News Update

News Update
August 30, 2007

Illinois Hosts 2007 National Angus Conference & Tour

Angus enthusiasts gathered in Peoria, Ill., Aug. 28 for the kickoff of the 2007 National Angus Conference & Tour — a Heartland Homecoming. Sponsored by Purina Mills, LLC, and Alpharma Animal Health, the conference was conducted at the Holiday Inn City Center.

About 30 early arrivers participated in Tuesday evening’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Premises Registration Workshop. Jim Shirley, American Angus Association vice president of industry relations, conducted the workshop to explain NAIS and encourage producers to enroll their premises.

Conducting such workshops is part of the agreement the Association, together with ABG Inc., signed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in early August. In return for assisting APHIS in educating producers about NAIS and premises registration, the Association and ABG will share a grant amounting to nearly $600,000. For more information see page 125 of the September 2007 Angus Journal.

Association president Jot Hartley of Vinita, Okla., welcomed producers to the conference Wednesday morning. A full slate of speakers tackled topics of reproduction, customer service, beef cattle efficiency and carcass end product.

Bill Beal of Virginia Tech explained the estrous cycle and provided an understanding of the components that lead to breeding success.

In tag-team fashion, Sally Northcutt, Association director of genetic research, explained the Association’s new heifer pregnancy (HP) expected progeny difference (EPD). Beal followed with comments about application of the EPD and offered some cautions to its overuse. Northcutt; Beal; and Bill Bowman, Association director of performance programs, then opened the floor to questions from the audience.

Regional Manager Jerry Cassady provided ideas for customer service.

The University of Illinois’ Doug Parrett discussed cow-herd efficiency. Larry Berger explained the difference between feed conversion and residual feed intake (RFI).

Tom Carr of the University of Illinois presented the basics of carcass grading and instrument grading. Afterward, Mark Polzer of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) presented ideas for how producers could supply the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand with a higher percentage of cattle.

Representing conference sponsor Purina Mills, Marketing Manager Rod Nulik shared reasons for their now three-year partnership with the American Angus Association’s national conference and ways Purina Mills is helping increase producer efficiency.

Summaries of the presentations are presented will be available on the news/audio page of www.nationalangusconference.com, along with the accompanying audio files and PowerPoints if available.

A trip to Weaver Angus Farm, Peoria, kicked off the tour Wednesday evening. The tour was planned and hosted by the Illinois Angus Association.

Thursday tour stops included Keystone Steel & Wire; Caterpillar Inc.; Kickapoo Creek Winery; the Woodford County Fairgrounds in Eureka, where several producers had cattle on display; and Werner Angus. Friday’s tour stops will include Dameron Angus, near Lexington; Prairie View Farm, north of Gridley; and Sauk Valley Angus, near Rock Falls.

Brief descriptions of the stops are available on the tour schedule page of the conference web site, www.nationalangusconference.com. Photo galleries will also be made available on the site next week.

Watch for coverage of the Heartland Homecoming 2007 National Angus Conference & Tour in the October 2007 Angus Journal.

USDA Rural Development Announces $13.7 Million in Grants

At the 54th Annual Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill., Aug. 29, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced $13.7 million in economic development grants for rural communities and Native American organizations in 48 states.

“These grant funds will help rural communities save or create approximately 3,000 jobs and spur economic development,” Johanns said. “The grants represent this Administration’s ongoing efforts to ensure strategic investments and increase economic opportunities in rural America.”

The funds are being provided through the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) programs of USDA’s rural development mission area. The RBEG program provides funding to schools, businesses and local organizations to help them conduct economic development activities, finance business expansions and make infrastructure improvements. The RBOG program finances training and technical assistance for business development. Thirty recipient organizations announced today are receiving funding under a priority effort that helps create economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of Native Americans living and working in rural communities.

A complete list of grant recipients is available on the USDA Rural Development web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Nebraska Angus Tour Set for Sept. 14-15

Two days of exciting events are planned for this year’s Nebraska Angus Tour, Sept. 14-15. With headquarters at the historic Bassett Lodge in Bassett, Neb., Angus enthusiasts will have the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s Sandhills and the Niobrara River Valley as they visit with local Angus breeders.

Friday’s events begin with a 7:30 a.m. departure from the Bassett Lodge. Tour attendees will first visit Hall Ranch to enjoy breakfast along the Niobrara River. From there, the tour travels to Barstow Angus, Springview Neb., before stopping for lunch at the Valentine Livestock Auction. Displays by Dailey Angus Ranch, Thedford, Neb.; Joseph’s Angus Ranch, Carter, S.D.; Kraye Angus Ranch, Mullen, Neb.; Diamond Lazy J Ranch, Nenzel, Neb.; and TK Angus Ranch, Gordon, Neb.; will be the featured at this stop.

Following lunch, the tour will visit Ainsworth Feed Yards to view Sears’ Angus cattle. Afternoon stops include a wind farm that can produce enough electricity for 19,000 homes and Hitchcock’s GBS Angus Ranch, Stuart, Neb. Friday’s events conclude at Darrel Smith Angus Ranch, Atkinson, Neb., for entertainment and a Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) dinner.

A 7 a.m. departure is scheduled for Saturday, which features four ranch visits and an opportunity to cheer on the Huskers as they host the USC Trojans. Tour attendees will visit Bassett Feeding before heading to A&B Cattle, where attendees will enjoy breakfast before departing for the remaining tour stops. Three ranch visits, including Smith Angus Ranch, Bassett, Neb.; Mike Sitz Angus Ranch, Burwell, Neb.; and Fred’s Angus Ranch, Rose, Neb., will round out Saturday’s tour stops. Tour attendees are invited to the Elks Lodge of Ainsworth to enjoy a steak dinner while watching the UNL vs. USC football game.

Accommodation information may be obtained by contacting the Bassett Lodge at 402-684-3376. There is no registration fee or deadline for this event, however those interested in participating are asked to call Dick Hollman to reserve a bus seat. Hollman can be reached at 402-787-0233 or 402-890-3132.

Red River Angus Association Announces Meeting

The Red River Angus Association has announced its bimonthly meeting to be Sept. 11, 2007, in Lindsay, Texas, at the Smoke House Restaurant, beginning at 7 p.m. The featured speaker Paul Carpenter of Deer Creek Angus will give an informative presentation on EPDs and how best to use the information.

Organized in January 2005, the Red River Angus Association was formed by Angus breeders in northern Texas and southern Oklahoma to provide opportunities to promote its members’ and customers’ breeding programs through special sales for both registered and commercial cattle.

For more information, call Rayford Pullen 940-841-1510. Interested parties can visit the web site at www.redriverangusassoc.com for more information and a membership application. The meeting is open to all producers, regardless of breed, who are interested in producing good cattle. Come early if you plan to eat, and bring a neighbor. Visitors are welcome.