California Ag Network

Tag: NCBA

  • Reports Detailing 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Results Now Available

    Approximately every five years, the beef cattle industry undergoes a National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), funded by the Beef Checkoff, to help determine quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Reports detailing 2022 NBQA results are now available at www.bqa.org. The Market Cows and Bulls and Fed Cattle reports outline where the beef supply chain is making positive changes as well as areas for improvement.

    “The NBQA gives us an idea of what we need to be focusing on as an industry,” said Dr. Trey Patterson, CEO of Padlock Ranch and chair of the Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Group. “We can celebrate successes in safety, quality and efficiency and we can challenge ourselves on what we can do better.”

    Since 1991, the NBQA provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors, and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products.

    The findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. The 2022 NBQA provides valuable information about the production of live cattle into beef carcasses and serves as a benchmark for the beef industry.

    The NBQA remains an important measure for the U.S. beef industry as it strives to improve quality and consumer demand. Results from the 2022 NBQA can be utilized by all segments of beef production to improve upon current management practices and implement innovative techniques ultimately enhancing consistency and quality of cattle and beef products across the U.S. beef supply chain.

    For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit and to read the reports, visit the Beef Quality Assurance website at www.bqa.org. A special episode of Cattlemen to Cattlemen highlighting 2022 NBQA results is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8N9FvdDa4k.

    About the Beef Checkoff
    The Beef Checkoff 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 may retain up to 50 cents of 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.

    About NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff
    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The Beef Checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

  • Consumer Demand for Beef Remains Strong Among Inflation Woes, New Report Shows

    According to the newly released “Today’s Beef Consumer” report from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, demand for beef continues to remain strong. The compilation of research from 2022, outlined below, shows that despite various challenges faced by the industry, consumers have repeatedly stated that they will continue purchasing beef, both in retail and foodservice settings.

    Consumer Insights
    Consumer demand for beef remains strong overall. In fact, more than two-thirds of consumers reportedly eat beef on a weekly basis, or more. Inflation is certainly top of mind and more than three-quarters of consumers, 78%, report noticing an increase in the price of food whether at retail or foodservice. Beef however has experienced far lower levels of inflation when compared to other proteins in the “food at home” category, which we will explore next.

    Retail
    During the pandemic consumers were forced to cook at home and many have continued to do so as it has become a popular way to make a dollar stretch and combat inflation. Analysis for the Today’s Beef Consumer report found 76% of meals are now cooked at home and 94% of consumers who are cooking more at home say they will continue to do so. In 2022 fresh ground beef accounted for 50% of volume of beef sales, likely due to the lower price point as well as a renewed consumer interest in comfort foods and nostalgic recipes, like meatloaf. In 2022, meatloaf was also the most popular page on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com with almost 1.7 million pageviews. This trend is expected to continue as a recent survey found that 20% of consumers say they plan to purchase more ground beef in the coming year.

    Foodservice
    It is no surprise that beef sales at foodservice declined sharply in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, sales in both dollars and volume rebounded to surpass the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

    Online Shopping
    Another pandemic trend that seems to be here to stay is online shopping, both at retail and foodservice. 64% of consumers say they are ordering groceries online, with 44% of consumers including fresh beef in those grocery orders. When it comes to foodservice, online ordering has become overwhelmingly popular. 80% of consumers say they order meals online and 70% use online ordering for burgers.

    Beef Substitutes
    Fresh meat and beef substitutes continue to represent a small percentage of the market. When it comes to protein sources, consumers consistently rank beef as a top source of protein.

    As we head into 2023 demand for beef remains strong and consumers continue to purchase and order beef, whether in person or online. To view the entire study, click here or visit BeefResearch.org.

    About the Beef Checkoff
    The Beef Checkoff 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 may 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.

    About NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff
    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The Beef Checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

  • New Advocacy Program Blazes Trail for Beef

    Driving the demand for beef starts at the grassroots with a strong network of advocates willing to share beef’s positive message. The new Trailblazers program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, takes advocacy to the next level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while addressing and correcting myths.

    “Trailblazers is a competitive, highly engaging and interactive program that is developing the next generation of beef advocates,” said Chandler Mulvaney, director of grassroots advocacy & spokesperson development at NCBA. “The goal of this program is to empower the beef community to share their stories, which ultimately helps safeguard the work of cattle farmers and ranchers across the country.”

    Trailblazers is looking for its first class of spokespeople to participate in a year-long hands-on program designed to train, equip and empower beef advocates. Selected candidates will receive training to become expert communicators, excel in media interviews and understand how to build confidence in beef related practices when talking to consumers.

    Each year, 10-12 new Trailblazers will be selected to create a tight-knit community that works together to find solutions to social and practical issues impacting the beef community. Throughout the year, Trailblazers will receive advanced in-person and virtual training from subject matter experts, learning how to effectively engage on various social media platforms, interact with the media, and enhance public speaking skills. Upon completion of the program, Trailblazers will serve as industry spokespeople and inform beef advocates at the local and state levels on advocacy, media and spokesperson best practices.

    The application process for the inaugural class of Trailblazers is now open. For more information and to apply, visit the website.

    Scan the QR code above to apply today.

    About Trailblazers
    The Checkoff-funded Trailblazers program was created in 2021 to support the efforts of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, in identifying, recruiting, empowering, and engaging with advocates in the beef community. The program will provide a train-the-trainer model to support state beef councils and partner organizations in mobilizing a cadre of spokespeople who are equipped to have tough conversations and seek solutions in telling the beef story.

    About the Beef Checkoff
    The Beef Checkoff 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 may 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.

    About NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff
    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The Beef Checkoff is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.