As I posted earlier, the U. S. Supreme Court decided today to continue the Beef Checkoff. Therefore it was time for a special edition of the Missouri Beef Industry Council Report. I spoke to MBIC Chairman David Dick of Sedalia, MO. David also serves on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board operating committee at the national level.
The MBIC Report is an AgriMarketing Pros podcast which you can subscribe to in the “Interviews” sidebar.
I know there’s a big sigh of relief at the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and some disappointment at the Livestock Marketing Association but at least the drama is over for now. Although I don’t have a release yet from the Beef Board directly, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has already distributed one.
Supreme Court Rules Beef Checkoff Constitutional 
DENVER (May 23, 2005) – The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that the Beef Checkoff Program is constitutional, thus allowing the program’s demand-building efforts to continue. The decision overturns a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that found the federal Beef Promotion and Research Act in violation of the First Amendment. The checkoff has helped grow consumer demand for beef more than 25 percent since 1998 and has increased the prices that producers receive for their cattle.
“We are elated,” said Jim McAdams, an Adkins, Texas, cattleman and president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “Throughout the lengthy litigation process, we believed in the merits of our case and the merits of the beef checkoff.” He said, “We anticipated a positive decision. This is a victory for all producers who want demand-building efforts in beef safety, nutrition and promotion continued.”
Cattlemen have supported a checkoff assessment since 1922. January 2005 independent research indicates that a significant 73 percent of beef producers support the current $1-per-head beef checkoff program. Upon the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the beef checkoff case in May 2004, an overwhelming 113 state and national beef industry and general agriculture organizations signed a friend-of-the-court amicus brief in support of the beef checkoff. The brief was also signed by attorneys general from 35 states and Puerto Rico and the chairmen of both the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
For more information contact Joe Schuele.
At least that’s what an article in the Wall Street Journal seems to say. I don’t have a subscription to the Wall Street Journal but maybe you do and then you can read the full article mentioned in Steve Broback’s post over at Blog Business Summit. Steve says:
According to the Wall Street Journal special report How Old Media Can Survive In a New World, Blogs are prominent among technologies threatening to “push the traditional newspaper, television, radio, music and advertising industries into the dustbin of history.”
A user poll on the site indicates that readers say newspapers (by far) should have the most to fear.
Many reports of late have covered the crisis facing newsapapers, and this article does too. In addition, the WSJ details the challenges facing the TV networks.
* The nightly broadcasts on the big three networks have had a 28.4% decline in total viewers since 1991. In 1978, the three original broadcast networks captured about 90% of the prime-time audience. Today, it’s less than 50%. The Journal credits this to cable and the advent of online news sources, blogs and email alerts.
Steve also has some other excerpts available on his post that specifically mention some of the advantages of a blog over traditional media.
He hasn’t mentioned when the next Blog Business Summit will be but I’m looking forward to attending if possible.
Although I interview Harry Thibedeau with the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), we talk about Wild Blue, the satellite internet access company that says it will be available by the end of June. It’s a long-anticipated service launch and Harry says NRTC has put in a bunch of money so I know they’re anxious to get it going. Wild Blue is just one more reason why you’ll be seeing high speed access, even in the country! Just think of all the blog reading those new high speed customers will be doing.
Here’s what the Wild Blue website says:
WildBlue offers you high-speed Internet access via satellite to almost every corner of the U.S.! Imagine “always on”, lightning fast connections to the Internet. No more dialing in. No more delays. No more wondering if high-speed Internet will arrive in your town. Get connected the way you’ve always wanted to: fast.
You can listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast
You can always subscribe to the ZimmCast by using the podcast file in our ZimmCast sidebar.
He’s a good friend but I just don’t think he’s going to convince me to start on an Apple at this point. I made my decision to be an “IBM” computer dude when I bought my first Compaq Portable. Thanks anyway Evan. He wrote this note after we announced our giveaway of an Apple Ipod Shuffle.
Good Morning Chuck,
Thanks for your support of an Apple product.
As an individual who likes to be on the leading of technology, you would look great with an Apple Power Book.
All the best,
Evan
You can find Evan at the Evan Slack Network.
Here’s something I should have known about. 
It’s where you ought to go to find out if you’ve been written about on somebody’s blog. Just type in your name, company name or a keyword and it pulls up a list of posts. As of the writing of this post they claim to have listed 11,214,302 blogs! It’s run by Intelliseek and yes they do have their own blog: Blogpulse Highlights
I just did a search for AgriMarketing Pros and it came up with 31 entries. Most were our own posts but some were from other blogs that had written about us. Very interesting.
The latest Talking News Release from the Missouri Beef Industry Council focuses on that essential part of summer loved by those of us who love the smell of smoke. In fact, I just finished a supper with the family that was cooked over hot coals. Later this week, I’ll be smoking a brisket for an end of the week meal!
MEMORIAL DAY
KICKS OFF SUMMER
GRILLING SEASON
(Columbia, MO) Summertime is upon us and that means it’s time to fire up the backyard grill for hamburgers and steaks.
Missouri Beef Industry Council Marketing Director Dawn Thurnau (turn-HOUR) says the end of May marks the beginning of beef grilling season.
“Memorial Day is actually the biggest beef buying day of the year. Lots of people are in their backyards grilling with their family and friends.” (:07) ( mbic-summergrill-thurnau-cut1)
Beef checkoff funded advertising has already started to generate excitement for the summer grilling season with a new campaign that started the beginning of May that stresses the enjoyment of beef on the grill.
The campaign is expected to reach 94 percent of the beef industry’s target audience with messages like the “Why Man Invented Fire” print ad featuring a strip steak over a camp fire.
You can download the complete release here: Summer Grilling
For more information contact Dawn Thurnau.
How’s your PMA? That is “Positive Mental Attitude.” Ask that question at a HOBY seminar (that’s Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) and be prepared for the noise! Tonight I participated in my second HOBY seminar thanks to Jacob Shellebarger. With me on the panel of business people speaking, no, I should say answering questions, was Daryl Oldvader, Farm Credit Services of Missouri and Ed Varnum, CORE Ministries.
Yes, we did a lot of clapping. You might ask what HOBY’s all about. This is what their website says:
All across the country, volunteers, schools, students and alumni have caught the HOBY spirit. In 2004, thousands of men and women have participated or volunteered in Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) programs, making it America’s premier youth leadership development program.
Started in 1958 by legendary actor Hugh O’Brian, the HOBY program nationally reaches out to every public and private high school — as well as conducting HOBY-style programs internationally including efforts in Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, China, Korea, Taiwan and Israel.
HOBY’s vision is “To motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference within our global society through understanding and action based on effective and compassionate leadership.” HOBY’s success is the direct result of its 4,000 national volunteers who plan and execute its programs — Leadership Seminars, Alumni activities and Community Leadership Education Workshops.
Here in Missouri we had almost 100 high school students from around Missouri participate in the program, which continues through the weekend. I knew it was going on when I stopped at the post office near the state capitol building earlier this afternoon and heard the roar of the HOBY gang on the steps of the building across the street.
I highly recommend your support of this organization. They’re the leaders of tomorrow. I wonder which ones will work for ZimmComm in the future.
Last month we asked reporters from our database of U. S. radio stations to provide us with feedback about our Talking News Release service. We did this separately to traditional farm broadcasters as I posted earlier. We told them that if they emailed us with their thoughts they’d be entered into a contest to win a digital audio player (Zen Micro). Today we are happy to announce the winner. He’s Kevin Casey, News/Operations Director for WEBS-AM, Calhoun, GA. Congratulations Kevin!
Here’s Kevin’s remarks:
Dear Chuck & Cindy, I think you have a great idea and hope you reap in it’s rewards. As you do expand I would suggest getting clips from various athletes in all sports, I have noticed ESPN has done quite well with there line up of stations. I would also do quick feeds from celebs and maybe offer some kind of entertainment weekly or daily feed. Well that’s my two cents, if it’s worth it! Have a great day and thanks for your offerings.
Kevin Casey
Thanks Kevin. We hope to expand our service beyond agribusiness in the future!
I’ve just started on my series of articles which I’m going to categorize under “Tracking News Releases” which will include remarks from people like Kevin so keep reading.
Ag Sec. Johanns is getting around. I wonder if he’ll try to get in on the Pork BarbQlossal judging when he goes to World Pork Expo? This release from NPPC says he’ll at Expo to discuss strategic investment. How much do you want to bet it’s the barbeque that’s really behind it? I’m sure they can whip us some good food at the White House but it doesn’t get much better than you’ll find it at World Pork Expo!
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY JOHANNS
TO ATTEND WORLD PORK EXPO
WASHINGTON, D.C.—May 20th, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns, will visit with pork producers at a Strategic Investment Program luncheon hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at the 17th Annual World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, June 10th.
This is the first time that Johanns, a high-profile member of President Bush’s cabinet, will attend Expo.
Secretary Johanns’ agricultural roots stretch back to his childhood in Iowa, where he grew up doing chores on his family’s dairy farm. Prior to his appointment as Agriculture Secretary, he served as Nebraska’s Governor.
NPPC’s World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork exhibition in the world, will be held June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. To register to attend World Pork Expo or for more information, visit the Expo’s official website, www.worldpork.org.
For more information contact Kara Flynn.
