News Update
Jan. 18, 2009

Online Angus Calendar Offers Enhanced Search

Producers searching for that next Angus sale now have access to an improved Angus Calendar, available at www.angus.org. Search capabilities have been expanded for the American Angus Association® listing of upcoming Angus Sales and Events, located on the home page. Previously, date searches were limited to a three-month time span. Current searches by date provide a listing of all submitted Angus sales and events throughout the year and beyond. Read more.

Sen. Lincoln Calls on Russia to Ease Trade Barriers

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln D-Ark., chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, continued on Jan. 15 to push for open-market access for U.S. agricultural producers as she urged the Administration to address several recent decisions by the Russian government restricting imports of U.S. meat and poultry.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to meet very stringent food safety standards, which help them produce some of the most abundant, affordable, safest and highest-quality food in the world. On that basis, I believe that Russia’s citing of safety concerns as reason for their actions is baseless. The Russians have failed to supply a reasonable, scientific explanation for essentially closing their market to U.S. pork and poultry and for their intention to similarly close the beef market. The current economic climate has left many producers struggling and an extended absence from the Russian market, in which we sold $1.3 billion of pork, poultry and beef products in 2008, would only increase the economic uncertainty our farmers and ranchers already face,” Lincoln said. “This is unacceptable behavior and should not be allowed to continue unchallenged by the Administration and Congress. I will continue to advocate on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers to regain access that has been unjustifiably denied.”

The United States is the largest meat supplier to Russia. Under these restrictions, U.S. producers would lose a market that accounts for 25% of its broiler exports and 7% of its pork exports. Losses to the pork industry in terms of reduced exports and lower prices could reach $1 billion. In Arkansas, the Russian poultry market has been worth as much as $100 million a year, contributing to 88,480 or nearly 6% of all jobs in the state.

Lincoln was joined by Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss in a letter sent to President Obama Friday, Jan. 15.

— Release by USAgNet.

FAO Calls for $23 Million to Step-up Farming in Haiti

Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) has called for $23 million from international donors for agriculture in Haiti as part of the United Nations $562 million appeal for that country following the devastating earthquake.

The money is needed to support food production in fields and backyards — not just in and around the area hit, but in rural areas not directly affected but which will nevertheless feel the aftershocks of the capital’s collapse.

“We can expect huge displacements of people and damage to agricultural infrastructure, so it is crucial that we do all we can to support local food production to sustain livelihoods,” said Ari Tubo Ibrahim, the FAO Representative in Haiti.

During the past 20 years Haiti has become dependent on food imports. Around 80% of Haitians are involved in agriculture, but they do not have the necessary expertise and equipment, and FAO estimates around half of Haiti’s population is undernourished. 

The World Food Progamme has appealed for funds to feed 2 million people following the earthquake.

Spring planting. For poor families, producing food locally also means freeing cash to meet other basic and urgent needs. The next planting season begins in March, so it is vital that farmers and gardeners receive the support over the coming weeks to prevent further collapse of national food security. 
Resources are also needed for the rehabilitation of small-scale agricultural infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake — such as irrigation canals, the agricultural processing industry, markets and other essential rural infrastructure.

Gardening help. With an untold number of internally displaced people, FAO is also planning to oversee the rolling out of urban and peri-urban agricultural projects/mobile gardens for earthquake victims with an emphasis on increasing local production of food for nutrition.

As well as boosting nutrition, especially of children, home gardens can have a huge effect on morale boosting for earthquake survivors; and, if done correctly, will also mitigate further pressure on the country’s already desperately degraded environment. 

The type of support needed by small Haitian producers will be farming tools, fertilizers, quality bean, corn, pigeon pea and vegetable seeds and livestock production, including backyard chickens and pigs. Horticultural products that provide vital nutrition grow in three months if they are planted now.  

During 2008, high food and fuel prices triggered violent demonstrations and political upheaval in Haiti.

— Release by FAO.

Beef Cattle Reproductive Strategies Workshop Planned for Jan. 28-29 in San Antonio

The Beef Reproduction Task Force and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) are offering the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop at the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio Jan. 28-29, 2010.

The workshop is designed to improve understanding and management of the beef cow estrous cycle, recommended estrus synchronization protocols, and other approaches to improving the efficiency of reproduction, according to Sandy Johnson, northwest area livestock specialist with Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension. Johnson is one of the event coordinators.

The workshop will cover strategies to improve herd profitability through enhanced management techniques and nutritional influences on reproductive success and the role of male fertility, Johnson said.

The Beef Reproduction Task Force is a multi-state Extension group comprised of specialists from Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska, South Dakota State University, the University of Florida, the University of Illinois and the University of Idaho.

More information about the workshop is available at www.appliedreprostrategies.com or by contacting Johnson at sandyj@ksu.edu or 785-462-6281. To view Angus Productions Inc.’s (API’s) online coverage of the event, visit www.appliedreprostrategies.com .

— Release by K-State Research and Extension.

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen Goes Live from San Antonio

Focusing on important people, products, policies and innovative technologies in the beef industry, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen will produce two live shows on RFD-TV at the 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.

Tuesday night, join host Kevin Ochsner for in-depth discussions on international trade with industry experts; the state of the political climate in Washington, D.C., with NCBA lobbyists; and a look back at Michigan cattleman Gary Voogt’s tenure as NCBA President.

Wednesday’s program is live from the floor of the NCBA Trade Show and will bring viewers the flavor of the Big as Texas State Fair Welcome Reception. The two-hour live event will feature interviews with representatives from Purina Mills, Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health, and Boehringer Ingleheim Vetmedica Inc. In addition, viewers will get an inside look at the best products and services featured at the trade show.

“The 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show is the biggest event of the year for cattlemen,” said host Kevin Ochsner. “It’s a time to get together with old friends and network with new ones, help establish policy, and learn about new technologies and important industry information. Our live shows will bring the excitement of our events directly to viewers, while highlighting stories of the people who keep the industry going strong.”

NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen premiered in February 2007. Shows debut each Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on RFD-TV, with repeat episodes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. (all times Eastern). The show is also available online at www.CattlemenToCattlemen.org. You can also become a fan of the show on Facebook by searching NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen.

— Release by NCBA.

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