News Update
Nov. 30, 2009

API Leader Named Distinguished Woman

When Cheryl Oxley, Angus Productions Inc. (API) production and advertising manager, attended the annual American Angus Auxiliary Breakfast, Nov. 15, during Angus events in Louisville, Ky., she never suspected she’d become the guest of honor.

As she chatted with longtime acquaintances and enjoyed her simmering Sunday breakfast, Nancy Thelen, a Saline, Mich., Auxiliary member, addressed the nearly 250 guests in attendance and began describing the winner of the Auxiliary’s highest honor, the Distinguished Woman award. Read more.

Donation of Montana Ranch Energizes Angus Foundation Event in Louisville

She is a woman who loves the land and Angus cattle. She believes in educating our young people and promoting the future of the beef industry. She is a woman who has no need for the spotlight or accolades, but on November 14 at the Angus Foundation’s Supporter Recognition Event in Louisville, Ky., her voice and words spoke volumes.

Her name is Camron “Cam” Cooper, owner of The Talon Ranch located in Twin Bridges, Mont. Cooper announced via video and formal letter that she has made a significant gift to the Angus Foundation. With plans in place to provide support for an educational endowment fund, Cam will play a critical role in empowering Angus youth to pursue a higher education while gaining an understanding of the importance of land and livestock stewardship. Read more.

Blach Will Make Sense of Cattle Market at KLA Convention

One of the industry’s most respected cattle market analysts will assess the full spectrum of factors as part of his beef market outlook Friday (12/4) at the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention in Wichita, Kan. Cattle-Fax Executive Vice President Randy Blach will project how the overall economy, beef demand, feed costs, exports and competing meat supplies will affect cattle prices.

While supplies this year have been considered manageable by most market followers, demand has been the challenge. Blach said high unemployment and a lack of solid growth in the economy have left consumers with less disposable income to purchase beef. He’ll forecast when this situation might turn around and how long it might take for the beef market to follow.

Hide and offal values recently have turned higher. Blach will explain this trend and why this component of the market is important to prices.

Blach said producers should use market volatility as a hedging opportunity. His presentation will include strong recommendations for ranchers and feeders to manage risk.

Beef producers and industry stakeholders can register on-site at the Wichita Hyatt for the December 3-4 KLA Convention. For more information on the convention or hotel rooms, click here.

— Release provided by KLA.

Oklahoma Firm Recalls Beef Steak Fritters

Enid, Okla.-based Advance Food Co. is recalling nearly 110,730 pounds (lb.) of frozen beef steak fritter products that may contain foreign materials, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Friday.

The products subject to recall include 9.75-lb. bulk cases of ““Advance Food Company, Beef Steak Fritter, For Country Frying, Chopped & Formed, Keep Frozen, 13/12.

Each case label bears the establishment number “EST. 2260Y” inside the USDA mark of inspection, a case code of “94612-100” and a “Best if Used By 09/23/2010” sticker located on the end panel. Each case also bears the lot number beginning with “N0239” which is located on the side panel. The products were produced on Sept. 23, 2009, and distributed to restaurants nationwide and are not available for direct consumer purchase.

The problem was discovered after the company received customer complaints about finding pieces of plastic in the product. FSIS has not received any consumer complaints or reports of injury at this time.

— Provided by Meatingplace.com.

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen to Take Live Questions Tomorrow Night

Want more information on the state of the cattle industry? Tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. EST on RFD-TV. That’s when four National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) leaders will take your questions Live.

Participants will be:

• NCBA President-Elect Steve Foglesong, an Astoria, Ill. beef producer;
  
• NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts;
  
• NCBA Vice President of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall; and
  
• NCBA Chief Economist Gregg Doud.

Topics they expect to field questions on include international trade, the political climate in Washington, D.C., the effect of government regulations, and the overall state of the industry and the beef market.  

To submit a question for participants on tomorrow’s show, email c2c@beef.org, or call 888-824-6688 toll-free. Live calls will also be fielded. And watch the show live online at www.CattlemenToCattlemen.org.

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen debuts every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. eastern, with repeat episodes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is also available online at www.CattlemenToCattlemen.org/. The programs sponsors include Purina Mills, Bayer Animal Health, McDonald’s, Dow AgroSciences, John Deere, Igenity and Pfizer Animal Health and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

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