Getting Oriented In Tough Times

The 2009 Beef Promotion Operating Committee met in Kansas City this week, with plenty on their plate. For starters, staff and producer leadership took new Operating Committee members through rules and procedures and an explanation of the checkoff’s planning and budget-development process. Craig Shackelford from USDA gave an overview of USDA’s role in overseeing the checkoff program and spoke specifically about the role of Operating Committee members.

This year’s Operating Committee includes the following representatives from the Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils:

Beef Board Chairman Lucinda Williams chairs the committee: Other Beef Board members serving on it include: CBB Vice Chairman Dan Dierschke, Texas; CBB Secretary/Treasurer Tom Jones, Arkansas; Jerry Bohn, Kansas; Merrill Karlen, South Dakota; Chuck Kiker III, Texas; Ad Pedigo, Kentucky; John Schafer, Minnesota; Don Stewart, Importer; and Roger West, Florida.

Federation Chairman JD Alexander serves as vice chair of the committee: Other Federation members serving on it include: Chuck Adami, Wisconsin; David Dick, Missouri; Scott George, Wyoming; Dave Hamilton, Nebraska; Tammy Ogilvie, New Mexico; Linda Joy Stovall, Texas; Craig Uden, Nebraska; Beck Walth, South Dakota; and Helen Wiese, Iowa.

Following the introduction and orientation, Operating Committee members heard a financial report from Secretary/Treasurer Tom Jones, reminding them of the tightened checkoff budget in 2009. Further discussion ensued about the market conditions of middle meats following a market update from Kevin Good of Cattle-Fax.

During the March 18-19 meeting, Operating Committee members also discussed global beef promotion opportunities as highlighted in a foreign-market update from the U.S. Meat Export Federation and in discussions about the checkoff’s priorities and planning process for Fiscal 2010, when budget numbers are expected to remain down. In fact, virtually all discussions about the checkoff came back to its financial challenges – doing more with fewer dollars and continuously evaluating checkoff programs to assure that every dollar is being invested in as efficient a manner as possible given budget contraints and changing market conditions.

Operating, Executive Committees Meet March 18-19

The next meetings of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee and the CBB Executive Committee are slated for March 18-19 in Kansas City, Mo.

The Operating Committee convenes at 3 p.m. on Wed., March 18 with the introduction and seating of newly elected Operating Committee members, followed by the financial report and update on Evaluation Committee activities. The meeting continues on Thursday, March 19 with the presentation of extension requests (if any), presentation of Authorization Requests and Amendments (if any), a foreign-marketing update and a review of fiscal year 2010 planning priorities.

The Executive Committee meeting begins immediately upon conclusion of the Operating Committee meeting on Thursday, with an orientation for new Executive Committee members, followed by a financial report, Operating Committee Report and status of state marketing plans and audit reports. The meeting also includes a producer communications update.

All meetings of the Beef Board are open to the public.

Future meeting dates for the Operating Committee are May 14 and September 15-16, in Denver. The Executive Committee is slated to meet on May 15, July 15, and Sept. 16, all in Denver.