“Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner” is recognized by more than 88 percent of Americans.
The advertising slogan was made famous by actor Sam Elliott to promote the consumption of beef.
Launched in 1992 by the National Livestock and Meat Board, the advertising campaign is funded by the Beef Checkoff Program.
May is National Beef Month and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly made a special proclamation recognizing the industry.
Still, many don’t realize cattle’s impact on the economy, while controversy often continues about the nutritional attributes of beef.
Cattle generate more than $9.85 billion in cash receipts annually representing 46 percent of the Kansas agricultural cash income.
Kansas ranked third nationally with 6.25 million cattle on about 26,740 farms, ranches, and feedlots as of January 1, 2023. That’s more than twice the state’s human population of nearly 3 million.
Beef cattle farming and ranching has a direct output of about $6.3 billion and employs nearly 34,130 Kansans.
Ranked sixth nationally in beef cow numbers as of Jan. 1, 2023, Kansas has 1.32 million head. There are 6.9 million cattle processed annually in the state, ranking second nationwide.