DENVER – State beef councils will supplement the Beef Checkoff Program by $6.6 million in fiscal 2013, which began Oct. 1.

The Federation of State Beef Councils said the contribution would be added to $40.3 million invested through the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and approved by the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. The funding will go toward national and international research, education and promotion programs funded by the Beef Checkoff program.

“A coordinated state and national Beef Checkoff Program makes the most of the $1-per-head checkoff beef producers must pay,” said Craig Uden, a Nebraska beef producer and chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils. “It also helps assure a grassroots decision-making process that allows producers at the state level to have additional say in how and where their beef checkoff dollars are invested.”

State beef councils in 45 states collect $1-per-head beef checkoff, and keep 50 cents of each dollar for use in authorized state, national and international programs. The other 50 cents is remitted to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). Collections from beef importers and from cattle producers in states with no qualified state beef council are conducted by the CBB.