Beef check-off will continue
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
On May 23, by a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985, overturning lower court decisions which ruled the measure unconstitutional.
As a result, the beef check-off program established by legislation will continue. One dollar is collected nationally on every head of cattle sold every time they are sold.
In May 1988, the check-off was supported by a large majority of cattle producers in a national referendum, but the program was challenged in recent years as being unconstitutional.
Tracy Brunner of Ramona, chairman of the Kansas Beef Council (KFC), was pleased about the Supreme Court's ruling.
"I think it's good news," he said. "It's very good news for all cattlemen. It means our collective research and promotional efforts can continue. Those programs are part of the reason we've seen a 25 percent increase in beef demand in the past seven years."
He said the increase in demand translates to a $250 per head increase in value of a 500-pound feeder calf.
Approximately $80 million dollars are collected each year nationwide, seven million of that in Kansas.
Most of the money goes to fund research regarding the role of beef in human diets and develop new low-fat, low-cholosterol beef products.
The Kansas Beef Council oversees collection of the check-off in Kansas. Fifty percent automatically goes to the National Cattlemen's Beef Board.
Approximately 15 cents of every dollar collected in Kansas stays in Kansas, where it helps fund research at Kansas State University on food safety and product improvement.
"The goal is to put more dollars into producers' pockets from value-added products," Brunner said.
KBC promotes beef consumption in various ways. Occasionally, a meal featuring beef is served at a public event, or an advertisement is placed in a specific magazine. Seminars are conducted for dietitians and restaurant operators.
Brunner said the national organization helps KBC determine where its advertising dollars will have the biggest impact. Men may love beef, but research on the national level has revealed that most beef purchasing decisions are made by females ages 25-54, so advertisements are targeted toward them.
KFC board members will be present this weekend in Kansas City at the American Heart Walk sponsored by the American Heart Association. They will give out beef samples and informational flyers.
Brunner and the other 19 board members, including Mark Harms of Lincolnville, serve in a voluntary capacity. They receive no compensation. They donate their time and pay their own way to meetings and promotional events.
Approximately 85 percent of check-off funds retained by the state organization is passed along to fund national efforts.
Brunner said advertising by the national organization has more impact on consumers residing in highly-populated areas on the east and west coasts than the Kansas organization does.
"We produce the beef but those states have most of the consumers," he said.
Brunner has served as a member of KBC since 1991 and is in his second year as chairman.
He and his brothers Kent and Mark and Kent's son Nolan, operate Cow Camp, Inc., which includes production of seedstock and genetics and also a cattle-feeding operation. The corporation employs six people.
Brunner also operates two enterprises of his own. He is an order-buyer of cattle, and recently began producing and marketing a branded beef product called Brunner Beef.
The headquarters for all the Brunner businesses is located just north of the Marion/Dickinson county line northwest of Ramona. Brunner's wife, Yvonne serves as bookkeeper.
The couple has two children: Laurin, 23, a recent KSU graduate, and Tanner, 12, a seventh grader at Centre Junior High School.
