Posted: January 5, 2012 at 8:36 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
The beef checkoff has launched a super cool, clever and creative way to educate people about what cows eat. It’s called “Cow Chow” (you have to love that!) and it’s an online game and video series designed to answer common questions about cattle diets.
The 10-question game and corresponding videos encourage consumers to explore what cattle eat from birth to the feedyard. The first-of-their-kind “Cow Chow” videos were filmed almost exclusively by cattle in Kansas, South Dakota, Texas and Florida wearing specially-rigged GoPro cameras to share this important animal care story from the cows’ eye view.
Curious consumers can now see exactly what cattle really eat every day as they compete in an interactive quiz game. Upon completion of the game, users can post results and badge to their Facebook page, and challenge their friends to beat their best score. The Cow Chow game and videos emphasize the attention cattle farmers and ranchers pay to their animals, their land and their communities.
“We know people are interested in what cattle eat,” says Roger Butler, a dairy producer from Lake Okeechobee, Fla. “Cow Chow shows how proper cattle diets help farmers and ranchers raise high-quality, great-tasting and nutritious beef they can feel good about feeding their families.”
The “Cow Chow: Exploring What Cattle Eat” game and videos are hosted on the checkoff’s ExploreBeef.org website where consumers can also learn more about beef safety, environmental stewardship, animal care and beef nutrition. The videos are also available on the Explore Beef YouTube channel.
Posted: February 11, 2011 at 1:00 pm
By John Davis
Beef operations are a big part of any dairy farm, so it’s only fitting that a dairy man has risen to one of the top leadership positions at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). During the recent Cattle Industry Convention in Denver, Scott George, a family dairy farmer from Cody, Wyoming, was elected as the new vice president for NCBA, switching over from leadership with the Federation of State Beef Councils where he just finished a year as chairman.
In this edition of the Milking Parlor, we talk with George and get his thoughts on the new structure for the Federation, as well as the NCBA’s new Beef Industry Long Range Plan that includes the vision statement of “An industry united around a common goal of being the world’s most trusted and preferred source of beef and beef products.” In addition, George gives us his thoughts on how the beef industry needs to work with all of the other agriculture industries out there to make sure consumers have confidence in their food supply.
It’s an interesting conversation, and you can hear more of what he has to say or download the podcast here:
Milking Parlor Podcast Scott George, new VP of NCBA
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here.
Posted: August 2, 2010 at 9:14 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
More than 30 new members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board were sworn in at the Cattle Industry Summer meeting last week, along with all the continuing members of the board. Since at least 20 percent of the beef supply in the nation comes from dairy farms, many of those who help to decide how the $1 per head beef checkoff is spent on the national level are dairy producers.
One of the new members on the board is J. Craig Kesler, South Carolina. Craig has a dairy farm of Jersey cattle and a cow/calf operation and is serving on the Advertising Committee for CBB. Kesler says what motivated him to get involved was that you “have to step forward as a farmer and make your voice heard” and he urges other producers, “Get involved.”
Listen to an interview with Craig Kesler from the summer meeting here: Craig Kesler Interview
Another dairy producer new to the CBB is Kevin Frankenbach of Missouri. Kevin is a dairy producer from Hannibal who has been serving on the Missouri Beef Industry Council prior to be appointed to the national board and says his work on the state level helped prepare him for this position. He’s on the Culinary and New Product Development Committee of CBB.
Listen to an interview with Kevin here: Kevin Frankkenbach Interview
Coverage of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board meeting at the Cattle Industry Summer Convention can be found on mybeefcheckoffmeeting.com.
Posted: May 25, 2010 at 5:13 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Federation of State Beef Councils met with USDA officials today to discuss NCBA’s proposed governance structure and held a conference with reporters afterward to review the outcome of the meeting.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter this week to Illinois cattle producer and NCBA President Steve Foglesong expressing the need for additional clarity regarding the proposed governance structure. Foglesong says NCBA’s goals are to fuel producer profitability by building and protecting beef demand and to preserve producers freedom to operate without excessive government intervention. “I believe our proposed governance model helps deliver on these goals by increasing producer input into our programs and policies and by enabling quicker decision making through a 29 member board, rather than our current 274 member board.”
In his letter, Vilsack expressed concern that the proposed structure would “weaken the firewall between policy and checkoff funded activities, thereby jeopardizing the Beef Checkoff program and set a bad precedent for checkoff programs in general.” Foglesong and Scott George, NCBA Federation Division Chair and Wyoming dairy/beef producer addressed each of Vilsack’s concerns one at a time in answer to questions from reporters.
“The problem we’re having here is a break down in understanding what ‘firewall’ is,” said George. “We believe the firewall is an accounting firewall and that has been strictly enforced and will continue to be strictly enforced.”
Foglesong stressed their transparency throughout the restructuring process. “This is a draft,” Foglesong said. “That’s one of the reasons that it passed by 94 percent at the convention. We made changes and we listened to people.”
Industry representatives will be meeting with other groups who have concerns about the restructuring this week.
Posted: May 5, 2010 at 8:26 pm
By News Editor
Attention dairy farmers – applications for the third annual National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award are now being accepted.
The National BQA Award will recognize one outstanding beef and dairy farmer that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations. A common trait among all contest entrants must be a strong desire to continually improve BQA on their operations while encouraging others to implement the producer education program.
The National BQA Award is funded by Safeway’s Rancher’s Reserve beef brand and Cargill, and supported by The Beef Checkoff Program. The program promotes beef quality assurance in all segments of the industry, including commercial cow-calf, seedstock, stocker operators, feedlots and dairy operations.
“We’re in the business of caring for animals, and cattlemen and women understand that animal care and producing delicious, wholesome food go hand-in-hand,” noted John Maas, DVM, MS, veterinarian with the University of California at Davis Cooperative Extension, seedstock producer from Northern California and chairman of the Producer Education Committee. “The BQA program is just one example of the many ways that we, as an industry, stand behind this principle.”
Two National BQA award winners will be selected by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and affiliated groups. Nominations can be submitted by any organization, group, or individual on behalf of a U.S. beef producer. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, however the nominees are expected to be involved in the preparation of the application.
Source: Dairy Herd Management and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Posted: February 7, 2010 at 6:19 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Dairy farmers are also beef producers and their representation on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board which administers the $1 per head beef checkoff was at the very top level this past year in chairperson Lucinda Williams, a dairy producer from Massachusetts. Despite keeping up a hectic schedule of meetings this past year, Lucinda still managed to find time to make checkoff-themed quilts for the staff and other board members, which she presented during the recent Cattle Industry Conference in San Antonio where she ended her term.
This episode of the Milking Parlor podcast features some comments from Lucinda about how the industry needs to address threats from animal activists, as well as from incoming Beef Board chairman Dan Dierschke about Lucinda’s work on behalf of producers, and from Ted Greidanus, a California rancher who breeds Holstein calves for the beef industry.
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here. Listen to or download this episode in the player below.
The Milking Parlor podcast is sponsored by:
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: November 19, 2009 at 10:33 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
As we prepare for the holiday season, the Beef Checkoff is reminding people to give thanks for our abundant food supply.
In giving thanks, you may also receive. Leaving a message of thanks for our farmers and ranchers on the Pasture to Plate website enters you into a drawing for an Omaha Steaks Ideal Gift Collection of steaks and burgers valued at $135.
At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting last week, Massachusetts dairy farmer and Cattlemen’s Beef Board chairman Lucinda Williams talked about giving thanks and the simultaneous campaign to get producers to be active in telling the real story about food production in this country by engaging in the “Food Fight” effort.
She says they are encouraging producers to get out an tell that story on Facebook and Twitter and email, (as well as traditional methods like actual face to face communication!) and encouraging everyone to give thanks for the safe and abundant food supply we enjoy in this country. Lucinda has just started on Twitter and you can follow here here @mcwillclan.
Listen to an interview with Lucinda from NAFB here:
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: November 13, 2009 at 8:49 pm
By News Editor
Next week is the start of a national food fight – are you ready to join in? Beginning Nov. 16, dairy farmers and beef producers can join the Beef Checkoff’s five-day FOOD FIGHT by speaking up! Now more than ever, it’s vital that farmers help Americans realize what they have to be thankful for as they prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. To learn more, and get tools and tips to participate, visit the FOOD FIGHT website.
With a virtually constant flow of misinformation in mainstream media of late, it’s easy to get frustrated when you’re working your land and cattle in environmentally sound and caring ways. Of particular concern is the fact that so many of the attacks on the beef industry are based on emotional pleas rather than facts or science.
In addition to all the positive research, messages and tools your beef checkoff investment provides, beef producers, dairy farmers and importers need to tell their own stories. You need to get your voice heard in the debate and put a face on your industry.
Source: Beef Checkoff
Posted: October 7, 2009 at 4:14 pm
By News Editor
As a dairy producer, you are also a beef producer. Recently, the results of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) pilot project were released. The pilot project evaluated the quality of market dairy cows being sold at auction. The study was designed to give dairy producers more information about how their animals are valued within the beef chain when they are sold through auction markets. The BQA program is partially funded by the beef checkoff.
“Trickle-down economics is observed daily in the salvage cattle market,” says Gary Smith, Ph.D., Monfort Endowed Chair in Meat Science, Colorado State University. “Packer-buyers pay more for animals that will yield more or higher-quality products – and that goes straight to the producers’ bottom line.”
The goal of this project was to provide dairy producers information that was not previously available about the potential value of their market cows and bulls. It also underscores that existing industry recommendations to cull animals in a timely manner are one of the best measures to maintain their value and enhance their carcass quality.
While this study does support the concept that premiums exist in the marketplace for market cows of higher quality, an individual operation’s economic analysis should also be a part of the decision-making process.
The primary obstacle to educating dairy producers about Beef Quality Assurance principles has stemmed from the limited income generated from market dairy cows, and an apparent lack of perceived ability to add value. Ultimately, this research will help to meet consumer demand for high-value beef by improving the quality, consistency and safety of beef products from dairy cows.
“There are premiums to be had for producers who sell high-quality market cows. When every dollar counts, it’s important for producers to remember that six percent of total beef production is attributable to market dairy cows,” says Kevin Good, Senior Market Analyst, CattleFax. “Paying attention to quality issues improves salvage value by making animals more desirable for buyers.”
The pilot program was conducted in collaboration with the Idaho Beef Council and California Beef Council.
Posted: May 18, 2009 at 5:59 pm
By News Editor
A new beef checkoff-funded virtual tour titled “Dairy Beef from Start to Finish” was recently presented at the Dairy Calf & Heifer (DCHA) annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz.
The video features Bart Hanson, DCHA president, on his custom calf and heifer raising operation, Amber Hills Ranch. The tour discusses their operation, the importance of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), record keeping, transportation quality assurance and proper animal handling techniques. The checkoff and DCHA were able to tell their own story and take DCHA annual meeting attendees to Bart’s farm, virtually.
Posted: January 31, 2009 at 4:14 pm
By Chuck
I had the pleasure this morning of conducting the first interview with the new Chairman of the Beef Board. She’s dairy producer, Lucinda Williams. The Board releases some background information on Linda which I’m sharing with you here.
Lucinda’s roots to the beef industry date back to life growing up as the daughter of a Colorado cowboy and rancher. Lucinda’s father raised cattle in Holly, Colo., and also grew sugar beets. Early in her parents’ marriage, they made the choice to put farming on hold for a while and go back to school. Her father got involved with the Extension Service and never did make it back to the land full time. Instead, he became a professor and worked for the extension service. They lived in Virginia until Lucinda was a teen, at which time they moved to Massachusetts and their current home of Hatfield. “Even though we didn’t live on a farm, we still had a 5-acre garden,” jokes Lucinda.
After moving to Massachusetts, the first family to invite them to dinner was the Williams family who had a dairy farm in town. That’s how she met Darryl and 25 years of marriage later, she would pick him again. At the time, she thought that she was marrying a teacher but soon after their engagement, Darryl realized teaching just wasn’t for him – agriculture was in his blood – he had to give back to the land.
So Lucinda was the one to return to the farm. Darryl is the 12th generation on their land, which came down through his mother’s family. Over the years, the land has been used for a sheep operation, onions, tobacco and cucumbers. It was Darryl’s father who married into the family and introduced dairy.
“Dairy farming is hard. You don’t go into it for the time off or the money, you do it because you love the animals and the lifestyle,” says Lucinda. “There was never any pressure from family for us to take over the farm. It came down to our love for farming and that outweighed all else. It’s still quite evident it’s a family trait: Darryl’s dad still helps with chores and plants corn, while his mom still does the daily feeding of calves in the morning.”
Lucinda and Darryl milk 100 cows with a total of 200 animals with replacements. They crop 250 acres (own 180, rent the rest), raising corn, alfalfa and hay. In her part of the country, farmland is small and spread out with their biggest field sizing in at just 22 acres.
“The reality is, even though we live in a quiet, rural town,” continues Lucinda, “we farm on a residential street.”
You can listen to my interview with Lucinda here: cic-09-williams-chairman.mp3
Feel free to check out my Cattle Industry Convention photos here: Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: January 31, 2009 at 3:47 pm
By Chuck
At this year’s Cattle Industry Forum which is held at the Cattle Industry Convention, we heard from three speakers starting with Kevin Good, CattleFax.
He made a presentation about the importance of dairy breeds to beef production and the size of herds and the trends for dairy cattle numbers including changes around the country on a regional basis.
He talks about how 2008 was another expansion year in the dairy business but that he doesn’t think the 5-year trend will continue. He also addresses the need to reduce dairy cow numbers.
You can listen to Kevin’s presentation here: cic-09-good.mp3
I was the Beef Board Blogger once again this year and have posted a lot of content on BeefBoardMeeting.com, the official blog of the Beef Board on which you can find all the committee meeting agendas, minutes, pictures, interviews. I created an online photo album from the convention which concludes today which you can find here: Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: January 8, 2009 at 7:47 pm
By News Editor
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced that Forrest L. Roberts will be its next chief executive officer. Roberts, 42, will start Jan. 20.
Roberts grew up on a family-owned, diversified livestock operation in Uvalde, Texas. He worked side-by-side with his family when the operation expanded to include a retail meat market for “locally grown, corn-fed” beef and pork. Forrest went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in animal science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.
Roberts has held several marketing and sales positions in two animal health companies. He started with Upjohn Animal Health in 1992, and he remained with the company through its two mergers to Pharmacia Animal Health and later Pfizer Animal Health. In 2004, he left Pfizer to join Elanco Animal Health where he most recently served as the marketing manager for Elanco’s Beef Business Unit.
“Forrest’s agriculture background, business experience and his passion for the industry clearly made him the candidate we wanted to lead our association into the future,” Groseta said. “Forrest is a goal-oriented and dynamic leader, who will take NCBA to the next level to better serve the cattlemen of this country. We fully expect him to meet the challenges of our industry head-on with innovative solutions that will help producers succeed in the global marketplace.”
In addition to his agriculture and beef business experience, Roberts has served in several volunteer positions in NCBA. He has been a member of NCBA’s Executive Committee, board of directors, Allied Industry Council, Long-Range Planning Committee and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation Board of Trustees.
Posted: October 4, 2008 at 3:13 pm
By Chuck
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Wisconsin Beef Council were exhibiting at World Dairy Expo. Lucinda Williams is a dairy producer and Vice Chair of the Beef Board.
She says they were there to remind dairy producers that they’re also beef producers. I got there just in time to sample some of their flat iron steaks they were serving. In fact, I’m making one for supper tonight!
You can listen to my interview with Lucinda as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast: milking-parlor-34.mp3
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.
World Dairy Expo 2008 Photo Album
Sponsors of World Dairy Diary coverage of this year’s World Dairy Expo include GEA Farm Technologies and BASF Plant Science.
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: July 21, 2008 at 6:46 pm
By News Editor
Want to increase the income of your cull animals? The Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program can help you identify opportunities for improving the value of market cows and bulls from your operations through management, monitoring and marketing. Quality defects can rob dairy producers of almost $70 per head at market, according to the 1997 National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit.
Dairy cattle represent a significant source of the United States beef supply. Twenty percent of all beef comes from dairy cattle, including cull cows and dairy steers. This equates to 1.5 billion pounds of meat every year. In the western states alone, more than 800,000 head, worth $500 million, go to slaughter every year.
One of the most common misconceptions in the dairy industry is that all market cows become hamburger. “This is a misnomer,” says Ryan Ruppert, director of quality-assurance programs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Only a small percentage goes to ground beef, while the majority goes to whole-muscle cuts that are purchased by restaurants and casinos across the country. Whole-muscle cuts include rib eyes, New York strips, and tenderloins. In addition, 90 to 95 percent of the jerky marketed in the United States comes from cow rounds.
Beef from dairy cattle plays an important role in the food chain. Approximately one out of three cows currently in your milking string could be on a consumer’s plate in the next 12 months. Most dairy producers underestimate the value that this secondary profit center could bring them. And, that 4 percent income from market cows can be raised to 15 percent with proper care and marketing.
The safety and quality of beef produced is critical not only to the consumption of beef, but also milk.
A substantial economic incentive exists for dairy producers to care about beef quality. A premium of $5 to $10 per hundredweight can be realized if dairy cattle qualify for the “white-cow market.” Some beef packers offer incentives for cows that fit this market. The name “white cow” is derived from the practice of transitioning an animal’s fat color from yellow to white to produce a higher-quality carcass.
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 5:34 pm
By Chuck
The first ever winners of the BQA Award were announced today and one of them is a dairy producer.
Quality. It’s not only a word written in an instruction manual but a responsible action – one must live it and then teach it. That was the underlying theme this week as two producers were honored with the national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) award, created to recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers from across the country who incorporate BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. The winners were selected based upon their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable cattle operations.
This year’s winners were Jim Docheff, Diamond D Dairy from Longmont, Colo., and Anne Burkholder, Will Feed Inc. from Cozad, Neb.
A common trait among the two winners is a strong desire to continually improve BQA on their operations while successfully encouraging others around them to implement BQA. The National BQA award winners are selected annually by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and cattle industry groups. For more information about the beef checkoff or BQA program, visit www.bqa.org, www.dbqa.org or www.beefboard.org.
Listen to my interview with Jim and Anne here: cisc-08-bqa.mp3
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 4:35 pm
By News Editor
As a follow-up to Chuck’s coverage of the Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, dairy producers should be aware that the Cattlemen’s Beef Board has launched a new website, designed to be the one place to go to find out how national beef checkoff dollars are invested and the results of those investments. Don’t forget that as a dairy producer, you are also a beef producer!
“The site is interactive, well organized and very user-friendly,” says CBB member Richard Nielson, cow-calf producer from Ephraim, Utah, and chair of the producer communications committee. “Most important is that the design is very versatile allowing us to deliver a number of different services to different users. For example, with the launch of the new site, we’re also offering ‘sign-and-go’ newsletters in beef and dairy editions to help producers stay up to date on their checkoff.”
Launched on July 15, the new site gives beef and dairy producers across the country new access to information about their checkoff investment. Some highlights of the new site include:
* Easy access to CBB members and staff
* Expanded state beef council information and access
* Monthly e-newsletter sign-up
* Producer profiles from across the country
* Links to all checkoff-funded consumer and industry sites
“It is our hope that the site brings producers together, whether they are a dairy producer in New York or a beef producer in Washington, with the knowledge they need to educate their neighbor about the checkoff over a cup of coffee,” says Nielson. “That’s the unique thing about the new site – it reinforces the idea that producers can’t be everywhere, but their checkoff can.”
Posted: July 18, 2008 at 1:40 pm
By Chuck
CBB’s Chief Executive Officer is Tom Ramey. This morning he made a presentation at the second general session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. You can listen to his presentation below.
I also interviewed Tom and found out that there are two main issues of special importance to the Beef Checkoff here at this conference. The first one, according to Tom, is the budget. The recommended budget was presented at the CBB Update Session and committees will be looking at the parts that affect them during their meetings. Tom says that Checkoff dollars are down and that it’s a tough time right now. He says some difficult decisions will need to be made.
The other big issue is the process to create recommendations for ways to improve the Checkoff. Tom says the staff has sent out over 300 letters soliciting comments and that they’ll be organizing meetings with a number of the organizations targeted. Once those comments come in the staff will organize them and scrub them so that the Admin Subcommittee, which is charged with overseeing this process, can look at them on the merit of the comment without being affected by seeing who wrote them. Then the staff will be helping organize meetings with the committee to review the comments and formulate recommendations prior to the end of the year.
Tom says producers here seem excited about what the Checkoff is doing but are concerned about the budget. He says these are difficult times for the beef industry.
Listen to my interview with Tom here: cisc-08-ramey-1.mp3
Listen to Tom’s general session presentation here: cisc-08-ramey-general-session-2.mp3
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:15 pm
By Chuck
One of the main dairy groups represented at today’s Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was Dairy Management Inc. David Pelzer is Senior VP, Industry Image & Relations. DMI is a non-profit organization that manages the Dairy Checkoff.
I spoke to him today about dairy and beef producers getting together and discussing common issues. He says that on the dairy side of things it’s important for the industry to become more consumer driven instead of just production driven. As he puts it, “Give consumers what they want, when they want it and how they want it.”
He says that on-farm practices or the consumer’s perception of on-farm practices can affect buying habits. For this reason he says that all DMI related organizations are becoming increasingly focused on consumer perceptions. He wants to show consumers that it’s standard operating procedure for beef and dairy producers to care about their animals and the environment.
David thinks this Symposium is a great opportunity to get together.
You can listen to my interview with David here: cisc-08-pelzer.mp3
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: July 16, 2008 at 10:11 pm
By Chuck
Earlier this week the National Dairy Board met and like last year, that meeting ended just in time for attendees to meet with beef producers at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Joint Beef & Dairy Information Symposium. One of those people is Rob Byrne, Sr. VP Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation.
I spoke with Rob during today’s session. He was on the second part of the program that focused on animal care and welfare. Rob thinks that this joint meeting idea is fantastic. It’s an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. Animal care just happens to be a primary one right now.
Rob says the dairy industry has actually worked on this issue for many years. Recently released videos have sensationalized what is a very uncommon practice though and that has brought this issue to the forefront. He says that the increased consumer interest probably won’t result in any significant changes since producers in general do take good care of their animals but the situation he says, has placed a renewed focus on it. Rob says that this is currently a primary focus for NMPF. To that end, he says they’re forming a national animal welfare and care program for the dairy industry.
You can listen to my interview with Rob here: cisc-08-byrne.mp3
Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
«Past Entries
