House agriculture panel hears bill to create Montana Cattle Committee; debate centers on checkoff structure and oversight

At a House Agriculture Committee hearing, Representative Brandon Lear introduced House Bill 119, which would create a state-level Montana Cattle Committee and authorize a producer referendum on a $1-per-head assessment to fund marketing, research and education for Montana cattle and beef.

Supporters — including cattle producers, commodity groups and the Montana Beef Council — said a state checkoff would let producers promote “Montana cattle” (not permitted under the national checkoff), fund production research and pool limited marketing resources. “This bill is going to create the Montana Cattle Committee,” Representative Brandon Lear said, adding the referendum would require “50% plus one” of voting producers to approve an assessment.

Proponents described start-up and referendum logistics and pledged producer funding for initial costs. Jim Steinbeisser, a rancher and former Montana Beef Council president, cited a Cornell study he said showed a $13.41 return for every $1 invested in the national checkoff and argued the state program would let…