News Update
July 16, 2008

Oil Takes $6-Plus Plunge

Oil dropped more than $6 yesterday thanks to mounting concern about the U.S. economy, Reuters reported.

The one-day drop of $6.44 is the largest since 1991, when prices lowered at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm, according to the news agency. U.S. crude reportedly settled at $138.75. 

Investors have been apparently worried about the demand for oil, with consumers using less gasoline due to high prices and a worsening economy.

Beef Checkoff Launches New Web Site

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) has launched a new web site, available at www.mybeefcheckoff.com.

According to CBB, it was designed to show cattlemen how national beef checkoff dollars are invested and the results of those investments.

The site is interactive, versatile, and designed with a number of different options, including beef and dairy editions.

CBB reports the new site gives beef and dairy producers across the country new access to information about their checkoff investment. Some highlights of the new site include:

• easy access to CBB members and staff;
• expanded state beef council information and access;
• monthly e-newsletter sign-up;
• producer profiles from across the country;
• links to all checkoff-funded consumer and industry sites; and
• a newsroom.

“It is our hope that the site brings producers together, whether they are a dairy producer in New York or a beef producer in Washington, with the knowledge they need to educate their neighbor about the checkoff over a cup of coffee,” says Richard Nielson, CBB member and chair of the producer communications committee. “That’s the unique thing about the new site – it reinforces the idea that producers can’t be everywhere, but their checkoff can.”

For more information about the beef checkoff, visit www.mybeefcheckoff.com.

Additional $202.5M for Two Voluntary Conservation Programs

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced July 15 an additional $200 million will be made available through the 2008 Farm Bill to help farmers and ranchers nationwide solve natural resource problems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

An additional $2.5 million will be available for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) in 16 states.

“Voluntary incentive-based programs like EQIP and AMA are the key to helping producers meet their conservation goals and provide the public with important benefits such as cleaner water, improved air quality, healthy soils, and abundant wildlife,” Schafer said.

Congress provided the extra funds for both programs for fiscal year 2008. Both programs were reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

For additional information about EQIP, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip. For additional information about AMA, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ama.


API Posts NJAS Coverage

Wish you were at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) this week in Des Moines, Iowa? Just visit one or all of the three web sites hosting complete NJAS coverage.

The show will be broadcast live this week on Liveauctions.tv. Viewing requires a user name and password to log in. The broadcast will run Wednesday through Saturday, and the shows begin at 8 a.m. daily.

If you miss viewing the show live and still want to view video coverage of the show “behind the scenes,” visit www.youtube.com and search for “National Junior Angus Show.” Video coverage is provided by Angus Productions Inc. (API) Creative Media.

Show results, contest placings, candid photos and a complete schedule are also available at www.njas.info.

Additions made to the www.BIFconference.com

Several additions have been made to www.bifconference.com, featuring API’s online coverage of the 2008 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Meeting and Research Symposium. Visit the site now for summaries of Thursday’s general session and the Emerging Technologies Committee presentations, as well as the audio and PowerPoint presentations for Igenity’s SNP Parentage Symposium.

Keep watching the site. There’s more to come.

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