Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 11/8/10

The U.S. Meat Export Federation announced today that Keith Miller, a third-generation Kansas farmer-stockman, has been named the organization’s executive committee chairman.

In 2003 Miller joined USMEF by way of the Kansas Farm Bureau after having become interested in the international market. He believes investing Beef Checkoff dollars in export markets is a critical function.
“If we want to be profitable, exports are where the future is,” Miller said in a news release. “But most people don’t know where their checkoff dollars are going. Once they learn that, it makes them more interested.”

With population growth projections of more than 2 million more people to feed in 2050, Miller sees a big opportunity for red meat exports, especially as domestic demand declines.

Increasing competition for lucrative markets such as Japan, South Korea and China necessitates increased funding behind export programs, Miller’s key message as he starts his tenure as USMEF chairman.

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funds, as well as the checkoff funds we receive from the beef, pork, corn and soybean industries,” he said. “Together they are an effective tool for USMEF to conduct marketing and educational programs and gather intelligence that our industry needs to preserve and grow our market share in these key markets.”

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