07/20/07 The purpose of the meeting

At the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver beef board members from Idaho and across the nation are putting the finishing touches on a review of programs that are aimed at promoting beef to consumers. Beef Board Chairman Ken Stielow says there's only one reason that the 104 member board is meeting this week. STIELOW "To have a plan that moves beef demand positively. We've failed if we haven't done that and we have limited time and resources but our program right here is one more step in putting this plan together that will be rolled out for the fiscal year 2008." Stielow says the main purpose of the one dollar per head beef checkoff is beef promotion. He says if they're not doing that they're wasting their time and producers money. STIELOW "That is our function here as a beef board at this meeting. Other things are going on. It's a big meeting but that is our function and we take it pretty serious." One of the issues of concern to producers was communication or a lack thereof. Stielow says in the past that task has been contracted out, but no more. STIELOW "We're taking that over and setting up and improved but at least a different and renewed emphasis on trying to inform all of the producers about what is going on." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott