Beef Checkoff

SB 5793 originally raised the beef checkoff by $1 per head except for the first sale of green tagged calves. That version passed the Senate on March 7 by a vote of 30-19. In the House, the bill was amended in committee to increase the assessment by only 50 cents per head rather than $1. The bill stalled in the House Rules Committee and was returned to its current position in the Senate Rules Committee. A 50-cent increase would generate approximately $500,000 in new revenue for the Beef Commission. The goal is to increase research capacity and fund a major beef marketing effort to consumers in the Puget Sound region. HB 2073, a bill requiring the Beef Commission to be more transparent with its actions and finances, passed both chambers easily and was signed into law by Gov. Inslee on May 8.