Lincoln, NE (May 1, 2023) – At a ceremony in Lincoln on Monday, Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed May as “Beef Month” in Nebraska highlighting the importance of Nebraska’s beef industry to the state’s economy. He was joined by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, Nebraska Beef Council Vice Chairman Jeff Rudolph and Nebraska Cattlemen president Steve Hanson.
Rudolph said the proclamation event is a great reminder of how important the beef industry is to both producers and consumers in the state.
“People in Nebraska in particular, when they think of celebrating, they gravitate towards beef in the form of steaks or burgers on the grill,” said Rudolph. “So with the grilling season coming, May is Beef Month is a great opportunity to have a great beef meal.”
Nebraska consistently ranks as one of the top cattle-producing states in the country. Agriculture is the number one industry in Nebraska and cattle production represents the largest segment of the industry. There are more than 3.5 times as many cattle as people in Nebraska totaling 6.8 million head. The Ogallala aquifer and the grazing lands of the Sandhills provide a unique mix of natural resources that when combined with the rich family traditions dedicated to agriculture, make Nebraska an ideal state for raising beef.
Rudolph, whose family raises cattle near Gothenburg, Nebraska, also talked about how his family celebrates May is Beef Month, at home.
“We celebrate every month, or every week, with beef at the center of our meals and in our lives as it’s our livelihood as well.” Rudolph said. “We definitely take advantage of the weather getting better in Nebraska to really enjoy it.”
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, beef from Nebraska is distributed around the globe with the state’s beef and veal exports totaling over $1.83 billion in 2022. Common destinations for the exported beef include Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The Nebraska Beef Council will continue the Beef Month celebrations with the launch of the Nebraska Beef Passport Program. Now in its third year, the program highlights over 40 restaurants and meat processors throughout the state that offer outstanding beef products. Passport holders earn points when visiting the participating locations and can redeem the points for prizes from the Nebraska Beef Council. Passports are free and are available now at www.GoodLifeGreatSteaks.org.
