Progress, Potential Of Checkoff Programs Is Feeder Topic CHICAGO, 111. Lamb checkoff programs were top-of mind at the National Lamb Feed ers Association annual meeting Jan. 19-21 in Albuquerque. The sheep industry’s only vol untary checkoff program, deve loped and managed for the indus try by the National Live Stock and Meat Board, appears to have made significant progress during the past year. Price is a high concern and is a barrier to achieving consumer purchases and demand, said the Meat Board’s H. Ken Johnson, who spearheads the lamb program there. “We’re in a situation where retailers can’t determine the value of lamb. Several checkoff prog rams are addressing this aggres sively,” he said. Specifically: ■ Revisions to the Uniform PHONE: 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047 FAX 717-733-6058 Mon.. Tues., Wed.. Fri. 8 AM to 5 PM; Thurs. 7 AM to 5 PM Retail Meat Identity Standards, which assigns a uniform name to each lamb cut “We can’t track what is actually sold unless we call the same cut the same thing from store to store,” said Johnson. These revised standards will be released this spring by the Meat Board, incorporating UPC bar codes as well. • CARDS (Computer Assisted Retail Decision Support) compu ter software has been completed for lamb and is ready to market to retailers and packers. This state of-the-art program puts dollas and cents to lamb value by combining product yield with labor costs. • The Meat Marketing and Technology Center will open for classes in 1995. The curriculum and consulting aspects will be managed by the Meat Board, with puts them into action at progres dasses held at the prestigious Uni- s i ve , high-volume supermarkets.” versity of Chicago School of Busi- information programs targeted ness. Top level retail executives a t consumer influences such as will leant about how to make their educators and nutrition experts meat departments as technology saw substantial success during cally advanced and with the same 1994, and will be even more profit potential as the rest of the important for the lamb industry in store. “This brings our Value 1995, said the Meat Board’s John- Based Meat Marketing effort full son . “These influencers carry such circle,” said Johnson. “It takes the a high degree of credibility with meat marketing systems deve- the consumer that they must be loped with checkoff dollars and LAND PRIDE El REAR BLADES 4’To 10’ Working Widths Land Pride has a perfect rear blade matchup for your tractor horsepower and the difficult jobs you have to do. We offer utility, medium duty or heavy duty classifications to help you make the right blade choice. Which Land Pride Blade is for you? IJ.S SERIES lifLJ semes Bangor Implement 6 Flicksvillaßoad Bangor, PA 18013 215-588-5922 Betts Equipment 3139 Windy Bush Road, Rt 232 New Hope, PA 18938 215-598-7501 C.B. Hoober & • Son, Inc. Mam Street Intercourse, PA 17534 717-768-8231 Cannonsburg Supply & Equipment Co. RD 1, Box 247 Cannonsburg, PA 15317 412-746-2500 Deerfield Ag & Turf Center, Inc. RR 2 Box 212 Watsontown, PA 17777 717-538-3557 Detlan Equipment, Inc. 141 East Mam St. Silverdale, PA 18962 215-257-5177 Dunkle & Grieb, Inc. RR 2, Box 14 Centre Hall, PA 16828 814-364-1421 Caldwell Tractor & Frank Rymon & Warren County Equipment, Inc. Sons, Inc. Service Center 480 U. 5. Route 46 RD 3, Box 355 228 Route 94 Fairfield, N.J. 07006 Washington, N.J. 07882 Blalrtown, N.J. 201-227-6772 201-689-1464 908-362-6916 Rodio Tractor Reed Brothers Sales Petticoat Bridge Road North White Horse Pike Columbus, N J 08022 Hammonton, N.J. 08037 ' 609-267-3363 609-561-0141 part of lamb’s marketing prog ram,” he said. Johnson called specific atten tion to youth education programs, whose distribution increased seven-fold between 1992 and 1994. “The meat industry has gone from distributing 50,000 school kits in 1992 to 350,000 this past year. And we’ve become more sophisticated with how we get lamb’s message to the con sumer,” said Johnson. mzjyjtAKUiM semes series Eckroth Bro#t* • Farm Equipment Rd 2, Box 24A New Ringold, PA 17960 717-943-2131 Hines Equipment RT. 220, Belwood, PA 814-742-8171 Keller Brothers R 7 Box 405 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-949-6501 1950 Fruitville Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-569-2500 Lost Creek Implement, Inc. Route 35, Box 123 Oakland Mill, PA 17076 717-463-2161 M.S. Yearsly & Sons West Chester, PA 215-696-2990 Marshall Machinery, Inc. Route 642 Honesdale, PA 18431 717-729-7117 Nicarry Equipment Co. RD 2, Rt 61,3 Miles S. of Leosport, Reading, PA 215-926-2441