My Beef Checkoff: December beef edition

Have You Herd…

… “Like” MyBeefCheckoff on Facebook for the latest news and updates.

… Beef Checkoff Program committees have changed.

… Secretary Vilsack Announces Cattlemen’s Beef Board Appointments

December Producer Profile:  Howard Hardeke, Missouri

Howard Hardecke is a bit different than most Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) members.  He isn’t a second or third generation family farmer with a wealth of on the job training that began at the toddler stage.  He wasn’t raised on a farm; he’s a teacher by trade and a retired high school administrator. After careful consideration, he chose the lifestyle. Read the full story from Cattlenetwork’s Chuck Jolley.

Vote for Ohio Cattle Farmer

Janice Wolfinger, Ohio farmer and active beef advocate, is one of nine finalists selected by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) “Faces of Farming and Ranching” national spokesperson search. USFRA is funded in part by the beef checkoff. More than 100 farmers and ranchers from across the country responded to the call to find real “faces” to share their stories on a national stage and further the dialogue on how food is produced in America today.  Entries spanned the corners of the country and included various types of food grown and raised, but all shared one common theme: farmers and ranchers sharing their passion for producing food and continuously improving what they do. Cast your vote online at www.FoodDialogues.com through Dec. 15 to help select the faces of American agriculture.

Holiday Roast and Toast

The Kansas Beef Council (KBC), Constellation Wines and 27 Kansas City-area Hy-Vee stores are partnering to promote beef for the holidays in a Holiday Roast & Toast promotion now through December 25. The first two weeks of the promotion include in-store elements that drive consumers to the meat case. In Kansas City, Missouri-area stores $2 off coupons are available at the meat case for use on any Amana brand roast. In Kansas stores, consumers can pick up a $4 off Amana brand roast mail-in coupon when they also purchase any Constellation brand wine from an outside liquor store.  Additionally, beef and wine pairing classes utilizing the talents of Hy-Vee's in-house chefs and Constellation Wine's beverage pairing professionals will be held at four stores.

Cooking with Cattlemen

Dairy/beef producer and CBB member Gary Sharp and his wife Donna, Bath, S.D., joined the checkoff and the Wisconsin Beef Council during World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc., to share their dairy/beef message with booth attendees. To kick off the week, Gary and Angie Horkan, Wisconsin Beef Council director of marketing, teamed up with Ag Day Anchor and Managing Editor Clinton Griffiths to film a cooking demonstration at HyVee. The team shared a recipe for Asian Beef and Wild Rice Salad, discussed the health benefits of beef and beef at retail.

New Beef Cook-Off Category

1. Meat and poultry trends in the U.S.
2. Corn and soybean prices continue to retrace 2012 drought rally
3. Ag markets generally mixed to start this week
4. USDA announces Conservation Reserve Program sign-up
5. Survey reveals most Americans in favor of COOL
6. Michigan hay buyers should plan purchases early

1. Ag markets were mixed to start the new week
2. U.S. cattle placements rise in April as feed costs subside
3. Schwieterman: Cattle futures end week with sharp losses
4. Insects. They’re what’s for dinner!
5. Hay buyers should plan purchases early
6. The relationship between retail gasoline prices and futures prices

1. Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
2. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
3. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?
4. BeefTalk: How do we get the next generation to raise beef?
5. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
6. Boxed beef hits record highs, cattle weak to lower