“This year we had more proposals than we could fund so we had to take a hard look at the requests and consider those with the greatest potential to move the beef demand needle,” said Jones, who is serving his third, one-year BPOC term.

“Naturally there was a lot of discussion but in the end, the committee acted on one goal – to do what was right for the industry.”

Idaho producers, like many of their fellow cattlemen around the country, saw export markets as significant demand drivers last year, Jones noted.

The 2013 national checkoff plan takes that potential into account. For example, the BPOC approved more investment in Japan, in anticipation of that market possibly opening soon to cattle 30 months and older, he explained.

The 2013 national checkoff budget must still be approved by the full CBB and the USDA before implementation, which begins Oct. 1. 

Jones is a director of the Idaho Beef Council and the Federation of State Beef Councils. He has served on numerous industry committees and as an Idaho representative to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. 

—From Beef Checkoff Program news release