Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef: You're Invited!

The Georgia Beef Board is teaming up with 2012 Next Food Network Star finalist Emily Ellyn for a Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef this week to promote June Beef Month. Four hamburger restaurants in four cities were selected for this inaugural tour and will be featured in the upcoming June issue of Georgia Cattleman magazine.

"I'm looking forward to the Rad Tour de Beef - I know I will have a 'fabMOOlous' time on my quest to find the best burgers in Georgia," Ellyn says. "When asked to eat the best burgers around Georgia with the Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattleman magazine I replied, 'This is MOOsic to my ears!' How could I resist such a rad opportunity?"

The tour begins Tuesday, April 23, in Macon with lunch at The Rookery, followed by supper in Savannah at the Green Truck Pub. Wednesday includes lunch in Augusta at Sports Center and supper at Stuffed Burger in Athens. The public is encouraged to attend -- a limited number of autographed recipe cards will be given out at a meet-and-greet with Ellyn at each stop, and there will be plenty of beef recipes and freebies given out as well.

"Georgia Beef Board is excited to team up with Emily Ellyn for this tour," says Josh White, executive vice president of Georgia Beef Board. "Beef is an excellent source of 10 essential nutrients while only contributing 10 percent of your daily caloric intake. We are looking forward to the opportunity to share this and more information with consumers as they visit these burger restaurants with us."

The restaurants chosen are past winners of "best burger" contests put on by local publications.

RETRO RAD GEORGIA TOUR DE BEEF

Official Schedule

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

LUNCH: The Rookery

11:30 a.m.

543 Cherry Street Macon, Ga.

DINNER: Green Truck Pub

5:30 p.m.

2430 Habersham Street Savannah, Ga.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

LUNCH: Sports Center

11:30 a.m.

594 Broad Street Augusta, Ga.

DINNER: Stuffed Burger

5:30 p.m.

1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, Ga.

RSVP on Facebook!

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Georgia Beef Board is one of 45 state beef councils funded by the Beef Checkoff. It is an organization working for Georgia's beef producers in areas of education, promotion and research. It is overseen by an 11-member board of dairy producers, beef producers, livestock market association members and Georgia Farm Bureau members. Georgia Beef Board is funded through the Beef Checkoff, where a mandatory $1 is collected for every head of cattle sold in the state. Visit Georgia Beef Board

Emily Ellyn is a celebrity chef based out of Orlando, Fla. She is the owner of Emily Ellyn Productions, Inc., and is a doctorate student in food service education at Rosen College. Visit Emily Ellyn

Georgia Cattleman magazine is the official monthly publication of Georgia Cattlemen's Association, the membership and policy organization for beef producers in Georgia. Visit the magazine page

GCA Convention Kicks Off with Forage Conference



 

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications

 

The 52nd Annual Georgia Cattlemen's Association Convention kicked off today in Perry with the second annual forage conference, featuring expert speakers from around the Southeast.

 

"I'm really pleased with how it turned out this year," said Dennis Hancock, University of Georgia forage Extension specialist. "A couple of years ago [GCA Executive Vice President] Josh White and I were talking about opportunities to kind of encourage more participation in the cattlemen's convention. One of the things we really focused on was the ability to merge forage programming."

Topics in today's presentation included weed management in the hayfield, round bale silage management, insect management and a session on economics and risk management. Speakers included Patrick McCullough, Extension weed scientist, Extension entomologist Will Hudson, Extension animal scientist Lawton Stewart and Extension livestock economist Curt Lacy.

Producers who attended could earn up to 1.5 hours of Beef Quality Assurance credit during today's session.

 

"It's a great opportunity to learn about the current issues in forage production, which all the livestock producers in my county are very interested in," said Lucy Ray, Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Morgan County. "I really enjoyed the talks on baleage. That's something that a lot of our producers are looking at, storing their own baleage, so that's information I can take back to the county."

 

Morgan County cattleman Alan Verner was one of many producers who attended today's conference. He said though many of the issues discussed have been issues for years, there is always new information to learn.

 

"If they don't hear it firsthand, they hear it secondhand or they don't hear it at all," Verner said. "It's best to hear it yourself and talk to the professionals and the people who really know the information well."

 

Compared to last year, Hancock says the 2013 Forage Conference was up 15 percent in attendance. He called the program "a resounding success."

 

"I think one of the big things is for us to recognize the cost of doing business and how much of that is owed to the forage production enterprises," he said. "A lot of our producers feel like they're in many ways grass farmers, taking grass and turning it into a meat product that is very desirable and very nutritious."

 

The 2013 Forage Conference continues tomorrow with presentations from Auburn University assistant professor Jennifer Johnson and University of Florida Ph.D candidate Kim Mullenix.

Six Beef Cuts Certified Heart Healthy

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications

Great news, beef eaters -- three more cuts were certified heart-healthy by the American Heart Association this week. Now, in addition to the 29 lean cuts of beef and evidence that beef in an optimal lean diet can lower cholesterol, there are a total of six cuts that have earned the AHA Heart-Check mark.

"Adding more beef cuts to a heart-healthy diet is extremely profitable for the beef industry and a win-win for consumers who love beef," said Tricia Combes, Georgia Beef Board compliance and program coordinator.

The six cuts, all US Department of Agriculture select grade -- meaning they have low intramuscular fat, or marbling -- are the sirloin tip steak, bottom round steak, top sirloin stir-fry, boneless top sirloin petite roast, top sirloin filet and top sirloin kabob, according to a news release from National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

"Having the American Heart Association certify three additional extra-lean beef cuts is yet another important milestone in the Beef Checkoff's efforts to help consumers understand the positive health and nutritional benefits of beef," Jeanne Harland, chair of the Checkoff Nutrition and Health Subcommittee, said in the release. "We will continue to support and apply scientific evidence to show consumers how they can eat healthfully with extra-lean beef."

In order to earn the extra-lean Heart-Check mark, a meat or seafood product must meet rigorous criteria. The total fat must be less than five grams, saturated fat less than two grams, trans fat less than 0.5 grams, less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol and 480 milligrams or less sodium, according to the AHA website. In addition, the product must provide 10 percent or more of the daily value of at least one of the following nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber.

Beef, according to documents on the Beef Nutrition website, is a good source of iron, providing 14 percent of the recommended daily value, and an excellent source of protein, providing 51 percent of the recommended daily value.

The AHA, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other leading health organizations recognize lean meat as a nutritious food.

Cheryl Hendricks, NCBA registered dietitian and a contractor for the Beef Checkoff, says the independent research and AHA certification confirm the importance of extra-lean beef in an overall heart-healthy diet.

"We know that consumers are looking to retailers as a trusted source of nutrition information. Displaying the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark in the meat case makes it easier for consumers to identify heart-healthy extra-lean beef and as a result, grow beef sales among health-conscious shoppers," Hendricks said in the news release.

In fact, nearly 75 percent of  shoppers say seeing the Heart-Check mark increases the likelihood they'll buy a product, the news release states.

Each of these six cuts is one of the 29 lean cuts of beef. The sirloin tip steak, known also as the knuckle steak, breakfast steak or sandwich steak, is a thin, economical boneless cut great for quick skillet cooking or in a stir-fry. It's a thin cut that is best eaten cooked to medium-rare.

The bottom round steak is also best cooked medium rare and sliced thin, but thicker slices can be cooked in a skillet. It's also known as the Western griller. Top sirloin stir-fry is quick to prepare and is best used in fajitas or stir-fry dishes.

A boneless top sirloin petite roast has "melt-in-your-mouth tenderness" and a robust flavor. Despite being a larger cut, it is easy to prepare and slices into healthy portion sizes. The top sirloin filet is known by many names, including baseball cut, top sirloin butt steak and center-cut top sirloin steak, but no matter what it's called, it's a perfectly portioned cut. These filets are trimmed and ready to cook to "deliver a gourmet experience on a budget." The final cut of the six is the top sirloin steak kebob, derived from the boneless top sirloin steak. This moderately tender cut is affordable, juicy and works well with marinades, rubs and sauces. It's specifically formed to cut into strips or chunks for stir-fry dishes and kebabs.


Josh White, executive vice president for GBB, said he is excited about the increased visibility of these heart-healthy cuts and the different ways they can be incorporated into Americans' diets.

"It seems like the modern consumer is looking for permission to enjoy the great taste of beef they already love," White said. "This is just one more way we can assure them that beef is healthy and contributes to a healthy lifestyle."

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. to Sponsor BQA Certification

Courtesy Rene Ward, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica associate director of public relations and internal communications

TAMPA, Fla. — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced at its annual Convention on Feb. 6, 2013, that pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is partnering with Beef Quality Assurance to sponsor the cost of BQA certification for American cattle producers this spring.

The cost of BQA certification is normally between $25 and $50. However, between Feb. 11 and March 15, 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica will defray the cost of the certification, making it free for producers.

“We’re proud to partner with BQA to bring this important certification program to more American cattlemen and dairy producers,” says David Korbelik, director of cattle marketing for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. “BQA is about monitoring and making incremental improvements throughout the life cycle to prevent disease and ensure a quality end product. We will also be working with the BQA to allow access to the training and certifica- tion program for animal health and veterinary students.”

BQA has customized programs specific to cow-calf, stocker, feedlot and dairy operations. The online modules teach sound management techniques that can be applied to producers’ operations. The cattle industry embraced BQA because it is the right thing to do, but certified producers also report improvements in efficiency and increased profitability. It also helps cattle operations sell their stories to consumers who might not understand all of the safety measures cattlemen take in producing the food on the table.

“It’s clear that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is committed to helping consumers understand that beef is produced in a safe and humane manner,” says Ryan Ruppert, BQA senior director. “This partner- ship will help producers learn about the latest industry advancements and demonstrate the ways they continue to provide a top-quality food product.”

He notes that BQA is the gold standard of livestock handling and animal welfare programs, and the company’s support of BQA certifica- tion demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving the industry. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. has also placed emphasis on managing herd health before problems arise to prevent issues and keep opera- tions running efficiently.

Visit the BIVI-BQA website to take advantage of this opportunity.

Japan Releases New Protocols for US Beef

Starting next month, more American beef will be crossing the border into Japan.

The Japanese government announced today that it approved new protocols for US beef imports that will allow beef from cattle slaughtered under 30 months of age. Previously, Japan would only accept US beef exports from cattle slaughtered under 20 months of age, due to concerns about Bovine Spongiform Encephalopahy.

In addition, the US and Japanese governments agreed to regular and ad hoc consultations to review progress under the protocols and address any issues that may arise.

"This is an important step forward in our relationship with Japan and [a] welcomed opportunity to expand exports into a growing market with enormous potential," Kent Bacus, National Cattlemen's Beef Association associate director of legislative affairs, said in an email message this morning. "We have been working to expand access into Japan for almost 10 years."

In 2003, Japan banned US beef following detection of a BSE-positive animal in the country. The market was partially reopened in 2006 to allow for animals slaughtered at 20 months or younger, according to information from the US Trade Representative. Five years later, in December 2011, Japan's independent Food Safety Commission initiated a risk assessment to examine raising the maximum age of US and other foreign beef and beef products for export to Japan.

The results of the risk assessment were released in October 2012. Japan and the US then entered into consultations to revise the import requirements, including raising the age of cattle allowed to 30 months or younger. The definition of specified risk materials -- certain cattle tissues that can carry the BSE agent -- was redefined as well to align more closely with international standards of the World Organization for Animal Health.

It is estimated that this protocol change will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional US beef exports, according to a news release from NCBA.

Above: Kari Underly demonstrates beef cutting
at a GBB workshop
Summer 2012

Japan was the second-largest export market for US beef through November 2012, totaling $849 million and nearly 130,000 metric tons, according to data from NCBA. In addition, according to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the agreement "goes a long way toward normalizing trade with Japan" by addressing restrictions the country introduced in response to BSE.

"This is great news for cattlemen and women and is a significat milestone in our trading relationship with Japan," NCBA President J.D. Alexander said in the news release. "Japan is a great market for US beef and we look forward to continuing to meet Japanese consumer demands."

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack called the move a continued step in this "most successful period in history for America's agriculture sector."

"We will continue to break down barriers and expand access for high-quality, save and wholesome US food and agricultural products to Japan and around the world," Vilsack said in a Trade Representative news release.

The new trade protocols take effect Feb. 1.

Why the Legislature Matters to You

By Jordan Harrison, Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association Convention & Summer Conference coordinator

I’m sure you're all too familiar with organizations such People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. The goal of these organizations is to establish rights for all animals. The only thing that PETA and HSUS have is influence. They can’t legally stop you from raising cattle or caring for other livestock.

However, they do tend to influence those who can. These groups attempt to influence lawmakers and members of Congress through hired lobbyists. The overall goal of a lobbyist is to convince a person in a position of political importance to make a law or bill to adopt the viewpoints of the organization they are lobbying for. For example, a lobbyist for PETA may try to convince a congressman to introduce a bill limiting the amount of cattle per acre on commercial farms.

As a current and future stakeholder in the beef industry, Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association members should keep an eye out for legislation such as this. These laws and bills being pushed on congressmen by animal rights activist groups will come to affect us individually in one way or another. More directly some groups have even tried to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for kids to work on their family farms. If laws such as these were to pass, how would we carry out the activities to support our cattle operations? These laws would also make many FFA and 4-H activities illegal to participate in. Luckily this bill was not passed, allowing us to carry on our traditions.

As teens and kids we can’t always rely on others to prevent things like this from happening. Even non-age specific laws that limit and hinder agriculture unnecessarily should be watched with close attention. Even if they don’t affect us now, they will in years to come. As junior members we have to take an interest in legislation to make sure that we have the chance to build our own cattle operations one day. We shouldn’t let Congress and lawmakers decide what should happen on our farms without our input.

It’s my future, it’s your future, it’s our future -- shouldn’t we have a say?

 

For more information about legislation affecting the beef cattle industry, visit the National Cattlemen's Beef Association site and look under the Issues and Political Action tabs.. To contact your state and national Congressmen and women, visit the GCA legislature contacts page.

Agriculture Tax Exemption Signup Begins Today

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications
dallas@gabeef.org

From left, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall,
Georgia Cattlemen's Association Legislative Committee
Chairman Chris Taylor and GCA Executive Vice President
Josh White display their completed GATE certificates

MACON -- Today is the first day Georgia farmers can apply for the Georgia Agriculture Tax Exemption certificates, state agricultural leaders announced at a press conference on Nov. 14.
"House Bill 386 is a comprehensive state tax reform bill. There's a lot more to it than just GATE, but it's one of the best things that we have ever, ever had the legislature do for agriculture," says Rep. Tom McCall, chairman of the state House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee. "You can't look up in the sky and dream of any input into production agriculture that's not going to be tax-exempt after Jan. 1 if you have a card."
GATE has been long-awaited in the agricultural community. After several years of "hodge-podge" and "patchwork" agricultural tax exemptions, Georgia's legislature finally passed consolidated exemption laws for all producers earlier this year. The exemptions go into effect Jan. 1, 2013, but only producers who have valid GATE certificates are eligible.
"So, come Jan. 1, if you haven't got a card, you buy a new tractor, you're going to pay sales tax on it. You buy one sack of fertilizer, you're going to pay sales tax on it if you don't have a card," McCall says.
According to the GATE program, products included in the exemption are defined as any agricultural, apicultural, horticultural, silvicultural, viticultural or vegetable product that has been produced or processed in Georgia.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black,
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McCall and
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall announced the
GATE applications go live today during a Nov. 14 press conference

Georgia producers qualify for GATE if they own or lease land or property from which at least $2,500 in agricultural products are produced and sold annually; if they provide custom agricultural services for hire; if they own land qualified for conservation use property or if they produce long-term agricultural products that don't necessarily have an annual income, such as timber.
Those in the furniture and sawmill businesses do not qualify for the GATE program, and for the most part neither do producers with farms in other states. However, other state residents with farms in Georgia do qualify for GATE, as do residents with farms in both Georgia and another state. There are also refund forms available on the Department of Revenue website for those with GATE certificates who feel they paid sales tax for an item that should not have been taxed -- such as fuel for tractors, for example.
The Department of Agriculture will send out renewal notices at the end of 2013 and subsequent years to remind producers to renew their GATE certificates.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black signs up
for his GATE certificate

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black says the process to sign up for a certificate is quick and easy, collecting just enough basic data to help the department keep records for auditing purposes. To prove it to those at the press conference, Black, McCall and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sat down at computers, and five minutes later Black was printing out his GATE certificate.
Up to four copies of the wallet-card sized certificate can be printed, allowing a primary cardholder and three additional users to have one.
It does cost $20 to apply for the certificate online and $25 to do so over the phone. The fee is by law required to go toward the cost of administering the program. For those worried about spending the fee, McCall says they'll see the return on investment after paying about $300 for farm supplies and not having to pay sales tax on it. He says the money farmers save through GATE will get turned around and spent right back into the economy.

Duvall says the GATE program will help make Georgia more competitive, as it applies not only to production agriculture but to agricultural industries as well. 

"[GATE] makes our state a more industry-friendly state and will bring more jobs here to secure the future of Georgia's No. 1 industry," he says.
Some states that border Georgia do offer agricultural tax exemptions, and leaders feared that producers would be willing to drive over the state line to purchase equipment and other farming inputs -- leaving Georgia businesses out in the cold.
"With these tax exemptions ... it's going to balance out," McCall says. "It's going to help keep our equipment and keep them in our area. I can't tell you how good this thing is for us in agriculture."

To apply for the GATE certificate:

• Visit the official website and apply online
• Download and mail in a print application from the Georgia Cattlemen's Association website
• For questions or concerns, call your local Farm Bureau office or 1-855-FARM-TAX between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.