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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 3, 2006

TBC issues demand-building report

The Texas Beef Council (TBC), the beef marketing arm of the nation's No. 1 cattle producing state, has published its 2005 summary of demand-building beef checkoff projects. The summary lists key state and national programs of research, information and promotion that Texas producers helped fund with their checkoff dollars in 2005.

"This state-national checkoff summary shows how TBC invested checkoff dollars toward multiple projects to encourage consumers to eat more beef," said cattle feeder Leo Vermedahl of Dalhart, chairman of TBC's board of directors.

The beef checkoff program receives $1 for every head of cattle sold by a U.S. beef producer. By law, 50 cents of each dollar goes for national beef checkoff programs and the other half is administered by the state beef council. TBC collected almost $12 million dollars in 2005 and sent approximately $6 million for national programs through the Cattlemen's Beef Board.

TBC's board of directors, consisting of Texas beef producers, sent an additional 19 cents from each state half dollar, or approximately $2.22 million, to further support national programs conducted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and international programs conducted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

In total, TBC's board used about 31 cents of each Texas checkoff dollar to fund in-state checkoff programs.

The annual summary lists projects that TBC funded in Texas last year. These programs were directed to target audiences including consumers, restaurant operators, retailers, health professionals, educators and media.

The summary includes a chart that indicates the percentage breakdown of investments in each program area and the additional national investment.

The summary's other side lists similar information on the national program that is approved by the Beef Board and contracted through groups like NCBA and USMEF.

"I encourage Texas beef producers to read about the programs that help enhance their profit opportunities," Vermedahl said. "Beef demand remains up more than 20 percent since 1998.

"Our new long-range plan seeks to add an additional 10 percent to beef demand and increase U.S. beef exports 400 percent by 2010. This is the beef checkoff's plan to work toward a strong future for your business in Texas and the nation."

Producers can request copies of the annual report summary or a more detailed audited 2005 financial report by emailing beef@txbeef.org or calling toll-free 1-800-846-4113.

WTO walk-out may be option, trade rep says

U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman recently said the U.S. could possibly abandon the World Trade Organization trade talks unless other countries start showing greater willingness to open up markets. Portman testified to the House Ways and Means Committee about the status of the slow-moving WTO talks.

During the negotiations, the U.S. put its best offers on the table for agriculture, as well as manufactured goods and services, according to Portman. However, without commensurate offers from other countries, additional progress is not possible, he said.

Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), chair of the committee, suggested setting stricter time limits on the process for negotiating trade deals. Even bills in Congress die when they're not passed after two years, he noted.

Members of the AgLead 7 class paid College Station and Houston a visit on Feb. 7-9, the sixth of nine trips planned in the two-year leadership development course. Above, the group stops for a picture in front of a statue that incorporates a piece of the Berlin Wall in front of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. They also toured the Bush Library and obtained an overview of TAMU Academic System and associated agencies. The group then went to Katy to David Nelson's place to meet with the Katy Prairie Conservancy, and continued their tour to the Port of Houston. They wrapped up the final day by visiting the Houston branch of Sysco Systems, Inc. one of the nation's largest food distributors. Pictured are, from left to right, Clay Cooper, Marty Acton, Eddie Griffis, Marida Favia del Core Borromeo, Perry Lewis, Daniel Bluntzer, Scotty Rhea, Jay Davis, Stephen Diebel, Brad Justiss and Si Cook.

Notable Quotable

"Yet we want to whack the heck out of them in the budget."

—Rep. JoAnn Emerson (R-Mo.), in response to comments by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in which he praised the abilities of U.S. farmers.