The North Dakota Legislature has doubled the $1-per-head checkoff that ranchers pay when they sell cattle.
North Dakota’s Senate voted 45-2 to approve the bill on Wednesday. North Dakota’s House approved the measure last month.
The measure was pushed by the Stockmen’s Association. The legislation would send half of the $2 checkoff to a national board and the other half would stay with the state Beef Commission for beef research, education and promotion.
Ranchers would have the option of asking for a refund of the additional dollar.
The Independent Beef Association of North Dakota and the North Dakota Farmers Union opposed to the measure. They say it amounts to a tax and that ranchers should have the opportunity to vote on the increase.
