Anderson Shares Experience Attending USMEF Meeting
Greetings from lower Grant County, Nebraska. Last week I took a break from our calving lots to attend the Unified Export Strategies meeting with the US Meat Export Federation. I have served on its Executive Committee for over two years as the Federation of State Beef Councils representative, since USMEF is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. Our board is made up of several other beef industry leaders, as well as leaders from the pork, lamb, grains, exporter and purveyor industries. The resulting collaboration and exchange of ideas is really unique, and I have gained a new appreciation for their differing perspectives. For example, one of the guys I often sit with is the head of an international food distribution company; he doesn’t know the first thing about ranching and has lots of questions about cattle. And I have learned more from him about supply chain logistics, geopolitics, and how to access the Chinese market than I ever could have imagined. Truly, the collective wisdom of the board and staff is impressive and humbling.
The purpose of this meeting was to review the beef export accomplishments and challenges realized in recent years, and to discuss how best to invest resources for future export growth. Despite Covid-related port congestion and shipping challenges, as well as abbreviated hotel and restaurant beef expenditures in Asia, 2022 was still a record-breaking year for beef exports. According to USDA data compiled by USMEF, The United States shipped over 1.474 million metric tons of beef to international markets, to the tune of $11.683 billion. The return of tourism, rising incomes in many developing countries, and the fact that no other country comes close to producing similar high-quality, grain-fed beef are all supportive to export growth. USMEF staff also does a tremendous job of marketing the right cuts to the right markets. Japanese imports of beef tongue, for instance, added $18.30 per fed head harvested in 2022, while Egypt’s affinity for liver added $3.36 per head. In total, exports added over $447 of value per fed head harvested in 2022. This premium exists largely due to the work of USMEF.
My appointment as the Federation of State Beef Councils representative on the USMEF Executive Committee has truly been gratifying. I couldn’t be prouder of the Beef Checkoff investments in foreign marketing. From the calving lots in Nebraska to the Taiwanese hot pot, the American beef industry has a bright future. Rosemary Vinton Anderson Nebraska Beef Council Board Director
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The Nebraska Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors. The volunteers oversee the beef checkoff in Nebraska and checkoff-funded programs. Programs for marketing and promotion are funded by the $1/head beef checkoff.
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