December 2009
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Look for Beef Briefs to be delivered the first of each month -- your snapshot of beef checkoff news affecting the dairy and beef industries. Editor’s note: please feel free to use these beef “blurbs” as space allows in your publication or online content. If you would like to expand on a certain topic, please e-mail Melissa Slagle at mslagle@beefboard.org.
In case you missed it…
… Food Fight engages producers and importers across the country to speak out and be involved.
…Be sure to follow MyBeefCheckoff on Twitter and YouTube.
… Need audio clips for your Web news? Be sure to watch the newsroom for the latest in audio reports from the checkoff
17 States Declare Nov. 20th “Thank A Farmer” Day
In recognition of the 22 million Americans who work on farms or in farm-related jobs, a number of government officials and ag secretaries have issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 20, 2009, “Thank your Farmers and Ranchers” day in their respective states. This came as a result of beef checkoff and state beef council efforts around the “Give Thanks” campaign. Participating states include: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
5-Day Food Fight A Success
The checkoff’s Food Fight effort, which centered around beef producers, dairy farmers and importers using their voices in the debate, and putting a face on the industry, resulted in a few highlights:
- On the producer communications Web site, MyBeefCheckoff.com, a specific landing page was created for state beef councils and producers. In just four days, the page received more than 1,900 page views as a result of e-mails sent, banner ad click-throughs and trade media coverage of the program.
- A message board posted to ExploreBeef.org gave consumers to “Give Thanks” to farmers and ranchers directly, thanking them for the food on our plates. Throughout the campaign, hundreds of messages of thanks were posted.
- Social media posts were fast and furious. As a result, our give thanks Facebook flair has 276 users.
- During the annual meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, more than 35 interviews were conducted about Food Fight efforts. More than 25 major beef ag trade publications have aided in awareness for the program for each day’s specific activity.
- Individual Beef Board members and ranchers across the country have been involved -- placing Give Thanks ads in local newspapers, placing Give Thanks business cards on tables at local meetings, posting on their personal Facebook and Twitter accounts, and sending e-mails with the Give Thanks signature and messages to their friends and family.
- The voice of the beef checkoff, Baxter Black, recorded a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that aired on numerous radio stations across the country.
- 17 states successfully encouraged their Governor or Ag Secretary to sign a Give Thanks proclamation declaring Nov. 20 “Thank a Farmer Day”.
Visit www.ExploreBeef.org for more information.
U.S. Beef Highlighted At St. Petersburg
A range of high-quality U.S. beef cuts were displayed at Peterfood 2009, an important regional food industry exhibition held Nov. 17-19 in St. Petersburg. Participation in the event was made possible through the support of the Beef Checkoff Program. About 200 exhibitors took part in the 18th edition of Peterfood, which attracts meat buyers and other food industry professionals from western Russia and the nearby region. This event reaches a very wide audience of potential customers from the region’s HR (hotel, restaurant and institutional), retail and meat processing sectors. Click here for more information about the checkoff’s foreign marketing activities, or visit www.usmef.org.
Checkoff In The News
Producers from across the country continue to share their stories, get involved and have a voice in their industry. The beef checkoff wants to recognize the hard work and dedication of those folks and as we find articles, audio interviews, ads and video clips, we share them with you on your MyBeefCheckoff producer Web site. Be sure to scroll down past the newsfeed to read about producers just like you; maybe you’ll read about a neighbor; maybe you’ll hear a story completely different from your own; either way, we’re helping bring together producers working toward a common goal: building a successful future for the beef industry. Thanks for all that you do.
VealMadeEasy Winner
The beef checkoff is pleased to announce the winner of its “Summer Grilling Giveaway” sweepstakes is Samantha Daleo of California. Daleo received $5,000 in gift cards to her favorite grocery supermarket. This is the second time a veal consumer has won $5,000 in the Veal Consumer Sweepstakes funded by the beef checkoff. Daleo’s online entry on VealMadeEasy.com was one of over 235,000 entries received nationwide. The promotion, which ran from June 15, 2009 through Sept. 15, 2009, is just one of several key marketing efforts launched this year to entice home cooks to prepare veal in their kitchens.
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
Funded by the Beef Checkoff.
SOCIAL MEDIA