News Update
June 15, 2010

Beef Leaders Institute Encourages Angus Producers

Twenty select Angus producers from 12 states gathered in Saint Joseph, Mo., June 1-4, 2010, to attend the third annual Beef Leader’s Institute (BLI), an educational event hosted by the American Angus Association and funded by the Angus Foundation. 

The four-day learning opportunity is designed to give applicants, ages 25-45, a chance to meet with Association staff and industry representatives, while networking with their peers in the Angus industry.

Participants were provided with a detailed look into the various sectors of the beef industry and given the chance to engage in discussion on current industry issues. Read more.

Free Trade Agreements: Potential Revenue and Jobs for America’s Meat and Poultry Industry

Passage and implementation of the three Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently pending would represent an additional $2.3 billion in meat and poultry exports and the potential creation of 29,524 new jobs, according to a white paper released today by the American Meat Institute (AMI).

“It is clear that the road to both robust job and economic growth lies in expanding America’s export markets,” said J. Patrick Boyle, president and CEO of the AMI. Boyle noted that the trade expansion deals between the U.S. and South Korea, Panama and Colombia have been awaiting Congressional approval for years and the U.S. is losing market share as a result. “While the U.S. is waiting to enact these FTAs, our competitors are moving forward,” Boyle said.

The data reveal that passage of the agreements could increase U.S. exports of beef by $1.4 billion, pork by $772 million and poultry by $102 million. The jobs resulting from this growth, both in the commodity groups and downstream, would include an estimated 18,000 jobs in the beef industry, 10,300 jobs in the pork industry and 1,200 jobs in the poultry industry. Trade numbers are based on projections from the respective commodity groups. Job creation data is based on employment multiplier projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) and industry groups, which estimate:

• For every $1 billion in beef exports, 12,700 jobs are created.
• For every $1 billion in pork exports, 13,333 jobs are created.
• For every $1 billion in poultry exports, 11,853 jobs are created.

In 2009, the value of exported meat, poultry and related products totaled $11.7 billion, up from $9.4 billion in 2007. According to ERS, U.S. meat exports are predicted to rise during the next decade, from 5.9 million metric tons in 2009 to nearly 7.1 million metric tons in 2019. “However, if we are going to realize this potential, we need to pass these trade agreements and move forward on expanding our export markets as well as exploring new trade opportunities,” noted Boyle.

The U.S. meat and poultry industry contributes about $832 billion in total to the U.S. economy, nearly 6% of the GDP. The industry directly employs 1.8 million people, paying $45.5 billion in wages and benefits. An estimated 524,000 people have jobs in production and packing, importing operations, sales, packaging and direct distribution of meat and poultry products. Wholesaling directly employs an estimated 63,000 individuals in every state in the country, and 1,227,600 retail jobs depend on the sale of meat and poultry products to the public.

“With meat and poultry consumption rising in many nations around the world as a result of economic development and population growth, we have millions of increasingly affluent, potential customers,” Boyle noted. “But,” he added, “If the United States is not there to fill their plates, other major exporting nations will.”

— Release by AMI.

TSCRA Offers Free Cattlemen’s Field Day in Lamar County

Ranchers in the Lamar County area can attend a free Cattlemen’s Field Day hosted by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA). The field day will take place Tuesday, June 22, at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, Building B, in Paris.

Experts will present programs focused on testing animals that are persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), fetal programming and sustained nutrition and new marketing programs for cattle producers.

A complimentary beef lunch will be served at noon. The program begins at 1 p.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. All participants with pesticide applicator licenses will receive two Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). Participants will also receive one beef quality credit.

Participants should RSVP by June 18 to Stacy Fox at 1-800-242-7820 or e-mail sfox@tscra.org.

The Red River Valley Fairgrounds are located at 570 E. Center Street in Paris.

For more information, including a map to the location and a full list of speakers, please visit www.tscra.org and click on “Calendar of Events.” The Paris Cattlemen’s Field Day is listed under educational events.

— Release by TSCRA.

Cargill, Meyer Natural Foods Enter Into Joint ‘Go-to-Market’ Agreement

Cargill’s U.S. beef business and Meyer Natural Foods have entered into a multi-year agreement, which creates a joint “go-to-market” approach. This collaborative effort will focus on expanding sales of Meyer Natural Angus and Laura’s Lean Beef to Cargill’s retail and foodservice customers who wish to offer consumers natural and organic beef products. Products sold under the joint marketing arrangement will be produced for Meyer by Cargill at its Fort Morgan, Colo.,processing facility.

Terms of the agreement, which became effective in late May, were not disclosed. Cargill’s U.S. meat business is headquartered in Wichita, Kan., and Meyer Natural Foods is headquartered in Loveland, Colo.

— Release by Cargill and Meyer Natural Foods.

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