News Update

News Update
Jan. 31, 2008

Cattle Industry Convention Online

To stay abreast of news from the 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show, cattle producers and industry members can turn their web browsers to www.4cattlemen.com.

For the sixth straight year, Angus Productions Inc. (API) will provide online coverage of the event, which is scheduled for Feb. 6-9, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev. Salt Creek Ranch of Memphis, Texas, is sponsoring the event coverage.

Attended by more than 5,000 cattlemen each year, the convention is the largest meeting of its kind in the United States. Education, information and a little bit of fun, too, “Rush to Reno” will be the underlying theme of the event. Five industry organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), the American National CattleWomen (ANCW), Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), are to convene at the event.

Throughout the convention, speakers, boards and working groups are scheduled to address issues ranging from cattle handling to political lobbying, from public lands to tax regulations, from market outlooks to advertising schedules and checkoff spending. Export regulations and cattle tracking systems are sure to be essential talking points.

This year’s NCBA Trade Show is the largest ever and will feature more than 270 exhibitors.

Site features

Added to this year’s online coverage at www.4cattlemen.com will be a more dynamic homepage featuring the latest news from the convention and trade show, as well as video news clips and photo galleries provided by API’s Creative Media Department.

The “Newsroom” will feature comprehensive coverage of NCBA, CBB, Cattle-Fax, ANCW and NCF activities, including coverage of policy development, general sessions, the Cattlemen’s College®, Issues Forums and committee highlights.

The “Trade Show” page will highlight products and services premiered at the event, along with company news. Visit the “Award Winners” page for announcements of Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) results, Vision Award recipients, National Beef Ambassadors, Beef Backer awards and others.

Sponsored by Salt Creek Ranch of Memphis, Texas, www.4cattlemen.com is an event coverage web site compiled by the editorial and Creative Media staffs of API, publisher of the Angus Journal and the Angus Beef Bulletin. For more information, contact Shauna Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270 or shermel@angusjournal.com.

U.S. Court of Appeals reverses lower court ruling in Schumacher case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit yesterday held that a plaintiff must show that a packer acted intentionally in order to violate a provision of the unlawful practices section of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA).

The Eighth Circuit decision reverses a previous lower court ruling that several meat packers had violated section 202(e) of the PSA when the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) erroneously reported beef prices provided by the packers as part of the AMS mandatory price reporting program.

After carefully reviewing the relevant PSA provisions, the court of appeals rejected the plaintiffs’ claim that they did not need to show that the packers had acted intentionally, stating that “[I]n sum, we conclude that to prove a violation of 202(e) a plaintiff must show that a packer intentionally committed unlawful conduct.” Because “the plaintiffs produced no evidence that the Packers intentionally violated the PSA by manipulating or controlling cattle prices ...” the court of appeals ordered the trial court to enter judgment for the packers rather than remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.

For more information visit http://www.meatami.com/.

Feds suspend Calif. meatpacker pending probe of animal abuse

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has suspended Westland Meat Co. of Chino, Calif., as a supplier to the agency’s National School Lunch Program after the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) posted on its web site a video chronicling abuse of cattle at a supplier’s slaughterhouse.

The video shows workers prodding downer cattle — apparently with electric prods — spraying high-intensity water through their noses and ramming them with the blades of a forklift. The workers reportedly were trying to get the cattle on their feet before a USDA inspector arrived for daily inspection.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) generally prohibits such abuse as well as the use of downer cattle, or nonambulatory cattle, which pose a higher risk of carrying bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other diseases, and their tissue in human food.

Westland has been suspended indefinitely pending USDA’s investigation, which means it cannot produce nor deliver products currently under contract. The company also cannot sign further contracts. The agency has put on hold all products in or destined for federal food and nutrition programs, Schafer said.

Steve Mendell, president and CEO of Westland Meat Co., the second-largest supplier of meat to the National School Lunch Program, said in a statement that two workers violated the company’s animal welfare standards and have been fired. Their supervisor has been suspended pending his explanation, he said.

Internship Applications Due Feb. 1

The American Angus Association® and Angus Productions Inc. (API) offer summer internships to college students who want to learn more about breed association and publication work. The paid internships last approximately 10-12 weeks. Application deadline is Feb. 1.

The Association’s Communications Department offers an internship to junior- or senior-level students majoring in agricultural journalism or communications who have an interest in the livestock industry. Animal science students with a strong skill set in writing and editing are also encouraged to apply.

Students interested in the communications internship should have completed course work in news and feature writing, as well as editing and photography. The candidate should have experience with livestock shows. Send a résumé and writing samples to Shelia Stannard, director of communications & events.

The Junior Activities Department employs a college student to assist the planning and execution of junior Angus shows and leadership events. The intern will work closely with various aspects of event planning and should be detail-oriented.

Applicants for the junior activities internship should have an agriculture-related major. Those who can begin the internship around May 20 will be given preference. Any student interested should apply to James Fisher, director of junior activities.

API offers an editorial internship with the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin to a college junior or senior who is pursuing a degree in agricultural journalism or agricultural communications.

Applicants should have experience with livestock and should have completed the following courses: Reporting I and II, editing, magazine writing or creative writing, photography or photojournalism. Interested students should send a résumé and writing samples to Shauna Hermel, editor of the Angus Journal.

For more information about any of these internships, or to submit application, please contact the individuals listed above at 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506 or call them at 816-383-5100. Students interested in multiple internships should apply to each individual.