09/19/08 Issues management

David Dick is a Midwest beef producer and chairs one of the beef checkoff groups. He is involved with issues management because today's food consumers want to know more about what they're buying to put on the table. DICK "But there are issues in between when they leave my farm to when they either get it at the drive-thru window at McDonalds or cook it at home and its our job to tell our story of what goes on in between." Dick says the BSE case nearly five years ago is a prime example of how checkoff dollars were invested to prepare for crisis, be proactive in the industry response and put procedures and policies in place for the future to sustain the longevity of the industry. DICK "And you know we staved off a huge probably fall off in beef and as a result we actually sold more. In the next two quarters we sold more." To him it's a dollars and cents issue. Dick believes issues management helps build beef demand and consumer confidence. DICK "Part of that is what we do through our consumer nutrition research and making sure they understand what the product is that they have at home, how nutritionally beneficial it is to them and their family and then its the safety aspect and other parts of it If you want more information you'll find it at www.mybeefcheckoff.com. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott