News Update

News Update
Sept. 13, 2007

Process Verification and Quality Systems — Qualifying for Market Access Workshop

Beef processors selling beef to Japan must have documentation the cattle are less than 20 months of age. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) has developed guidelines that processors, cattle feeders and cow-calf producers must follow to be eligible for export to Japan. Currently, cattle with proper documentation are receiving a $25 per head premium for age verification.

Beef producers have two options to meet the age verification requirements — a process verified program (PVP) or quality system assurance (QSA) program. Both programs require documentation to prove your age claim, but have differences in cost and marketing options.

Producers who would like to learn more about age verification and getting paid for keeping beef records can plan to attend a workshop cosponsored by the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Service, the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF) and AngusSource® Thursday, Sept. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the ISU Armstrong Research Center near Lewis, Iowa.

Sara Moyer, director of AngusSource; Brantley Ivey, Iowa Beef Center; and John Woltmann, manager of the TCSCF Cooperative will explain age and source verification programs through both a PVP and QSA and the advantages and disadvantages of both. A light supper will be served at 6:30 p.m.

For more information contact Darrell Busby, ISU Extension beef specialist, or John Woltmann, TCSCF manager, at 712-769-2600; or Bud Beedle, East Pottawattamie County Extension, at 712-482-6449 for details.

Angus Foundation Announces Graduate Student Scholarship Program

The Angus Foundation is pleased to announce the inception of its new graduate student scholarship program. Since 1998, the Angus Foundation has supported the members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) by providing more than $400,000 in scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate studies.

To foster the advancement of education, youth and research, the Angus Foundation will make available $25,000 in graduate student scholarships to young men and women actively involved in the Angus breed and pursuing an advanced degree in higher education. These one-year awards will consist of five $5,000 graduate student scholarships.

The graduate student scholarship can only be applied to advanced-degree studies. Applicants must have at one time been an NJAA member and must currently be a junior, regular or life member of the American Angus Association. Strong preference and priority will be given to applicants pursuing advanced degrees related closely to the beef industry.

“The creation of the graduate student scholarship program allows us to provide support to students who are choosing to continue their higher education,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Graduate students play an important role in the research, development and education of all aspects of the beef industry. We are excited to now be able to support graduate students as this is a logical extension of our existing undergraduate scholarship program.”

The Angus Foundation graduate student scholarship application and guidelines will be made available Dec. 1, 2007, at www.angusfoundation.org. The application deadline will be May 1, 2008. For more information contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.

— Release provided by the Angus Foundation.

New Case of FMD Confirmed in United Kingdom

British authorities confirmed Sept. 12 a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a farm in Surrey and have again restricted movement of cattle, sheep and pigs, according to a report by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.).

The infected cattle in the latest outbreak are on a farm 10 miles from the Pirbright laboratory, with the disease confirmed just a week after the previous restrictions on cattle movements were lifted. Initial tests suggest the latest outbreak is likely to be the same strain as the one from the government’s research laboratory, which was reported to be responsible for the initial outbreak.

Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said up to 300 cattle on the farm had been culled along with a small number of pigs. Cattle and pigs at another nearby farm were also being culled on suspicion of infection, according to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

A 6.2-mile (10k) control zone has been established around the Surrey site near Milton Park Farm. The movement restrictions came into force while livestock sales were taking place around the country.

The European Union (EU) reversed its decision to declare Britain free of FMD as early as Nov. 9 and has kept in place an export ban on meat, dairy products and live animals that was imposed after the disease was found on two farms in July and August.

An emergency meeting of politicians, animal health experts and officials to plan the government’s next response to the outbreak, chaired by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was taking place at press time, according to the BBC.

Johanns Announces $9.2 Million in Community Facility Grants

Secretary Johanns announced Sept. 12 the award of $9.2 million in Community Facilities grants to improve public safety, health care and educational services in 30 states and the Western Pacific.

Community Facilities grants help finance essential public services in rural areas, such as schools, libraries, child care, hospitals, fire and rescue stations, police stations and community centers. Part of the money is awarded under the Economic Impact Initiative grants program, which is targeted to rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

A complete list of grant recipients for the 291 projects and further information on rural programs is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

— Release provided by USDA.

CCSP and USDA Seek Public Comment on Climate Change Report

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) today announced a 45-day public comment period for the second draft of a report on the effects of climate change.

USDA is the lead agency preparing the report “Synthesis and Assessment Product (SAP) 4.3: The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity.” The report will add to the information base about the latest effects of climate change, addressing the effects of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources and biodiversity for the next 25 to 50 years.

The draft report has more than 1,000 references and 80 findings on the effects of climate change on agriculture in the U.S. The report had 37 authors and has had expert peer review by 14 scientists. CCSP’s strategic plan calls for the production of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products that respond to high-priority research, observation, and decision-support needs.

The full draft report has been posted on the CCSP web site at www.climatescience.gov, along with instructions for submitting comments, which are due by Oct. 26. Notice of the start of the comment period was published in the Sept. 11 Federal Register.

— Release provided by USDA.

Interagency Web Site Launched on Trade Agreements

A group of government agencies has launched a new web site to provide the public with the latest information on American trade agreements as part of a push to pass pending agreements now before Congress, according to Meatingplace.com.

The site is a joint effort among the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, State, Treasury and the Office of the United States Trade Representative, according to the report.

The site, www.tradeagreements.gov, is designed to provide information about the free trade agreements that were just concluded with Peru, Colombia, Panama and Korea that are now pending before Congress.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, Angus Productions Inc. assistant editor