will review the North Dakota Beef Commission this summer.
The commission and its makeup and operations came under scrutiny during the 2021 legislative session when Senator Ertelt, a Republican from Lisbon, filed a bill to make the state Beef Checkoff voluntary. The bill died by a narrow margin in the House, with all House members who identify themselves as ranchers voting in favor of the change to make the state Beef Checkoff voluntary.
The current statute requires that whenever North Dakota cattle change ownership, the seller must remit $1 per head to the state. If the seller chooses to obtain a refund, he or she must request a refund form within 60 days of the sale and then follow the proper refund procedure within 90 days of the sale. This state Checkoff is in addition to the mandatory $1 per head federal Beef Checkoff, of which half is automatically sent to the national Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and half is retained by the North Dakota Beef Commission for promotion, research and education.