Idaho Beef Council outlines checkoff-funded promotion, research and export work

TK Kuwahara, chief executive officer of the Idaho Beef Council, told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee that the council invests state checkoff dollars in promotion, research and education intended to boost demand for Idaho beef.

"The Idaho beef council is a state agency that was created in 1967," Kuwahara said, describing the council's governance by an eight-member board representing cow-calf, cattlewomen, feeder, auction and dairy sectors. She said the council is funded through a per-head assessment collected when cattle are sold: "A dollar 50 is collected and so a dollar goes to the national checkoff," she said, and outlined that up to 50 cents of the dollar remains with state beef councils for local programming.

Kuwahara emphasized the legal limits on the council's activities: "We cannot by law invest or work on anything, any lobbying efforts or issues," she said, and noted the council focuses on beef education, promotion and research. She described Idaho's industry footprint — about 74 beef ranches in the state by the ag census and roughly 2.5 million head of cattle — and said livestock is the state's top agricultural sector by value, second only to dairy.

The presentation included examples of industry partnerships and markets: Kuwahara identified major packers and processors operating in Idaho and the region (True West, CSB, Riverbend, Intermountain, CTI Foods, BND Foods) and said the council is working on retail pilots with Albertsons and on international market programs in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. She said Idaho has three representatives on the Cattlemen's Beef Board, which oversees national promotion programs.

Committee members asked about how Idaho's checkoff investments compare with other states and about the council's consumer research. Kuwahara said state-to-state comparisons vary with cattle numbers and available budget data; she said Idaho's consumer perception and consumption measures track well and that some Idaho programs, such as the Idaho beef quality assurance (BQA) and the "finger steaks" promotional work, have drawn national attention.

Kuwahara also summarized the Idaho BQA effort: "Beef quality assurance is a national program ... we really want to make sure that the consumer has the highest quality beef possible," she said, describing its focus on low-stress handling, transport and on-farm practices that reduce bruising and protect carcass value. She said the BQA program contains eight pillars of best practices and that the council invests resources to expand producer capacity and consumer trust.

The council's presentation was delivered as information to the committee; no formal committee action, funding request or policy change was proposed or recorded in the transcript.