Agricultural News
Oklahoma Beef Council Extends Checkoff Dollars by Investing in International Markets
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:35:51 CST
The Oklahoma Beef Council board of directors has been working hard over the past year to make some significant changes to program budgets. While deciding to cut the in-state program budgets by 50% and redirect those funds into the international marketplace, Heather Buckmaster, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Beef Council, says the board looked at spending their beef checkoff dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Click on the LISTEN bar below to hear more from Ron Hays and Heather Buckmaster's conversation over the Oklahoma Beef Council's recent changes and what in-state programs are coming up in the next few months.
October started the new fiscal year for the Oklahoma Beef Council and Buckmaster says the September results show beef exports are up 35.9% in value compared to the same month in 2010.
But with today's beef checkoff dollar having only about 50% of the buying power is did in 1985, the Oklahoma Beef Council board felt the need to extend these dollars as much as possible. Buckmaster says the board decided to invest the Oklahoma beef checkoff dollars in the U.S. Meat Export Federation, which will allow for these checkoff dollars to be matched three and four times by government and industry resources.
The Oklahoma Beef Council is focusing on programs through USMEF to the Japanese and Middle East markets through retail promotion. The Middle East is the 2nd largest volume destination for U.S. beef, which Buckmaster says is a great growth opportunity for beef demand.
However, the Oklahoma Beef Council is still holding some in-state events in the upcoming months to help promote Oklahoma beef. Recently the Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance event was held where 150 veterinary students, university professionals, and graduate students completed the program. Buckmaster says they believe this will pay off down the road by creating an awareness for the beef industry.
Also, the Bedlam Tailgating Competition will be held soon between OSU and OU teams. Teams will showcase their tailgating skills and the winners from each team will compete against each other with a mystery basket competition where they must cook with beef.
Click here to visit the Oklahoma Beef Council website for more information.
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