All NC cattle and beef producers should take a moment to become familiar with this program if you are not already. The vote on this referendum for the $1/ per head assessment 

is October 4th. Voting is at your local Cooperative Extension office.

Please remember, these are funds that will stay in NC to be spent on programs supporting ALL sizes and types of cattle and beef producers in NC.

A few examples of how these funds have been used by NC Choices through sponsorships from the NC Cattlemen's Association to directly benefit beef producers who
             market local and other niche beef products:

            1- Sponsorship of the NC Choices Carolina Meat Conference, helping to bring the nation's top beef production, processing and marketing
                experts to NC to share their expertise with NC's beef producers, processors and buyers.
            2- Helped fund NC Choices to bring Master Butcher Kari Underly of Range, Inc. twice in the last year to NC- once to Saxapahaw and once to Asheville for
                a total of 5 days of technical beef cutting training for farmers and chefs. With these funds, NC Choices also arranged for Kari to conduct a half-day training for commercial           
                meat cutters at Mays Meats in Taylorsville, NC that was attended by several other commercial meat cutters that do work for farmers/ meat handlers.
            3- Currently funding an NC Choices/ NCSU beef nutritional profile study to evaluate the fatty acid composition of beef finished in various local production systems in North Carolina
                as compared to beef finished in a commercial high plains feedyard with the goal to provide local beef producers and buyers with accurate information about the nutritional
                attributes of local beef raised in different production systems.(for information on how to participate in this study, please email casey@ncchoices.com)

More detail can be found on the attached press release and more examples below.

Most of these topics cannot be funded under the current national checkoff program but would be allowed with the state referendum funds.

Youth:       Continuation of the Youth Beef Industry Tour, Leadership development, educational opportunities, and support for programs

                  Examples of potential funding areas:  The Beef Ambassador Program, Junior Beef Round-Up

                  Programs,  4-H and FFA support such as support of Livestock Judging Clinics and Contests,   

                  Skill-a-Thon Clinics and Contests, Livestock Schools.  Youth Beef Quality Assurance program

      Fund programs that will elevate cattle production and agriculture’s positive impact on the

      environment and the economy of North Carolina in the minds of the youth of the state. 

      Fund the tools and materials necessary to help the exceptional young people involved in

      the beef and dairy industry in the state to spread the word about the beef industry and

                  agriculture as a whole

      Funding Level:  Approximately 10%-20%

 Issues Management:    Inform lawmakers, the press, and governmental agencies about the North

                                    Carolina producers’ dedication to providing the safest, highest quality cattle and

                                    beef.  Highlight production practices that include humane handling and

                                    environmentally-sound practices.

                   Examples:  Legislative summits, legislative monitoring, press monitoring and

                  information to help protect the interests of cattle producers with lawmakers and

                  bureaucrats at the county and state levels.

     Continued involvement with the North Carolina Animal Agriculture Coalition and our collective
      efforts with other Agricultural organizations to promote and defend animal agriculture.

      Continue to support the Team Beef program that allows farmers, youth and                              
      others to promote beef and the industry to the consumers at events across the state using the Team Beef Tents.

                        Have funds available should an issue arise that requires immediate media or

                        legislative attention.

                        Funding Level:  Approximately 10%-20%

Education:     Coordinate efforts to provide producers with educational opportunities to efficiently

produce beef.

                       Continue to support Beef Quality and Assurance programs, assistance with Extension

                       educational programs’ expenses, help to fund practical educational meetings to provide

                       information to producers to help them stay in business.

                       Educational projects that have been funded include many hands on workshops across the                    
                       state to help farmers be more efficient,  Area Conferences, mineral program                       

                       demonstrations, Artificial Insemination training, Low Stress Handling training and much more 

           Funding Level:  Approximately 10%-20%

Research:      Scientific research to address challenges to producers.

                        Continue to fund practical research programs and to help provide avenues for

the distribution of information resulting from the research.  The research will continue to      
            be for down to earth solutions to current issues that determine profitability for the cattle farmers.

Research topics have included:  forages, insect control and disease, feed efficiency,             
supplementation, weaning strategies and numerous other topics that present challenges to the industry

                        Funding Level: Approximately 10%-20%

Promotion:       Promotional programs for both North Carolina cattle and beef. Continue to fund programs
                          to promote beef in North Carolina as well as to promote North Carolina feeder cattle to buyers in other states.          

                          Funding Level:  Approximately 10%-20%