To turn a dollar, Montana producers have to target the high-end market. Wacker said Montana can meet the order.

"The rules are very simple. They have to have source and age verification. They have to have and EID tag in their ear, a branch that says this is the ranch they were born and raised on. And they have to not have had any implants," Wacker said.

Ranchers would be assured the highest market price on the day their cattle were sold, Wacker said.

Because the contract with JD.com is with the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the group will be taking on more of a cooperative role with members committed to delivering on a sale. MSGA traditionally focuses on state and federal policy issues.

"We want to focus on policy advocacy as kind of our core business in the state Legislature and in Washington," Rice said. "But we also want to focus on how can we create value for our cow-calf sector in Montana through efforts that can commoditize beef through the supply chain," Rice said. "Obviously this discussion has been around, 'Can we create infrastructure in Montana that can grow our feeding capacity and we actually invest in processing to put attributes on cattle that fit a unique and dynamic market like China?'"

Montana sells about one million head of cattle annually.