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The Ohio Beef Council (OBC) engages with Ohio's producers and consumers to strengthen the demand for beef with the goal of maintaining the profitability and growth of Ohio's beef industry. Are you w
ondering exactly how your dollars are being used? This newsletter highlights a few of the ways that your Checkoff dollars are working to help the beef industry.
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The beef checkoff and the Ohio Beef Council's (OBC) mission is to 'Engage with Ohio's producers and consumers to strengthen the demand for beef. In 2017, OBC continued to make strides to improve consumers' demand and opinion of the beef industry through a vast array of innovative programs. From Virtual Field Trips to Blogging about Beef, the marketing efforts of OBC have helped keep beef at the center of plates in restaurants, homes and cafeterias.
View the 2017 Annual Report here to see some of the results from a successful year. In addition to highlights of the activities and investments made in Ohio, information from the federation of state beef councils is included in the annual report.
Watch your mailboxes and favorite publications for hard copies of the report in the coming weeks.
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Showing Consumers How Cattlemen Combat Harsh Weather
Each winter brings challenges for people all across the state of Ohio. Simple tasks such as commuting to work, talking out the trash and bringing in the groceries become daunting endeavors for the average person. For farmers the challenges only get more difficult from there. Produced in 2015, the Cattlemen Care video series follows the Rittenhouse family of New Carlisle, Ohio through spring calving. This nine-part episodic video series captures the struggles of raising cattle in the winter and illustrates the passion that the family has for their cattle. Each episode highlights a different aspect of calving; from preparation to calf care.
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| Cattlemen Care: The Rittenhouse Family |
The video series was re-launched in early January. Cumulatively the videos have been viewed nearly 200,000 times by consumers in 2018 alone. Check out the series on the OBC website, Facebook Page or on YouTube.
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Answering Tough Sustainability Questions
The checkoff continues to address tough sustainability questions such as: "If we fed corn to humans instead of cattle, would land use be more sustainable?" One way consumers can learn more about how cattle have a positive impact on the environment is by interacting with new animated infographics. A dozen of the toughest sustainability questions have been addressed with this technology. By utilizing an animated infographic, the topics become easy to follow, and readers can find additional information just one click away.
Check out all the infographics here.
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CBB Names Scott Stuart to CEO Position
After an extensive search, the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB) has named Scott Stuart of Colorado as the new chief executive officer, effective February 1, 2018.
"The beef industry is very complex," notes Brett Morris, CBB chairman from Ninnekah, Oklahoma. "Scott has the background and understanding to bring all those pieces together to help producers meet their goal of promoting beef and getting the most value from their checkoff dollar".
"The outstanding work he has done with National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA) illustrates the type of CEO we were looking for to fulfill the expectations we had.
"Scott is a visionary with a strong ability to be very productive. He is thorough and productive, with an immense amount of enthusiasm for this industry. I am most excited about his cowboy background. He will resonate with farmers and ranchers from all over the country, helping them to better understand the benefits of their beef checkoff investments," Morris added.
Stuart has an extensive background in the livestock industry, including board management and as a contractor to the beef board. He currently serves as the President and CEO of the National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA), which comprises several regional livestock marketing cooperatives marketing over 2.5 million cattle annually. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Agriculture Business and completed a law degree at the University of Wyoming.
In accepting the position, Stuart said, "My goal is ensuring the administration of the beef checkoff continues to be above reproach, as the producer's dollar must be invested within all guidelines and to the greatest benefit to the industry. In addition, it is my goal to work hard to assist leadership and contractors in achieving the goals of the beef industry's Long Range Plan." "Scott has taken our organization to places it would never have gone without his leadership," says Gary Smith, current chairman of NLPA. "I am sure he can, and will, do the same for Cattlemen's Beef Board. The thing that comforts me is knowing Scott will still be working on the side of livestock producers, helping to promote the industry and making it better. We look forward to working with him in his new capacity," Smith added.
CBB's former CEO, Polly Ruhland, served as CEO for six years before accepting a similar position at the United Soybean Board in November. CBB's Chief Financial Officer, Katherine Ayers, has been acting CEO during this transition.
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Beef 510 is a one-day program designed for those who have participated in Beef 509, but is open to all cattlemen. The program will continue the traditional beef sensory sessions and BQA presentations, but will also present information designed to help producers better prepare their operations and their cattle to meet challenges of the future. All who attend will be certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) at the end of the course. Beef 510 is a joint program coordinated by the Ohio Beef Council, the Department of Animal Sciences - OSU, and OSU Extension.
List of speakers include:
Justin Nelson, Director of Animal Procurement specializing in cattle for Tyson Foods, Inc. and located at the corporate office in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. He will discuss today's marketing environment and Tyson's approach to market access programs. The presentation will also discuss the decision from Wendy's restaurants to purchase cattle beginning in 2019 only from those suppliers who can verify the producers providing the cattle are beef quality assurance certified.
Mandy Carr Johnson, Sr. Executive Director for the Science, Culinary and Outreach team at National Cattlemen's Beef Association ((NCBA) oversees programs focusing on human nutrition research. In addition, she has oversights on influencer outreach, product quality, sustainability, and beef safety research, as well as the Beef: It's What's for Dinner Culinary Center She will discuss how the beef checkoff program is working to assure consumers that beef is a sustainable and nutritious food so consumers don't feel pressured to explore other products perceived to be more sustainable or healthier. The presentation will also include a sneak peak into the checkoff's new raising beef responsibly campaign and touch on the "Rethink the Ranch" consumer campaign focused on sharing stories of the people behind the product.
Glen Arnold, is an Associate Professor with Ohio State University Extension and Field Specialist in the area of Manure Nutrient Management Application. His on-farm research focuses on the use of livestock manure as a spring top-dress fertilizer on wheat and as a side dress fertilizer for corn. His research goal is to move livestock producers toward applying manure during the crop growing season instead of late fall application window. With the growing number of those who want to place the blame on livestock producers for Ohio's water quality challenges. You will not want to miss this session.
Additional presenters include professors from the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University: Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist; Lyda Garcia, Assistant Professor of Meat Science/Meat Extension Specialist; and Eric England, Assistant Professor of Meat Science. The Ohio Beef Council and OCA will also provide program updates.
The Beef 510 program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. Lunch will be provided by the 2018 OSU Meats Judging Team. Registration deadline will be February 16, 2018. Register early, as the program will fill up and space is limited. Find the registration form here.
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Checkoff investments focus around several main priorities:
Research
Promotion
Foreign Marketing
Consumer Information
Industry Information
Producer Communication
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Do you have questions about your beef checkoff?
Feel free to ask questions or provide insight about what you what to be kept "posted" on by completing the
"Contact Us" form on the Ohio Beef Council website.
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Ohio Beef Council
10600 US Highway 42 | Marysville, OH 43040
614-873-6736 | www.ohiobeef.org
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