BEEF INDUSTRY PRODUCER LEADERS ADOPT BUDGET, POLICIES

    RENO, Nev. (August 4, 1997) -- Producer leaders of the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association and Cattlemen's Beef Board adopted a joint
industry fiscal year 1998 budget for beef demand building programs and
policy initiatives of  $74.3 million during a joint board meeting in Reno,
Nev.  The meeting was held as part of the beef industry's annual Summer
Conference.
    
     The budget includes $55.8 million in state and national checkoff
funding for beef promotion, research, consumer information, and export
promotion programs.   Another $18.4 million in non-checkoff funding from
various sources, including member dues, will be used for public policy and
production-related programs, including foreign market development, and
government affairs initiatives in Washington, D.C.   Specific NCBA-managed
projects to be funded with Beef Board revenue must now be approved by the
Beef Promotion Operating Committee and USDA before funds are disbursed.
    
     The NCBA Board also adopted several policy resolutions and
recommendations from producer committees which met during the conference.
Among the actions taken were:
    
     -adoption of committee reports supporting further development of the
new marketing program called the Brand-Like Initiative.  The initiative
seeks to establish a set of expectations for all segments of the beef
industry which will enhance the quality and consistency of beef for the
consumer.
    
     -a recommendation to submit a report on development of cash settlement
for cattle futures contracts to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and request
a response from the CME by December 1, 1997.
    
     -a resolution directing the NCBA to seek Congressional action on the
Administration's American Heritage Rivers Initiative.  This initiative
would designate certain river and stream segments and potentially result in
further restrictions on nearby landowners.
    
     -a recommendation that coordinated federal-state meat inspection
programs are the preferred inspection organization structure; that a single
federal-state inspection stamp or designation be adopted for use on all
federally inspected meat and meat inspected under "equivalent to" state
inspection programs; and that meat inspected under state programs which are
officially designated as "equivalent to" federal standards be accorded the
same freedom of movement in interstate commerce as meat imported from
foreign countries.
    
     -adoption of a task force recommendation to improve the efficiency of
committee operation by streamlining the joint program/policy committee
structure.
    
     The NCBA, Beef Board, American National CattleWomen and Cattle-Fax
will hold their annual meeting February 4-7, 1998, in Denver, Colo. The
meeting will be 100th annual meeting of the NCBA.
    
     Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the
marketing organization and trade association for America's one million
cattle farmers and ranchers.  With offices in Denver, Chicago and
Washington D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization
representing the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry.
    
     The Beef Board is accountable for overseeing the national one-dollar-
per-head beef checkoff program including planning, budgeting, evaluating
programs, collecting checkoff assessments, assuring compliance with the
Beef Promotion and Research Act and Order and certifying state beef
councils. The Beef Board's 111 members are appointed by and held
accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Board members represent all
segments of the beef industry including beef, veal and dairy producers and
importers.
    
                                   ####