01/21/09 Cattlemen's Beef Board and Beef Checkoff

There could be some changes coming to the beef checkoff. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this with an explanation. The national mandatory beef checkoff program will be reformed. That is the feeling Leesa Zalesky penned in an article in Western Ag Reporter magazine. The Cattlemen's Beef Board (CBB) will reveal its recommendations for enhancing the beef check off on January 29, in Phoenix Arizona at the joint convention with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Cattlemen can attend and participate in CBB meetings without registering or paying registration fees for the joint convention, but to attend the NCBA tradeshow or policy meetings a registration fee will need to be paid. To be present at the CBB meetings only, producers should call Diane Henderson at (303) 220-9890 or email her at dhenderson@beefboard.org. Personally I can remember the first discussions about initiating a checkoff to promote beef sales. Overall, I believe the checkoff has had success in marketing beef to consumers. This success has been brought about through education and promotions. There is no way individual producers could have accomplished what the checkoff has when checkoff dollars are put to work. According to Ms. Zalesky many producers would like to see more separation between the CBB and policy organizations like the NCBA. The recommendations are going to be interesting. I'm Jeff Keane.