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May is Beef Month in Missouri

With summer just around the corner, May is once again Beef Month in Missouri.

Missouri Beef Industry Council Executive Director John Kleiboeker says May was chosen as the month to celebrate beef many years ago because it's a great time of the year for both producers and consumers of beef.

"The grass starts greening up and cattle go out to pasture and producers enjoy that," said Kleiboeker. "And the weather starts warming up so we start thinking about summer grilling as Memorial Day later in the month is the traditional kick off of summer grilling season."

It also gives beef producers the opportunity to point out just how important the industry is to Missouri. "We are the third largest cow-calf production state in the nation and sixth in total cattle numbers," Kleiboeker said. "About half of the state's agricultural revenue is derived from livestock, and nearly half of that is from beef cattle production. "

Getting information out to the general public about the importance of agriculture and the industry's commitment to Missouri communities is the goal of the Lunch and Learn programs which the beef industry council sponsors with the rest of the state's agricultural organizations. This is the third year for this program and Kleiboeker says the series for 2009 will be kicking off during May Beef Month at a cattle operation in Warsaw.

"One of the key things we are going to be emphasizing this year is our dedication to stewardship, animal well being and taking care of the natural resources that go hand in hand with production agriculture," said Kleiboeker.