The staff of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in Washington DC is ready to tackle top priority issues in 2012 – and number one on the list is estate tax reform. According to NCBA Manager of Legislative Affairs Kent Bacus, the estate tax, commonly referred to as the death tax, is one of the leading causes of the breakup …
Great Outlook for Beef Exports
The first six months of 2011, exports of U.S. beef and variety meat exports totaled over $3 billion, a 40% increase over the same time period in 2010 and something that has made beef cattle producers very happy this year. “It’s looking really good,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president-elect J.D. Alexander of Nebraska during an interview at NAFB Trade …
Alltech Global 500 Coming Up Next Week
Coming up next week in Lexington, Kentucky is an event that dairy and beef producers should not miss. Since 2008, more than 800 of world’s most progressive dairy and beef producers have convened for the Alltech Global 500 to network and discuss the most relevant and challenging topics in the industry. This year, the Global 500 explores the future landscape …
Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board is enjoying the best relationships with its contractors in years according to new CEO Polly Ruhland. I spoke with Polly, pictured on the right, at the NAFB Trade Talk session to find out how things are going after some of the recent changes. Polly says that the Beef Board is taking a look at the structure …
Congress Restricts Implementation of GIPSA Rule
Implementation of USDA’s proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard’s Administration (GIPSA) rule is being restricted under legislation passed yesterday by Congress. Congress passed a $19.8 billion 2012 agricultural spending bill Thursday that includes language blocking USDA from implementing the controversial reforms to livestock and poultry marketing proposed last year and opposed by major livestock organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef …
29th National Beef Cook-Off Winner Named
With her stir fry recipe, Vegetable-Mango Beef Stir Fry, amateur home cook Sheryl Little of Sherwood, Ark., won the checkoff-funded 29th National Beef Cook-Off® $25,000 “Best of Beef” grand prize, topping recipes from 19 other finalists around the country. Sheryl was announced as the grand prize winner at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington D.C. Her winning recipe, …
Thank You National Beef Ambassadors
I recently got to judge a part of the competition for the National Beef Ambassadors. Sure wish I could have been at the event in Ohio. We’ve got a great new crew that will be representing beef producers everywhere and I can’t wait to meet them. Yesterday I got a great thank you from them (video below). Well, I say, …
National Beef Ambassadors Ready To Travel
ZimmComm loves beef. That’s why we are a sponsor of the National Beef Ambassador program. This past weekend I was a judge for the competition although I had to do it from ZimmComm World Headquarters and not in Wooster, OH. It was very interesting seeing how the contestants responded to an anti-beef blog post. That was one of the things …
Trade Agreements Finally Moving for Real
After more than four years in limbo, trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama have finally been sent to Congress by the White House and could be voted on by next week. “The series of trade agreements I am submitting to Congress today will make it easier for American companies to sell their products in South Korea, Colombia, and …
2012 National Beef Ambassador Team Chosen
John Weber (Minnesota), Kim Rounds (California), Arika Snyder (Pennsylvania), Rossie Blinson (North Carolina), and Emily Jack (Texas) were chosen as the 2012 National Beef Ambassador Team at the annual competition, funded in part by the beef checkoff, held Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 at the Shisler Conference Center and Hilton Garden Inn in Wooster, Ohio. Eighteen senior contestants, ages 17-20, …