Just a few weeks into the collection of the Iowa State Beef Checkoff, Iowa industry leaders say they hope the additional funds will help promote and sell more Iowa beef.

Through a producer referendum last year, the Iowa State Beef Checkoff has been reinstated. Cattle producers across Iowa voted in November in favor of the Iowa State Beef Checkoff. The official vote was then certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in December.

The Iowa State Beef Checkoff program is funded through an additional 50 cents per head assessment on the sale of cattle sold in Iowa and on the sale of "state of origin" Iowa cattle. Collections for the program began on March 1.

The Iowa State Beef Checkoff program is similar to the current national $1 per head Beef Checkoff Program. However, the state checkoff is funded separately. Both...