Thurs., July 17 03 -- Checkoff Budget on Line at Summer Conference

Suggested Lead:

The budget for beef checkoff programs in fiscal year 2004 will be on the line when Beef Board members meet in Dallas, Texas, next week.  According to Monte Reese, chief operating officer for the Beef Board, this budget has already gone through several steps, but still has a ways to go.

Cut #1    :26       Outcue: "...be approved by USDA."

Reese says that process has not changed since the mandatory checkoff began.  

Cut #2    :24       Outcue: "...build demand for beef."

According to Reese, many groups approved for spending checkoff dollars will be involved in the budget process.

Cut #3    :15       Outcue: "...available to them."

To broaden the reach of what happens in Dallas, a town hall meeting will be broadcast by satellite on RFD-TV Thursday evening beginning at 8 p.m. Central time.  Reese says the broadcast is an effort to reach out to people in the cattle industry throughout the country.

Cut #4    :18       Outcue: "...can come to the meeting."

The Town Hall satellite broadcast will include checkoff information from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and policy information from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.  It will be re-broadcast several times the following week.