March 2011
 Have You Herd…
… BQA has launched a new social media campaign to provide a deeper level of education for producers.
… Welcome to Ron Frederick, new executive director of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council.
… Listen to beef producer Lucy Rechel talk about the beef checkoff.
2011 Beef Safety Summit in Review
 More than 240 beef industry leaders, researchers and government officials joined together March 2-4 in Dallas, Texas, to investigate ways of further increasing the safety of beef products. Attendance at the 9th Beef Industry Safety Summit, funded in part by the beef checkoff, was a new record. Participants included those closely involved with producing a safe beef supply and welcomed the venue for learning more about the status of U.S. beef safety and sharing their own ideas and thoughts for how to best minimize human health risks associated with the food consumers eat.
The three-day event included updates on current safety issues and interventions, the latest research findings, forums on emerging pathogens and technical workshops that allowed attendees to candidly share ideas on improving processes that can best reduce safety risks.
Click here for more information.
U.S. Red Meat Exports Support 100,000+ Jobs
Total U.S. red meat exports last year were valued at $8.88 billion, 19.4 percent higher than 2009 and four percent higher than the previous record set in 2008. That 2010 total included beef exports valued at $4.08 billion.
The $8.88 billion in exports supports an estimated 107,000 U.S. jobs, according to USDA calculations, with every billion dollars in U.S. ag exports supporting approximately 12,000 U.S. jobs.
A recent independent study conducted for USDA found that for every $1 spent by government and industry on market development, U.S. food and ag exports increased by $35. Based on that formula, the collective $59.6 million that the U.S. Meat Export Federation, contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program, drew from all of its funding sources in 2010 created a $2.1 billion benefit for U.S. red meat exports.
Click here for more information about your investment in foreign marketing programs.
March is National Nutrition Month
 National Nutrition Month is the month to “Eat Right with Color” and include lean beef on your plate. It’s the perfect partner with fruits, vegetables and whole grains to make it even easier to enjoy a balanced, colorful diet.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recognize the value of a variety of healthy eating patterns, which is good news for the 96 percent of Americans who enjoy beef. Not only is lean beef delicious, but it’s also a naturally rich source of 10 essential nutrients including protein, zinc and B vitamins, for about 150 calories.
By selecting nutrient-rich foods, it is easy to create great tasting and satisfying meals that support a healthy, active lifestyle.
Click here for more information about checkoff-funded nutrition efforts.
Heart Association Puts Heart-Healthy Mark on Beef
 Thanks in part to a partnership with the Beef Checkoff Program, the American Heart Association has listed three beef cuts as part of its Food Certification Program. This program places the association's heart-check mark on food packages to helps healthy consumers over age 2 identify foods that meet criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.
The three beef cuts that met the American Heart Association's criteria for extra lean and now are certified to display the heart-check mark include:
- Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast (select grade)
- Top Sirloin Filet (select grade)
- Top Sirloin Kabob (select grade)
Click here for the complete story.
Farmers Fighting Hunger
 It’s easy to think that in the land of the plenty, everyone has consistent access to high-quality, nourishing food, but sadly, that’s not the case. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 50 million Americans in 2009 did not have constant access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle, meaning they were food insecure. There are more than 310 million people in the United States today; and we rely on less than 2 percent of those folks to raise the food for our country and abroad.
We strongly encourage you to share this great video found on the checkoff-funded Explorebeef.org YouTube page. The video is a short piece that illustrates beef producer’s main message in an entertaining and effective way.
And, if you’re interested in getting involved in sharing your agriculture story, complete the online MBA application and get started today!
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