News Update

Industry Events
Dec. 15, 2006

Angus Foundation featured on RFD-TV
Dec. 16, 17

The Angus Foundation will be the feature of “The American Rancher” episodes that air on RFD-TV this weekend. The show will air Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 10 p.m. Eastern time. RFD-TV is available on Dish Network channel 9409 and DirecTV channel 379.

The 30-minute episode of “The American Rancher” will include two of the Angus Foundation’s new videos, which feature interviews with Angus breeders and junior members from across the nation.

Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which introduces the Angus Foundation’s efforts to bolster support for education, youth and research projects through a five-year $11 million campaign, will show first in the episode. It will be followed by “The Future is in Your Hands,” which takes a closer look at the programs supported by the Angus Foundation.

Look for the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) to be the feature of “The American Rancher” episodes for the week of Jan. 1-7, 2007.

Ag marketing short courses
December 2006-March 2007, Texas

As part of Texas A&M University Extension’s Master Marketer Educational System, the Advanced Topic Series will feature nine short courses designed to help producers get up-to-date marketing information from experts. The short courses combine lectures, small working groups and simulation exercises into one- and two-day courses.

Courses are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is required one week prior to the course.

Some of the courses include the following.

Advanced Futures and Options, $125, Dec. 18-19, Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Amarillo
Marketing Plan: Feed Grains, $125, Jan. 22-23, Extension Center, Amarillo
Crop/Livestock Insurance, $75, Jan. 30, Hondo Community Center
Crop/Livestock Insurance, $75, Feb. 26, Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Vernon.

For more information and a complete schedule, contact Steve Amosson at (806) 677-5600 or Mark Waller at (979) 845-1751, or any Extension economist or educator. A brochure and registration form can be found at http://mastermarketer.tamu.edu.

2007 Master Marketer program
January-February, 2007, Lubbock, Texas

The Texas Cooperative Extension is recruiting for its 2007 Master Marketer risk management education program at Lubbock. The in-depth, intensive program teaches participants how to identify and evaluate marketing opportunities, then design and follow through with sound marketing plans.

The 64-hour curriculum is offered in four, two-day sessions held every two weeks. The first of four sessions begins Jan. 3-4, 2007, and subsequent sessions are slated for Jan. 17-18, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, and Feb. 14-15.

Registration is $250 per person, payable to the Texas Extension Education Foundation. The registration deadline is Dec. 20, 2006. Those with an intermediate to advanced knowledge of marketing are encouraged to attend. Anyone not meeting such a description may attend a free futures and options leveling workshop set for Jan. 2 in Lubbock.

For further information visit http://mastermarketer.tamu.edu or call (806) 746-6101.

2007 Intermountain Cow Symposium
Jan. 3-4, Twin Falls, Idaho

The University of Idaho (UI) College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Idaho Cattle Association and the Idaho Beef Council will conduct the symposium, set to begin at 9:30 a.m., Jan. 3.

Topics will include the cattle industry outlook, the 2005 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), opportunities for export growth, the changing consumer marketplace, and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus control strategies.

Registration for the symposium is $60 by Dec. 22, and $75 thereafter. Students can attend for $30. For more information contact Benton Glaze, symposium coordinator, at (208) 736-3600 or bglaze@uidaho.edu.

A free Beef Quality Assurance and Animal Identification Workshop will follow the symposium from 1 to 5 p.m., Jan. 4. Animal ID options, proper BQA techniques, maintaining cow herd health and National Animal Identification Systems (NAIS) will be topics discussed at the workshop. Contact Glaze to register.

American Angus Association Webcast
Jan. 16

The American Angus Association will host an educational webcast Tuesday, Jan. 16, beginning at 8 p.m. Central time. Staff will present an update on programs and services in addition to the featured discussion topic, which is yet to be announced.

In order to view and listen to the webcast you will need a high-speed DSL internet connection. Register for a free and private account at www.liveauctions.tv prior to the start of the webcast. Once on the site, go to “Create a new user.” Fill in the brief information form to create a unique user name and password.

Past webcasts are archived on the Association’s Angus Learning Center online resource. Visit www.angus.org/AngusEducation.html to access presentations on “AHIR Basics,” “AAA Login” and “AngusSource®.”

The next scheduled webcast after Jan. 16 will be Feb. 13.

Southwest Beef Symposium
Jan. 16-17, Amarillo, Texas

The Texas and New Mexico Cooperative Extension services will present the third annual Southwest Beef Symposium at the Fifth Season Inn in Amarillo.

The symposium, tailored for Southwest beef producers, centers around three educational sessions and a trade show.

The first session targets critical success factors in ranching and beef production, while the second session addresses current issues such as ethanol production, source-verified markets, trichomoniasis management and pregnancy-testing. The final session will look at beef market trends from the consumer, producer and packers’ viewpoints.

Registration is $50 if registering by Jan. 5, 2007, and $60 thereafter. The fee includes a prime rib dinner, lunch, refreshments and printed proceedings.

Call (432) 336-8585 or (505) 646-8022 for more information. Visit http://cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/swbeef for a complete schedule, speaker and lodging information, and registration materials.

American Angus Association Outreach Seminars
Jan. 22 and 27, March 16

The American Angus Association has Outreach Seminars scheduled in the coming months, including the following:

Jan. 22, Douglas, Wyo. A seminar is planned in conjunction with the Wyoming Winter Ag Expo. It will begin at 4 p.m. at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds.
Jan. 27, 2007, Provo, Utah. The seminar is planned in conjunction with the Utah Angus Association Annual Meeting and will begin at 2 p.m.
March 16, 2007, Clemson, S.C. The seminar will begin at 4 p.m. and will be prior to the South Carolina Angus Association Annual Meeting.

Association staff will be on hand to discuss the latest in the beef industry and Association programs. In addition, Association members will have an opportunity to provide input to Association staff during interactive discussions about ways the Association can best serve members today and in the future. For more information about other Outreach Seminars or Association programs, visit www.angus.org or contact Shelia Stannard, director of communications and events, at (816) 383-5100.