February 14, 2006

US beef industry develops new five-year plan

A new beef industry long-range plan to guide producers and production over the next five years has been approved by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Beef Promotion and Research Board on Feb 4.

Developed by a committee that represents all industry segments, the plan established four priorities to create growth, opportunity, sustainability and profitability for the industry. This will be achieved by increasing beef's competitiveness in the US and internationally, increasing beef demand and providing a favourable business climate for beef producers.

The approval was made during the Feb 1-4 Annual Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Denver, Colorado.

NCBA president Jim McAdams hopes the plan will be endorsed by as many organisations in the beef industry as possible.

The plan will be the third five-year strategy developed by the industry. The first one was adopted ten years ago, when NCBA was formed by the merger of the National Cattlemen's Association and the National Live Stock and Meat Board.

The second plan was developed in 2001 and was responsible for stopping a 20-year slide in beef demand and increasing demand for six straight years.

The latest plan will commit the industry to increase beef demand by 10 percent by 2010. It will also commit the industry to restore beef exports from 453,592 tonnes to 1.36 million tonnes by 2010. The export level reached in 2003 was 1.36 million tonnes.