Arizona Beef Council (Council)

Revision Date: 
Friday, September 2, 2016

Authority

The Arizona Beef Council was created in 1970 (Laws 1970, Chapter 87).  Statutory authority is found at A.R.S.§§3-1231 through 3-1239.  The Council was transferred to the Arizona Department of Agriculture when the Department was created in 1991.  Council statutes were transferred and renumbered at that time, from A.R.S.§§24-161 through 24-168 to A.R.S.§§3-1231 through 3-1239.

Function

According to the Arizona Beef Council’s website, the Council is a not-for-profit organization created to establish a self-financed program to help develop and maintain state, national, and foreign markets for beef and beef products.  In order to finance its programs, the Council is authorized by statute to collect a maximum fee of one dollar per head on cattle at the same time, place, and manner as brand inspections.

The Council is authorized to: conduct scientific research and develop marketing methods for beef and beef products; monitor state and federal legislation with respect to tariffs, duties, reciprocal trade agreements, import quotas, and other matters concerning the beef industry; contract for promotion of beef and development of new markets; issue research grants to either finance studies or to purchase facilities necessary to carry out the purposes of the Council; and cooperate with or enter into contracts with any local, state, or nationwide organization engaged in work similar to that of the Council.

The Council consists of nine producers, appointed by the governor to three-year terms. Three members must be producers of range cattle, three must be cattle feeders, and three must be dairymen.

The Department of Agriculture, Animal Services Division performs administrative functions for the Arizona Beef Council (A.R.S.§3-102).

History

In 1970, the Legislature created the Arizona Beef Council “to provide the cattle industry with authority to establish a self-financed program to help market, develop, maintain and expand the state, national and foreign markets for beef and beef products produced, processed or manufactured in this state, and the use and consumption of such beef and beef products.” (Laws 1970, Chapter 87, Section 1. Legislative intent; and Section 2. Title 24, Chapter 1, Article 4; titled Arizona Beef Council)

The 1970 measure outlined the powers and duties of the Council; its membership, appointments and terms; method for refunds; and a process for producers to terminate the Council by petition and referendum.

In 1978 an omnibus measure related to crimes and offenses classified a fraudulent claim for a refund from the Council as a class 5 felony (Laws 1978, Chapter 201).

Laws 1979, Chapter 124 increased the maximum fee to be collected by the Council from 10 cents to 25 cents per head on cattle and calves over six months of age. The measure retained the provision exempting cattle that were inspected when no change in ownership was involved. The measure also modified provisions regarding the minimum amount of a refund.

Laws 1985, Chapter 32 increased the maximum fee to be collected by the Council from 25 cents to one dollar on cattle and calves over one month of age (reduced from six months of age).

Laws 1987, Chapter 56 provided that the Council fee applied to cattle regardless of age; removed the authority for the Council to issue a refund of the fee; and exempted certain transactions related to third party sales from the fee.

In 1991, the Arizona Department of Agriculture was established and assumed the responsibilities of several stand-alone agencies, including the Arizona Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture, the Arizona Livestock Sanitary Board, the State Veterinarian, the State Egg Inspection Board, and the State Dairy Commission.  Some of these agencies had existed since territorial day (Laws 1989, Chapter 162 and Laws 1990, Chapter 374).

See entry for Arizona Department of Agriculture, elsewhere in this document.

Sources

  • A.R.S.§§ 3-1231 to 3-1239 and A.R.S.§3-102
  • Session Laws
    • Laws 1970, Chapter 87
    • Laws 1978, Chapter 201
    • Laws 1979, Chapter 124
    • Laws 1985, Chapter 32
    • Laws 1987, Chapter 56
    • Laws 1989, Chapter 162
    • Laws 1990, Chapter 374
  • www.arizonabeef.org for information on the Beef Checkoff Program
  • www.beefboard.org for description of the federal Beef Promotion and Research Act

Related Collections at Arizona State Archives:

  • Record Group 60: Livestock Sanitary Board
  • Manuscript Group 12: Arizona Cattle Growers Association