No gimmicks, no coupons, no fancy promotions…just a genuine love of beef. That’s why more than 136,000 Facebook users have become “fans” of the checkoff’s Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner Facebook page. The page officially reached the 100,000 milestone marker this week and every day, thousands more “like” the page and come looking for recipes, fun, nutrition information and the chance to be a part of a larger community where their peers and friends are talking about the great food they feed their families.

Cow/calf and seedstock producer Wesley Grau from Grady, New Mexico, was re-elected by fellow CBB members to serve as chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in 2012, after fulfilling a partial term at the helm in 2011. The vote came during the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Grau was born in New Mexico and traces his cattle-business beginnings to 1960 when, at 9 years old, his father let him start raising show steers. Grau passed up the opportunity to play basketball in college and decided to earn his bachelor of science degree in agriculture economics instead. He earned enough money from his show steers to start at New Mexico State University in the fall of 1969.

This week, two producers were honored with the checkoff’s annual national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) award and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (DBQA) award, created to recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers from across the country who incorporate BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. And for the first time, one individual was recognized with the BQA Marketer Award, which was open to livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply-chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and offer them opportunities to get certified; and one individual received the BQA Educator Award, which was open to individuals or companies that provide high quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.

Broulim’s Fresh Foods, Haggen Food & Pharmacy/TOP Foods, Harris Teeter Inc., and Safeway were awarded the National Retail Beef Backer awards today at the at the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville. Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, this effort recognizes grocery establishments that are doing an outstanding job of marketing and merchandising beef in the meat case.

The 2011 National Foodservice Beef Backer Award winners were unveiled today at the 2012 Cattle Industry Conference. Each year, the Beef Checkoff Program recognizes three food service establishments for their efforts in menuing and marketing beef. The 2011 national winners include the Little Apple Brewing Company in the Independent category, Zippy’s Restaurants in the Chain category and Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort as the Innovator of the Year.

Novartis Animal Health announces the introduction of NUPLURA™ PH, a new vaccine for beef and dairy cattle that provides fast-acting protection against bovine pneumonia caused by Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica. M. haemolytica, formerly known as Pasteurella, is a highly transmissible bacteria and a leading cause of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex. Research has shown that M. haemolytica is present in nearly 75 percent of all diagnosed BRD cases, causing more death and economic loss than any other respiratory disease.

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service¹s Ranch Management University is scheduled April 9-13 at the G. Rollie White Visitor's Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.

The Conservation Fund has announced the conservation and expansion of one of the oldest operating ranches held by one family in the Green River Valley.

USDA-NASS released the CATTLE report on January 27. The report confirmed what many cattle market observers had expected. Record-setting drought in the Southern U.S. caused beef cow herd liquidation, fewer calves on cereal grain pasture, and more cattle in feedlots. However, record high feeder cattle prices stimulated interest in beef heifers, with replacements increasing enough in areas with good moisture conditions to cause an increase for the U.S.