Consumer Trust Archives - Page 2 of 3

Article via NEBPI, a subcontractor to the Beef Checkoff

The national Beef Checkoff was a sponsor of two new channel influencer conferences this spring, reaching over 70 channel influencers from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions through beef cooking and cutting demonstrations. The North American Camp Foodservice Director Conference was held at Camp Chingachgook in Lake George, New York from March 27-29 and the Pennsylvania Association of Meat Processors was held at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, Penn. from May 11-12.

The checkoff’s Executive Chef, Dave Zino attended the Camp Foodservice Director Conference and conducted a 60-minute educational session title, “Heating up the Camp Fire with Beef” where he demonstrated three youth-friendly ground beef recipes featured on the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. website. Zippy Beef Alphabet Soup, Santa Fe Corn Chili and Personal Beef Pizzas were on the menu for Zino’s beef demonstration. Additionally, the checkoff-funded school foodservice recipes were a cornerstone at the beef booth where attendees were invited to assemble their own recipe booklets, including the school foodservice beef recipes.

While ground beef was king of the menu at the camp foodservice conference, under-utilized and value-added cuts from the beef shoulder clod and chuck roll were the stars of the show at the Pennsylvania Association of Meat Processors Conference. Kari Underly, the Principal at Range Inc., and third-generation butcher and author of the James Beard nominated book, The Art of Beef Cutting” conducted a 90-minute educational session exploring the breakdown and utilization of the new value-added beef cuts. 36 percent of session attendees stated the value-added beef cuts demonstrated from the chuck were brand new to them and 78 percent of session attendees rated the Beef Checkoff-funded educational materials they received at the conference a 5 out of 5.

Christie Brown, Director of Marketing with the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative, a sub-contractor to the Beef Checkoff reflected after the two conferences, “Whether we’re highlighting fresh and unique ground beef recipes to offer new menu solutions for camp foodservice directors or helping meat processors navigate the alternative ways to break down the beef chuck to merchandise the value-added cuts, it’s always exciting to extend what the Beef Checkoff has already invested in with the new channel influencers here in the Northeast region.”

For more information about the Beef Checkoff’s presence in the Northeast region, check out the NortheastLovesBeef Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages. For more information, visit NEBPI.org.

Article via NEBPI

The Beef Checkoff hosted a comprehensive one-day training on May 9, 2018, with eight chefs from across the Northeast region. Chefs are valuable members of the beef community, bringing delicious and nutritious beef meals to consumers via a foodservice setting each day. The training centered around building these regional chefs up as beef advocates.

Kaitlyn Carey, Director of Consumer Affairs with the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative noted, “This was a first of its kind training for our chefs located here in the Northeast. We want to engage with and build up chefs as advocates for beef, as they all have their unique circles of influence.”

Ryan Goodman, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hosted a Media Training session and Mock Interviews attendees. His session left the chefs with confidence and skills to help prepare for any kind of interview or demo opportunity – phone, radio, on-air. Laura Hagen, Senior Director of Culinary with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association was on-hand to share the logistics of on-air demonstrations.

Bill Collier, Executive Chef and General Manager of Bricco, an Italian Restaurant located in Harrisburg, PA commented, “The training that I received from all of the presenters was phenomenal. They are all very well-trained experts in their field, not only from education, but also boots on the ground experience in the field. The training was interactive and helped me better prepare myself for the next time I am presenting to an audience, whether on camera or live demonstration.”

The next step is securing on-air television cooking demonstrations with the chefs surrounding peak beef consumption times, like summer grilling, tailgating and holiday roasting.

Events such as this allow the Beef Checkoff to engage directly with our regional channel influencers, all while building them up as beef advocates. Arming these influencers with beef’s positive nutritional messaging will help us disseminate this vital information to more consumers.

Beef Checkoff-funded research in the Northeast shows that nutrition-focused efforts are making a difference with the Northeast’s metropolitan consumers. Messaging related to beef’s protein, lean cuts and essential nutrients appear to be reaching, and favorably influencing, consumers.

For event photos visit the NortheastLovesBeef Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages. This event was made possible by the checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative. For more information, visit NEBPI.org.

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Carey; kcarey@pabeef.org or visit the NEBPI website.

Good and Getting Better: Key Improvements Being Made by Cattle Industry

The Cattlemen’s Stewardship Review (CSR) is a Beef Checkoff-funded report highlighting the commitment cattle producers demonstrate in the areas of animal welfare, beef quality, sustainability, and community involvement. The CSR gathers data from an independent 2017 telephone survey of beef producers to deliver a comprehensive profile of the U.S. beef community today. The report and survey were coordinated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff program.
The CSR shows that improvements have been made in all four of the cattle industry areas studied. The report and information will be presented within a national news release to national media outlets, as well as sent to key national media by the NCBA communications team, as a Beef Checkoff contractor.

“We want consumers to know we aren’t just farmers and ranchers, but also animal caretakers, nutritionists, small business owners, environmentalists, and members of our communities,” said Joan Ruskamp, Cattlemen’s Beef Board chairman and co-owner of J & S Feedlot in Nebraska. “This report is a way to benchmark our progress, celebrate our successes and identify opportunities for improvement.”

A few brief, yet key takeaways from the survey include:

The well-being of cattle is the top priority for 95% of producers.
97% of cattle farmers and ranchers believe producing safe beef is crucial to the future of the industry.
About 95% of producers say conservation of land is extremely important to them, while 86% manage their operations in a way that protects the quality of natural resources, including wildlife and biodiversity.
Over 90% of cattle operations are family owned, and 78% of farmers and ranchers say they intend to pass their operations on to future generations. In fact, 58% of current operations have been in the family for at least three generations.

“When consumers understand the level of care that goes into the production of their beef, they feel better about enjoying it,” said Ruskamp. “This report helps show that [producers’] attention to the needs of our animals, land, and relationships parallel the concern our customers have for the beef they eat.”

To view the full report, go here.

CENTENNIAL, CO — More than 20,000 individuals have gone online to obtain Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification since online training modules were relaunched on Feb. 1, 2017. BQA certifications are also available at in-person training events offered through state beef councils, cattlemen’s affiliates, extension programs and other local efforts throughout the country. The BQA program is funded by the Beef Checkoff Program.

By showing how common-sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions, BQA helps beef producers capture additional value from their market cattle, and more. It also reflects a positive public image for the beef industry and instills consumer confidence in it. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure their market steers, heifers, cows and bulls are the best they can be.

The online BQA experience is tailored to each participant by industry sector and interest. After registering, participants are taken through an interactive training module that can be completed online, anytime, with participants starting and stopping training at their convenience without losing progress. Categories for training and certification include Cow-Calf, Stocker, and Feedyard. Online training and certification is available for free and accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days each week, making it a convenient option for busy farmers and ranchers.

States with most online certifications to date are Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee and California.

To find out more about BQA online certification, go to www.bqa.org/certification.

The Beef Checkoff works to build consumer confidence at every stage of beef production. These investments help drive demand for beef, and are all part of a comprehensive strategy focused on safety, quality, animal welfare, antibiotic stewardship and consumer education.

“When consumers understand the level of care that goes into the production of their beef, they feel better about enjoying it,” says Joan Ruskamp, Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

With the U.S. becoming a more health-conscious society, it is important the beef industry is dedicating resources to educate consumers on the benefits beef provides in order to maintain healthy diet.

“Research study after research study show that you can eat beef, even every day, and lower your cholesterol,” says Shalene McNeill, executive director of Nutrition & Health, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Researchers recommend that individuals consume 25g of protein at each meal, which is roughly 3 ounces of beef. When compared to other proteins, beef provides consumers with more high-quality protein and fewer calories.

Because of growing misconceptions of beef’s nutritional value and a growing trend for more plant-based proteins, the Beef Checkoff is working with nutritional leaders to educate consumers on the health benefits of eating beef in order to grow consumer confidence and drive demand.

Consumer purchasing decisions directly impact the way producers raise beef. The Beef Checkoff invests dollars toward meat profiling and product development, which helps drive demand at the meat counter and increases the overall value of beef.

Chuck Kiker, beef producer from Texas, is proud of the work the checkoff has done to deliver lean cuts the consumer wants.

“Meat profiling and developing new products is one of the best things the checkoff has done to make the value of that carcass go up,” says Kiker.

“We had so many cuts of meat that weren’t high-dollar cuts that would end up in grind, and it was very important to add value to those cuts. That is one of the things the checkoff has been able to do.”

By investing in muscle profiling research, the Beef Checkoff has been able to identify lean, tender muscles that consumers find desirable. The flat iron steak and petite tender are two examples of beef products that became available as a direct result of checkoff investments.

“It gave [the food service industry] an alternative to a high-priced steak dinner,” says Kiker. “They could go with a petite cut tender or a flat iron steak and have beef on the menu. That was huge for the beef industry and put a lot of money back into the value of that carcass.”

The Beef Checkoff has made investments to ensure beef remains a top protein choice amongst consumers. Through research and promotion, consumers have more options than ever when it comes to purchasing beef cuts.

Press Release Via NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has announced the winners of its prestigious 2018 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards at the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

The National BQA Award recognizes outstanding beef, marketer and dairy producers that demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of their day-to-day 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 comprehensive cattle management program. The awards focus on five categories, including Cow-Calf, Dairy, Feedyard, Marketer and Educator of the Year.

2018 BQA Cow-Calf Award

Bently Ranch, located in Minden, Nevada, is the recipient of the 2018 Cow-Calf BQA Award. The ranch has a focus of doing the right thing in all aspects of beef production. Bently Ranch takes on a relaxed and low-stress attitude with a commitment to proper animal care and handling. With a recent focus on selling direct to the consumer, the ranch has noticed a big difference in the quality of their cattle thanks to implementing BQA practices.

2018 BQA Dairy Award

Kraft Family Dairies, located in Fort Morgan, Colorado, is the winner of the 2018 BQA Dairy Award. Simply put: they care for their cows. By combining their passion with a focus on preventative health management, the farm showcases their commitment to BQA guidelines in every step of their dairy operation. What makes Kraft unique is its two-farm operation. One site houses healthy cattle. The other takes in animals that may need a little TLC. By using this two-site system, Kraft Family Dairies has drastically cut down on the number of cattle in the hospital.

2018 BQA Feedyard Award

The winner of the 2018 BQA Feedyard Award is BLAC-X Farms in Rock County, Minnesota. Between the two minds of the Bakken brothers, Jay and Peter, they share an extensive knowledge of the feedlot, cow-calf herd and crop operations. With a focus on education, they participate in several research projects and share their ideas on the best BQA practices with hundreds of others during tours of their operation.

2018 BQA Marketer Award

Central Livestock in South St. Paul, Minnesota, has been named the 2018 BQA Marketer Award winner. Their marketing practices encourage producers to focus on BQA vaccination standards by incentivizing vaccinations in the sale ring. Cattle that are up-to-date on vaccinations sell for higher prices. They also have step-by-step guides for producers to follow that highlight animal safety, ultimately yielding the best cattle.

2018 BQA Educator of the Year

Dr. Ron Gill is the winner of the 2018 BQA Educator of the Year award. In addition to his responsibilities as professor at Texas A&M University, Dr. Gill takes his lessons outside the classroom and into the field for collaborative, hands-on demonstrations through NCBA’s Stockmanship and Stewardship program. Not only an avid proponent of BQA practices, he’s also helped develop some of the BQA guidelines that many producers follow today.

Award winners are selected by a committee comprised of BQA certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups, who assess nominations based on their demonstrated commitment to BQA practices, their service as leaders in the beef industry and their dedication to promoting the BQA message to grow consumer confidence.

Four National BQA Awards (Cow-Calf, Feedyard, Dairy and Marketer) are funded in part by the Beef Checkoff program with additional financial support provided by Cargill. The BQA Educator Award is funded in part by the Beef Checkoff program with additional financial support provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.

You can read more on each of the award winners’ operations at https://www.bqa.org/about/bqa-awards.

Media can contact Kellie Wostrel, APR, (402) 818-1114, kelliew@swansonrussell.com for a media kit including pre-written stories, videos and photos.

Over the past few months, the Beef Checkoff has been using the “Rethink the Ranch” media campaign to help consumers gain a better understanding of how cattle producers care for their livestock and introduce them to the environmental practices farmers and ranchers are using to produce the world’s best-tasting beef.

It is important that consumers understand how committed producers are to serving as faithful stewards of the environment and the valuable natural resources that have been entrusted to them.

Elaine Utesch is part of the Triple U Ranch, a family-run cattle operation near Washta, Iowa, that has made environmental stewardship a top priority. In fact, in 2000, their efforts were recognized when they received the Environmental Stewardship award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

“Stewardship is something that we feel strongly about,” says Utesch. “We are here for the long haul and this land is our legacy that we will be able to pass on to our children and their families.”

When her father-in-law, William Utesch started working this land, he made environmental stewardship his mission by implementing sustainable practices such as developing watersheds and building buffer strips, terraces and ponds to protect water and prevent erosion.

“He had a strong feeling of stewardship of the land,” explains Elaine. “He made it a real mission to leave the land better than when he started, and that’s something he’s passed on to his sons and their families.”

Out west, water management is critical. Kevin Kester uses the latest technology to conserve water and manage grazing systems on the Bear Valley Ranch, located near Parkville, California.

“We’ve invested a lot in solar technology for our water systems that allows us to pump water up in the higher elevations,” says Kester. “Because we can distribute water resources more effectively and efficiently, we are better able to manage grazing and protect grasslands.”

These are the kinds of stories the Beef Checkoff is sharing with consumers on the new “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” website. The site provides consumer-friendly, easy-to-understand information to show how beef producers are being effective stewards of the land and resources.

Check out the redesigned BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website. Follow #RethinkTheRanch on social media.

In October, the Beef Checkoff launched “Rethink the Ranch,” a campaign that is working to build a strong pasture-to-plate connection between ranchers and consumers and help consumers gain a better understanding of how cattle producers are using advanced technology to benefit their businesses and the environment.

A perfect example of how technology is being used can be found at the Bear Valley Ranch, located near Parkfield, California. The Kester family put down roots and started ranching there 150 years ago in 1867. Back then, no one could have predicted how technology would be used to manage cattle operations.

“Every time there is a new technology, we try to take advantage of it,” says Kevin Kester. “Most recently, we purchased a commercial drone that we use to gather cattle, look at our water troughs and make sure everything is functioning correctly.”

Kevin says that with over 100 miles of roads on the ranch, the drone saves them a lot time and energy that would be taken up in driving down those roads.

“If cattle are in a rugged part of the country where it’s harder to herd them with dogs or on horseback, we can fly the drone over them and get them moving in the direction we want for gathering them,” he says.

Along with drone technology, the Kesters are using solar technology to operate water systems and manage grazing systems.

“We’ve developed a lot of solar technology for our water systems that allows us to pump water up in the higher elevations,” he says. “That helps us manage grazing. It’s also good for the wildlife after the hot summer we had. Not only does technology help us in our business, it’s beneficial for the environment and conservation.”

Brian Medeiros is also using technology to reduce energy costs on the Medeiros and Sons Dairy Farm in Hanford, California.

“We want to be as self-sustaining on power as we can. We put in solar panels this past year and that’s going to take care of eighty percent of our electrical uses,” says Medeiros. “In the future, we’re going to look at other things such as methane digesters and projects that can help us be as self-sustaining as possible without being a burden to anyone else.”

Check out the redesigned BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website. Follow #RethinkTheRanch on social media and learn more about the campaign here.

Coupled with the website redesign for “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.”, the Beef Checkoff has launched “Rethink the Ranch,” a campaign that is working to build a stronger pasture-to-plate connection between ranchers and consumers by showcasing real farmers and ranchers and their real stories about how they produce beef.

Based on consumer research, people purchasing beef want to know more about sustainable farming and the use of antibiotics and hormones. “Rethink the Ranch” is highlighting beef producers across the U.S. to explain to consumers how they raise beef responsibly.

Cody Easterday, who operates feedlots in eastern Washington, knows the important role technology plays in beef production.

“Thanks to the technologies that we have at our feedyard, we’re able to keep the animals more comfortable, we’re able to improve the environment around us and we’re ultimately able to raise the safest, healthiest beef for people around the world.”

By being transparent and sharing with consumers all that goes into raising cattle, “Rethink the Ranch” is illustrating the hard work and long hours farming families invest in their livestock, along with the advanced technologies being utilized to raise the best beef in the world.

According to Elaine Utesch from the Triple U Ranch in Washta, Iowa, this a story worth telling.

“As a producer, it’s my responsibility to let people know that farms like ours is where their food is coming from,” says Utesch. “And the Beef Checkoff lets consumers know that their food is produced using sustainable, environmental practices.”

The checkoff, via the “Rethink the Ranch” campaign, is providing a consumer-friendly, easy-to-understand way to communicate the complexities of raising quality beef in a way that consumers have probably never heard – or seen – before.

Check out the redesigned BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website. Follow #RethinkTheRanch on social media and learn more about the campaign here.

Promoting beef has become more complicated than it was in 1992 when the Beef Checkoff launched the “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” brand.

With consumers becoming more and more interested in where their food comes from, the Beef Checkoff is kicking off “Rethink the Ranch,” a campaign targeted toward consumers to re-introduce them to beef as part of the 25th anniversary of “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” The campaign showcases real farmers and ranchers and their real stories about how they produce beef.

“Rethink the Ranch” is building a stronger pasture-to-plate connection between ranchers and consumers, highlighting the humanity behind beef production.

To showcase this humanity, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, took a camera crew and travelled 3,800 miles across the U.S., visiting six different cattle operations in four states. They captured more than 100 hours of video, along with images and stories about everyday farmers and ranchers.

Follow these producers’ stories from Iowa, Washington, Florida and California to see how the checkoff is helping consumers #RethinkTheRanch. Share their stories with consumers so they can meet some of today’s farmers and ranchers who bring beef from pasture to plate. Consumers will also learn about the advanced tools and techniques that are used in beef production.

This will be the first time that BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com will promote both the product and the people who produce that product. The site tells a brand story that is focused on promoting beef’s greatest strengths: the unbeatable taste of beef, the people and production process behind beef, the variety and ease of cooking beef and the nutritional strength that beef provides.

Click here to visit the NEW BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com!

Nicholas Coombes, age 10, shows off his bull calf, which will be exhibited at the New York State Fair this fall.

Consumers’ choices for purchasing beef gets more diverse every day. Traditional brick-and-mortar grocery stores are still a primary solution, however internet-based grocers or complete dinner solutions from online meal kit delivery services, like HelloFresh, are reliable options.

HelloFresh ships boxes of refrigerated ingredients and recipes to customers who prepare and cook the meals themselves. A large portion of their customer base is in the Northeast, where approximately a quarter of the nation’s population lives.

On August 25, 2017, the National Beef Checkoff hosted a group from the New York City HelloFresh corporate office for a full-day beef immersion experience at Thunder View Farms in Grahamsville, New York. The Richard Coombes and Philip Coombes families head Thunder View, which prides itself on raising high-quality Angus genetics. The company retains ownership of its calves through finishing, then direct markets the finished cattle.

Hello Fresh at Thunder View Farms beef tour

Thunder View Farms beef tour with NYC-based meal kit delivery company, HelloFresh. This immersion event was made possible by the Colorado Beef Council through a grant to the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative, a contractor to the beef checkoff program.

Following the morning farm tour, which included discussions on cattle feeding, reproduction, selection and herd health, the group was treated to a lunch of smoked beef brisket, courtesy of Thunder View Farms. Kari Underly, author of “The Art of Beef Cutting,” led the group through an in-depth, beef-cutting demonstration of the beef shoulder clod, chuck roll, top sirloin and sirloin tip. The objective of the demonstration was to inspire HelloFresh to incorporate a wider variety of beef cuts in the meal-kits for customers to enjoy.

Cindy Chan Phillips, M.S., MBA, RD, and the New York Beef Council’s Director of Nutrition Education, a position funded by Nebraska and Kansas Beef Councils, addressed the group with a presentation on beef nutrition.

“We really enjoyed having the HelloFresh dietitian and protein buyers on this tour. They are dedicated to offering nutritious, tasty and sustainable foods to their customers. It was exciting to share the latest Beef WISE research on how lean beef as part of a heart healthy diet helps improve heart health and weight loss.”

At the conclusion of the event, Bridget Wasser, M.S., executive director of Meat Science and Technology at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Meghan Pusey, executive director of Consumer Marketing with NCBA, both contractors to the beef checkoff, addressed the group via a webinar and discussed the value beef brings to the e-commerce space and how to capitalize on it.

Rebecca Lewis, M.S., R.D.N., Head Dietitian with HelloFresh U.S., commented following the tour, “The love and dedicated care of the calves, cows, steers and bulls were very evident. The team enjoyed seeing the vast open space of green grass pastures the herd was able to roam upon, and learning about the genetic breeding program to create a 5-star, high-quality premium beef product. We felt the experience was incredibly valuable to better understand the nutrition and value of incorporating lean beef into recipe development. The beef cutting demonstration was particularly illustrative of how many different cuts are available for purchase, and the suggestions for use in recipe development were much appreciated.”

For more information visit NortheastBeef.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Good and Getting Better: Key Improvements Being Made by Cattle Industry

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

2018 BQA Cow-Calf Award

2018 BQA Dairy Award

2018 BQA Feedyard Award

2018 BQA Marketer Award

2018 BQA Educator of the Year

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions