News Update

News Update
Jan. 30, 2008

Economic stimulus package passes

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $146-billion aid package Jan. 29 with hopes of healing a listless U.S. economy.

According to The Associated Press (AP), the package would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers. The plan would also include rebates for anyone with at least $3,000 in income, “with more going to families with children and less going to wealthier taxpayers,” AP reported.

At press time, the Senate had yet to finalize its version of the bill, which, AP noted, could take some time.

Both the House and Senate versions include tax breaks to businesses to spur equipment and other purchases.

Missouri Angus Breeder Endows National Junior Angus Show Awards

With a long-standing commitment to the Angus breed, Curtis and Ann Long of Briarwood Angus Farms, Butler, Mo., have chosen to fund a permanent endowment within the Angus Foundation. The Longs have always placed significance on the value of pertinent carcass information within the breed, so it is with pleasure that their endowment will permanently support the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Carcass Steer Contest Awards at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS).

“We are extremely grateful to Dr. Curtis and Ann Long for their generous donation and commend their dedication to supporting the next generation of Angus breeders through this endowment fund that will carry their legacy in the Angus breed,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president.

It is the Longs’ hope that their gift will inspire other Angus breeders to support the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, the Angus Foundation’s first capital campaign, which aims to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011. Programs being conducted by the Angus Foundation, the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association that was established in 1980, support education, youth and research programs in the Angus breed.

For more information about endowment opportunities within the Angus Foundation, or for information about the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, contact Angus Foundation president Milford Jenkins at 816-383-5100 or visit www.angusfoundation.org.

USDA Restricts Surrey County, England For Imports Covered By FMD

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is restricting Surrey County, England, from imports into the U.S. related to the county’s incident of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In August 2007, APHIS placed restrictions and prohibitions, depending on the type of product and level of processing, on the importation of products from the United Kingdom (UK) derived from FMD-susceptible species following the confirmation of the disease in Surrey County.

After evaluating the overall FMD situation in the UK, APHIS is localizing the restrictions to just Surrey County after finding that FMD is not known to exist outside of the county. Also, the United Kingdom has established movement barriers to prevent the spread of FMD from Surrey County and maintains a surveillance system capable of detecting the disease should it spread, as well as the infrastructure to eliminate any occurrence of the disease.

As a result of this interim rule, the importation of any ruminant or swine, as well as fresh (chilled or frozen) meat or animal products of any ruminant or swine from Surrey County into the United States is restricted.

APHIS recognizes that the United Kingdom immediately responded to the detection of the disease in Surrey County and ensured that it did not spread beyond its borders. Due to these efforts, APHIS will reassess the situation in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards at a future date.

APHIS is taking this action to prevent FMD from entering the United States, which has not had an outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals since 1929. FMD is not transmissible from animals to humans, but it does have serious implications for animal agriculture in any country where the disease is detected. APHIS has a strong system in place for detecting and responding to outbreaks of foreign animal diseases like FMD and places trade restrictions on regions where the disease is detected.

This interim rule is effective retroactively to Aug. 3, 2007, and scheduled for publication in the Jan. 30, 2008 Federal Register.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.