More in Beef Demand

Dec. 18, 2012

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Beef Production Gets Spotlight On Anderson Live! 2

Yesterday, I blogged about flying from my sweet spot in rural South Dakota to the Big Apple, and today, I’m going to write about when a New York City girl visited a cattle ranch in Kansas. Rancher Debbie Lyons-Blythe, through the support of the U.S. Farmer and Rancher Alliance (USFRA), opened up her home and ranch to a consumer from the big city, who asked some tough questions about the beef business. Her answers were featured on the daytime television show, Anderson Live, last week....More
Dec. 5, 2012

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Make Plans To Attend The Boilermaker In New York In 2013

Earlier this week, Jean O’Toole, representing the New York Beef Industry Council (NYBIC), spoke at the South Dakota Beef Industry Council meeting. South Dakota beef producers support promotional efforts in the state of New York, where people outnumber cattle 8-to-1, unlike my own state where cattle edge out people 4-to-1....More
Oct. 9, 2012

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School Lunch Menus Change As A Result Of The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall talks about the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which was enacted during this school year. Also, NCBA’s Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach Shelley Johnson, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, explains that beef is still a major part of the lunch tray....More
Sep. 24, 2012

Article

Calf-Feeder Price Improves But Beef Demand Remains Key

“Demand for heifer calves for both stocker programs and rebuilding cow inventories could increase if precipitation is enough this fall to enable cool-season pasture development this winter, and if prospects improve for pasture growth in 2013,” say analysts with the USDA Economic Research Service in the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook released last week....More
Sep. 20, 2012

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Five Hot Topics Ranchers Should Know About 3

Whether you’re driving the combine harvesting corn or riding your horse checking calves in the pasture, chances are you might have missed some of the big news items that have hit the mainstream media related to the beef industry. T...More
Sep. 15, 2012

Article

High Beef Prices Are Challenging Consumer Demand

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a recent study funded by the Beef Checkoff says the primary limiters to increased domestic beef consumption relate to price. The study included more than 3,000 consumers....More
Sep. 13, 2012

Article

Consumer Demand Vs. Tight Supplies

Consumer demand for beef bumped up in 2011 and is expected to continue through 2012. But with even tighter supplies forecast for 2013 and beyond, cattlemen wonder whether consumers will stay the course or veer off to cheaper pork and poultry....More
Aug. 14, 2012

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Consumer Perceptions Will Determine Agricultural Practices 10

Last week, I spoke at the second annual Animal Welfare Symposium, held at the University of Arkansas. The event focused on animal husbandry topics such as state laws regarding animal welfare, consumer perceptions, educating the public and improving modern agriculture practices. One of the featured speakers was Candace Croney, Purdue University associate professor of animal sciences, who spoke about the factors impacting public perceptions of animal welfare and animal rights....More
Aug. 2, 2012

Article

Grocery Stores, Losing Share Of Stomach, Fight Back

People in the food business call it “share of stomach”—how competitive they are in capturing a percentage of the consumer’s stomach and therefore, the dollars spent on food. Retailers have been steadily losing stomach share as the American culture has changed and the dining room lights have dimmed. Here’s how they’re fighting back....More
Aug. 2, 2012

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Consumers & The Weather Offer Double Whammy

July data indicates domestic consumers are pulling back on their spending in response to a sluggish economic turnaround. At the same time, input costs are rising for livestock producers as ongoing drought continues to work its deleterious effects in important crop production areas. The result is a double whammy for producers struggling to control costs and plan ahead....More
Jul. 30, 2012

Article

Drought Drives Cattle Inventory Down, Consumer Demand Remains High 1

In recent history, drought has been isolated to various regions of the country, rather than a widespread drought threatening most of the country. Last year, for example, drought was centered primarily in the Southern Plains....More
Jul. 13, 2012

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Drought Means More Beef In The Short Term

Increasing supplies of beef in the short term are likely as drought-induced culling and lighter placements continue for another year. But those same drought concerns are darkening prospects for the bin-busting crop predicted earlier in the growing season....More
Jul. 11, 2012

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How Will Canada’s Reentry To Peru Affect The U.S.?

With Peru being a mainstay market in the Central-South America region for U.S. beef, especially for livers and other variety meat, how will the return of Canadian beef to this market affect U.S. prospects? Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation economist, breaks down the issue....More
Jun. 29, 2012

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Opinion: Some Random Thoughts On Random Topics

Like all of you, my mind often wanders and ponders many things as I go about my work week. Here’s a sampling of my thoughts on a few different issues that cropped up this week....More
Jun. 28, 2012

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Bug Bites Can Turn You Vegetarian 5

It sounds like science fiction, but researchers believe that more than 1,500 people in 17 states have developed allergic reactions to red meat after being bitten by the Lone Star Tick....More
Jun. 28, 2012

Article

Quick-Serve Eateries Gaining Consumer Loyalty

In spite of recessions and changing consumer preferences, quick-service restaurants, or QSRs, continue to take a growing slice of the consumer food dollar. In fact, Rabobank predicts leading QSRs will be the particular beneficiaries of consumers’ growing preference for dining out vs. staying at home....More
Jun. 21, 2012

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The Balancing Act Of Consumer Perception 3

With today’s consumers far removed from first-hand knowledge of the production process, they are increasingly being swayed to the belief that modern agriculture is somehow bad for consumers and/or producers. Thus, the industry must not only develop a more comprehensive strategy to defend valid production practices, but be proactive rather than reactive in the process....More
Jun. 6, 2012

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Consumer Trend: Bigger, Better, But More Spendy Burgers

Memorial Day weekend is officially the kickoff to summer grilling season, and now that it’s passed, many are speculating whether consumers will be splurging on meat or saving their money this summer. As food prices rise, what is the latest consumer trend? Despite the cost, it appears Americans are still in love with big, juicy burgers and steaks!...More
May 28, 2012

Article

Beef Demand Stays Robust Despite Challenges 1

Domestic beef demand has surprised analysts, including myself,” says Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University agricultural economist. And there have been plenty of reasons for concern. • Choice wholesale beef prices declined more than $20/cwt. from the end of February to the middle of April – lower almost every day during that span....More
May 28, 2012

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Roper Apparel Celebrates Beef Month

From Asian short ribs to Greek steaks, amateur chefs and ranchers brought a taste of world cuisine to BEEF magazine in celebration of May Beef Month. Winners of the ground beef and steak recipe contests receive $125 boot gift certificates from Roper Apparel. Today, we announce the best summer grilling recipe....More
May 23, 2012

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Pink Slime, Mad Cow, Meat Glue, What Next? 2

Major news stations across the country are having a heyday with beef these days. Creating controversy around America’s most beloved protein, journalists are quick to attack beef, scaring consumers with reports about pink slime, mad cow, meat glue and more. What’s next? And, how much damage have these derogatory terms done to the beef industry?...More
May 17, 2012

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Videos: Sizzling Steaks, Family Dinners, Chef Creations

Two new checkoff-funded “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” online advertising video commercials will be making their world debut this week. Just like the classic Sam Elliot spots, these are sure to be instant classics! The advertisements were created by the beef checkoff program and will generate millions of impressions online....More
May 16, 2012

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Vilsack: Beef Consumption Steady

U.S. beef consumption has remained strong despite attacks questioning the safety of lean trimmings in hamburger, according to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack....More
May 14, 2012

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Youth “Telling the Beef Story” Video Blog Contest Winners Announced 1

This spring, the beef checkoff launched a new video blog contest designed to engage youth in telling the beef story using the power of YouTube. Video entries had to be two minutes or less and focus on one of eight beef-related topics, including common beef misconceptions, cattle care and beef’s nutritional value. Entries were judged on creativity, topic choice, content accuracy and how beef was positioned....More
May 2, 2012

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Sorry, Vegans: Brussels Sprouts Like to Live, Too

I stopped eating pork about eight years ago, after a scientist happened to mention that the animal whose teeth most closely resemble our own is the pig. Unable to shake the image of a perky little pig flashing me a brilliant George Clooney smile, I decided it was easier to forgo the Christmas ham....More