News Update
June 26, 2008

API Provides Online Coverage of BIF Meeting

Producers not able to attend the 2008 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Meeting and Research Symposium in Calgary, Alta., Canada, next week can follow the meeting online at www.bifconference.com.

Angus Productions Inc. (API), publisher of the Angus Journal and the Angus Beef Bulletin, will provide online coverage of “Beef Beyond Borders,” which is being hosted by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) June 30-July 3.

Participants will gather to share and learn from the latest research and innovations available to advance beef production, as well as to honor those who have made significant contributions to beef improvement. Canadian and U.S. industry innovators will showcase and discuss genetic advancements from both countries, as well as their cross-border implications and opportunities.

Visit the site prior to the event to view the schedule and the lineup of speakers, as well as nominees for BIF’s seedstock and commercial producers of the year. During and after the meeting, API staff will provide summaries of sessions; announce award winners; and post proceedings, audios, slides and photo galleries of the events as available.

Online coverage is made possible through sponsorship by BioZyme Inc. and the producers listed in the Seedstock Directory.

For more information about www.bifconference.com, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, at 816-383-5270 or shermel@angusjournal.com. General conference inquiries can be directed to the CBBC at 403-730-0350 or info@canadianbeefbreeds.com.

National Junior Angus Show Slated for Des Moines

The 2008 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) is set for July 13-19 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. More than 750 young Angus enthusiasts from 37 states have entered 1,595 entries into this year’s cattle show. In addition to the four days of showring competition, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members have the opportunity to compete in 13 educational and life-skill contests during the week.

“The NJAS is so much more than a cattle show,” says James Fisher, director of junior programs for the American Angus Association.® “The NJAS provides the opportunities to gain skills in public speaking, photography and writing, while learning to work as a team in the contests like team sales and quiz bowl. Finally, youth build lifelong friendships as many of them travel to the junior show annually.”

The Iowa Angus and junior associations will host “Christmas in July.”  The week-long event features the largest single-breed beef cattle show in the world, and all cattle are exhibited by youth ages 9-21 years old.

Judges for the cattle show include Chris Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., who will evaluate the owned heifers. Mark Duffell, Aldie, Va., will judge the bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs, and Blake Bloomberg, College Station, Texas, will evaluate the steers. Youth also have the opportunity to enter steers in a carcass contest.

The educational contests allow junior members to showcase their skills outside of the showring and include prepared and extemporaneous public speaking, a quiz bowl, team sales, team fitting, livestock judging, photography, posters, writing, and graphic design. Another feature of the week is the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off.

This year marks the 42nd Annual National Junior Angus Showmanship contest. Nearly 50 young showmen from 23 states will compete for the title of “Top Showman” in the contest that limits participation to once in a lifetime. Showmanship judges include Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla.; Holly Gamble Meier, Clinton, Tenn.; and Jim Pipkin, Republic, Mo.

The NJAA will also conduct its annual meeting during the week, where six members will be elected to the NJAA Board of Directors, and the new officers will be announced during the awards function on Friday evening.

For more information about the 2008 NJAS or junior Angus programs, visit www.njas.info, www.njaa.info, or contact the junior activities department at 816-383-5100.

Herr Angus Farm to Host Pennsylvania Field Day July 26

Angus breeders and beef industry enthusiasts are invited to the 2008 Pennsylvania Angus Association and Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association field day, July 26 at Herr Angus Farm, Nottingham, Pa.

Those in attendance will hear from many speakers discussing various aspects of the beef industry. Embryo transplant (ET), utilizing byproducts in feed rations and grazingland issues are just a few of the topics that will be brought forward. Jim Herr, founder of Herr Angus Farm, will tell about his unique feedlot operation that utilizes byproducts from Herr Snack Factory to feed his Angus cattle. Participants will also be treated to a tour of the Herr Snack Factory and farm.

Registration, with no fees, will begin at 8 a.m., and juice, coffee and donuts will be provided. Educational programs will be at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., with the tour of the Herr Snack Factory and Angus farm also in the morning. Lunch will be provided and followed by guest speakers. A steer judging competition will take place throughout the day, and prizes will be awarded. The field day is expected to conclude around 3:30 p.m.

Dennis Byrne, Herr Angus Farm manager, encourages all cattle producers to attend this educational and fun event. For more information regarding the field day, contact Byrne at 610-662-6102 or dennis.byrne@herrs.com.

Join Relief Effort for Farms, Ranches Devastated by Midwest Flooding

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), in cooperation with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), has launched a disaster relief effort to assist farm and ranch families affected by catastrophic flooding in the Mississippi River corridor and surrounding areas. 

Thousands of family farm and ranch operations in Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin have been devastated by flooding caused by persistently heavy rains and subsequent levee failures on the Mississippi River and other major waterways. Many families have been completely displaced from their homes, or remain without power, potable water, and other utilities. Crop losses are enormous, including hay and forage normally used for livestock feed, as well as crops targeted for fall harvest. Downed fences and other property damage have also resulted in stranded and lost livestock, with thousands of farmers and ranchers struggling to make repairs and keep their operations functioning as well as possible.

NCBA is joining forces with state cattlemen’s associations across the nation to provide assistance through NCF. Every dollar contributed will directly assist families struggling to keep their farms and ranches operating under these difficult conditions. In conjunction with the foundation, state cattlemen’s associations from states in the affected region will manage distribution of all funds donated.

Credit card contributions can be made by calling 1-866-BEEF-USA (1-866-233-3872), with Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards accepted. Online contributions can also be made by going to the foundation’s web site at www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org, then selecting “Contribute Now” on the left-hand side of the screen. Donations are tax-deductible.

Contributions by check can be made payable to National Cattlemen’s Foundation, with “disaster relief” included on the memo line. Donation checks should be mailed to:

National Cattlemen’s Foundation
9110 East Nichols Ave., Suite 300
Centennial, CO 80112

In a separate relief effort, Alpharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced yesterday its plans to donate a portion of all U.S. livestock product sales recorded in July to help fund flood relief efforts throughout the Mississippi River valley. The flood relief program will apply to Alpharmas line of livestock medicated feed additives.

“Alpharma wants to help livestock producers who have supported us over the years. Our flood-relief initiative represents a tangible way we can lend assistance during this challenging time,” a company release stated.

— Releases provided by NCBA, NCF, and Alpharma Animal Health.

Tyson to Drop Canadian Beef Operations

Tyson Foods Inc. announced a preliminary agreement today to sell its beef packing operations in Brooks, Alta., Canada, to Canadian beef processor XL Foods Inc., Meatingplace.com reported.

The sale would include the packing, feedyard and fertilizer assets of Lakeside Farm Industries Ltd. and its subsidiary Lakeside Packers, according to Meatingplace.com.

“Lakeside no longer fits the long-term strategy of our company, as our current international strategy is focused primarily in Asia, Mexico and South America,” said Dick Bond, Tyson president and chief executive officer (CEO).

Lakeside currently employs 2,300 people and has the capacity to harvest and process 4,700 head of cattle per day, according to Meatingplace.com. XL representatives said the company plans to continue operating the Lakeside facility.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.