News Update
April 8, 2010

Reminder: The Vita Ferm Angus Hour is April 12 on RFD-TV 

Mark your calendar: Producers looking to unlock their cow herd’s potential should tune in to RFD-TV at 7 p.m. (CST), Monday, April 12, for an hour-long educational television program sponsored by the American Angus Association® and Vita Ferm, an industry-leading animal nutrition product.

The program’s first half hour will discuss how nutrition not only plays a critical role in improving health, performance and reproductive efficiency, but also in ensures quality and consistent products for consumers. Howard Jensen of Vita Ferm and Larry Corah and Mark McCully of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) will field questions from the audience during this segment.

The program’s second half will explore opportunities in age and source verification. Sara Snider of AngusSource®, Bob Sand of The Beef Connection, and Ron Rowan of Beef Northwest will answer audience questions during this segment.

The program is set to re-air at 9 a.m. (CST), April 13, on RFD-TV.

For more information, visit www.angus.org or check your local listings. For more information about Vita Ferm, visit www.vitaferm.com.

To submit questions for the show’s panel, send inquiries to calbers@angus.org.

ICA Urges Department of Homeland Security to Take Action on Texas-Mexico Border

The Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas (ICA) has urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano to increase security along the Texas- Mexico Border. Due to increased drug smuggling and Mexican drug cartel infighting, many border area ranchers are subject to increasing danger as they care for their livestock and work on their ranches. In their letter to Secretary Napolitano, the ICA requested more attention be taken to secure the private properties that are along the border.

“When ranchers have to arm themselves with assault rifles prior to venturing onto their own ranches, it is time for action to be taken by Homeland Security,” said Bill Hyman, ICA executive director. “The recent murder of a rancher along the Arizona-Mexico border exemplifies the need for increased security for our Texas landowners.”

Robert Krentz, a longtime Arizona rancher, was found shot to death on his Polaris ATV, on his family’s 35,000-acre ranch last week. According to the local Sheriff’s office, Krentz had radioed his brother that he was checking out a suspected illegal alien found wandering on the ranch. Both the well-respected rancher and his faithful dog were found shot and left to die, according to authorities investigating the case. A search of the area revealed the suspected gunman fled south to Mexico. Investigators said the area in question is a known corridor for smuggling activities and was the scene of a recent drug seizure.

“These occurrences are becoming far too common in Texas and other border states,” said Hyman. “With thousands of miles of ranch roads and trails on Texas border land, many ranchers live in constant fear of accidently venturing into drug smugglers and armed gunmen on their properties. The illegal activities and random acts of lawlessness occurring across the border in Mexico on a regular basis are now spilling over to the United States.”

The ICA requested that Secretary Napolitano take immediate and decisive action to prevent the reoccurrence of such activities in Texas and other border states.

— Release by ICA.

College Aggies Online Winners Announced

The American National CattleWomen Inc. is excited to announce the results of its first College Aggies Online (CAO) program. The nationwide competition was developed in partnership with the Animal Agriculture Alliance in order to help college students utilize social media tools to share agriculture’s story.

Students with an interest in agriculture were invited to join the CAO network in October 2009. Members then earned points for their school group and individually by posting blogs, photos and videos related to agriculture and by participating in online outreach activities via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail. During the past six months, 350 college students from nearly 50 universities have participated in the competition.

“In addition to ANCW’s Collegiate CattleWomen program, College Aggies Online has empowered and unified young people that know the importance of agriculture to confidently share that information online and elsewhere,” said ANCW President Lana Slaten. “It is imperative that we ‘bridge the gap’ to a consumer far removed from the farm or ranch with our story of animal and environmental stewardship and our use of best management practices to produce wholesome, nutritious, safe and delicious beef.”

Western Kentucky University (WKU) Block and Bridle Club members formed the top-scoring club with 5,376 points. The group will receive a $750 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., for one representative to attend the Alliance’s Stakeholders Summit in April. Casper College Ag Club came in second place with 2,794 points and will receive $300.

With 617 total points, the individual high score went to Celeste Laurent of the WKU Block and Bridle Club. She will receive a $250 scholarship. Danielle Hammer of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls came in second place with 554 points and will be awarded $100.

CAO participants shared more than 3,000 photos on the network and authored 100 blog posts. Members also advocated for agriculture in their communities by writing letters to the editor of local news outlets and by participating in other outreach activities.

Students are encouraged to continue utilizing the CAO forum to connect and share information even after the conclusion of the competition. The Alliance plans to re-launch CAO in the fall and hopes to expand the program to reach an even larger student base. To learn more, contact the Alliance at info@animalagalliance.org.

— Release by ANCW.

FSIS Will Extend Comment Period on Draft Guidance for HACCP System Validation

FSIS has confirmed that the agency will extend the comment period on its Draft Guidance: HACCP System Validation until June 19, 2010, to allow adequate time for distribution and comment by interested parties. The draft guidance to aid small and very small plants in meeting HACCP validation requirements was provided for public comment in a March 19, 2010, letter to the American Meat Institute (AMI) and other industry trade associations. After the initial comment period, FSIS is expected to publish a revised guidance document in the Federal Register that will provide an additional opportunity for public comment.

The guidance document has raised concern regarding potential additional requirements imposed on plants. “AMI is pleased that the agency has given the industry an opportunity to express its concerns during the development of its validation guidance. AMI looks forward to working with the agency to develop a workable document that provides clarity for both the industry and FSIS personnel. It is important that all parties have a clear understanding of the regulatory requirements and how they should be implemented,” said AMI Executive Vice President James Hodges.

The March 19 letter signed by FSIS Administrator Almanza responds to an earlier September 22, 2009, letter sent by meat and poultry trade associations that contained suggestions for clarifying existing validation requirements. The draft guidance and associated information can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/HACCP_Validation_Ltrs.pdf.

— Release by AMI.

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