Earlier this week the Missouri Department of Agriculture hosted the inaugural Missouri Beef Summit. The event stemmed from a question Missouri Governor Jay Nixon asked Richard Fordyce, Missouri Director of Agriculture, soon after he was appointed. That question: What are we doing for beef in our state? Fordyce said. “We started to take an in depth look at where we … Read More
Governor Convenes Missouri Beef Industry Summit
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon convened a summit on Monday to discuss opportunities to maximize the potential of Missouri’s beef cattle industry. “It’s really about us as a country, making sure we are living up to our responsibility to feed, fuel and clothe the world,” said Nixon at the Missouri Beef Industry Summit, held at the University of Missouri in Columbia. … Read More
Global Beef Supplies Tight, But Prices Taper
Beef supplies remain tight, but prices have actually tapered a bit. Agribusiness financial company Rabobank has issued a new report on the global beef industry and says that that despite tight global cattle and beef supplies, prices tempered from their third quarter. Rabobank says that a big question heading into 2015 with such a finely balanced market is: if Australian … Read More
USDA Drops Plans for Second Beef Checkoff
According to reports out today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has abandoned his plans to pursue a second beef checkoff. Just over a month ago, USDA announced it would be seeking input on the development of a new industry-funded promotion, research and information order for beef and beef products. The decision to drop the idea apparently was made as the result … Read More
Last Chance to Apply for Beef Industry Scholarship
Today marks the application deadline for the 2015-16 Beef Industry Scholarship, sponsored by the CME Group. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. The purpose of this program is to identify and encourage talented and thoughtful students who will emerge as industry leaders. Fields of study may include education, communications, … Read More
New Foodservice App Educates Key Beef Industry Audience
A new app for smartphone and tablets is helping foodservice professionals become more knowledgeable about beef and beef production. The BEEFlexible for Foodservice Professionals app was developed by the California Beef Council (CBC) in 2013 and is being upgraded through Beef Checkoff funds, in particular, those managed by the Federation of State Beef Councils. [A]nalytic tracking on the app was … Read More
Congress Passes Key Tax Extenders Legislation
The U.S. Senate voted 76 to 16 to pass a tax extenders package that holds key provisions for small businesses such as section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation. The tax extenders package was previously approved in the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the White House for approval. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Bob McCan said this is … Read More
American Gelbvieh Association Welcomes New Staff
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Mettler of Sarcoxie, Missouri, as editorial content coordinator and Megan Slater of Longmont, Colorado as public relations coordinator. Prior to joining the AGA team, Mettler was a freelance writer for national and regional agricultural publications. Experienced in beef industry association work, Mettler served as DNA coordinator for … Read More
NCBA Concerned About Dietary Guidelines
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee met Monday for the last time this year after being included in the spending bill passed by Congress, being instructed to focus its work on nutrient and dietary recommendations “based on sound nutrition science” – as opposed to including sustainability and climate change speculations. The panel provides federal nutrition policy recommendations to the USDA and … Read More
Checkoff Sponsoring New Kids LiveWell
The National Restaurant Association announced that the Beef Checkoff Program is a new sponsor of the Association’s award-winning Kids LiveWell program, a voluntary industrywide initiative designed to help make the healthful choice the easy choice when dining out with children. The Association applauded the checkoff for its commitment to promoting and developing nutritious kids’ meals. “The partnership between Kids LiveWell … Read More