{"id":37642,"date":"2014-07-02T17:30:15","date_gmt":"2014-07-02T22:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/?p=37642"},"modified":"2014-07-03T14:23:11","modified_gmt":"2014-07-03T19:23:11","slug":"ranchers-approve-added-charge-for-cattle-sales-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2014\/07\/02\/ranchers-approve-added-charge-for-cattle-sales-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranchers Approve Added Charge for Cattle Sales in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by DAMIEN MEYER\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>

The Texas Ag Commissioner's role is about much more than just farming.<\/p><\/div>\n

Every time a cow is sold in Texas, a dollar of that sale goes to industry groups that use it to promote and research beef. It’s part of a national program called the “beef checkoff,” and that charge will now rise to two dollars in Texas after a statewide vote by cattle owners.<\/p>\n

The vote to raise the fee passed by nearly 67 percent. The results were announced Wednesday and hailed by agriculture and cattle industry groups, who say the money is needed to keep beef competitive.<\/p>\n

“The beef checkoff program was initiated (at one dollar per sale) back in the 1980s; we’re down to about 40 cents on the dollar for that value today,” says Jay Evans, Chair of the Natural Resource and Environment Committee of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The association has received support from the beef checkoff program and nominates members to the board that distributes money from the program.<\/p>\n

The existing program splits the dollar charge between national and state groups. The new charge approved by the recent vote will stay in Texas and be controlled by the Texas Beef Council.<\/p>\n

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