Southeast AgNET

USDA recently released their latest production figures for both cattle and hog producers for the next year.

The Federation of State Beef Councils recently announced they have approved funding in Florida, which Jim Handley of the Florida Beef Council says will be used for a couple of promotions.

Jim Collins with the Georgia Beef Board said thanks to the Federation of State Beef Councils, they have been able to secure funding to take part again this year in the taste of Atlanta, an event that many consumers will attend.

The summer grilling promotion for beef has ended for another year, but Ed Whatley with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association said it was another good event as they continue to promote the newer beef cuts.

Consumers have been paying higher prices the past few months for beef and that trend looks to continue.

Researchers met recently to express their doubts of last years claims by one organization that tied meat to cancer.

A website with a variety of information concerning BSE has been updated thanks to the beef checkoff.

Fewer and fewer dollars from the beef checkoff is making it tough to do many programs, but Georgia Beef Board’s Jim Collins says thanks to receiving some funding from the Federation of State Beef Councils, there’s one program they will be able to do this year.

Over 100 markets are open to U.S. beef once again as we look at who some of the latest countries are to get us back up to that figure.

The latest projections has meat production numbers cutting back over the next year.

Beef exports to Russia resumed in 2006 and ever since, the amount and cuts that we are sending have continued to increase.

The Southeast Georgia Beef Cattle Short Course will be held again this year taking place on August 28th in Laurens County.

U.S. beef sales to Japan are increasing, thanks to the development of new cuts which please Japanese consumers.
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With implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling just over six weeks away, USDA is working to assist retailers and food industry organizations in implementing mandatory Country of Origin labeling with outreach and information.

Suppliers and retailers are invited to a free webinar outlining COOL requirements from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8. Pre-registration is required by Aug. 7 to participate. Click here to pre-register and receive audio dial-in instructions. Computer log-in instructions will be sent separately to all pre-registered attendees before the seminar.

Alabama cattle producers last week approved the state 50-cent beef checkoff program for another 5 years, which pleases the President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Orland Britnell.
And Lana Slaten, a past president of the Alabama Cattlewomen and current Vice President of the American National Cattlewomen, said the state checkoff is very important to the industry.
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The beef checkoff summer grilling promotion continues as the flat iron has been featured in various promotions across Georgia this summer.
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Through the beef checkoff, the Beef Ambassador program is sponsoring a photo contest for youth involved in showing cattle this summer.
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To learn more about the photo contest click Here

We keep hearing how beef exports sales are continuing to grow, which they are, but still lag behind where they were before the BSE case of 2003.
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Cattle producers in Alabama voted this week to continue the state 50-cent beef checkoff, as Dr. Billy Powell with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association was pleased with the outcome.
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CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Tom Ramey, talks about the beef checkoff and how the dollar just doesn’t go near as far as it did back in the late ’80s.
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USDA has issued the interim final rule for Country of Origin Labeling and are seeking comments. Listen to report here: To learn more about the new COOL rule, click Here

Educating youth about beef is one function of the Georgia Beef Board, something Julie McPeake said they did with youngsters at the recent GJCA Field Day.
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As the summer grilling promotion for beef continues, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s Ed Whatley said POP material in supermarkets across the state is doing a great job in reminding consumers to put beef on the grill.
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According to the Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, they and the Federation of State Beef Councils are facing a difficult budgeting year. Listen to report here:

Mike Dee from Aliceville, Alabama is a cattle producer who encourages all those in the industry to get out this coming Tuesday, July 29th and vote yes for the 50-cent state beef checkoff.

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At the recent Cattle Industry Summer Conference, one topic dicsussed was the checkoff funded beef quality audit.

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The 2008 Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association Roundup will take place this weekend in Montgomery, as ACA’s Reid Blossom says it’s a youth event that takes place each year thanks to the 50-cent state beef checkoff.

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June beef month was another big success in Georgia and Julie McPeake with the Georgia Beef Board wants to remind county chapters to get their entries turned in for the annual contest.

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Belts are being tightened in many households across the U.S. but Brad Etheridge, Chairman of the Florida Beef Council, said this is not a time to quit promoting the the great taste and benefits of beef.

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According to a recent study, it’s important for cattle producers to keep up with their parasite control programs.

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