Checkoff Meetings Under Way

Checkoff meetings that 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference are under way this morning with the meeting of Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Executive Committee.

CBB Executive Committe member Linda Gilbert

CBB Secretary/Treasurer Kim Brackett started off the meeting with a financial report and, with CFO Katherine Ayers, presented Executive Committee members with n FY2013 proposed administration budget of $1.97 million for the national checkoff program. The group discussed the budget and approved it as presented. That CBB budget represents a decrease of 3.6 percent from the 2012 administration budget, thanks to decreases in Board meeting expenses, officer travels expenses, CEO department expenses, collections compliance costs due to staff changes, and a decrease in general-office expenses as assets become fully depreciated.

CBB Vice President of Communications Lynn Heinze presented a topline view of the results of the latest Producer Attitude Survey, which he said indicates that support among producers for the beef checkoff remains at all-time highs, and that producers say they believe that the checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations, among other finding.

The Executive Committee also approved a new Code of Ethics, as newly required by USDA, as well as updated guidelines for checkoff contractors to reference the checkoff program funding in all programs it funds. In addition, the committee approved two national partnerships — with Meijer and Safeway stores — and two state partnerships aimed at leveraging checkoff dollars in consumer markets across the country.

On the meetings agenda yet today are the first general session of the summer conference and the first business session of the full Cattlemen’s Beef Board, so stay tuned!