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Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is now a voting member of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

USMEF is a multispecies, multisectored trade association responsible for developing international markets for U.S. red meat products – beef, lamb and pork. USMEF has been operating for more than 50 years and has offices in 16 countries on six continents. Between 1990 and 2002, exports of beef and pork increased from 655,713 metric tons to 1,959,981 metric tons, an increase of almost 300 percent.

"It’s important to our members that we work with U.S. Meat Export Federation to offer them new markets," said Mike Pullins, OFBF vice president of business services. "Farm Bureau and USMEF have created a partnership that has been responsible for exporting more than 300 million bushels of corn and 33 million bushels of soybeans in a value-added package of U.S. beef, lamb and pork this past year. We feel it is extremely beneficial that OFBF is engaged in establishing the direction and policy for USMEF."

Pullins and Merlin Wentworth, OFBF District 17 trustee, attended USMEF’s semi-annual business meeting. OFBF’s membership entitles the organization to one vote on USMEF’s board.

USMEF has a total annual budget in excess of $26 million. More than $10 million comes from the beef check-off, while approximately $4 million comes from the pork check-off, and $11.4 million comes from USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service matching funds for foreign market development and market access. Membership organizations provide nearly $1 million from membership dues and voluntary contributions. Members include packers, purveyors, traders, service organizations, American Farm Bureau, state Farm Bureaus and other farm organizations.

"It’s important for USMEF to get membership monies. To get USDA monies, you have to have matching dollars. It’s also important because you can’t use check-off dollars for political activities," Pullins said.

USMEF increases U.S. red meat exports by trade servicing, product promotion and education and market access. In trade servicing, USMEF gathers and disseminates market intelligence, qualifies potential buyers and develops trade leads, facilitates contact between suppliers and buyers through trade shows, seminars and trade team visits to members’ plants and facilities, and provides technical assistance with labeling questions, export documentation and product claims.

USMEF builds demand in international markets for U.S. red meat products through joint promotions with leading retailers and restaurants. USMEF conducts meat schools and seminars to train a cadre of retail meat merchandising personnel and chefs whom can deliver credible messages about the attributes of U.S. meat to their customers. The export federation also carries out consumer education, advertising and public relations campaigns.

To learn more about USMEF, visit OFBF’s Web site, www.ofbf.org, and click on Featured Links.