News Update

News Update
Nov. 21, 2005

Senators Push to Take USDA Logo Off Imported Beef

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) has introduced legislation that would prohibit USDA grade labels on packages of imported beef and lamb, The Associated Press reported.

If passed, legislation introduced last Wednesday and co-sponsored by Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), would prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) from grading imported meats. It would require retailers to stamp meat and meat products with labels indicating the meat’s country of origin, according to AP.

The proposed bill comes in response to measures approved in late October to delay mandatory country-of-origin labeling (sometimes referred to as COL or COOL) until Sept. 30, 2008.

Feed Outlook Online

The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) has released its monthly feed outlook report, which examines supply, use, prices and trade for feed grains. Visit www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/so/view.asp?f=field/fds-bb/ to view the free electronic version.

Ag Secretary Travels to Rome

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is leading the U.S. delegation to the 33rd Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, this week.

According to Johanns, the meeting should provide a forum for completing the Doha Round by early next year.

“Discussing the benefits of trade liberalization at this conference is absolutely on target as the goals of both meetings are interrelated — to ensure that developing countries have a chance to overcome poverty and hunger by participating in the world economy,” Johanns said Friday.

Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Slightly More in 2005

U.S. families will be paying more for their traditional Thanksgiving dinners this year, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) estimates.

An informal study conducted by AFBF shows that the price of basic items on the dinner table this year will cost $36.78 for 10 people, compared to $35.68 from 2004.

The AFBF survey was first conducted in 1986, when the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for a family of 10 was $28.74.

Texas Auxiliary Announces Scholarship Application Deadline

The Texas Angus Auxiliary has announced it is accepting applications for its 2006 scholarship.

Applicants should have the application and letters of recommendation postmarked on or before April 1, 2006.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a graduating senior and member of both the Texas Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). Also, parents of the applicant must have paid dues to both the Texas Angus Association and Texas Angus Auxiliary for the two calendar years prior to the application year.

Texas Angus Auxiliary will select a female and male winner to each receive a $1,000 scholarship to the college, university or accredited technical program of their choice. The winners will each be forwarded to the American Angus Auxiliary for national scholarship competition.

For information on the scholarship or an information packet, including electronic copy of the application and requirements, please contact Erin Worrell at worrellerin@yahoo.com or (512) 585-8096.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.