, which has not yet been scheduled.
