News Update
March 10, 2009

Seed Corn Grows Money for Illinois Junior Angus Association

The Illinois Junior Angus Association (IJAA) is ‘growing’ funds while providing Angus producers with a commodity many of them will be using later this spring — seed corn.

During the recent Illinois Angus Association Banquet, Feb. 20, the IJAA raised nearly $21,000 in seed corn sales, all as the seed to raising funds for hosting next year’s Eastern Regional, June 23-26, 2010.

According to IJAA advisor Cindy Anderson, Angus producer and Kruger District Sales Manager Luke Lemenager coordinated the auction that included six seed packages that sold at live auction during the banquet.

Lemenager, along with other dealers, donated the packages that each consisted of 12 bags of seed. The proceeds from the auction generated $20,760, and the buyers can take delivery of the seed for either the 2009 or 2010 planting season.

During his remarks at the banquet, Lemenager said he and his brother, Chuck, were inspired by helping youth at another event and were trying to think of innovative ways they could give back to the IJAA, especially when they heard that the organization would be hosting the Eastern Regional, one of the largest junior shows that typically draws junior Angus members from 15 to 20 states annually.

“In production agriculture, especially in Illinois, the seed industry is leading the way in the technology it provides growers and also in the dollars it commands from producers,” Lemenager said. “The timing was ideal for the seed corn industry to continue to lead the pack in giving back to the agricultural youth in the state.”

Lemenager credits much of his success in the seed corn business to the skills he gained in the cattle business, including talking to producers and making decisions.

Monsanto, DuPont, Stone Seed, Kruger Seed, Cropland Genetics and AgriGold Hybrids donated the seed packages that were purchased by Illinois Angus breeders.  

“The Illinois Junior Angus Association greatly appreciates everyone who supported the seed auction at the Futurity banquet, whether it was through donation of seed, bidding or buying. All of the juniors were amazed by everyone’s generosity,” 2009 IJAA President Rebecca Hurst said. “The seed auction would not have been such a success without a great deal of work that Jennifer Ringwelski and Luke Lemenager put into planning the event.”

In addition to the seed corn, other items including quilts, jewelry, spa packages, artwork, and embryo transfer services sold that same evening for an additional $6,680, for a grand total of $27,440 for the evening.

Junior Angus members will want to watch for more information about the 2010 Eastern Regional, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.”

“The Illinois Juniors are very excited to host the 2010 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show; however, we realize that it is going to take considerable funds in order to host a successful show,” Hurst adds. “The funds earned from the seed auction have put us on the right track to meeting our fundraising goal.”

— Release provided by the American Angus Association.

Officials Kickoff Stimulus Package’s Broadband Initiative

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sec. Tom Vilsack, Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Copps and U.S. Dept. of Commerce Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff Rick Wade kicked off the joint broadband initiative under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today and announced a series of public meetings that will give Americans an opportunity to help shape the program.

“President Obama’s commitment to expanding broadband service to rural areas will provide rural communities with access to worldwide markets and the education, first responder, and health care resources they need to prosper and compete,” Vilsack said. “The Department of Agriculture stands ready to partner with the Department of Commerce and Federal Communications Commission to support the President’s goal to deploy high-speed internet service in rural and unserved communities.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the USDA’s Rural Utility Services (RUS) today also released a Joint Request for Information and Notice of Public Meetings (RFI), which invites comments from interested parties on the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the RUS grants and loans program established in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To encourage public participation, the RFI set a schedule of public meetings from March 16-24. That will give Americans an opportunity to discuss how NTIA and the Rural Utility Service should design and implement these programs. Each of these meetings will feature a roundtable discussion and an opportunity for public comment.

The meetings will be webcast, and as part of the effort to broaden public input, the March 17 meeting will be in Las Vegas, Nev., with the following day’s meeting scheduled for Flagstaff, Ariz.

The public meetings by NTIA and RUS are an important part of the agencies’ efforts to move quickly to implement the Act’s Broadband Initiatives. They will inform the administration’s innovative and practical approach to spurring economic growth by accelerating broadband deployment in unserved, underserved, and rural areas and to strategic institutions that are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits.

In connection with the new broadband initiatives, Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps said: “Without ubiquitous broadband, our citizens — our country — will lack the competitive tools necessary for success in the twenty-first century. The FCC has been given an important role — to develop, over the next 12 months, a national broadband strategy. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the agencies of government and in the private sector to bring these essential, opportunity-creating tools to every American, no matter whom they are or where they live.”

Comments will be received up to 30 days after publication of the RFI in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted via the web, e-mail or mail. Commenters are strongly encouraged to file via the web site, www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants. All material sent via the U.S. Postal Service (including overnight or Express Mail) is subject to delivery delays of up to two weeks due to mail security procedures. Detailed requirements regarding submissions are set forth in the RFI. People submitting comments are advised that all comments received will be posted on the public web site at www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants.

NCBA Launches Robust Spring Roundup Membership Drive

Forrest Roberts, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) chief executive officer (CEO), today announced the new “Spring Roundup” membership campaign.

During the membership drive, NCBA will partner with its 47 affiliates to increase membership within state organizations at the grassroots level, too. The campaign has a strong producer-to-producer recruitment component and will offer a variety of valuable recruiter incentives. Producers who join during March and April 2009 will earn special benefits, including a free trial membership to Cattle-Fax ($50 value) and a 500-mL bottle of Cydectin® ($60 value), in addition to gift items from John Deere.

For complete information on the campaign, member dues/benefits and recruitment incentives, visit www.beefusa.org and click on the Spring Member Drive button, or call 1-866-BEEFUSA or 1-866-233-3872.

— Adapted from an NCBA release.

NCFC Opposes Card Check Legislation, Calls on Congress to Defeat Measure

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today reiterated its opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, which has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The legislation aims to remove secret ballots when deciding whether or not to form a union, according to NCFC.

“Rather than expanding the rights of workers, it would strip away the right to a private ballot, one of the cornerstones of American democracy, and replace it with a public card check system open to intimidation and coercion,” NCFC President Charles Conner said.

NCFC is calling on members of Congress to oppose the legislation. NCFC has joined with other agricultural groups in the Agriculture for a Democratic Workplace coalition to oppose the measure.

— Adapted from a release provided by NCFC.

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