Fewer Cattle May Mean Fewer Beef Board Seats For Texas And New Mexico

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to reapportion membership on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board from 103 to 99 members. The law authorizing the board requires the board’s size to change with shifts in cattle inventory levels.

This decrease is due to changes in cattle inventories since the last board reapportionment in 2011. Under the proposal, domestic cattle producer representation on the board would decrease from 96 to 93, with Texas losing two members and New Mexico losing one. Importer representation would decrease from seven to six. The decrease is based on requirements of the Beef Promotion and Research Order, authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985.

A state or unit must have an inventory of 500,000 head of cattle to be represented on the board and is entitled to an additional member for each additional 1,000,000 head of cattle. The revised representation would be effective with nominations in 2014 for appointments effective early in the year 2015. Details of the proposed changes were published in the March 25, 2014 Federal Register.