07/26/07 Checking out checkoff dollars

The Idaho Beef Council came into being 40 years ago this month. As a way to promote Idaho beef producers paid ten cents per head back in 1967. That was later raised to a quarter and then 20 years ago the national beef checkoff came into existence and one dollar was the assessment. Idaho Beef Council's Laura Wilder says it's still a dollar per head today. WILDER "Our average collections in state are about one million 650 thousand and then half of that goes to the Cattlemen's Beef Board for national programs. The rest that we keep in state we pay a small percent to the brand board for collecting that for us and then because we're a beef exporting state we also send about 20 percent of our net instate for national programs and international programs through the US Meat Export Federation." On a national level, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee recently recommended a nearly 49 million dollar Cattlemen's Beef Board budget for fiscal year 2008, reflecting a sharp nine percent decrease from the 53 million dollar budget for this fiscal year. The Summer Grilling campaign should reach more than 100 million consumers through newspaper inserts and retail partnerships. In addition, more than 70 retailers in 42 major markets across the United States are airing radio spots throughout summer. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott