Mid-Way Point

The day is dwindling on and with so many great programs, it’s going to be a tough task to decide which ones merit checkoff funding for Fiscal Year 2010. The committee has now moved on to hear from the checkoff’s primary contractor, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. First up, the Research and Industry Information program areas.

Here are a few highlights from the Research presentations:
- More emphasis will be placed on the checkoff’s involvement with and relationships within BIFSCo (Beef Industry Food Safety Council) and opportunities to host regional meetings to present key findings from the Beef Industry Safety Summit.
- The National Beef Tenderness Survey is slated to be conducted in 2010. It’s the industry tenderness “report card” at foodservice and retail.
- Fund research aimed at associating beef with a healthy lifestyle, then distribute that knowledge to the nutrition researcher community.
- Provide ongoing tracking of consumer attitudes and usage of beef as well as the Consumer Beef Index.

Note: these programs/tactics will commence only if the request for funding is approved by the committee.

Here are a few highlights from the Industry Information presentations:
- Create a national BQA cow/calf -stocker-seedstock producers manual
- Crisis Planning: Maintain critical relationships to help facilitate an immediate, consistent industry response to an FMD outbreak or other crisis scenario.

Still to come this afternoon: public relations, consumer advertising, foodservice and retail marketing and new products. Stay tuned!