News Update
March 30, 2010

American Angus & Biozyme Inc. Debut Educational TV Program

American Angus Association in partnership with Biozyme Inc. — makers of Vita Ferm® and other industry-leading animal nutrition products — will host an educational television program this spring on RFD-TV.

The Vita Ferm Angus Hour will debut at 7 p.m. (CST), April 12. The one-hour program will feature live interviews of Angus and industry representatives, as well as a question and answer session. The program will focus on how producers can unlock the potential of their cow herds for greater profit and expanded marketing opportunities.

Segments will feature tips for improving quality grade and profit potential; nutrition management and its impact on reproduction, performance and beef quality; and opportunities in providing age and source verification.

Industry experts appearing on the first-ever program include: Howard Jensen, nutritionist for BioZyme Inc.; Larry Corah and Mark McCully, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB); Sara Snider, AngusSource®; Bob Sand, The Beef Connection; and Ron Rowan, Beef Northwest.

Bryce Schumann, American Angus Association CEO, said the program will provide viewers with timely production and marketing information while also sharing the benefits of the Angus breed, Association programs — such as AngusSource — and Certified Angus Beef.

“This television platform offers a unique opportunity to share the Angus message with thousands of viewers on a regular basis,” Schumann said. “The partnership with Biozyme Inc. aligns well with our initiative to expand our communications with those who use Angus genetics — and those who could be.”

Bob Norton, president of Biozyme Inc., said The Vita Ferm Angus Hour will equip cattle producers — regardless of herd size or location — with critical information for maintaining competitiveness and economic strength.

“We’re proud to partner with the Angus community on this valuable program,” Norton said. “The issues and industry insight discussed will be universal and can be incorporated by viewers of any breed of cattle for the benefit of their own businesses and the long-term economic position of their herds.”

Additional episodes are scheduled to air on RFD-TV later this year. For more information, visit www.angus.org or check your local listings. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com.
To submit questions for the show’s panel, send inquiries to calbers@angus.org.

— Release by American Angus Association.

Working Groups Begin Work on Improved Governance Structure for NCBA

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has appointed three groups to continue development of an improved governance concept, which NCBA’s Board of Directors approved 201-13 at its Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 30, 2010.

The three Working Groups are:

• Bylaws, Policies and Procedures

• Investment Schedules

• Transition Timeline

 “At the San Antonio meeting, the Governance Task Force received a lot of producer feedback, and they revised their governance recommendation based on this feedback. As a result, the Board overwhelmingly voted to move forward with the governance concept. Today, we continue this producer-driven process with these working groups,” said Steve Foglesong, president, NCBA, and producer from Astoria, Ill. 
These groups are beginning their work late March and early April. Working Group recommendations will be sent to NCBA’s Board of Directors by the beginning of July for the members to review prior to the summer Board meeting Aug. 1, 2010, in Denver.
Each group includes a diverse group of producers and executives from state organizations. Members of the groups were appointed by NCBA’s officers based on recommendations the officer team received from State Beef Councils and State Cattlemen’s Associations.
“The goal of an improved governance structure is clear: A stronger NCBA. Producers deserve a national organization that is built to fight and win the battles that threaten agriculture and rural America,” Foglesong said.
“Changes to our governance structure will improve the way NCBA builds beef demand — domestically and internationally — to fuel producer profitability and the way NCBA protects producers’ freedom to operate without burdensome government intervention,” said Bill Donald, president-elect, NCBA, and producer from Melville, Mont.
The approved governance model creates:

• Committees open to all NCBA members, members of the Federation of State Beef Councils and members of state cattlemen association affiliates, as well as invited guests. Currently, producers are appointed to committees. This change is more inclusive, creating greater producer voice in demand-building programs and organizational policy.
  

• A House of Delegates, not unlike NCBA’s current board, which will be charged with developing recommendations for Board consideration. The current governance model creates a House of Delegates with 250 votes. Of those votes, 106 will go to State Beef Councils, 106 to state affiliates, and 38 to industry and breed organizations, as well as the allied industry/product council.
  

• A Board of Directors comprised of 29 members, 26 of whom are elected by the House of Delegates. This body will be able to respond more quickly to producer direction than NCBA’s current 274-member Board.
  

• And a Federation of State Beef Councils, which will continue to elect its chair, vice chair and its members to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee.
  

• Producers who have fiduciary responsibility to the checkoff will continue to make decisions, on behalf of all producers, about checkoff resources:
  

• Producers who sit on State Beef Council boards will continue to decide annually whether to voluntarily invest in the national plan to build and protect beef demand.
  

• Producers appointed to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee — 10 from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 from the State Beef Councils — will continue to decide annual checkoff contracts.

Regardless of NCBA’s governance structure, no checkoff dollars will be used to lobby, and a third-party audit system will remain in place to make sure the law is followed.

“We are the checkoff’s biggest supporter. We work hard every day to build and defend beef demand and are committed to a strong and effective beef checkoff program,” said Foglesong.

“The greatest benefit to these changes is that more producers will be involved in setting the course for NCBA and all aspects of their beef industry,” said Donald.

— Release by NCBA.

Host of the 2010 World Meat Congress

Between Sept. 26-29, 2010, Argentina will host the 18th World Meat Congress. The event, organized by the International Meat Secretariat, is held every two years and gathers producers and professionals of beef, sheep and swine. This Congress’ slogan is “Meat for a sustainable world,” as the central topic under discussion is the provision of protein to the growing global demand in accordance to sustainability and environmental care. Experts from around the world will discuss, in addition to matters related to sustainability, other topics related to health and markets. Moreover, panels will be held on specific topics such as “Knowing the consumer demand” and “New protectionism.”

The 18th World Meat Congress will be held in Buenos Aires at La Rural Predio Ferial de Palermo, located on Juncal 4431. The Congress will be preceded by the ordinary general meeting of members of the IMS and the meeting of the committees of sheep, beef and swine.

The Congress is organized by the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute — IPCVA, a public non-governmental institute that was created to improve and strengthen the image of Argentine meat products inside and outside the country.

The Academic Committee from Argentina, comprised of industry professionals, is already working on the development of the Congress’ program, which will be released soon.

Argentina is a very attractive tourist destination. If you are interested in visiting other cities we can provide you with further information. The inscription is already open and can be done electronically. Early registration has a preferential rate. For further information about the World Meat Congress or the current state of the livestock meat chain, you can visit www.worldmeatcongress2010.com or contact the International Press Department.

— Release by World Meat Congress.

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