MARKETING...
Dean and Ruth Vaughn, Chugwater, Wyo., started enrolling in AngusSource three years ago.
Missouri Feeders Win 2010 ASCC
Fourth quarter goes to Beller Feedlot, with Wyoming cattle.
While the 2010 overall AngusSource® Carcass Challenge (ASCC) winners John Osborn and Pete Mitts of Savannah, Mo., are no surprise, a new source of Angus genetics stepped in to win the fourth quarter. Dean and Ruth Vaughn, Chugwater, Wyo., bred and raised the calves fed at Beller Feedlot, Lindsay, Neb. Read more.
Darrell Mark
In the Cattle Markets
The corn supply continues to tighten.
The January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) published Jan. 12 provided a lot of bullish news for both the corn and soybean market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dropped the 2010-2011 corn yield by 1.5 bushel (bu.) per acre to 152.8 bu. per acre. Probably the bigger surprise in the January WASDE report was on the soybean supply and demand table. USDA dropped the national soybean yield from 43.9 bu. per acre in the December report to 43.5 bu. per acre. Combined with a 200,000-acre drop in harvested acres, this resulted in production falling to 3.329 billion bu., about 47 million bu. less than expected. Read more.
CAB® 3QQ
Mark Polzer
Three quick questions with Mark Polzer.
Mark Polzer is something of a Mr. Fixit at home, and the Wisconsin business school alumnus indulged his travel bug to cheer for the Badgers in the Rose Bowl game. If he got a chance to play golf, he's not going to discuss that score, either. Polzer may not be able to fix some things, like games, but he certainly brings many tools to the table as vice president of business development for Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB).
Something of a marketing coach at CAB since signing on in 1998 with 25 years of foodservice experience, he's responsible for growth strategies in virtually every area — foodservice, retail, value-added products and international. Read more.
Ranchers as Ambassadors
Connecting to the consumer is a hot topic any time of the year, as more and more people want to learn about the food they eat. That's especially important in the perception-rich world of branded beef. A 33-year-old company owned by 30,000 rancher-members of the American Angus Association is empowering its stakeholders with the facts.
Those cattlemen are learning how to explain the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand and what makes it different. Last fall the company released the Brand Ambassador Training program, an online course that takes less than 15 minutes to complete and provides a user-friendly overview of CAB specifications, business model, sales objectives and success stories. Read more.
Sara Snider
The Source
Getting organized ahead of time eliminates stress at crunch time.
I love Christmas. It is easily my favorite time of year. The snow, the lights and the spirit that surrounds the holidays are a few of the reasons why. It's the day of the year I look forward to the most.
The chaos, the flurry of activity and the resulting stress is something I dread. Late nights trying to get everything done, last-minute shopping trips and long lines at the stores all take away from the enjoyment.
This year I decided to do something different. I decided to get organized, start early and be done in time to fully enjoy the wonders of Christmas. Read more.
November Exports
Pork, beef exports both achieved 2010 highs.
November exports of U.S. pork and beef reached their highest monthly volumes in more than two years, according to results compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef export value in November was $389.5 million, an increase of nearly 50% over November 2009. By volume (101,323 metric tons), beef exports exceeded the year-ago level by 32%. … Exports accounted for 11.6% of production with a per-head value equivalent of $150.36 ($178. 20 in November) — up dramatically from the 2009 totals of 9.8% and $117.80. Read more.
Help Keep That New Year's Resolution
The beef checkoff is helping consumers plan how to keep their New Year's resolution, knowing that nutrition is going to be top of mind as they try to be healthy and lose weight. Consumers often crave beef, but they need information to make informed beef purchases they can feel good about.
Research performed during the development of the latest consumer "Profiles" ad campaign revealed that consumers crave beef, but concerns about nutrition often cause them to buy other proteins they think are better for them. Consumers are looking for "permission" from a health perspective to allow them to act on their desire for beef.
There are 29 cuts of lean beef in the meatcase. The checkoff-funded Beef Alternative Merchandising (BAM) Slimdown program also has a consumer brochure with information showing how the BAM cuts can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. And, the nutrition central section on www.beefretail.org has several resources to help show consumers that beef is a nutrient powerhouse. Beef is an excellent source of protein and is important for muscle development, healthy bones, normal metabolism and balanced blood sugar.
Homegating Headquarters
Homegating (hóm gât ing) verb
1. the act of hanging out with friends while watching a favorite sport;
2. to sit on comfy couches; to eat, to drink, and to make fun of people who sit in parking lots.
The beef checkoff has teamed with Wholly Guacamole and Wholly Salsa to share the best beef recipes and preparation tips for game-day celebrations. The online Party Playbook contains everything you need to have a great party — menu planning, decorating ideas, a kid's korner, bar tricks, and even a homegating kit to get you started.
A party is about having fun and catching up with friends, not cleaning the house or cooking for hours. You will find these ideas simple, fun and easy to execute. So, encourage consumers to visit the website, and make sure you are ready for the Super Bowl game — Feb. 6, 2011.
Angus Calendar
To view the Angus Calendar, a complete list of
Angus sales, click here.