The Washington State Beef Commission (Commission) was created by statute in 1969. It is composed of two beef producers, two dairy-beef producers, two feeders, one livestock saleyard operator, one meat packer, and a representative of the Department of Agriculture (WSDA), who is a voting member.
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The Commission is funded by an?assessment of $1 per head of Washington cattle, levied at the time?of?sale. The Commission may collect an additional assessment of $0.50 per head for cattle subject to assessment under a federal order for providing funds for a national beef promotion and research program.?
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The?Commission holds regular meetings quarterly, and holds an annual meeting where the budget is proposed for discussion. Public notice of the annual meeting must be?provided?at least ten days before the meeting is held.

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Green tags are assigned to Grade A dairy cattle leaving the dairy business and entering the human food chain. The green tag is affixed to the calf's ear.?Calves identified with green tags are generally exempt from livestock inspection requirements at the first point of sale so long as certain requirements are met and the calves are not being sold or transported outside of Washington.?

Beginning July 1, 2024, the Commission's levied assessment increases from $1 to $1.50, with $0.50 not collected at the first point of sale for calves identified with green tags. ?The Commission's levied assessment increases to $2.00, with $1.00 not collected at the first point of sale for calves identified with green tags, beginning January 1, 2025. ?Beginning, January 1, 2026, the Commission's levied assessment increases to $2.50, with $1.50 not collected at the first point of sale for calves identified with green tags. ?Fees may be collected by the Livestock Identification Program of WSDA rather than the Livestock Services Division of WSDA.??

The state assessments that apply to calves identified with green tags remains at $1 per head, and a producer or owner of cattle is not eligible to request a refund for these transactions.? A producer or owner of cattle from whom an assessment is collected may request a refund of no more than:

• $1.00 per head beginning July 1, 2024;?
• $1.50 per head beginning January 1, 2025; and?
• $2.00 per head beginning January 1, 2026.?

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The Commission must hold board meetings in different geographic regions of the state throughout the year, with at least two meetings held east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.

The Commission may fund, conduct, or otherwise participate in scientific research related to beef including improving production, quality, transportation, processing, distribution, and environmental stewardship.?The Commission must include a record of the assessment amounts collected and spent, as well as the purposes for which the funds were used, in the report to the Legislature on the Commission's activities and expenditures currently required to be completed after each fiscal year.