News Update
Dec. 18, 2007

End of "Tax-Year" Charitable Gifts to Angus Foundation Reminder

Charitable gifts to the Angus Foundation in support of its education, youth and research programs are genuinely appreciated regardless of the time of year the gift is made. Oftentimes, however, charitable giving decisions are made at "year-end" once an individual or couple knows their income tax situation for that respective calendar (tax) year. Accordingly, any charitable giving considerations to benefit the Angus Foundation in the waning days of this year will likewise be appreciated.

As a reminder, one should pay special attention to timing when it comes to year-end gifts. 501(c)(3) charities such as your Angus Foundation, in accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, will recognize the U.S. Postal Service's postmark denoted on the outside of the carrier envelope used by the donor in transmitting the gift to the charity. Hence, in order to qualify for tax savings on your 2007 tax return, your gift must be completed by Dec. 31. For cash gifts, this means your gift must be personally delivered or mailed to the Angus Foundation, postmarked no later than Dec. 31.

Also, if you're planning to make a gift of securities (appreciated stock) electronically, please call the Angus Foundation well in advance of the Dec. 31 deadline so necessary arrangements can be made for the transfer of your securities and gift.

With their end-of-the-year gifts, Angus breeders and friends of the Angus breed have an excellent opportunity to help the Angus Foundation become closer to achieving its Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus ambitious $11 million fundraising goal by Dec. 31, 2011. Donors will be recognized accordingly for their level of support to this initiative while simultaneously benefiting this tax year from their tax-deductible gifts as allowable by law.

Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins — available at 816-383-5163, 816-390-4357 or mjenkins@angusfoundation.org — will be glad to discuss with you and your personal financial advisors the array of charitable giving options available to donors to support the Angus Foundation and to help advance education, youth and research for the benefit of the Angus breed.

Expiration Date for (IRA) Charitable Rollover Gifts Nears

Individuals older than 70 have until Dec. 31, 2007, under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 to make gifts directly from their traditional or Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs) tax-free to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations like the Angus Foundation. Funds donated in this manner will never be subject to income or estate tax. Up to the mandatory $100,000 IRA withdrawal level may be given to the charity.

Gifts from IRA's can be designated by the donor to establish a permanent endowment fund in their name, ranch or farm name or a beloved family member's name, ensuring their legacy is carried on in perpetuity in the Angus breed. Donors of IRA charitable rollover gifts can designate the endowment fund to support a specific education, youth or research activity of interest to them.

IRA charitable rollover gifts offer Angus breeders and friends of the Angus breed an excellent opportunity to help advance the Angus Foundation closer to achieving its Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus ambitious $11 million fundraising goal by Dec. 31, 2011. Donors will be recognized accordingly for their level of support to this initiative while simultaneously benefiting this year from their tax-free gift.

For more information contact Jenkins as noted above.

Foundation to sponsor YCC participant

Every year, the Angus Foundation selects one participant to sponsor on the Young Cattlemen's Conference (YCC) tour. The tour and conference, which begins in Denver and proceeds across the country to Washington, D.C., helps young leaders understand all areas of the beef business, ranging from industry structure to issues management and from production research to marketing. The program is limited to a small number of producers each year, and all participants must be nominated by one of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) affiliate organizations.

Sponsorship by the Foundation covers flight costs and registration fees. Incidental costs and meals are not covered by the Foundation sponsorship.

The applicant must be between the ages of 25 and 50 and must be an active member of the NCBA and the American Angus Association. This will be the sixth year that the Angus Foundation has provided this opportunity to an Association member.

Applications for the 2008 YCC are available on the Angus Foundation web site, at www.angusfoundation.org, and should be returned to the Angus Foundation no later than Jan. 4, 2008.

Baldridge Bros. Donate 2008 Angus Foundation Heifer

Jud Baldridge and Jeff Baldridge, owners of Baldridge Bros., North Platte, Neb., will donate the 2008 Angus Foundation Heifer, set to sell at 2 p.m., Jan. 17, 2008, during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo.

Baldridge Blackcap S813 is a daughter of VT 1407 New Design Z38. S813's sire, Rito 1I2 of 2536 Rito 6I6, is a son of GAR Precision 2536 that ranks among current sires in the top 1% for weaning weight (WW) and yearling weight (YW) expected progeny differences, as well as feedlot value ($F) and beef value ($B).

The sale of the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, an annual fundraising tradition initiated in 1980, supports the Angus Foundation, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association that funds education, youth and research activities in the Angus breed and agricultural industry. The sale of the package will precede the NWSS Angus Bull Sale, scheduled to take place in the Beef Palace Auction Arena.

In addition to the heifer, the buyer will receive 30 days of free insurance from American Live Stock Insurance Co., Geneva, Ill.; free transportation to the buyer's farm or ranch provided by Lathrop Livestock Transportation, Dundee, Ill.; and an Advanced Reproductive Technology Package from Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, Iowa, that includes genetic preservation, one session of in-vitro fertilization with sex-sorted semen from a bull of the buyer's choice and up to five embryo transfers.

Jenkins says S813 was carefully selected by Jud and Jeff Baldridge for the specific purpose of the Angus Foundation Heifer fundraiser at Denver.

Proceeds will count toward the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, and the buyer will be recognized accordingly. More than $4.1 million has been raised toward the campaign goal of $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011.

For more information about the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100 or visit with any regional manager. To learn more about the Angus Foundation, visit www.angusfoundation.org.

— Release provided by the Angus Foundation.

Missouri Beef Council Introduces "Speaking of Beef"

The Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) has introduced a new industry speaker's bureau program called "Speaking of Beef."

Executive Director John Kleiboeker says the beef check-off-sponsored program features volunteer cattle producers who will be visiting local civic and business organizations to address key issues important to the beef industry and discussing how those issues affect local business and residents.

"We're really excited about ‘Speaking of Beef' and the potential it has for helping folks in all areas of Missouri to learn more about beef production and beef consumption and all about the beef cattle industry here in Missouri," Kleiboeker said.

Seven cattle producers from different areas of the state have volunteered for the first "Speaking of Beef" tour. One of them is MBIC chairman James Rickman, a producer from Stockton.

"Basically, what we're doing is putting together a task force of producers that are going to try and educate Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, Lion's Club and those type of organizations about the economic impact of Missouri's beef industry and food safety," Rickman said.

Other topics producers are prepared to address include the environment, beef's nutrient profile, animal welfare, and different choices of beef that are available.

Derks will be visiting with organizations in the northwest part of the state, while Rickman will be covering the southwest along with Howard Hardecke of Bolivar. Gerald Campbell of Licking and Jim Freeman of Salem will be talking to groups in the southeast and south central areas, Paul Gibbs of Boonville is in central Missouri and Leon James of Hurdland is in the northeast area. Other producers will be added to the program in the future.

MBIC is contacting community and business groups around the state who might have an interest in having a local beef producer for one of their regular meeting programs. More information about the Missouri beef industry can be found at www.mobeef.org.

— Adapted from a release provided by the Missouri Beef Industry Council.

Kansas Hay and Grazing Conference Set for Jan. 16

The 2008 Kansas Hay and Grazing Conference is scheduled for Jan. 16 in Manhattan at the Kansas Farm Bureau building.

The event's keynote speaker, R.L. Dalrymple, a longtime forage management agronomist with the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla., will discuss crabgrass as a forage and livestock grazing management tool. Dalrymple developed Red River and Quick-N-Big crabgrass varieties and was the principal researcher in developing crabgrass production systems. He produces those varieties in his family seed business that markets in 25 states.

Other topics to be covered will include financial and transitional planning; hay hauling and trucking regulations; weed and brush control; improved alfalfa traits; annual forages; grazing steers in the Flint Hills; and using distillers' byproducts on grass.

Additional presentations will include marketing organic hay; forage trends in feedlot rations; efficiency in feeding hay; liability in the hay business; and using inoculates and preservatives.

K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council are co-sponsors of the event.

The conference begins with registration from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Kansas Farm Bureau building on the northwest side of Manhattan just off Seth Child Road, at 2627 KFB Plaza. The registration fee is $40 if paid by Jan. 11. It covers a 2008 membership in the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council (KFGC), conference lunch and breaks, conference proceedings and a 2008 KFGC discount coupon book. Registrations received after Jan. 11 and at the door are $60 per person.

Registration and other information are available by contacting Gary Kilgore 620-431-1530 or Karen Walters at kwalters@oznet.ksu.edu.

— Adapted from a K-State Research & Extension release.

Okanogan Beef Information Days Set for Jan. 7 and 21

Local and regional experts in cattle nutrition, economics, marketing and animal health will be featured at the first annual Okanogan Beef Information Days Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 at the Mount Olive Grange Hall in Riverside.

The program is organized by Washington State University (WSU) Extension and the Okanogan County Cattlemen's Association.

"We encourage producers to attend both events because they feature a different set of speakers," said Norman Suverly, WSU Okanogan County Extension director.

On Monday, Jan. 7, Suverly and Dale Grotelueschen of Pfizer Animal Health will discuss "Beef Quality Assurance: It's More than Just Lessons." Dale Moore, WSU Extension veterinary specialist, will talk about "What Can Go Wrong in Calving: Calfhood Diseases."

On Monday, Jan. 21, Shannon Neibergs, WSU Extension livestock economist, will talk about economics and marketing issues for tomorrow's beef industry. John Wenz of the WSU Veterinarian Field Diagnostics Unit will discuss "BVD Pilot Project and BVD Control on the Ranch." Finally, Rick Goodall, of Vitalix, will discuss the timely topic of herd nutrition and supplementing strategies.

The Mount Olive Grange Hall is located off Highway 97 on E. Main Street, eight miles north of Omak. The events are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with check-in and coffee starting at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $5 at the door. An RSVP is appreciated to help in planning. Refreshments, handouts and a copy of the new Beef Management Calendar will be provided. To RSVP or for more information, please contact the WSU Okanogan County Extension office at 509-422-7245 or e-mail suverly@wsu.edu.

The events are open to anyone involved in any segment of beef cattle production and participants need not be a member of the Okanogan County Cattlemen or a resident of Okanogan County to attend.

— Adapted from a Washington State University Extension release.

Academy for Ranch Management Schedules Two Workshops

The Academy for Ranch Management has scheduled two workshops in early 2008 for prescribed rangeland burning, a technique that renews vegetation by using fire to burn off unwanted brush.

A prescribed burning rangeland workshop is scheduled for Feb. 21-23, while an advanced workshop on the method is scheduled March 6-8. Both workshops will be at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Sonora.

Cost for each workshop is $395 and includes meals and lodging at the Sonora station, said Ray Hinnant, senior research associate with the Experiment Station and one of the workshop instructors.

The first workshop provides basic information on prescribed burning, weather, fuels, equipment and planning. It is designed to be a prerequisite to the advanced workshop. A prescribed burn will be conducted, weather permitting, Hinnant said.

The advanced workshop provides additional information on weather and fuels with emphasis on planning and conducting a prescribed burn. A comprehensive exam is administered for those interested in completing the educational requirement for certified prescribed burn manager.

For more information about the workshops and to register, call 979-820-1778 or visit www.ranchmanagement.org.

— Adapted from a Texas Cooperative Extension release.

USDA Promotes Animal ID Progress

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has recorded 429,600 premises registered nationwide as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), with substantial increases this year in the number of premises registered, meatingplace.com reports.

As of December 2007, Nebraska became the 10th state to register at least 50% of its total estimated production agriculture premises under NAIS. Nebraska officials attribute the increased registrations in part to visits to its NAIS Locate in 48 web site (www.locatein48.com), which publicizes the main goal of the system: to retrieve traceback data within 48 hours to contain the spread of animal disease. Other factors contributing to the increase in registrations in Nebraska include the ability to register by phone and direct mail outreach.

Other states that have topped the 50% mark include Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin.

To contact a state partner or find out more about NAIS visit http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml.

— Adapted from a MeatingPlace.com report.
— compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc. (API)