News Update
Nov. 12, 2009

AgDay, U.S. Farm Report to Cover Angus Meetings

If you can’t be in Louisville, Ky., for the upcoming American Angus Association annual convention Nov. 14-17, tune in for television coverage of the nation’s largest beef cattle organization.

AgDay TV and U.S. Farm Report will begin airing coverage of the 126th annual event beginning Wednesday, Nov. 18. Read more.

Producer Input Sought for International Livestock Congress

The annual International Livestock Congress USA (ILC) will convene Tues, Jan. 12, 2010, at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver, Colo. In preparation for the event, organizers are asking cattle producers to outline some of their short-term strategies of beef cattle managers. Results will be used to help frame a panel discussion about balancing costs and expenses in the cow-calf business. The panel will be:

• John Maddux, Maddux Cattle Co., Nebraska
  
• Kevin Yon, Yon Family Farms, South Carolina
  
• Butch Bratsky, Stockman Banks, Montana

The survey can be completed in five minutes or less, and responses are completely confidential. Click here to participate: (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Vm72ibGeYaY1M0rjOp8W_2fw_3d_3d).

Keeping the Family Farming Workshops Set for January in Beloit, Hiawatha

Kansas State University (K-State) and the Kansas Farm Analyst Program will offer Keeping the Family Farming Workshops for families who are working through the benefits and challenges of incorporating family members and others into a farm operation or passing the family farm business from one generation to the next.

“Farm transition planning is difficult in the best circumstances,” said LaVell Winsor, agricultural economist with the Kansas Farm Analyst Program. “Often it takes a lot of time for families to figure out the best route for their family and operation. With the average age of farmers and ranchers in their upper 50s, it’s critical that agriculture families be making plans now.”

The Kansas Farm Analyst Program is part of K-State Research and Extension.

To get the full benefit of the training, Winsor said, participants should attend as a family. They will receive hands-on guidance that will be relevant to their own farming operation on such topics as: Where Do You Stand Financially?; Communicating Effectively With Those You Live and Work With; Planning for Retirement; Estate Planning; Your Business’ Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT); Putting Your Game Plan into Action; Determine Your Current Financial Position; and others.

Each workshop will be two days, Winsor said. The Beloit sessions will be Jan. 9 and 23, 2010, at the Zion Lutheran Church at 621 N. Mill St. The Hiawatha sessions will be Jan. 16 and 30, 2010, at the Fisher Community Center, 201 E. Iowa St.

The first session at both locations will begin with registration at 9 a.m. and the program starting at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided and the day will wrap up at 5:30 p.m.

The second session at both locations begins at 9:30 a.m. and goes until 7:30 p.m. Lunch and supper will be provided.

The early registration fee (paid by Dec. 15) for Kansas families is $250 per family of four, with additional family members at $75 each. Out-of-state families also are welcome to participate, Winsor said. The early fee (paid by Dec. 15) for out-of-state families is $325 per family of four, with additional participants at $100 each. Registrations received after Dec. 15 will be assessed an extra $75 per family unit.

Registration and other information is available on the web site: http://www.agmanager.info/or by contacting Rich Llewelyn at 785-532-1504.

— Release provided by K-State Research and Extension.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces $234 Million to Promote U.S. Food and Agricultural Exports

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that 70 U.S. trade organizations received more than $234 million in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas. Vilsack made this announcement at the annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

“Agricultural trade is absolutely crucial to the U.S. economy, and providing this funding to U.S. organizations during these difficult economic times will help open new global markets for American food products,” Vilsack said.

The funding was allocated under the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program, both administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

The Market Access Program uses funds from USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to share the costs of overseas market development and promotional activities with U.S. nonprofit agricultural trade organizations, state regional trade groups, and cooperatives. Activities conducted with MAP funding include market research, consumer promotions for retail products, technical capacity building, and seminars to educate overseas customers.

Under the FMD program, USDA’s CCC establishes a partnership with nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations. Funding priority is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope. Program activities focus on reducing market impediments, improving the processing capabilities of importers, modifying restrictive regulatory codes and standards in foreign markets, and identifying new markets or uses for U.S. products.

For more information about FAS’s market development programs, contact the Office of Trade Programs at 202-720-4327, or visit http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/marketdev.asp.

— Release provided by USDA.

Students Encouraged to Apply for Beef Industry Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010-2011 Beef Industry Scholarship program, sponsored by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group and presented by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). All entries must be postmarked by Dec. 1, 2009.

Ten scholarships of $1,500 will be awarded to young people pursuing careers in the beef industry. The program encourages talented and thoughtful students who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in the beef industry, either through classes, internships or life experience. Graduating high school seniors or full-time undergraduate students enrolled at a two-year or four-year college for the 2010-2011 academic school year are eligible to apply. Applicants or their families must be members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to receive the scholarship.

Applications must include a 750-word essay that identifies a key issue confronting the beef industry and suggests a solution. Applicants must also submit a letter expressing future career goals and provide two letters of recommendation. A full description of the scholarship program, submission requirements and an online application can be found at National Cattlemen’s Foundation or by calling 303-694-0305.

In addition to a scholarship, the first-place winner will receive airfare and lodging to attend the 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 27-30.

Launched in 1989 as part of the 25th anniversary of the Live Cattle Futures Contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Beef Industry Scholarship program is a partnership effort of the CME Group and the NCF. CME Group has been a leader in the live cattle market since 1964, and the Beef Industry Scholarship Program exemplifies their commitment to the beef industry.

— Release by NCBA.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc