News Update
June 8, 2009

Young Angus Producers Explore Industry at Beef Leaders Institute

Twenty Angus producers from across the U.S. explored various segments of the beef industry May 31-June 3, 2009, during the second annual Beef Leaders Institute (BLI), hosted by the American Angus Association® and funded through the educational efforts of the Angus Foundation. Tours, presentations from industry experts and interaction with staff from the Association along with networking opportunities allowed an in-depth look of the entire beef production sector.

The event is designed to identify active Association members ages 25-45 who are leaders in the beef industry, and expose them to all aspects of the industry from feeding, packing, processing, retail and distribution. Participants are selected based on application, and BLI is limited to 20 people to allow for tours and discussion.

Tours of the Association and Angus Productions Inc. (API) along with interactive sessions that highlighted the Association departments and its entities kicked off this year’s activities. Participants were able to learn more about the functions of the Association, API, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) LLC, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and the Angus Foundation while interacting with the employees.

Engaging case studies were led by industry experts in the areas of consumerism and cattle feeding. Tom Field, executive director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), challenged the beef producers to become more aware of what the average consumer faces at the meat counter by assigning them a beef purchasing project prior to BLI. Each producer had to purchase a cut of beef, evaluate the meat counter and beef packaging and prepare the beef.

Tom Brink, senior vice president and chief risk officer for JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, discussed breaking even and capturing the most profit while feeding cattle and walked the group through several marketing grids.

A leadership and goal-setting session was added to BLI, allowing the participants to set goals for their own involvement in the beef industry as well as the BLI. In addition, a nightly discussion was held about various current topics in the industry.

Two days of intense tours followed the discussions at the Association offices. Participants toured Tyson’s Dakota City, Neb., plant where members from the senior management team provided tours and answered questions about processing beef.

Steve McPherson, Snow Camp, N.C., said the Tyson tour was his BLI highlight. “This was my first tour of a processing plant, and I have to admit, I was in awe. A close second would have to be the attendees themselves. I have really enjoyed getting to know them.”

The tour then stopped at Whole Foods Market in Omaha, Neb. Marketing Manager Maria Watts told the group that Whole Foods is focused on providing consumers high quality foods as she toured them through the store’s produce, meat, grocery, and deli aisles.

“We want to provide the highest quality, most nutritious products to our customers,” she said, as she pointed out the naturally grown and organic products the store chain is known for.

A visit to Gregory Feedlot, Tabor, Iowa, completed the tours for the first day. Jim Gregory, owner, and David Trowbridge, manager, welcomed the group. The CAB-licensed feedlot, focused on feeding genetically superior cattle.

Later that evening, Mark Allan, associate director, global technical services with Pfizer Animal Genetics, presented information on the future of genomic enabled selection in the beef industry.

The final day of tours included four stops. The first was Cargill’s Value Added Meat further processing plant in Nebraska City, Neb., which produces deli meats and products for food service outlets. The next stop, Sysco Lincoln, in Lincoln, Neb., gave the cattle producers an overview of a large warehouse and distribution center. Sysco Lincoln is the top distributor of CAB value-added products.

An afternoon stop at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) included presentations about identifying markers for recessive traits, carcass instrument grading and an update on the MARC germplasm evaluation and 2,000 bull project. In addition, the group toured the feed efficiency study pens.

A driving tour of Gottsch Cattle Co. near Red Cloud, Neb., showcased the 49,000 head feedlot and its feed mill. Mike Danehey provided information about the lot while the bus drove through its facilities.

After nearly 900 miles and two and one-half days in a bus, friendships were formed, perspectives were gained and all walked away with greater understanding of the industry that the Association members have a passion for.

— Adapted from an American Angus Association release.

Weed Problems More Common This Year in East Texas Pastures

Farmers and ranchers are seeing more weeds – both common and unusual varieties – this year, according to Vanessa Corriher, Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist based at Overton.

Corriher said producers can expect to have more problems with weeds this year because high fertilizer costs limited their use in many pastures last year. Lower fertility means the improved forages such as Bermuda grass are less able to compete with weeds.

Corriher has been getting a lot of calls, e-mails and letters concerning weeds, but trying to accurately describe a weed over the phone is difficult if not impossible, she said. E-mailed pictures are a little better, but not much. And by the time a mailed weed arrives on her desk, it’s usually so desiccated as to be useless for identification.

These problems delay the quick identification of a weed, and when it comes to weed-control, particularly with herbicides, timeliness is critical, she said.

“In most cases, the county agent will be able to identify the weed and (quickly) recommend control measures for all but the odd-ball weeds,” she said.

The most common methods of weed control are mowing or using herbicides, she said. Some other methods of weed control that are often not thought of or skipped include managing pastures for maximum production so as to compete against weeds, maintaining proper soil pH and fertility and managing grazing pressure to prevent overgrazing.

“Mechanical control of weeds is generally the least effective but the most costly weed management strategy, "Corriher said. “Mowing is often used for that instant gratification feeling and/or recreation.”

Corriher cautioned that when using herbicides, producers should follow label directions for application rate, timing of application, grazing restrictions, and cleanup and disposal.
And sometimes the perceived weed is not a weed at all from the point of view of livestock, she said.

“Many producers hate to see crab grass in their pastures or hay meadows,” she said. “But in terms of nutrition, it can be on par with coastal Bermuda grass.”

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

KLA Documentary Under Industry Surveillance

The NCBA, Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) and the Kansas Beef Council (KBC) are monitoring reaction to a documentary broadly criticizing agriculture and the food industry. “Food, Inc.” will begin showing June 12 in theaters. Producer Eric Schlosser also was involved in the uninspiring 2006 release of “Fast Food Nation.” Other producers involved in “Food, Inc.” worked on Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Checkoff dollars have helped the industry prepare fact sheets, consumer messages and letters to the editor in response to the documentary. Members who see coverage of the movie are encouraged to respond through the use of these materials. Call KLA or KBC for assistance.

For more information visit http://www.kla.org/

— Release provided by KLA.

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