The 104 producer-members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board will meet next week in Denver to address issues of significance to their future, as they come together for their annual meeting at the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention in Denver.  Monte Reese is chief operating officer for the Beef Board.  He says the upcoming meeting is an important one.

Cut #1         :25          Outcue: "...planning for the future."

According to Reese, there’s special significance to the 2006 event.

Cut #2         :19          Outcue: "...years and months ahead."

There will be several checkoff-related topics discussed at the meeting, including the good health of consumers.

Cut #3         :19          Outcue: "...to capitalize on that."

Reese encourages all producers to consider joining Beef Board members at the 2006 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show.

Cut #4         :42          Outcue: "...in early February."

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board is responsible for administering the $1-per-head Beef Checkoff Program.  Oversight is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose representatives will also be attending the Beef Board Annual Meeting.

The national Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, a group of 108 beef producers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.  They represent producers from coast-to-coast and volunteer their time to help identify programs that can help increase beef demand.  The checkoff was created in the 1985 Farm Bill, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.