Consumers around the country may associate Idaho with its famous potatoes, but Idaho ranchers know that the state’s agricultural industry produces another important product: beef. In a state where cattle outnumber people, the Idaho beef industry is an integral part of local communities and the economy of Idaho. The Idaho Beef Council is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the state’s second largest agricultural industry.  

A state agency, the Idaho Beef Council was created in 1967 by the Idaho legislature to serve as a marketing organization for Idaho’s beef industry. It is funded by the beef checkoff program - a $1.50 per head assessment on the sale of cattle in Idaho. The funds generated from this are used to increase consumer beef demand through promotion, research and education. An eight-member board of directors guides the Idaho Beef Council.