News Update

News Update
Feb. 12, 2007

USDA Announces $4.6M to Promote Business Development, Job Creation

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the award of $4.6 million in loan and grant funds to promote business development in eight states. Johanns said an estimated 627 jobs will be created or saved through the funds, being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending and Rural Business Enterprise Grant programs.

Since August 2003, more than 7.2 million jobs have been created in the U.S., more jobs than the European Union (EU) and Japan combined. The economy has now added jobs for 40 straight months, according to the Department of Labor.

The Intermediary Relending program provides 1% loans to nonprofit development organizations for the establishment of revolving loan programs for loans to small businesses. Applications are selected for funding through a nationwide competition. Rural Business Enterprise grants facilitate the development of small and emerging private businesses. Public bodies, private nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribal groups in rural areas are eligible to apply.

States receiving funding include California, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin. A complete listing of the organizations receiving loan and grant funds is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

R-CALF Names New President
During a Feb. 8 meeting, the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) Board of Directors, by a majority vote, named Vice President and Region VI Director Max Thornsberry president of the organization. Thornsberry succeeds Region V Director Chuck Kiker as president, effective immediately.

Thornsberry, a veterinarian, will continue in his roles as Region VI Director and chair of R-CALF USA’s Animal Health Committee. According to R-CALF USA, board members are elected by R-CALF members, and the organization’s officers are appointed by the board.

ANCW Installs New President, Executive Committee

Wendy Pettz, Huntsville, Ark., was installed as the 56th president of the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) during the 2007 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn.

Remaining members of the 2007 Executive Committee are: President-Elect Fita Witte, Belen, N.M.; Vice President Kristy Lage, Arthur, Neb.; Secretary Ruby Poteet, Pine Bluff, Ark.; Past President Nancy Stirling-Neuhauser, Midland, S.D.; and Parliamentarian Wateena Ahrens, Sulphur Springs, Ark.

Region Directors are: Region I: Bonnie Bargstedt, Albany, N.Y.; Region II: Lana Slaten, Cullman, Ala.; Region III: Leslie Lohrenz, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Region IV: Rosemary Gambino, Pattison, Texas; Region V: Linda Davis, Townsend, Mont.; Region VI: Joan Hemsted, Cottonwood, Calif.; Region VII: Janice Rustad, Kindred, N.D.

Beef Survey Finds Less Fat in Retail Cuts

Fat trim levels and separable fat content of some beef cuts in the retail case are leaner than ever before and leaner than reported in government nutrition databases, according to a new checkoff-funded study that evaluated more than 10,000 cuts from 82 U.S. retail stores.

Overall fat thickness (fat trim) for retail cuts was 0.24 centimeters (cm), or less than a tenth of an inch. Cuts from the round and chuck had less external fat than cuts from the rib and loin.

The 2005 study revealed that 11 cuts from the chuck, rib, loin and round were not only leaner than previously reported, they are popular with consumers — accounting for 26% of all fresh beef items [in pounds (lb.)] sold at retail through the year ending Sept. 30, 2006, according to FreshLook Marketing Group scanner data. In addition, 78 of the 82 stores audited offered ground beef with 90% or greater lean content.

The Market Basket Study occurred from January to March 2006. Contributors included researchers from Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, California Polytechnic State University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Florida, the University of Missouri, Oklahoma State University and South Dakota State University, as well as staff from the Research and Knowledge Management Group, which manages checkoff-funded research projects.

Visit www.beefresearch.org for more information.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.