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Beef Business is Well ?

VB. your title for the thread seems to indicate you disagree with the headline of the story. Is that correct?

Did you notice the date, March of 2011? Or the context and premise of the story?

I agree with the author and note that cattle prices are still rising, with occasional set-backs, at least in the upper mid-west, home of high quality cattle many feeders seek out. Not sure what is happening in other parts of the nation.

Of course, as cattle prices rise, it is sad that cost of our necessities like cattle feed and supplements and fuel rise even faster. So, what else is new?

mrj
 
confused
20 yrs ago i sold calves for 95 cents
last year i sold calves for 160 cents
way more money 20 yrs ago
everybody gotta make money
or were in real trouble
how can a guy with a minimum wage job
buy meat
how can we sell meat fer any less
seems like real thin ice we all are on
 
VB RANCH said:
confused
20 yrs ago i sold calves for 95 cents
last year i sold calves for 160 cents
way more money 20 yrs ago
everybody gotta make money
or were in real trouble
how can a guy with a minimum wage job
buy meat
how can we sell meat fer any less
seems like real thin ice we all are on
Click to expand...

I would have to agree with VB. When will the consumer say thats it? I don't know about where everybody else is, but where I am at there are alot of restraunts struggle to keep their doors open. Its hard to sell choice cuts when there are not restraunts.
 
One of the last dairymen here dispersed last month. A registered herd that sold breeding stock as well as embryos a true family farm non cooperate. They were told milk would be selling foe $20 per hundred . They still could not afford to keep the cattle. I attended the first reg dairy sale that sells similar to purebred beef sales. In 1980 bred Holstein heifEr sold her for $1300 to $1500 at this sale registered bred heifeRs sold about the same. Folks the same price of 32 years ago.in the 80s fuel and feed were much cheaper .
Rumors going at the sale that in 10 years there will not be a dairy in this state. Some saying dairying will be out of the us totally someday. I did not know that milk is being exported to the us from china and some of us dairys are not owned by us citizens.
It sure get my brain going when you see what's going on the other side of the large animal industry...
 
Between extreme. even excessive, regulation, AND claims, many if not all of them false and from folks with NO education to back it all the way to our 'educated' government teachers and regulators, dairy foods are given a fright label of causing ill health from the natural fat content, is it any wonder they are having a hard time???

Then, there HSUS and friends join the mob 'stoning' any who produce food from animals, not to mention the eco-freako's and NIMBys, then the liberals who don't want any of the 'dirty' food production industries (mainly anything involving animals) moved off shore (Al Gore comment years ago) isn't it amazing they have lasted this long????

Just heard Dr. Gary Sides, Pfizer, give a talk about how wrong so many of the common myths about food are today. It is fantastic and certainly every food producer needs to see/hear it. I expect to get the information soon and will share it.

mrj
 
mrj said:
Just heard Dr. Gary Sides, Pfizer, give a talk about how wrong so many of the common myths about food are today. It is fantastic and certainly every food producer needs to see/hear it. I expect to get the information soon and will share it.

mrj
Click to expand...

Hi mrj, does any of this information that tells the truth ever get out to consumers? And, how do we, as producers, help get that truth out there, too? Sometimes I wish we could go on strike and hold on to our beef until our "demands" are met.
 
"Straight-bred" Angus calves and "CAB" used in the same sentence?

What a crock...................................................

Trying to convince the public that CAB beef is all "Angus" is comical and absurd.
 
Frisco, it has been getting out there for years,

A major problem has been and still is, that the prestige universities and popular 'doctors' have more clout with consumers and it is difficult to sort out fact from fiction for those of us who do not have 'doctor' for a 'first name', it seems.

People who keep up with Beef Checkoff try to get the info out there, and are getting more training in how to more effectively do that, but still an uphill battle with so many groups who are using it to push the anti-meat messages. They can 'buy' the 'doctor' names (via money to hire them, for one thing) and give consumers the IMPRESSION of using factual information.

For the record, it was Pfizer, NOT Beef Checkoff folks that gave the message........which will make some consumers, and even a few ranchers, who have been 'educated' by the anti-groups to blieve that any outfit like Pfizer has a vested interest and is just trying either to sell product and get rich.......OR to kill our customers with 'unhealthy' food.......both effective messages to people who have no clue what a farm or ranch really is today.

And no doubt, Pfizer IS competing for the cattle producers business. However, anyone smart enough to run a successful business(if that's even possible in todays' political and financial climate!) SHOULD be wise enough to know those companies are NOT trying to poison anyone, IMO.

They ARE in a very competitive business, too. Poisoning customers and other consumers simply would be stupidity!

This all sounds pretty negative, but I do believe there are more young people giving such things more critical look.

mrj
 
I disagree that information is getting out there to the consumers. The NIMBYs, eco freaks and "health" experts all get their air time on shows like the Today show, Good morning America, the View, Dr. Oz.... We don't. We don't get to show that our operations are more humane than HSUS could ever dream of, we don't get to show what good stewards we are, we don't get to show the health benefits... I don't see the information except in publications geared to beef producers and to me that's like preaching to the choir. That's what I was talking about.
I think it is beyond the scope of Beef Checkoff myself. And requires thinking outside the box.
 
Frisco said:
I disagree that information is getting out there to the consumers. The NIMBYs, eco freaks and "health" experts all get their air time on shows like the Today show, Good morning America, the View, Dr. Oz.... We don't. We don't get to show that our operations are more humane than HSUS could ever dream of, we don't get to show what good stewards we are, we don't get to show the health benefits... I don't see the information except in publications geared to beef producers and to me that's like preaching to the choir. That's what I was talking about.
I think it is beyond the scope of Beef Checkoff myself. And requires thinking outside the box.
Click to expand...

If you think the anti-beefer's are out there now, you should have seen what it was like before the check-off got involved.
At least we do get some good information on beef in some of the women's magazines and they will run
some recipes containing beef. Before the check-off; not so much. Every
magazine you picked up had some celebrity talking about not eating beef, etc.

That's not to say we couldn't use some more positive exposure. Especially the kind you don't have to pay for; Dr. Oz,The View, etc.
Even if those are shows I don't care to watch, someone watches them. So how do we get on shows like these? Anyone have any ideas?
 
Faster horses said:
Frisco said:
I disagree that information is getting out there to the consumers. The NIMBYs, eco freaks and "health" experts all get their air time on shows like the Today show, Good morning America, the View, Dr. Oz.... We don't. We don't get to show that our operations are more humane than HSUS could ever dream of, we don't get to show what good stewards we are, we don't get to show the health benefits... I don't see the information except in publications geared to beef producers and to me that's like preaching to the choir. That's what I was talking about.
I think it is beyond the scope of Beef Checkoff myself. And requires thinking outside the box.
Click to expand...

If you think the anti-beefer's are out there now, you should have seen what it was like before the check-off got involved.
At least we do get some good information on beef in some of the women's magazines and they will run
some recipes containing beef. Before the check-off; not so much. Every
magazine you picked up had some celebrity talking about not eating beef, etc.

That's not to say we couldn't use some more positive exposure. Especially the kind you don't have to pay for; Dr. Oz,The View, etc.
Even if those are shows I don't care to watch, someone watches them. So how do we get on shows like these? Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...

I'm not bashing the checkoff. Actually have been around quite awhile. My point is that MOST of the consumers get all their information from the View and Dr. Oz. I dont' watch them either, but you say "someone does" More than "someone" does. MILLIONS do, MILLIONS who do not read ranchers.net, BEEF magazine or attend Pfizers sponsored suppers. AT LEAST we get some recipes printed in Good Housekeeping? Well great, that should do it then. You're right, that's enough.
 
Frisco said:
Faster horses said:
Frisco said:
I disagree that information is getting out there to the consumers. The NIMBYs, eco freaks and "health" experts all get their air time on shows like the Today show, Good morning America, the View, Dr. Oz.... We don't. We don't get to show that our operations are more humane than HSUS could ever dream of, we don't get to show what good stewards we are, we don't get to show the health benefits... I don't see the information except in publications geared to beef producers and to me that's like preaching to the choir. That's what I was talking about.
I think it is beyond the scope of Beef Checkoff myself. And requires thinking outside the box.
Click to expand...

If you think the anti-beefer's are out there now, you should have seen what it was like before the check-off got involved.
At least we do get some good information on beef in some of the women's magazines and they will run
some recipes containing beef. Before the check-off; not so much. Every
magazine you picked up had some celebrity talking about not eating beef, etc.

That's not to say we couldn't use some more positive exposure. Especially the kind you don't have to pay for; Dr. Oz,The View, etc.
Even if those are shows I don't care to watch, someone watches them. So how do we get on shows like these? Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...

I'm not bashing the checkoff. Actually have been around quite awhile. My point is that MOST of the consumers get all their information from the View and Dr. Oz. I dont' watch them either, but you say "someone does" More than "someone" does. MILLIONS do, MILLIONS who do not read ranchers.net, BEEF magazine or attend Pfizers sponsored suppers. AT LEAST we get some recipes printed in Good Housekeeping? Well great, that should do it then. You're right, that's enough.
Click to expand...

Talk about putting words in someone's mouth. :shock: I was just saying that long
ago it was really bad as far as beef promotion. I'm a CattleWoman, our
goal is to promote beef. Did you finish reading? I said, "how can we get on
these shows?"

I intend to ask.
 
Good points, FH.

It is not for lack of trying to get on top shows!

I believe the Beef Bucks groups has been more successful at that than anyone else to date......and they are going to, of have recently been on again. Sorry, I don't watch much of the 'popular' TV stuff, so am not sure which show it is on.

Some of the reasoning for having info in AG media is: it is mandatory to keep producers informed and this is ONE means, plus, some is 'free', in that it is a news story. And most important, IMO, is that too many of us are too ignorant of what our checkoff has done and is doing.

If we cattle producers would all use FACTUAL information we can get from Beef Checkoff sources, many more consumers WOULD be better informed about health values of eating beef.

mrj
 
I watched a specail on National Geographic on the wolves in Montana not too long ago. We got a chance to have a spot light for a short while and all that happened is it gave us a black eye because we are not in favor of re-introducing one of North America's most prolific predators without legislation to control them. One man said he lost $50,000 in income due to predation. The public doesn't care about that because they have no idea how much impact that has on that family's lively hood, much less the hundreds of other people affected. RFDTV is a start, but I am pretty sure not many of our urban neighbors watch it.
 
FH, you made me curious so I did some checking into how you get a spot on a national program. I just submitted a request to Good Morning America to do a segment on their show about agriculture. I do not have my hopes up, but in the event that I get a reply I hope that someone will be willing to help me find people worthy of making our case in front of the nation. I have a tendency to be very persistent. Maybe an email every few day will get a response. You never know if you don't try.
 
Flying S, you are exactly right. And my hat is off to you for getting the ball
rolling!! If we don't help ourselves, who will? After all, it matters most to US.
I'll help you find a worthy person to speak and I know others like mrj will as
well. Those people are out there and very good at what they do.


:tiphat:
 
Faster horses said:
Frisco said:
Faster horses said:
If you think the anti-beefer's are out there now, you should have seen what it was like before the check-off got involved.
At least we do get some good information on beef in some of the women's magazines and they will run
some recipes containing beef. Before the check-off; not so much. Every
magazine you picked up had some celebrity talking about not eating beef, etc.

That's not to say we couldn't use some more positive exposure. Especially the kind you don't have to pay for; Dr. Oz,The View, etc.
Even if those are shows I don't care to watch, someone watches them. So how do we get on shows like these? Anyone have any ideas?
Click to expand...

I'm not bashing the checkoff. Actually have been around quite awhile. My point is that MOST of the consumers get all their information from the View and Dr. Oz. I dont' watch them either, but you say "someone does" More than "someone" does. MILLIONS do, MILLIONS who do not read ranchers.net, BEEF magazine or attend Pfizers sponsored suppers. AT LEAST we get some recipes printed in Good Housekeeping? Well great, that should do it then. You're right, that's enough.
Click to expand...

Talk about putting words in someone's mouth. :shock: I was just saying that long
ago it was really bad as far as beef promotion. I'm a CattleWoman, our
goal is to promote beef. Did you finish reading? I said, "how can we get on
these shows?"

I intend to ask.
Click to expand...

What words did I put in your mouth? I swear to God, some of you are the touchiest damn things. :???: Sheesh. You take yourself too seriously.

I know it was really bad for beef promotion. But don't you think that's the problem. We're probably too reactive and not proactive. When Crest tooothpast spent millions of dollars to advertise their product and the beef industry did not was just not proactive thinking at the time. Now, we're reactive again. Maybe the Beef checkoff could be used to hire PR people, who know how to sell or spin. For God's sake, a good PR person keeps the likes of those Kardashians in "good" standing with the masses.

Flying s, good luck with that. It was way more sensational to go with their pink slime report and misinformation or with one packing house that slaughtered downer dairy cows. The MASSES see those quick sound bytes. But good try, I hope you get a response. Many haven't who care about the beef industry, too.

The turn this thread took, demonstrates just why our industry shoots our product in the foot every. stinking. time.
 
Frisco, could it be you are a little 'touchy' yourself???

Fact is, beef promotion has tried many things. And learned from them! Kardashians and Crest are a different ball of wax in many ways.

Lots of toothpastes........only one beef. Kardashians are entertainment and there is NO accounting for taste in entertainment, IMO. It seems the more grossness and the less acting talent, the better people like it, unfortunately.

When advertising or even discussing the more nutritious foods, it seems everything has to be super accurate and no allowances are made for mistakes, or activists and even consumer groups want revenge.

One result is that everything the beef industry or the beef checkoff does has to be researched to try to prevent any mistakes, and often gets pretty watered down, especially when we should be strongly promoting the superior nutrients of beef and how essential to health that is.

So, we focus more on the great flavor........and pay the consequences when a consumer buys a piece of beef that doesn't measure up.

BTW, there is more depth to much of the advertising in magazines, and there are many of them, than recipes. Many consumers DO say they want more recipes, maybe because they are fearful of cooking beef, and that the product is a little different than in the past, with the higher quality that much of it is now.

I don't get on the other electronic places like facebook, twitter, and such, but know that many beef producers are doing so with considerable success in reaching large numberrs of consumers......and beef checkoff is faciliating some of that, and encouraging more of it.

mrj
 

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