Every Week is Ag Week in Missouri

(Columbia, MO)—This week marks the 36th anniversary of National Ag Week, a nationwide effort to recognize agriculture’s contribution to the everyday lives of Americans.  In Missouri, the state’s commodity groups are working to ensure this key message is extended beyond March 15-21.  “National Ag Week provides a great opportunity to highlight the success of the agriculture industry, how agriculture revitalizes our rural communities and brings dollars into the state’s economy,” said John Kleiboeker, Missouri Beef Industry Council executive director.  “But this message needs to be shared year round, not just during National Ag Week.”  Full Release

Beef Safety Research into Ethanol Co-Product

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) Increasing numbers of Missouri beef cattle producers are feeding their animals with a by-product of ethanol production known as distillers’ grains and research is showing that this practice provides a nutritious, low cost feed supplement for cattle and a healthy final product for consumers. Missouri currently has six ethanol plants in production and Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) board member and cattle producer Jim Freeman of Salem says the use of distillers’ grains for feed is widespread across the state. “Quite a bit of effort is going into promoting the product of dried distillers’ grains especially to cow-calf producers and stocker producers,” said Freeman. Full Release

Study Shows That Parasite Control Pays

DULUTH, Ga — July 17, 2008 (AgNewsWire) — In hard economic times, cutting corners can become a rule instead of an exception. As the cattle industry faces rapidly rising input costs, producers should make every dollar count. According to a recent study from Iowa State University,1 one place producers cannot afford to cut is in their parasite control program. The study concluded that parasite control is the most economically important practice in beef production. “We’ve known for years that parasite control was critical to the profitable cattle producer, but this study is significant because it proves the value of parasite control in actual dollars and cents,” says Dr. James Hawkins, Parasitologist and Consultant for Merial…

Missouri Beef Council Introduces “Speaking of Beef”

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) The Missouri Beef Industry Council has introduced a new industry speaker’s bureau program called “Speaking of Beef.” Executive Director John Kleiboeker says the beef check-off sponsored program features volunteer cattle producers who will be visiting local civic and business organizations to address key issues important to the beef industry and discussing how those issues impact local business and residents. “We’re really excited about ‘Speaking of Beef’ and the potential it has for helping folks in all areas of Missouri to learn more about beef production and beef consumption and all about the beef cattle industry here in Missouri,” said Kleiboeker. Seven cattle producers from different areas of the state have volunteered for…

Missouri Beef Producers Fund Research for Consumers

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) Finding a faster, more efficient way to detect contamination in food products is the goal of a new research project being funded by the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) through producer beef checkoff dollars. According to MBIC Executive Director John Kleiboeker, the study will focus on new technology capable of detecting both E. coli 0157:H7 and salmonella simultaneously in ground beef. “Utilizing the technology will allow the process for evaluating E. coli and salmonella presence in ground beef to go much, much more quickly than any technology that we currently have,” said Kleiboeker. University of Missouri food scientist Dr. Azlin Mustapha will lead the study with the ultimate goal of reducing the…

New Missouri Beef Industry Council Officers Elected

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) The Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) board of directors has elected new officers for the 2008 fiscal year. James Rickman of Stockton was elected as chairman of the board which administers the $1 per head beef checkoff in Missouri. Rickman was recently re-elected to represent beef producers in Southwest Missouri to serve his second three-year term. He encourages his fellow producers to stay informed about programs being funded by the beef checkoff. “If they get involved, attend some of the Farm Fests, or see the Beefmobile when it’s at their local sale barn, they would be amazed at just exactly what their dollar is doing for them and how I believe in…

Beef Producers Urged to Vote for Representatives

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) All Missouri beef cattle producers are eligible to vote in elections this summer for representatives to serve on the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) board of directors. MBIC Executive Director John Kleiboeker says the elections are important for producers to choose their directors to serve on the board which administers the $1 per head beef checkoff on the state level. “We hold elections annually on a staggered rotation across the state,” said Kleiboeker. “We are an organization that is run by beef producers from across Missouri. They make up our board of directors and that is what this election is all about.” This year, elections are being held for directors to represent…

May is Beef Month in Missouri

May is Beef Month in Missouri. Representatives of both the Missouri Beef Industry Council and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association were recently at the state capitol to receive the official proclamation from Governor Matt Blunt. Cole Camp cattleman Jimmy Long and his eight-year-old son Jack helped to present Governor Blunt with a copy of the Healthy Beef Cookbook during the proclamation. “We are number two in cow-calf production and this proclamation is the recognition of the fact that we are one of the leading agricultural industries in the state of Missouri,” Long said. Missouri Beef Industry Council board member David “Blue” Geier of California said it helps to have the governor’s support for the industry. “I…

Mizzou BBQ Team Scores With Tiger Steak

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) The University of Missouri-Columbia’s Mizzou BBQ Team made a name for itself in a national cooking competition recently with “Tiger Steak.” According to team captain Greg Chase, the team was just organized in May of last year and has already been very successful. “Our first competition out of the gate in September we took first place in Beef Brisket, beating out 28 professional barbeque teams in the state,” said Chase. “From that, we were invited to go to the National Meat Association Meat Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada in February.” For that event, Chase says the team was asked to produce a brand new meat product for competition. “So we did some…

Celebrate Nutrition Month With Beef

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) March is National Nutrition Month and the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) is encouraging consumers to kick the fads and get back to the basics. MBIC Director of Consumer Information Alane Lidolph says the theme for National Nutrition Month this year is “100 Percent Fad-Free.” “National Nutrition Month is sponsored every March by the American Dietetic Association and it’s a nutrition education and information campaign really designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food decisions and developing healthy and sound eating and physical activity habits.” Lidolph says the theme this year highlights the latest government dietary guidelines outlined in USDA’s MyPyramid program. “The beef industry has been supportive of…

Missouri Beef Producer Relishes Role on National Level

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) A cattleman from Sedalia is representing Missouri on the national level on two different beef cattle organizations. David Dick, immediate past chairman of the Missouri Beef Industry Council, has been re-elected for a second term to serve on the Operating Committee for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The committee is made up of 20 cattle producer representatives who make decisions about how the $1 per head Beef Checkoff is spent on the national level. Dick has also been elected to represent Region Three for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “I now represent Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin on the NCBA executive committee,” said Dick. “And I will carry not only the…

February Reminds Us to Be Sweet to Our Hearts

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) February often brings to mind thoughts of big, red hearts – which is why it was chosen as American Heart Month to get us thinking on heart health. And according to the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC), lean red meat can play an important role in a heart-healthy diet. Alane Lidolph, MBIC Director of Consumer Information, says one of the major heart health concerns right now is trans fatty acids and it’s important to know the difference between man-made and natural trans fats when reducing them in the diet. “The man-made trans-fatty acids, those dangerous ones found in baked goods, are really detrimental to heart health. But the naturally-occurring trans-fatty acids like…

Survey Shows Continued Support for Beef Checkoff

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) Missouri beef industry leaders are pleased with results from a nationwide survey released last week that shows continued support for the $1 per head national Beef Checkoff. According to Missouri Beef Industry Council chairman Andrew McCrea, a cattleman from Maysville, the results are proof that most producers have positive views about the checkoff which began in 1986. “The survey shows what we’ve continued to see from surveys over time, that an overwhelming majority of beef producers do support the checkoff,” said McCrea. The survey, which was conducted in response to a settlement agreement between Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Livestock Marketing Association as a result of a May 2005 U.S. Supreme Court…

Beef Board Web Log Provides Transparency

Holts Summit, MO – January 29, 2007 (AgNewsWire) When the Cattlemen’s Beef Board annual meeting is held at the Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville Jan. 31-Feb. 3, even producers who are unable to attend will be able to participate through the Beef Board Meeting web log (www.beefboardmeeting.com). Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chairman Jay O’Brien of Amarillo, Texas says the site was started last year in an effort to provide complete transparency for producers who pay into the $1 per head national Beef Checkoff. “We’re trying to get information out to the producers to let them know exactly what’s going on at the convention and even allow them to have input back in to the committees, so…

Super Bowl Cooking With Beef

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) Nothing says celebrate like beef and the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) is urging consumers to try out some new beef appetizers when they gather to watch Super Bowl LXI this year. “We like to remind people that beef owns that emotion of celebration,” said MBIC Director of Marketing Dawn Thurnau. “When you think about celebrating with friends and family, often times you think of beef.” But Thurnau urges consumers to think beyond the traditional burgers and steak when they are considering foods for entertaining, since beef can be a great ingredient in some fun finger foods. “My favorite is actually a Beef WonTon that takes some ground beef, some eggs, and…