07/06/06 July is Idaho Beef Month

July is Idaho Beef Month. Production is big business in Idaho with more than two million cattle and calves outnumbering more than 1.3 million people. Idaho cattle generated 1.06 billion dollars in cash receipts in 2004 and the state ranks 8th in the nation in fed cattle marketed. WILDER "20 of the last 25 years beef has been the number one ag commodity. Although we were second to milk last year over time cash receipts from cattle and calves have been first." Laura Wilder is the executive director of the Idaho Beef Council. WILDER "Beef is the top food source in the diet for protein, zinc and vitamin B12. Its one of the best sources of iron behind fortified cereals and grains and it's also a good source for selenium, phosphorous, vitamin B6. Today's beef is leaner than ever with 29 cuts qualifying for 'lean' under government guidelines. WILDER "It's very comparable to poultry as far as the amount of saturated fat. On average the lean cuts of beef have only one more gram of saturated fat than chicken." Yearly per capita beef consumption in the US in 2004 was just over 64 pounds and a lot of it came from Idaho producers. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott