Idaho Beef Council outlines marketing programs, checkoff uses and industry concerns to Senate Ag Committee

The Idaho Beef Council told the Idaho Senate Committee on Agriculture on Feb. 11 that it is investing producer checkoff dollars in retail training, food-service promotions, international buyer outreach and research to grow demand for Idaho beef and to build consumer trust.

The presentation, given by TK Kuwahara of the Idaho Beef Council, emphasized that the national $1-per-head beef checkoff is divided so that 50 cents goes to the national Cattlemen’s Beef Board and up to 50 cents remains for state-level programs. "We are a state agency that was created in 1967, and we support all of the Idaho beef producers here in the state," Kuwahara said, describing the council’s mission to expand domestic and global consumer demand for beef while noting legal limits on how checkoff funds may be used.

Kuwahara told the committee the council uses its portion of the checkoff and additional state funds for retail education, food-service promotions, international marketing and producer-facing research. The council funds retailer meat-manager training, pilot programs with a major retailer that the council said returned about $1 million in traceable sales from a $10,000 Idaho investment, and research projects such as work on shelf-life extensions for exports and studies of underutilized cuts for menu applications. "If our ranchers are not taking care of the land and the animals, there won't be anything for them to pass on to the next generation," Kuwahara said, describing sustainability and multi-generational stewardship as part of the council’s consumer messaging.

On food service, the council said it is promoting Idaho "finger steaks"—a regional breaded/fried beef strip—through operator research, chef engagement and a planned burger promotion during National Burger Week that the council expects to help create lasting menu items in Idaho. The council also said it is working with Idaho processors and value-added manufacturers such as True West (Agri Beef), CS Beef (Simplot), Riverbend Meats and B and D Foods to co-brand Idaho beef where possible.

Committee members pressed the presenters on policy and production risks. Senator Taylor asked about newly implemented tariffs and potential effects on Idaho’s supply chain; Cameron Mulroney of the Idaho Cattle Association responded that the industry is watching the situation and that "we are in a deficit in the supply of cattle. We have large operations all around the state and the nation that need cattle. The demand for livestock is high." Mulroney said cattle moved out of state for feeding or processing could be subject to tariffs and that the full effects would not be known until trade flows adjust.

Mulroney also addressed wildfire impacts on grazing and herd recovery: "The cattle process to rebuild a herd is not a quick process...from the time I make a decision to retain a heifer, to the time that her first calf is eligible for processing is about 27 months," he said, and he warned that fire-related outages to grazing land could reduce herd sizes for at least two years in affected areas.

Senators asked about checkoff levels and collection. Kuwahara explained that Idaho’s state checkoff is 50 cents per head (in addition to the $1 national checkoff) and that the Idaho Brand Board collects the assessment and remits funds to the Beef Council minus a 5% collection fee. When a senator asked whether the council’s 5% payment to the Brand Board duplicates other fees, Kuwahara explained that the Brand Board’s inspectors collect the checkoff at sale points and remit it to the council, charging the collection fee for that service.

Kuwahara said the council funds research through competitive requests for proposals and described past projects including use of acerola cherry powder to extend shelf life for shipments to some export markets and trial feed additives aimed at reducing enteric methane. The council said an economic-impact study of Idaho’s beef industry is also being solicited.

The presentation concluded with an invitation for committee members to follow up with the council and with an announcement that a buyers’ mission from Japan was expected in April to visit Idaho processors. The committee recorded two routine voice votes earlier in the meeting to approve minutes from Feb. 11 and Feb. 13, 2025; both motions passed by voice vote and tallies were not specified in the transcript.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt minutes of 02/11/2025 — mover: Senator Zito; second: Senator Leahy; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). - Motion to adopt minutes of 02/13/2025 — mover: Senator Lent; second: Senator Van Orden; outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified).

The committee adjourned after the presentation and a brief Q&A. The Beef Council said it will continue retail, food-service and export programming through the fiscal year and that it will provide requested information to the committee on cattle flows and any further research results.