MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Beef Council will invest $57,665 into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information and producer communications in Fiscal Year 2014. The marketing plan was approved by the Ohio Beef Council Operating Committee at their final meeting of 2013 with funds working to increase demand for beef and veal.
“We have some great programs planned for 2014,” said Bill Sexten, chairman of the Ohio Beef Council Operating Committee. “Our job remains challenging as the dollars we have to work with continue to decrease.”
Sexten adds that similar to other states and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Ohio’s checkoff collections have been trending downward for a number of years. These reductions are the result of the national cow herd being the smallest it’s been in over 50 years.
“However, the Ohio Beef Council continues to be innovative to make the most of what we have to work with to reach Ohio’s consumers,” Sexten said.
In 2014, the Ohio Beef Council will continue to communicate the beef story with consumers in Ohio through numerous avenues including advertising, beef promotions through the Ohio State Fair and Columbus Clippers, and will expand efforts in digital marketing, as well as through retail and foodservice professionals.
Details on how Ohio Beef Checkoff dollars are invested can be found online at www.ohiobeef.org.
The Ohio Beef Council and the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board are responsible for developing programs that increase the demand for beef and veal. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. For more information, contact the Ohio Beef Council, 10600 U.S. Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040, 614-873-6736, beef@ohiobeef.org.
Source: Ohio Beef Council