As a major U.S. beef producer with almost 4 million head of cattle, Iowa’s cattle industry helps fuel the state’s economy by contributing more than $6.3 billion annually.

Thanks to the state beef checkoff which launched in 2017 in Iowa, beef is at the forefront of many people’s minds.

The beef checkoff program in Iowa is funded by the $1 per head national and 50 cents per head Iowa beef checkoff program. Of that amount, 50 cents is directed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), 50 cents to the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) national checkoff program and 50 cents falls under Iowa Code for the Iowa beef checkoff board as dictated by two separate laws.

“The first thing we were able to accomplish under the Iowa state beef checkoff program is a full economic impact study generated in 2017 and an executive summary produced in May 2018,” said Chris Freland, executive director of the IBIC. “This was important to help us identify and strategize the priorities to better promote beef to Iowa’s consumers. For example, the board of directors chose to focus on advertising and promotion efforts in Iowa through billboard campaigns, Fareway mobile semi-trailers ...