Checkoff program bill gets robust hearing in Senate Ag Committee

Checkoff program bill gets robust hearing in Senate Ag Committee

A cow is pictured on the Jordan Ranch in Livingston, Montana. (USDA/FPAC photo by Preston Keres)A fight over a beef promotion program saw boisterous debate in a Senate Agricultural Committee meeting last week. House Bill 119, brought by House Speaker Rep. Brandon Ler, would create the Montana Cattle Committee, which would run what’s called a “checkoff program,” or promotion program for a specific product, in this case Montana beef. Perhaps the m…