State Beef Producers Head to Nashville  

(There is a daily report from the meeting going on in Nashville to report activities at the national convention. You can access it by logging on to www.beefboardmeeting.com )

PIERRE (January 28, 2007)--Eleven South Dakotans will be representing the state’s producers on beef checkoff issues in Nashville January 31 to February 3. They are participating in the nation’s largest beef industry meeting. The 2007 Cattle Industry Convention will bring together beef producers from across the nation to review beef checkoff programs and gather information during this annual event.

“ South Dakota is one of the major beef producing states in the U.S. ,” says Pat Blum, Reliance rancher and outgoing director of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). “It’s important our people attend this meeting, staying abreast of what’s happening in the beef industry as well as providing input into its future direction.”

Blum and Gary Sharp, dairy producer from Bath , S.D. , will participate in the 2007 meeting, where they complete their terms on the CBB board. Blum is chairman of the Health Professional Influencers Subcommittee and Sharp serves on the Joint Operating Committee. Ed Blair , Vale, and Merrill Karlen , Oacoma, also serve as CBB directors. Blair chairs, and Karlen serves on, the International Markets Committee. Alan Walth of Glenham and Myron Williams of Wall, were appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to begin their three-year terms on the CBB and will also be traveling to Nashville .

Six other South Dakotans --and directors on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC)--represent the state’s beef producers on a variety of committees of the Federation of State Beef Councils. Becky Walth , Glenham, chairs the Human Nutrition Research Committee. Roger Gerdes , Miller rancher and president of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, sits on the Advertising Committee. Nancy Montross, DeSmet, and Mike Stahly, Cavour, both serve on the Issues Management Committee. And Tom Connelly, Belle Fourche , serves on the New Product and Culinary Initiatives Committee. CBB directors Blair, Karlen and Williams are also SDBIC directors.

“ South Dakota is very well represented and has a number of people in positions of leadership on committees,” says Blum, adding that these producers are well informed and not afraid to speak up in committee.

Blum explains that during the sessions, CBB members will be reviewing a producer survey concerning the beef checkoff which was conducted this past fall. The survey, conducted by the Gallup Organization with oversight from the USDA, found 72% of the 8,002 beef, dairy and veal producers surveyed either strongly approved or somewhat approved of the beef checkoff program. 

“We’ll be looking at how cattlemen across the nation are feeling about the checkoff, and what that means to our program,” explains Blum.

Also during the four-day event, Bob and Nancy Montross, DeSmet cattle producers and beef promoters, will be receiving the Trailblazer Award presented by the Beef Today magazine. Another South Dakota producer, Nancy Stirling Neuhauser of Midland, will be stepping down from her one-year term as president of the American National CattleWomen, Inc. during the Cattle Industry Convention.

The 2007 Cattle Industry Convention brings members of the CBB, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the American National CattleWomen together for meetings and a trade show.

The SDBIC collects and administers the beef checkoff on cattle sold in South Dakota . Checkoff dollars are utilized strictly for promotion, education or research programs. Fifty cents of every dollar is directed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for programs on the national level. The SDBIC retains up to 50 cents, investing it in additional national or in-state programs.

 The SDBIC is comprised of three representatives from eight agricultural organizations: SD Beef Breeds Council, SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, SD CattleWomen, SD Farm Bureau Federation, SD Farmers Union, SD Livestock Market Association, and SD Stockgrowers Association