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BEEF COMMISSION
[Authorized: NDCC Chapter 4 and 4.1]
The Beef Promotion Act was first introduced in the 1971 Legislature to establish a Beef Commission that would promote the sale of North Dakota beef, (S. L. 1971, Ch. 609) however, the bill did not pass until the 1973 session (S. L. 1973, Ch. 61). Powers and duties of the Commission have been expanded by the Legislature in successive legislative sessions.
The purpose of the Commission is to promote the state’s beef industry, to provide programs that increase the consumption of beef, to encourage research and educational activities of the National Livestock and Meat Board and the state Beef Industry Council, and to find ways to resolve problems of production primarily of animal health and human nutrition (S. L. 1973, Ch. 61).
Since 1973 the Commission has been given funding from the National Beef Board and assessments levied on per head of cattle sales. In 1981 fifty per cent of funds was to be spent on research, educational, and informational events, and to increase the promotion of beef production in North Dakota (S. L. 1981, Ch. 99). This percentage requirement was discontinued in 2001 (S. L. 2001, Ch. 73). Also in 1981, the Legislature required several agricultural commodity groups including the Beef Commission, Dairy Products Promotion Commission, Sunflower Council, and the Wheat Commission to share office space and administrative responsibilities (S. L. 1981, Ch. 96). This was repealed in 2005 (S. L. 2005, Ch. 68).
Nine members are appointed by the Governor to the Beef Commission: three beef producers, one cattle feeder, one dairy producer, one public livestock market representative, and three representatives of the public at large. Members serve no more than two terms and if a member misses three consecutive meetings, a vacancy is declared and an election is held. Each voting member must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state, and must be actively engaged and managing a venture with a substantial amount of income coming from the cattle industry within a five-year period (S. L. 2003, Ch. 61). Four non-voting ex-officio members serve one-year terms (S. L. 2009, Ch. 80). The chair and other officers are selected by the Commission. The Commission must hold three regular meetings each year plus special meetings may be requested by the chairman or three voting members.
The North Dakota Beef Commission is part of the Agricultural Commodity Council. At the request of the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Legislature amended the Century Code so that the Commissioner or designee became a non-voting member of the Council. Other commodity group members are the Barley Council, Beekeepers Association, Corn Utilization Council, Dairy Promotion Commission, Dry Bean Council, Dry Pea and Lentil Council, Oilseed Council, Potato Council, and the Soybean Council (S. L. 2009, Ch. 70, Ch. 80).
CHRONOLOGY
1971 First proposal of the Beef Promotion Act submitted but denied. (S. L. 1971, Ch. 609).
1973 Legislature creates the Beef Commission and establishes a five member board
including the Commissioner of Agriculture as a member (S. L. 1973, Ch. 61). Funding is accepted from the National Beef Board (S. L. 1973, Ch. 59).
1977 Amendment to Century Code authorizes the Commission to receive funding from the National Beef Board and expands the uses and purposes of assessments (S. L. 1977, Ch. 59).
1979 Legislature approves of subsidizing, initiating, and encouraging research intended to solve beef production problems (S. L. 1979, Ch.108).
1981 State law required several agricultural commodity groups including the Beef
Commission, Dairy Products Promotion Commission, Sunflower Council, and the Wheat Commission to share offices and administrative responsibilities (S. L. 1981, Ch. 96). Repealed in 2005 (S. L. 2005, Ch. 68).
1981 Fifty per cent of assessment levied is allocated for research and educational activities (S. L. 1981, Ch. 99). This percentage was eliminated in 2001 (S. L. 2001, Ch.73).
1985 The Commission is authorized to spend proceeds of a 50 cent per head assessment on all cattle sold by North Dakota residents.
2003 Legislature expands the duties of the Commission, defines assessments, clarifies board qualifications and board meetings, and administrative requirements (S. L. 2003, Ch. 61).
2009 Legislature makes changes in the membership nomination and qualification process.
Beef Commission joins the Agricultural Commodity Council. Chapter amended in North
Dakota Century Code (S. L. 2009, Ch.70, Ch. 80).
2011 The Century Code was amended [NDCC 4-24-09] relating to investments in the agricultural commodity funds as established by the State Treasurer [NDCC 21-10-07]. The Beef Commission was included in this legislation (S.L. 2011, Ch. 61).
2017 Legislation amended the Agricultural Commodity Assessment Funds an investment income allocation as established by the State Treasurer [NDCC 21-10-07]. Twenty percent of the investment income derived from the Beef Commission was credited to the general fund to pay for accounting, printing, data processing, legal, and other services, and eighty percent allotted to the Beef Commission. Concerning the Commissioner of Agriculture and meetings of the Beef Commission, the Commissioner of Agriculture participated as a non-voting member at any regular or special meeting of a Beef Commission, including executive sessions and called meetings with the representatives from each commodity group to engage in collaborative efforts in order to promote and market agricultural commodities (S.L. 2017, Ch. 61).
SERIES
32279 North Dakota Beef Commission Records, 1955-1974
SOURCES
North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 4 and 4.1.
North Dakota Secretary of State Blue Book.
North Dakota State Legislature Session Laws.
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